Clio

The plight of Elpida’s long-term residents moved me to contact the team about adopting a second dog. Everyone was friendly, positive, and honest about the dogs and thorough in learning about us, our home, our lifestyle, and our other dog. 

Clio was suggested, and she resembles a dog my family adopted when I was a child. For me, it was fate. However, my husband was adamant that a second dog would be too much work, too expensive, etc. After a few glasses of wine, I convinced him to take Clio as a foster.

Clio and an Elpida volunteer met us at a motorway service station a few weeks later. Clio was understandably skittish about almost everything. We quickly realised she needed house training, had an upset stomach from the stress, and was not used to household noises. She also became territorial towards our other dog. The dogs had some snarls but it came and went. On the positive side, she was clearly clever, gentle, playful, cuddly, beautiful, and loyal – I really could not understand why she had not been adopted sooner.

At 6 weeks, I sent a write-up about Clio to Elpida to promote her adoption. But then, the dogs were separated over the New Year. When reunited, there was lots of playing, nuzzling, licking, and wagging tails. Again, I plied my husband with wine and sent the happy news to Elpida.

At three months, it is the subtle changes that make me happy for Clio. How she excels at obedience class. How she now approaches strangers. How the dogs endlessly play and enjoy each other’s company despite the age and personality differences.  How she just plain enjoys life and lives it to the fullest – a lesson for all of us really.

Clio completes our family and balances our other dog’s personality. We are still working on things – the occasional urge to chase a lorry, for example. But we will continue to have a lot of fun as we learn to communicate and live together.  I absolutely feel we made the right decision for our family and for the Elpida shelter, as they can now take in another dog in greater need. Thank you Elpida!