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Adopted

Ritchie Great Pyrenees & Labrador Retriever Mix Kiowa, OK

  • Young
  • Male
  • Large
  • White / Cream

About

Coat length
Short
House-trained
Yes
Health
Vaccinations up to date, spayed / neutered.
Good in a home with
Other dogs, cats.

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Meet Ritchie

Ritchie's Story
-Written by Ritchie, a 1-year-old, 65lb male Great Pyrenees/Labrador Retriever mix.
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I was about as free as a dog could be. I spent my days roaming the countryside. I could do whatever I wanted and didn't have anyone to tell me no. I stayed up late, I ate whatever I wanted, and I didn't have to worry about keeping my coat clean. I am sure to some this sounds like a dream come true. The life of a stray isn't all it is cracked up to be though. I had no name...I mean it's not like I came across too many that I ever had a chance to share my name too...but still...I wasn't even sure what to call myself. You would think that I would be happy that I never had to go through getting baths or brushed...but it was quite the opposite. I watched my coat start to fall out. I watched it turn from a beautiful white to more of a dirty white. Whenever I looked at it, I saw clumps of fur halfway fallen out all over my body. Sure, I could eat whatever I want but most of the time there was nothing. I sometimes ate trash, sometimes I was lucky and caught some wildlife, and other times I ate something that made me feel really sick. Fun...right? I got to stay up late at night it wasn't for fun. No, I had to stay on guard all night because I often heard coyotes at night. I couldn't afford to sleep at night because I may have not woken up the next day. There was no one to tell me "no" but there was also no one to love me. There was no one to tell me it would be okay when there was a thunderstorm. There was no one to hold me close. There was no one for companionship and there was nothing..it was just me, myself, and I.

I tried to make friends. I tried to wander up to people's houses but many weren't having it. They didn't want me close to their chickens, or livestock, or even to have me on their property. I was shot at, I had rocks thrown at me, and eventually, I learned that it was safer to avoid people. Sure, some were nice but I had no way of knowing prior to that. I just wanted a place to belong. Was that really so wrong? One day I was so hungry that I broke my rule. I ended up wandering a bit too close to people in search of food. I couldn't believe it when a person came my way...I was both excited and nervous. They were very nice to me and even offered me some food. I started to wonder...could this be it? Could I finally have a family of my very own?

Sadly, that isn't how things turned out. They ended up loading me up and taking me to the animal shelter. I had heard of this place and have been told that you never want to end up there. I tried to resist. I tried to tell the people that I wasn't ready. To just let me go but I was a stray with no home and I couldn't just stay on the streets forever...so I ended up being inducted. I was assigned a kennel, given a blanket and a chew toy and off I went. Maybe, I would have had hoped that I would be adopted if I hadn't looked the way I did. I was dirty, my fur was poking out every which direction, and I was skinny. Oh, and I had scars from nights when I got a little too close to some not-too-friendly animals. As I suspected, people overlooked me. My saving grace was that I was on stray hold but I already knew that I didn't have anyone looking for me. I couldn't even remember my last family. My stray hold was over all too quickly though, and I was back to needing to be adopted or possibly not making it out of the shelter. It sucks not having a voice. I didn't get a say if I became a stray or not. I didn't get a say if I wanted to end up in the shelter or not. And once again I had no say in what happened to me. And what was the crime I was being charged with to fall into this position? Being homeless. Being abandoned by those who I loved just so I could end up with no say. I was convinced that my life was over. Who would pick some dirty and raggedy stray?

As it turns out, I was wrong. Someone did choose me. My foster family. They saw my photo and knew that I deserved a chance. They agreed to foster me so this rescue could welcome me into their fluffy butt program. Before I knew it, I was being bailed out of doggie jail and on my way to my new leash on life. Upon entering my foster home, it was obvious that I had never been in the house before. I was really unsure. My foster family would try to comfort me and give me pets but you know what I did? I flinched. I cowered. I was scared of their hand because of things that happened in my past. That sucks. I could feel that they just wanted to give me love and yet I was scared to be pet. How sad is that? I was finally safe and had someone to care for me and I was scared of it...

Even though being in the house was a new thing for me, I caught on rather quickly to the routine by watching the other dogs. It didn't take me long to be fully potty trained and kennel trained. I am not a chewer and haven't destroyed anything in my foster home. I am not a big barker and have even been given free roam of the house when my fosters are away. At night, I sleep in my open kennel or somewhere in the house. While I am on the quieter side I don't know how I would do in an apartment setting. I open up more and more each day, but I don't know if the constant "traffic" of apartment life would be okay with me or not. Along with that, I am still working on my leash training and learning what it is. So, that would be another obstacle that we would need to work through together if you lived in an apartment.

Now that I am starting to open up, I have become more playful. I play hard and then crash just as hard. I love to play with the other dogs, romp around in the yard, and do the zoomies. I think that one day I may enjoy walks or to go on hikes. But today is not that day. I still panic when you put a leash on me and will drop to the ground. I have been introduced to the game called fetch, and am not impressed. Why would you throw a perfectly good toy and then expect me to go get it? I just don't get it. Maybe it is because I am still figuring out toys and what they are. I have started to play with them some, but not a whole lot yet. I do enjoy playing in the water. I don't know that I would go jumping into a pool or anything, but I do like to play in it.

Speaking of playtime, I do enjoy playing with other dogs. I have done great with my foster family's dogs and enjoy getting to be part of a pack. I spent so much time on my own, it is nice to know that I am part of a pack that won't let anything happen to me. I have met cats and do well with them. I have not been around any kids so am unsure how I would do with them. I am a bigger guy and playful at times so they should definitely be 5+. I do good when meeting new people. I am timid but friendly with them. When people come over to my foster home, I will say hi and then go off and do my own thing.

Sometimes I cannot believe that I have gone from a stray dog that no one wanted to someone who not only has his foster family standing behind him but this whole rescue. To make things even more amazing, I now have a chance to find my forever family. I for the first time in I don't even know how long..have a voice.

I am looking for a playful family. One that is a good mix of active and calm. I need a patient family. I have made great strides in my foster home but sometimes still flinch when you go to pet me. I am slowly starting to feel more and more secure, but I need someone who will be there to hold my paw while I continue to blossom. I would really enjoy having another dog or even a couple of them in my new home. I enjoy playing with them but I also enjoy the comfort and companionship that they bring me.

I hope that someone out there has fallen in love with me. That someone out there will look at me, and think I am the dog for them. If you are that family, then please apply to adopt me at
https://www.pyrpawsandfluffytailsrescue.com/adoption-app

Once this app comes in, it will be sent on to my foster family. This is to help ensure that not only am I a good fit for you but that you are also a good fit for me! ?

I am currently residing in Purcell, OK. If you have fallen in love with me and are out of state, how about a road trip? I do good on car rides, and wouldn't mind relocating out of state.

My adoption fee is $250.
That will include my DHLPP, Rabies, and Bordetella. I will be micro-chipped, have a fecal done, be de-wormed, be spayed/neutered, and will be current on heart-worm and flea/tick prevention.
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EPILOGUE
-Below is an excerpt from Ritchie's foster family.

"Ritchie is really sweet. I don’t think he has had any attention before coming to us. He is timid at first the your touch, like he is scared you will hurt him. Once he knows it’s ok he loves to get loved on. We are working on leash training. I think he will be a wonderful pet to a family that is willing to give him the time he needs to unwind and feel comfortable. A family that is willing to work with training him on a leash. I think he will eventually love to go on walks!"

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Ritchie

Ritchie

  • Great Pyrenees
  • Young
  • Male