Rowdy's Story, by Myrle and Kevin O'Neill

It was one week shy of a year marking the sudden passing of our beloved Bishon Frise, Kip (which stood for Kick in the Pants). Attending the annual PHS/SPCA dinner dance was a tradition, so we decided to go despite our recent loss. Halfway through the dinner, I was caught mid-bite by a little dog on the stage staring out at me. A small white waif was in the arms of a volunteer showing the animals up for adoption that night. I saw the face of our Kippy and I said to myself, “Uh-Oh.”

The next morning, we set our alarms and arrived front and center as the Burlingame PHS/SPCA doors opened. We asked to meet with the little white fluff named Button. As they brought him out to us, we were warned that he was hyperactive and barky, but we were immediately “paws to heart” smitten. 

Bringing Him Home

Button was a Maltipoo, which is a mix of Maltese and Poodle. With a small stature, a rounded head, and floppy ears, these dogs carry the appearance of a puppy for nearly their entire lives. They are super intelligent, hyper alert, and love to clown, but also prone to separation anxiety due to their strong attachment to their owners. 

Three days in, my husband and I contacted the shelter to get more background information on this little guy. We’d had dogs all our lives, but he was displaying behavior we had never seen before. How had he come to them and what was his history? 

We learned that he and a little terrier were seen in East Palo Alto heading for 101 on an onramp when a good Samaritan called the Humane Society for assistance. When they arrived on the scene, they scooped the two little dogs up and took them to the local shelter. Button was brown with dirty matted hair, but they cleaned him up and then kept him for several weeks to assess his adoptability. 

The Serious Work Begins

Button (renamed Rowdy, for reasons that will soon become clear) was barky, unruly, and wild when we first brought him home. But knowing his history helped us understand some of his unusual behaviors, such as why he licked water off leaves, ate bugs in the garden, and acted like he hadn’t been around people. He really didn’t know how to exist in the world and was in survival mode most of the time. He also made Houdini-like escapes when we weren’t looking, and he was reactive to other dogs. 

That said, with lots of patience, training, behavioral consults, and much love, he started to relax in his new home. He’s our rescue success story, our little buddy, and we love him to bits. He makes us laugh every day, and after 7.5 years, continues to be a wonderful (albeit rowdy) addition to our family.