Harlin--lively young M BC/ACD--Bowling Green, KY--"Adopted"

[ajones]

Just returned from my local shelter, BGWCHS, where I spent some time with handsome Harlin.



He is super-energetic! I will post more photos and a fuller evaluation later, but I wanted to get his basic info out there in case anyone is interested. Technically, he is on a stray hold until Monday (6/25), but I think he is going to need an experienced dog home to help channel his energy into something productive. I haven't seen June numbers yet, but the shelter had over 1,000 intakes in May, and I think the June figures may be even higher.





PF link: http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23336957. One of the staff members said that, since they posted him on PF, they have cat-tested him for a potential adopter, and he did fine. The PA, though, chose another dog instead.

[PSmitty]

I am a wee bit smitten.

[BCMama]

Me, too. Can anyone spell A-G-I-L-I-T-Y ?

[ajones]

Thanks for the kind comments about Harlin. He is one live wire, but I think he is mostly starved for attention and hasn't had much interaction with people who expect him to do anything except be a wild child.

I spent about 15 minutes in the run with Harlin and his kennel-mate Marlin, later learning that they came from the same place but the staff were told they were not related. They obviously get along well with a lot of romping and playing. Marlin was louder (he barked a few times at first) but also settled down more quickly. Harlin was persistently trying to gnaw on me almost all the time I was there.

I tried to get some additional photos, but most of them are blurry because Harlin was almost constantly in motion. However, I did get profile shots of each dog when he stopped to take a drink or check out what was happening outside the run--I thought people might want a clearer sense of body structure/size than might be apparent in the PF photos.



Marlin (listed as an ACD mix)


During a brief break to go explore the outside area of their run.


In addition to being energetic, Harlin is very interested in people and very easy to handle. I looked in his ears, in his mouth, and handled all his feet. I petted his head, body, belly, legs, and hind end, all without incident. He seems to be in good health--I couldn't find any concerning physical issues, and he is lean with a full coat.

Here both dogs are checking out people walking outside the kennel:


And here is Harlin making sure I don't ignore him. Credit to DH for the photo.


If anyone is interested in how Harlin behaves outside the run and away from the distraction of Marlin, I should be able to make a return trip to visit him over the weekend and do a fuller eval. Today I was at the shelter to drop off some donations and hadn't planned to do any evaluations, but when I saw Harlin, I had to check him out!

[PSmitty]

Oh, they're both super cute! All that live wire stuff=nice drive for sports! I hope someone gives him the chance.

ETA: They seem young, right?

[ajones]

Yes, Paula, they both look and seem quite young. The shelter has their ages both at 18 months, but I would have guessed even a little younger (maybe a year?). Harlin's teeth are blindingly white and, as my arms can attest, extremely pointy.

Although I've never done agility or any other dog sport, I do think Harlin's energy could be well harnessed that direction. He seems really eager to bond with a person and, when his initial bouncy-happy-lickiness passes, able to start to focus. It would be wonderful to see either of them land with a rescue or in a home that could give him something productive to do.

[ajones]

I returned to the shelter today to spend some time with Harlin out of his run. He is much easier to handle on his own--not a single mouthing/gnawing incident in the 30-40 minutes DH and I spent with him!

We took along some toys and brought him to the "meet and greet" room at the Adoption Center to play with him off leash. He was delighted to be loose and to have two people to pet him and toys to play with.



He chased balls, picked them up, and sometimes carried them to DH or me. He also had some impulse to tug on one of the toys. Eventually, he was more interested in us than the toys, but he was so inquisitive and curious and really seems to want to please that I think he would be fun to train. He voluntarily, for example, slinked underneath the chair in this photo--then I lured him back underneath the opposite way, just using my hand and having him follow it (no food), and he did it readily.



He also quickly adapted to walking on the slip lead and was curious about and friendly with the people we encountered while out roaming around, including employees, inmate workers, and random members of the public.

Harlin is also a perfect size for sitting in one's lap (and he was fine with me picking him up to get there).


And an outdoor photo just because he's so cute.


I really like Harlin, and I hope someone who can appreciate him is able to adopt or rescue him. For anyone not familiar with this shelter, it is open to long-distance adoptions and very rescue-friendly. Usually, I would volunteer to help, as well, but I am going to be out of town most of this upcoming week. I will keep up with this thread as much as I can, but the fastest way to find out about Harlin would be to call the intake facility (where he is housed) at 270-842-8572. Or, for rescue interest, to contact Deana, the rescue/transport coordinator directly at deana.wehr -at- insightbb.com.

[PSmitty]

Oh, wow. I'm even more smitten now!

[ajones]

Me, too, Paula--Harlin is a really nice young dog who seems to have a ton of potential. And his giant ears make him even more charming....

[PSmitty]

Angie, is it ok if I share your pics on Facebook?

[ajones]

Thanks for asking, Paula. Yes, please share whatever will help get Harlin some more notice!

I have literally almost 100 more pictures of him, too: most of them are not very good, but if there is another angle or something a person wants to see, I will hunt through my collection for more photos.

[ajones]

I have been emailing with Deana, the rescue/transport coordinator at the shelter, and she is hopeful she has found a rescue for Harlin (and also for Nelly). I asked her to let me know as soon as things are definite so that I can update accordingly.

[Jedi's Mom]

My favorite picture is the one with him on your lap.

Good Luck Harlin!

[ajones]

Thanks, Georgia--there is one "on the lap" photo where it's hard to determine which of us is making the more ridiculous face, but I obviously didn't post that one. Harlin seemed to enjoy all aspects of his photo shoot and playtime.

Your good luck wishes must have worked! I just checked Harlin's PF link, and it's now showing "adopted," so I expect that means he suddenly got adopted this weekend or that the rescue plan came through. I will try to touch base with Deana first thing in the morning but then will largely be out of pocket for the rest of the week. I'll go ahead and edit the thread title, though, to show he's safe, one way or another.

[MollyATL]

Adopted