Chester’s Gotcha Day

A few days ago, Life With Dogs posted this photo on their Facebook page. It reminded me of our Chester and his Gotcha Day.

Source: Life With Dogs

Seven years ago, we were looking to adopt a dog. Our neighbors, Deanne and Paul, volunteered with a newly formed pet rescue organization, fulfilling duties of photographing and dog handling at adoption events. They had come to know a few of the dogs very well. They recommended we consider this one goofy-looking, energetic, happy boy.

He came home with us the day we met him. We would eventually give him a new name – Chester – to begin his new life. Why Chester? He had these big, black “spots” on his cheeks, making one of the kids think of “Chester Cheeto” (yup, that orange junk food stuff!)

Those spots made him seem rather homely in a way, especially because they had hairs poking out of them, just like nasty moles. He was a mix of at least German Shepherd and Labrador, and the chosen traits from each created a somewhat clumsy-looking canine. A large head, barrel chest, Lab ears and Shepherd tail atop rather thin legs…add on the spotted face with a big snout, that was Chester.

He wasn’t exactly a purebred beauty. There was something about him, though, that endeared him to you the moment you were near. And here he was, a young dog (guesstimated to be around two years old) rescued from the mean streets of Chicagoland, in need of a loving family.

We couldn’t resist. We had to at least give him a trial run in our home.

That first day we were continually amazed by his impeccable manners and good behavior. That would all change, of course, once the adoption was finalized (did I mention he’s intelligent?) But he was by no means perfect. He was so exuberant that he often jumped up on us – something that would have to be worked on. Also, Chester was a big, strong dog and I wasn’t sure how I or the kids would handle things if/when he misbehaved.

When evening came, I lay back on the sofa to rest, only to fall sound asleep. A tickling sensation on my neck woke me from my dreams. As I opened my eyes, my heart stopped. One large, strange, furry head was lying across my chest, and the body it was attached to was stretched alongside mine. Chester’s eyelashes must have fluttered in REM sleep, tickling my neck!

As unbelievably adorable as it was, I didn’t know this dog at all and wasn’t certain that  I could trust this big guy. So I lay there, with him all snuggled up against and atop me, wondering if I’d be able to get up eventually.

We spent Chester’s first night sleeping together on the sofa.
To Chester, it was all perfectly clear. He was home.