Paul Hosts ‘2nd Chance Dog Show’ at Fire Hydrant 5k [PICTURES]

It was spring 2006 when for some reason I was inspired to visit the Larimer Humane Society. I had seen a puppy on their website that looked kind of cute, and since I had just moved into my first stand alone home with my soon to be wife, I thought maybe a puppy would be a good idea. When I got there and saw the puppy, he gave me a look like "I will chew your life out from under you." I realized that I wasn't in the place to raise a puppy, so I

went over to the dogs. Most of them stood at the front of their cages and gave me a few barks. They were friendly barks, for sure, but none of them resonated with me. Then I came across a cage with a beautiful Golden Retriever mix. Unlike the other dogs that were almost pushing against the fence at the front of their cage, this one was cowering in the back of her space. She was visibly sad and gave me eyes that melted my heart. I crouched down and asked her what she was doing in a cage. She slowly came forward with a half smile on her face and waved her paw at me. That was it. She was coming with me.

So, the next day, after sleeping on a decision that would affect me for years to come and her for the rest of her life, I went and picked her up. She hopped in my car with very little trepidation and since then has been my bestest doggie friend ever.

I do believe there is a deeper connection between us because I rescued her from her cage. In some cases she is overprotective of me. It is strange. She can be with other dogs when I am not around, but when I am, if a dog tries to come near me, Della will have none of it. She

can turn from the sweetest, gentlest dog in the world to a bit of a snarler if another dog wants love from me.

Another interesting thing about Della is that she loves kids. Adults, not so much, but she is on her best behavior around the little ones. Take Halloween vs. a random solicitor. Random solicitors are generally adults and Della either barks at them from inside the house or keeps them at bay from her leashed position on the porch. But an adult with a small child receives no such barks during Halloween or any other time. She is completely great around kids, and for that I am very thankful. In fact, I am just very thankful to have Della in my life.