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A New Beginning With Baxter
How A Scruffy, Vegetable-Loving Former Stray Dog Changed My Life
Baxter came into my life a year after the passing of my previous pet.I had been looking for a Westie and a possible match popped up at one of our local shelters, so I wanted to look at her. She turned out to be a very nervous, shy dog who stayed in the back of the kennel. Baxter (called Bart at this time) was in the next kennel. He approached the gate, eager and friendly, wanting affection. After a few minutes of observing him, I decided to take him out for a walk to better assess his potential. After spending some time with him, I decided to bring him home. The journey of a lifetime began after I signed the paperwork.
His first night in his new home became memorable when I discovered one of his special “talents.” I stepped outside to take a phone call, and unbeknownst to me, he slipped out as well. His response was to run as hard and as fast as he could. My mother had to chase him along the major highway in the dark before finally recovering him. No matter what I did to change his behavior, Baxter remained a runner for the rest of his life. I could not trust him outside without a leash. Throughout the years I had him, chasing him down after he escaped the house became a regular occurrence. More than once, he had to be retrieved from the pond near my house or visit the neighbors, scratching at their doors…
