Wonder Blessing

HOW WONDER'S TRAINING AT THE SHELTER HELPED HIM QUICKLY ADAPT TO HOME

Why did you decide to adopt a dog?

We have been dog owners for a long time and always wanted a dog to be part of the family. The last time we had a dog was in 2015, and since we recently moved to a bigger place, we thought it would be the perfect time to get a dog!

Why did you decide to adopt from a shelter and from Mercylight specifically?

We leaned more toward shelters because we felt that what these dogs needed most was a home. Mercylight was the first website we saw when we started searching, and Wonder was the first one we stumbled upon.

Can you run us through your decision making process in adopting Wonder?

It was really just love at first sight when we first saw Wonder on the website! When getting to know him, we were already quite set on adopting him, so it was all about showering him with love and forming a bond of trust. We also wanted a young dog, so we could have him with us for a longer time.

How has Wonder been settling into your family? Have you seen any changes?

Well, firstly, he’s put on weight! Other than that, he quite enjoys the space and is now very eager to go for walks. He likes to interact with other dogs around the neighbourhood, but doesn't get agitated with them even if they bark at him. He’s very well mannered, all thanks to the thorough preparation and training done by the shelter. Of course, we were warned of his food aggression, and at the beginning he did show some aggression when we cleaned his ears or bathed him. Now, he’s let down all his defenses; we can even clean his eyes! He shows a lot more excitement and curiosity, and learns from his mistakes quickly. Although Elaine has never had a big dog and was once bitten by one, Wonder slowly gave her the confidence to overcome her fears by not only refraining from his usual play-nipping, but also being gentle with her throughout. Kelly’s recommendations on his preferred routine and other tips were also really helpful. Overall, he adapted well and quickly became part of the family.

What was the adoption process like for you?

We really liked the process! When we were first introduced to Wonder we slowly got to know him by visiting and walking him, after which we did the home trial. He cried immediately after the home trial when he returned to the shelter, so Kelly mentioned that since there was already a bond, we could move on to adoption, so it was quite fast!

How has adopting Wonder changed your daily lives?

Wonder wakes up earlier than anybody in the family, around 8.30am to 9am everyday without fail. He’ll knock on the door of our bedroom and lie down in front of it, whining to tell us it's time to go down. Interestingly though, he won't get up even if we wake up earlier than usual. He's very active, likes attention, and will come up to us while we’re eating or doing things to either rest his head on our laps or nip at us sometimes! He knows the sound of our car, and runs to the balcony to welcome us back home, and also sends us off when we leave. Now, every time we go out, we always miss him and try to go back as soon as we can. He really has become part of the family. He's also helped us to get to know our neighbours better as he’s very good with people and will always greet the owners of other dogs he meets! One of his friends is a German Shepherd. He always waits for her, so they can play together, almost like Romeo and Juliet haha!

Anything else to share?

At first, he didn’t go very far on our walks and walked better/further if he was with more than one person. Now, he’s become more used to walking further even if it’s just one of us, and we try to run with him a bit more. He likes to watch people and things, especially deliveries, but won't bark. He’s scared of rainy days, and will often hide when there’s thunder. He was also quite scared during the New Year fireworks!

Lastly, we’d like to commend the care and effort of everyone at the shelter. Most of the time people would expect less from shelter dogs, and our friends were shocked when they heard about the amount of investment and care put into the dogs that have yet to be adopted. We hope that other shelters can do the same!

Q1 2022