Ripley

Adopted: May 21, 2011 

Ripley came to the BC SPCA Surrey Branch in April 2011 as a stray. His life before coming to the shelter is unknown, but his gentle and wonderful temperament was noticed by all staff and volunteers. Ripley was at the shelter for about a month before finding his forever home.

Ripley's proud family wrote to us to update everyone who knew him:

We adopted Ripley in May 2011. He had been in the shelter for a while and was quite reserved and seemed very timid and wary of us. When we got him home he was the same for the first few days, but by the end of the week was starting to show his true colours.

 He is full of life, loves to play with other dogs and loves being with his family. His favourite things in the world are - snow, Squirrely his stuffed toy squirrel, playing with other dogs and carrots. He adapted very quickly to life with us. He doesn't mind being left alone as he also enjoys sleeping a lot. He loves to steal my spot on the sofa whenever I get up. He enjoys meeting new people and big dogs, small dogs and very small people he is very tolerant of, but ambivalent towards.

 I am a pet photographer by trade so he is often used as a model when I am trying out new techniques. He is a good model but simply wont get out of bed for less than a carrot a day.

He loves to go out walking and doesn't mind what the weather is doing or how ridiculously early it is. He is very good and only comes in to inquire about his morning walk when he hears our alarm go off and the lights come on. He enjoys car rides and particularly barking at dogs he sees outside. He acts very tough when we drive past other dogs, but when we meet them face to face he is very polite and friendly.

So we have had him for about 8 months now. We cant really imagine life without him anymore. He makes all of our outings more eventful, like the time a woman decided to sit in our local dog park eating scones. She had a napkin spread out on a tree trunk and placed a scone on the napkin while she talked to her friend. Ripley, with all the stealth of a pickpocket, crept up behind her and stole the scone. Whilst sprinting away he swallowed the thing in one bite.

He was a stray before we had him and I think that scavenger mentality may always be with him, even when we know he can't be hungry he will pounce on food like he hasn't eaten for weeks.

We wondered whether to change his name in case it confused him, so we kept it. However he now has a whole string of nicknames (Monkey, Murnard, Rippers, Rip, Furry-D). He always seems to know when we are talking to (or about) him. 

Anyway, that is life with Ripley to date. I hope other people find as  much joy with rescuing a dog as we have.

Regards
Chris

What a lucky boy Ripley is, and what a wonderful new beginning he has underway. Happy trails to Ripley and his human family! 

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