This is the story of a Pharaoh part 1

It's Wednesday, November 14th and its early afternoon. I'm with Stacy at Broward County Animal Care n Adoption Center. She's gonna pull a couple puppies and adopt them out through Milo's Rescue. We're looking at every cage. A cute lil catahoula mixed dog catches her eye. I walk past her and turn to the opposite row of cages. I see a shepherd mix, light in color and super cute. I look into the next cage. There are 3 puppies in this one. One has dark ears standing straight up. He has a black snout. The black actually goes all the way to right past his eyes. He is light colored with black on the back of his front legs as well. This dog is strikingly beautiful. He actually looks like he might even be a pure bred puppy. His paperwork says his name is Archie and he is a 6month old shepherd mix. He was an owner surrender. Somebody adopted him and returned him. They said he wasn't friendly.

I stuck my hand in the cage. He licked me. He seemed to melt. The other dogs tried getting to my hand for attention. He backed away slightly. I let the others lick my hand, then called Archie forward. His face lit up. He nuzzled my hand n nipped at me. He was a puppy alright, just not 6 months old. Archie tore my heart open. I told Stacy to look at him. I said his paperwork says he isn't friendly but he is very friendly. He's shy and he's scared and I wouldn't doubt if he was abused in some fashion. Stacy said we needed to keep looking but to grab his paperwork. I did.

We continued through the compound. Dogs and puppies and cats and kittens everywhere. So eager for love. So hungry for attention. So desperate for a forever home. Normally, I can't focus. Normally, I have tears in my eyes. Normally, my heart is heavy. This day however, it's almost as if I have tunnel vision. I have to save Archie. I just have to. The thoughts racing through my head are a confused mess. I talk to my friend Tim and seek his advice. He is a straight shooter like me and basically says the same thing, I have to save him. I approach Stacy, "I'll foster him. He needs out. They'll kill him Stacy." She agrees to look into the situation.

We grab the paperwork on 2 other puppies and go to the front desk. She starts filling out what is needed. Star can come home right away. The 3rd needs surgery so she places a hold on her. Archie she wants to do a temperment test with. I take his paperwork back to his cage. Again my heart breaks. I call David. I tell him about Archie and say I wanna foster him. He agrees. We leave to go pick up Stacy's daughter and come right back and do the test. Stacy and her lil girl go look at the puppy on hold while I wait in the play area with Star. Archie is brought out to us. He and Star bond right away. He is playful. I approach him. He's terrified but doesn't attack. Stacy and her lil girl return. Archie is playful but fearful. Lexi falls in love with him. She wants him to stay the night. He will.

Stacy does his paperwork and we go outside. He and Star play again. I lead him away so they can go potty. He pees on my foot lol. Stacy says "That's it, he's yours. He marked you" I laughed and secretly hoped she was right. I already love this puppy and know I need to put in a lot of work with him to get him to trust people. He doesn't even act like a puppy but I'll explain that later. Stacy picks him up to put him in the car with me and he stiffens. The staff had said he growled at them when they picked him up. How I wish I could know his story! In the car ride home he is terrified. I can see it in his face. He doesn't move for the entire 25min ride. I pet him n talk softly to him. I am determined to show this puppy love.

We get to Stacy's house n she proceeds to feed the pups. Star is super aggressive and Archie is terrified. He wants to eat but Star is bullying him and he's too afraid to stand up for himself. He backs away when I try to feed him. He doesn't wag his tail. He doesn't even lift his tail. He cowers away from me. I eventually go home and Stacy keeps me updated. He is so obedient. He never messes in the house. He plays with Star but is scared of humans. I will pick him up the next morning and Pharaoh (Archie) will begin his new journey....

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