Echo's Journey Continues

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Many of you have kept up with Echo’s story, a Border collie mix, born in an Iams Dog Food Testing Facility where he lived an isolated life for nine long years. Echo came to AEAR nine months after the testing facility closed, when the woman who adopted Echo decided she couldn’t keep him anymore.

Echo has had many challenges the main ones being that he was withdrawn, spooked by the outside world, didn’t bond well with people or animals (he has been called Autistic-like) and would not go potty outside. Mostly he has live with me for the last year and a half, minus three months at another home and a few months at Bark “N Park, a doggy day care and boarding facility in Libertyville.

The idea of sending him to the doggy day care was that it was more like the environment he came from and possibly he could be housebroken if he saw enough dogs going potty outside. Within two weeks at the day care he was going potty outside and we were thrilled. He seemed happy and was playing with balls and going up to staff to be petted. He was still Echo but what appeared to be a more content Echo.

The doggy day care was filling up with overnight clients for Spring Break so I was told Echo would have to leave for that time frame. I was ready to try and acclimate him to a home environment so that was fine and he moved back in with me. But instead of living in my office this time he moved into my home and with my dogs. My intention was to take him to that next level of getting used to a home, thus getting him closer to being able to live in a new home with a family.

Being the quiet and unassuming dog he is my dogs accepted him without issues and he settled in. But week after week and he still did not go potty outside. He was starting to pick up toys and carry them around and even played with my dogs a time or two. But all in all I still had to force him outside and the pee pads were necessary. He seemed to be happy enough, I guess, but wasn’t progressing further. It had been close to three months.

Last week Lynn, the owner of Bark “N Park called to see, “how my boy is doing.”

“Okay,” I said, “about the same. He still hasn’t gone potty outside and I still have to force him to go outside. He seems happy enough, but I guess I just don’t get it. He did so well by you and went outside.”

“You know Sandy, I am happy to take Echo back and he can live here and he can be our mascot.”

Taken a back by her extremely generous offer I said, “really?”

“Sure, he was happy here, he can have his own kennel.”

Thoughts ran through my mind. I thought about what I wanted for Echo, a family, to feel like he belonged to someone…to have a normal life. Then I thought of other what if’s, “what if you close. I mean of course I don’t want you to but what if you do?” I asked Lynn.

“I’ll take him home or you will or we’ll figure it out. But I don’t plan on closing.”

“He’s an old dog. I’m worried he’ll get too much exercise.”

“I’ll put him with the small dogs and he can go in his kennel whenever he wants. Here it’s more like where he came from, more institutionalized. He probably did well here because of that.”

“I hate that word,institutionalized,” I could feel a lump in my throat.

“Just think about it. The offer is there whenever. We love Echo.”

After we hung up I thought to myself, no way. He belongs with a family. It’s so nice of her to offer but I want him to sleep with someone at night, to know who he belongs with. But, I reasoned, I would keep an open mind and think about it. So I did what works best for me. I forced myself to let it go and knew in time I would make the right decision.

The following week I began closely observing Echo and tried willing him to tell me what he wanted. I spoke to some other volunteers who listened to my concerns. One day when speaking to a volunteer she said the same thing Lynn had said about the doggy day care being more like his old place, more “institutionalized.”

“I hate that word,” I said close to tears.

“I know but think about it. Remember that movie Shawshank Redemption?”

“Yeah, great movie.”

“Remember the old man who lived his whole life in prison and then was released and hung himself?”

“That was horrible.”

“That’s Echo. He can’t seem to make it out here, Sandy. Maybe the best place for him is the doggy day care. It may be similar to where he came from but he’ll have more freedom. He won’t be in prison.

“And I can pick him up and take him places anytime.”

“True.”

“I can change my mind and bring him home any time.”

“You can.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Two days later I called Lynn and I said, “I'm bringing Echo to you. He’ll stay but I need to know I can come any time and check on him and if I don’t think it’s working I can take him back.”

“Sure, no problem.”

The following day Echo obediently jumped into my car and we headed to his new home. He was shaking the whole way there, his eyes big with worry. I knew it was just Echo and he was anxious and only Echo knew why.

When I arrived Echo was welcomed with open arms. I stayed for a bit, watching Echo run around the main arena. I held it together, but barely, wiping away tears discreetly. I felt so sad for him, or was it me, or just the facts of his whole life. I still hated the word “institutional” but like the movie a home, I reassured myself, is different for everyone. For the first time I felt a surge of anger towards Iams Dog Food, What the heck did they have to test food on dogs for? Look how wrecked this dog is because of them! All different emotions rushed through me.

Feelings are just that, not right, not wrong, just are and I felt like a failure. I wanted to transform Echo into that dog that hangs out with his family, jumps for joy when a leash is brought out before a walk, who gets excited and jumps about when his owner comes home. I tried so hard, so very hard but I couldn’t break down the walls of solitude Echo built all those years living in a dog run with limited human attention. I can be very, very stubborn and very, very optimistic about change but this time I relented and gave Echo what I believe now he needed, a place that for him was comfortable and familiar.

Two days later I checked in and Dawn, one of the workers, said Echo went potty outside already! That was telling considering he never went potty outside at my house, not once.

The following day I went to visit him. I didn’t know it was nap time so when I walked in the place was very quiet considering the number of dogs staying there. I approached Echo’s kennel and peered in. He was lying comfortably on his bed. (See photo.) After a bit of just looking at me expressionless he got up and came to the door. I let him out and into the main arena so I could spend a few minutes with him. He trotted around with his tail up (something that doesn’t happen a lot with Echo outside the doggy day care). I told them I’d stop by in the near future in the morning when I could see Echo in action. I left with a heavy heart, I am not sure all the reasons why but not at all because I think he's in the wrong place. Mostly it is because I miss the old guy and I am still sorting out my own feelings.

So is the ongoing journey of Echo, the dog who was so unloved for most of his life and now has received so much love, more than some dogs ever get in a lifetime. That's a good thing, it really is. From the bottom of my heart I want to thank Lynn and all her staff for opening your hearts to this very special and unique dog. I know he is in good hands.

Date: April 23, 2010
Posted By: Sandy Kamen Wisniewski

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