Animal Education & Rescue

Rain, Rain Go Away: A Love Story

By Sandy Kamen Wisniewski
Posted April 02, 2009

Rain, a boxer, whippet, who-knows-what mix came to us when we were flagged down by a grungy looking young man and woman that claimed, as they held a dirty, wet pup out to us, that they had found her. The weather was lousy, that fall day, and the three-month-old brindle and white colored pup looked like a wet rag.

The couple explained that they found the dog walking around a few hours before in Gurnee, IL. near a busy intersection. Something about their story just didn’t seem true. Regardless they didn’t want the dog and so we agreed to take her.

With no open foster home we asked a friend and fellow rescuer who’s relative owned a kennel if Rain could stay with them. She agreed and we drove right over there. On the ride over there I couldn’t help but notice the thousands of fleas that were jumping and skittering all over the poor dog’s body. She sat forlornly on my lap as I hurried to the kennel.

After a serious flea bath the dog settled into her cage and fell fast asleep. One of the workers there said, “We’ll name her Rain, because it was raining when she arrived.”

Rain spent week after week which turned into months with no one interested in Rain and no one able to foster her. She was anxious and high strung due to living at the kennel so long and I was worried about her.

An application for Rain came in from a couple in their late 30’s and 40’s named Pia and Jim, who lived in Elgin. Their references were impeccable and were a delight to speak to. Pia went on and on about how she felt so connected to Rain and loved her so much, even though they hadn’t yet met her. “I just feel like this dog is supposed to me mine. I just know it.” So after being approved they met Rain and I with their dog Heston at our animal hospital.

But after trying numerous times Rain was way too dominant with Heston and we determined it wasn’t going to work. Knowing the family I suggested another dog Tammy, a beautiful black lab. After introducing Tammy and Heston there was a love connection so they took Tammy home and she settled in nicely. They reamed her Lydia. But as they walked out the door, Rain staying behind, Pia looked back at her sadly, obviously wishing it had worked out.

Finally in November a female police officer and her partner applied for Rain and after checking references and reviewing the application and interviewing them they were approved to adopt Rain. On a November day when the slap of the whipping wind took your breath away I gave my signature goodbye (have a wonderful life, be good and I love you, kiss-hug-kiss) and watched Rain walk away.

Time moved forward, more animals to rescue, more work to be done. Pia and Jim kept in touch sending me e-mails and photos of Lydia and Heston and always inquiring about Rain. That is so odd, very sweet but odd, that they should still feel so connected to Rain, I thought. It was nice she had admirers from a far.

Mid-March I received a call from my office assistant, Karen. “Sandy, Rain was dumped at a county shelter.”

“What?” I exclaimed. “Why, what?” We have it in our contract specifically if an adopter cannot keep the pet they adopt from us the animal MUST come back to us. We ALWAYS take our animals back.

“According to animal control a woman came in and was evasive about why she didn’t want the dog anymore. They scanned the chip and called us.”

“Well we have to get her. I’ll call my friend at the kennel that had her before, see if she can help. Again, I have nowhere for Rain to go.”

After speaking to my friend at the kennel, to my relief she agreed to pick Rain up and let her stay at the kennel, even though it was spring break and a busy time for them. I was so grateful but so sad for Rain.

I sent out an e-mail to our online subscribers of AEAR and within hours I got an e-mail from Pia and Jim. They were shocked and very upset about Rain being dumped. “We want to help anyway we can. We’d like to go visit her,” Pia said.

Pia and Jim were so nice but I found it again so odd that they would be so fixed on a dog they just met once and since they adopted another dog already. They saw how dominant rain was with Heston. But we needed Rain to get walks and socialization and I was grateful for their help.

Three days later I received a call on my cell phone while I was on my way to pick up two soon-to-be-homeless Chihuahuas.

“Is this Sandy?”

“Yes it is.”

“It’s Pia.”

“Oh hi Pia.”

“Jim and I are with Rain now,” she sounded breathless. “We have spent a lot of time here with Rain. We introduced her to Lydia and it was love at first sight.”

“Yeah,” I said, wondering where this was going.

“And then we introduced Heston into the mix. They really got a long. It’s like Lydia broke the ice,” she laughed.

“Oh yeah?” And…

“Sandy, we want her. She was ours all along. I never got her out of my mind. We love her.”

“Wait, let me pull over, I can’t believe this.” I had worked with dogs for two decades. I saw how Rain was with Heston the first time. People move on, this doesn’t happen. “Are you sure Pia that the dogs are getting along?”

“Famously,” she giggled. Then she paused. “Sandy,” she blurted out we want her we want to adopt her now. It’s my birthday today. Can we adopt her?”

“Of course, of course!” I shouted. “Yeah Rain!” I heard yelling and cheering on the phone line. “But I need you to do me a favor.”

“Of course,” she said still giggling with glee.

“You have to give Rain my signature goodbye since I am not there.”

“Of course.”

“Tell her, be a good girl.”

“Be a good girl,” she repeated to Rain.

“Have a wonderful life.”

“Have a wonderful life.”

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

“Now give her a big kiss and hug.”

I heard loud kisses. “Done!”

That night I received an e-mail from Pia and Jim:

There are three darlings here now. I think Lydia helped accelerate the whole process so things happen for a reason right? We will keep you posted on the progress. We are keeping the name Rain.

Rain, Rain, go away, come again some other day...and she did!

Thanks again Sandy.

Pia and Jim.