Banshee's Journey
(excerpt from Scream Like Banshee
by DDB founder Tamira Ci Thayne)

Banshee is another black Lab, this time a purebred (if those sorts of things mean anything to you) who came off a chain 1/2 hour from my home, in Fallentimber, Pennsylvania. I'd been watching him for over a year, since my mom moved his way, as he lay lethargically on the blacktop near his wooden doghouse. He never bothered to raise his head when I passed by.

I literally pass 10 or more chained dogs on the 24-mile trip to Mom's new house; last year my gift to these dogs on Christmas morning was to set up a yard sign near every one of these homes. Until Banshee was given up, my actions only netted me a coupla' nasty phone calls, but now I've rescued 1 out of 10 of these dogs!

To you, that might not be anything to cheer about, but since that's about my normal rate of success, I choose to be happy about it.

Happy about it, that is, until I'm actually stuck with Banshee. He was initially accepted into a Lab rescue (because of his papers), but instead of a foster home he went to a kennel where he didn't do well, exhibiting signs of aggression.

They dumped him back on us. With nowhere else for him to go, I ended up fostering him here with me.

I would say Banshee and I have a love/hate relationship.

He loves me, and I hate him.

OK, that's not entirely true. I love him when he's being true to himself, giving himself over to what he's meant to do. You'd love him then, too.

He absolutely adores swimming and fetching balls out of the water, and will do it all day long, every day if you let him. He thinks it's his job, and he's a joy to watch. My heart melts watching him fetch that ball, never losing an ounce of enthusiasm for his 'job,' and I mentally compare the image of him sitting on his chain in the dirt, not a single toy in sight, with this new one of him running and playing nonstop in the stream.

These moments of bliss make dealing with him worthwhile....[Want to know more about the evolution of Banshee and Tami's love story? About his near-death experience and the lessons they both learned along the way? It's all in Scream Like Banshee: 29 Days of Tips and Tales to Keep your Sanity as a Doggie Faster Parent.]

Want to adopt Banshee, who is still seeking his loving, forever home, or another DDB foster dog?

Tired of feeling lonely and all alone when you're out mowing the grass? Adopt Banshee, and you'll never have to mow the grass alone again...or go to the bathroom, take a nap, cook dinner...this is one family man of a dog!