“We had been despondent, sad, depressed, you name it, and Wiley turned all of that around. She made it easier to deal with [our previous dog’s] passing and taught us to share our love another very deserving dog.”
Written by Colleen Loughran-Tancredi
Wiley Coyote came into our lives at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, in March 2020. I had been working from home where the house was eerily quiet since I was home alone all day, and still mourning the loss of our 14 year old Jack in November.
I honestly didn't think I was ready for another dog, who was essentially a stranger, to come into my life. I visited shelters and scrolled through all of the dogs who needed a good home online, and didn't really feel a connection to any of them.
Then I came across this picture of a scraggly 12 year old dog with the cutest ears who looked like a little coyote/wolf in a blue handkerchief around her neck that said Adopt Me and I instantly felt that spark! We were worried about getting an older dog but I knew it was the right decision. I spoke with Sarah from Foster Dogs Inc about adopting Wiley and she was fantastic to work with and then four days later, I was picking Wiley up to bring her to her forever home.
On the ride home, I could not believe what I saw – she was sitting slumped, with her ears down and tears were coming down her nose. You see, Wiley was with a family, and was then left at a shelter and she could not understand why. Then, she was rescued from the shelter; she was such a good girl with an infectious smile.
Wiley was placed with a foster home with Maria (@adventuresofbentleyandroyce) and then with Megan (@megan_motherofdogs).
I tried to comfort Wiley and told her she was never going to be shuffled around again, but I know that takes time for that security to sink in.
Little by little, she came out of her shell and learned that she was going to be a spoiled princess for the rest of her days.
She required medicated baths and medication to get rid of the mange and the allergies she suffered from, but the transformation was simply amazing to watch her turn into the absolutely beautiful girl she is.
We then took Wiley our house out of state so she could get out and run around in the country air. I turned around to look at her during the ride & I saw those same ears down and tears coming out of her eyes and we were crushed. She thought she was getting dropped off somewhere else and leaving her which broke our hearts.
When we got there, and it smelled like us and had our stuff, she ran around the whole house, explored and had that signature smile on her face!! She realized she was not getting left at all, but being included in everything we do.
Wiley may be 12 years old, but nobody told her that and we just love all of her playful energy along with the love and trust she now has in her eyes. We had been despondent, sad, depressed, you name it, and Wiley turned all of that around. She made it easier to deal with Jack’s passing and taught us to share our love another very deserving dog.
Although it may be cliché, it is the truth, we needed her in our lives just as much as she needed us in hers.
