Lens And Leash: Who is this adoption story about?
Carmen Masuelli: Thunder my 2 year old male Husky that is all white and fluffy!
Lens And Leash: What made you decide to adopt?
Carmen Masuelli: We lost our 13 year old golden and our 2 year old golden was lonely for a playmate. We thought about going back to our breeder for another golden, but felt it was time to do the right thing and adopt a pet in need.
Lens And Leash: When and where did you adopt Thunder?
Carmen Masuelli: We adopted Thunder in Jackson, WY on 12/22/17 from the Jackson Hole Animal Shelter.
Lens And Leash: How old was Thunder when you adopted him and do you know anything about his life before you adopted him?
Carmen Masuelli: He was estimated to be about 2 years old. He was found roaming the streets of town and no one had reached out to claim him after nearly two months in the shelter.
Lens And Leash: What made you decide to adopt Thunder specifically?
Carmen Masuelli: He seemed very playful and hit it off with our two year old golden retriever right away. We had two playdates at the shelter to test them out and they were a great match.
Lens And Leash: What is your favorite quirk about Thunder?
Carmen Masuelli: At 50 lbs, he is the biggest, sweetest lap dog we have ever had! Great to cuddle with!
Lens And Leash: Did you have to do any training with him after you adopted him?
Carmen Masuelli: Yes. He was anxious when he encountered other dogs and he was on a leash or on the other side of the fence. His excitement was easily perceived as aggressive and other dog owners were afraid of him. He turned out to be super smart. With just 2 visits to the dog park, he got over it and quickly turned out to be the most sociable and friendly dog at the park. We also had to teach him to sit and wait and not dash out of open doors. Again, he is smart and quickly learned the new rules. Within 6 weeks, we were able to take him to an open park and let him run loose without a leash.
Lens And Leash: What tips or pieces of advice would you offer to people that are looking to adopt for the first time?
Carmen Masuelli: Whether you adopt an 8 week old puppy or an older dog, you need to be patient and be prepared to do some training. We had to work on some potty training and house manners, but he has learned quickly. Now he’s learning to ring potty bells to go outside! Training Thunder has been fun for him (lots of treats!) and for the family.
Lens And Leash: Would you adopt again and would you adopt from the same shelter/rescue?
Carmen Masuelli: Absolutely! The Jackson Hole Animal Shelter is a very clean and nice facility. The staff is very friendly and well trained to help. A dog trainer was readily available to help us with the transition.
