Meet Your Neighbor: Walter gets second chance at a happy life
PORT CLINTON — It can take a lot to sweep a woman off her feet. A guy needs teddy bear sensitivity, a ridiculously handsome face and an indelible fondness for snuggles.
And if, on top of all that, his lip constantly catches in his tooth, the woman doesn’t stand a chance.
“Walter’s lower tooth caught in his upper lip and he gave me a look, and I thought, ‘Oh great. Now he’s mine,’” Catharine Hadley said.
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Walter is a dog of unknown breed, probably between 2 and 3 years old, with a traumatic past and a bright, shiny future. His charm won Hadley’s heart, and he is lucky to have her. When he entered her life on Easter Sunday, he finally began the journey to become the dog he was meant to be.
There was a time that didn’t look possible. Walter’s early life was spent in the home of a hoarder, and he never left the filthy kitchen where he was contained with an aggressive dog whose attacks left lasting scars on Walter’s body. When the house was condemned, he was rescued by Amy King of Dog Gone Gorgeous in Sandusky, who fostered him beginning in October 2020 while she searched for his forever home.
Walter was emaciated, terrified of people
“Walter didn’t know grass. He didn’t know rain. He was in terrible living conditions. The owner thought she was doing a good thing, but she suffered from mental illness,” King said.
When King took Walter home, he was emaciated and terrified of people, other dogs and every new experience. Unfortunately, everything was a new experience for Walter. Twice, families adopted him, expecting a quick transformation, but both times he was returned two weeks later. Then King heard about Hadley, who had a deep love of dogs but no plans to adopt one.
“She said I needed him,” Hadley said. “At first I wasn’t sure, but then I met him.”
While Hadley had a full understanding of Walter’s needs and the time it would take to help guide him past his fears, she discovered something new about owning a dog like Walter.
Sometimes it takes a village to raise a dog.
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Getting to know a different side of human nature
From the beginning, Hadley introduced Walter to people who could show him a different side of human nature. Her Port Clinton neighbors were the first to teach Walter that the world is a kind place. They met Walter where he was — both physically and emotionally — by crouching down to his level and talking softly to him.
“Now I can’t say the word ‘friend’ unless we’re going outside to see the neighbors,” Hadley said. “My neighborhood is the reason he is who he is today.”
Throughout the summer, Hadley brought Walter to downtown Port Clinton Art Walks and Sunday Farmers Markets so he could discover, in another venue, that people are nice.
“I bring him to stuff like this so he can meet people and know it’s nothing scary,” Hadley said during the Sept. 12 farmers market. “He’s changed so much. Now, when we do this, he gets excited. He’s still scared, but he likes it.”
And everybody likes Walter. Hadley and Walter can’t walk very far before strangers stop them to meet Walter. They are drawn to his ridiculously handsome face and his teddy bear sensitivities.
“I think people spot something in him, that he’s had a troubled past,” Hadley said. “Certain people notice that and want to help him have a better life. I get to see the best parts of people because of him.”
Today, Walter is a happy dog who loves treats, long walks and, more and more, affection from strangers. He is tail-wagging evidence of what happens when a village brings love into a dog’s life.
“I’m so happy Walter found Catharine,” King said. “He’s right where he needs to be.”
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.