ASPCA Happy Tails: Language of Love

On December 5, 2009, Mary Alice Strang of Rockville Centre, NY, visited the ASPCA Adoption Center and changed a dog’s life forever. The eight-year-old Pit Bull mix had arrived at our NYC headquarters two months earlier, when her former pet parent, who was struggling to survive on the streets, turned to us as a last resort for her beloved pooch.

Gentle and sweet-natured, Christy—who loves other dogs as much as she loves people—was in pretty rough shape. She had surgery for breast cancer at the ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, and then spent some time resting, recovering and winning the hearts of ASPCA staff. Soon, she was bouncing around our indoor dog park and teaching a lesson to many a chew toy.

On meeting, Mary Alice was thrilled at the prospect of providing a home for Christy. Now this fortunate pup is settling in nicely with her new pet parents and five kitty siblings: Lilah, Roswell, Otis, Newton and Ernie. Admittedly, the cats are all in “different stages of acceptance.”

“As soon as Christy saw her bed, she was in it,” reports Mary Alice. “She also enjoys the sofa and the armchair and knows the various routes we take for her walks, choosing a different one each day.”

Thankfully, the get-along pooch hasn’t lost any of the unique personality traits that made her such a hit with ASPCA staff. Mary Alice says: “My favorite Christy quirk is that she talks. Her vocabulary is made up of a variety of sounds beyond barks, growls and yips. She likes to put them together into sentences and walk around talking to herself.”

Perhaps one day soon, Christy will share her thoughts with her new pet parent, but until then, Mary Alice is content to watch the plucky pooch explore her new world. “We don't converse yet because I haven’t learned her language,” laughs Mary Alice. “I'm sure that when I do, we'll have great conversations.”