Walter

Entrant's First Name
Cherie

City
Santa Monica

State
California

Name of the rescue organization your pet was adopted from:
I Stand With My Pack (ISWMP)

Share Your Rescue's Story - What would you like to share with the voters about him/her?
My name is Walter, I’m an old senior Bluetick Coonhound. I was giving up hope at a shelter in Lancaster, California located in the western stretch of the Mojave Desert. The rescue, I Stand With My Pack (ISWMP), felt my plea for hope and rescued me. I have a large tumor on the front of my face and a larger cyst under my tail. In-between, I have lumps and bumps all over my body.

A foster mom took me in after losing her senior dog. She loved the outdoors and I loved to howl outdoors. She took me on a cross-country road trip taking the northern route through all her favorite national parks. HOWL! We drove through Zion National Park, UT, the Grand Tetons, WY and Black Hills and Sylvan Lake in SD!

On our trip, my prior life experiences and trauma started to unveil. My storyline of being a hunter dog became quite obvious when, I would chase squirrels up trees and lean on the tree while howling away. Hound dogs are nationally and internationally known as hunting dogs and sadly, known for being discarded as we become older seniors. My fear of her leaving me in the middle of nowhere was strong. As she would open a car door to get her camera on the trip, I refused to pee at our stop and fight to get back inside the car. All 65lbs of me clambering to get back inside. Every time I saw car doors shut and a car driving off while on our many walks, I would howl cry and would try to run to the car. It was a trauma from my owners driving off and leaving me. I also, was sensitive to her touching my face. As time went on, I loved her touch on my face and the kisses. I so loved our stops to pee, run around and take photos. I didn’t care about the car doors opening and shutting anymore. I knew she wouldn’t leave me. We had a blast traveling across the United States together!

Today, I have my typical droopy ears and droopy eyed hound dog look but, I carry a frequent smile as I greet other dogs and their owners on my long walks by a lake and through a small main street area with dog bowls outside the stores filled with water. I've become kind of a popular sensation in my new neighborhood, loved by many. I feel so lucky and so loved. Thank you ISWMP for rescuing me and giving me hope for a new loving home. It’s rare we senior dogs get so lucky to be adopted. Thank you to all the rescues out there, you save lives. I’m one of them.