Marili has been at the shelter for years. Years. And for some reason, no one has ever shown interest in her. No one. Ever.
On the one hand, we cannot understand why. On the other, after so many years of indifference, even we had started to think of her simply as the dog who lives at the shelter, in that specific kennel. Maybe we share some of the responsibility. For years, because she has been steady in who she is and what she does, we have presented her exactly like that: a dog who is simply there, stable in the shelter. And clearly, that is not enough.
Her white eyebrows are not a sign of old age. They turned white quite suddenly when she reached adulthood. She came to us very young and grew up with us. Over the years, they have become whiter and whiter, and the other day, when we took her out for a walk, it felt like we were seeing her for the first time. Our reaction was simply, “Wow. Marili is truly striking.”
So, Marili is a good dog. A very good dog. She is social. For a dog who has lived in a shelter for so long, she is remarkably social. She loves walking around the grounds, and once she begins to discover the world beyond, she will love walks outside just as much. She used to be a bit stubborn on the leash, but with the right handling she would let it go and continue as if nothing had happened. She loves treats, she focuses, she sits, she is present.
If you spend time with her, you understand that she has missed out on many of the things she loves. There was even a time when, during a single walk, she would try to do everything at once. But the years have passed, and Marili has softened. The strong stubbornness and that urgency to catch up on everything have faded. It is as if she has learned, on her own, that everything can happen with patience. Now, she works beautifully with the person walking her. She looks at them, follows them, and when called, she turns back for a touch.
We are certain that when the day comes for someone to see in Marili the dog they have been dreaming of, to welcome her into their home and their heart, she will give back, fully and without hesitation, all her love and devotion.
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