Reunion

[rpcrowe]

Some of my CiC friends might remember Pepsi and Cola, the two dogs who were rescued from a storm drain beneath the Los Angeles Freeways///
Saving Pepsi Cola

Pepsi and Cola, on the recommendations of several professional trainers were adopted separately. They had become somewhat neurotic with Cola being totally fearful and her brother Pepsi becoming somewhat aggressive to strangers when he was around his sister.

Anyway, the adoptions have been a total success. We just had a reunion at a local dog park. Both dogs are looking beautiful and obviously love their respective families. They recognized each other but preferred their human families...

1.

2. Pepsi

3. Cola


This made Judy and I really feel wonderful. The families absolutely love these dogs and the dogs love their families...

[flashback]

Richard, I think this reunion proves a very salient point: Dogs co-evolved with humans and prefer humans to the company of other dogs. This is not to say that dogs don't like other dogs, they do but at the end of the day they prefer to be with their human pack. One study showed that dogs under stressful conditions showed an increase in cortisol (a stress hormone) even in the company of other dogs. But when a person, even a stranger entered the room cortisol levels dropped suggesting that dogs are more comforted and more comfortable when in the presence of people. This link provides more information.

[rpcrowe]

Our favorite time is when a dog whom we have fostered is returned to our house for dog sitting while the family goes on vacation. The dogs always get very excited and happy to see us again which makes us feel wonderful.
But, when their family returns for them, they are even more excited and happy. This makes us feel even better. We have done our job!

BTW: Thanks for the link to that book...

Here's another really great book:

https://www.amazon.com/Chill-Out-Fid.../dp/B002RL98WG

The author, Nan Arthur, was one of the professional trainers who recommended that Pepsi and Cola go to separate families...

[Rita]

That is indeed a "Job Well Done".

[IzzieK]

They both look so happy and contented -- dogs really lived for the moment...I like that in the first shot you have photographed these two women using a dividing line behind them making for a separate shot each for description purposes.

[Shadowman]

Nice moment and captures.

[NorthernFocus]

Another job well done, Richard. Way to go.

[bnnrcn]

I remember Pepsi and Cola from the past and I feel very happy for them . Thanks again for saving them

[rankin]

Excellent captures - well taken.

[rpcrowe]

Thanks all - we left the reunion with a wonderfully warm feeling of having given two wonderful dogs a chance for a loving life.

THAT'S WHAT WE ALWAYS STRIVE TO DO