How Shermon from Tupelo, Mississippi became Loki from the Lakes Region of New Hampshire

 

About three years ago, in October 2019, we were dropping some old blankets off at the Humane Society in Laconia, New Hampshire. I decided while there that I would look at the dogs up for adoption. I really had no intention of adding a new dog to our small pack.

I caution you now.  Never go look at dogs at a shelter unless you plan to get one. Because you will.

It was love at first site.

When I was growing up, we had a string of Beagles. Ike (my parents were Republicans then), Snoopy and Spot (yes Spot). Spot lived the longest, he died of very old age when I was away at college in Santa Cruz, California. Spot had slept at my side through my pre-teen and teen years. When I was in junior college in Saratoga, California he would track me to my class a few miles from our house and be waiting for me when I came out of the lecture hall or lab. Before I could get to him, some other student whom I didn’t know would greet him, “Spot how are you doing buddy.” And I’d say, “Come-on Spot lets go home,” and that other student would look at me thinking, “Who the hell are you to order Spot around.” Spot was so popular on campus that he made it into the school newspaper. And someone from the administration found our phone number and asked if we would keep him locked inside during the day.

In modern times, dogs don’t usually go around unleashed, and besides, there is no college campus near our house in New Hampshire.

When I saw Loki (then named Shermon, and I’m guessing they didn’t know how to spell Sherman) he pulled at my heart strings. The Humane Society staff explained that Shermon was one of many dogs coming out of Mississippi. Tupelo, Mississippi to be more accurate. He still wears his out-of-date green Tupelo, Mississippi rabies tag.

I wanted to take him right then, but they said I would need to fill out some paperwork for review by the shelter manager. Then, if approved, we could visit Shermon and see if we got along. Then, if we got along, we would have to bring our other two dogs to see if they got along with him.

This unending process stressed me considerably. I was worried that something was going to go wrong. A background check finding an old unpaid parking ticket. That speeding ticket letter I got from France that I ignored. Maybe one of my references would seem too seedy (you know, not all college professors are completely upstanding.)

The first test passed; we went to meet Shermon. We got along, but he was shy, (Loki shy? As if?) and mostly played with toys in the meeting space. Next, he met our dogs. Bast, our son’s dog. Bast lives with us in New Hampshire since our son had moved to Florida where it is too hot for Norwegian Elk Hounds. There was a little sniffing and then they ignored each other. Then Shermon met Gawain. It was loud. It looked like fighting, but we were assured by the staff that it was playing.

Shermon was ours. We renamed him Loki and took him home.

The first night we hopped into bed, and Loki followed us in and crawled under the covers. Loki was not as shy as we thought. But his nose was cold. He snuggled up to us and has slept with one of us ever since.

Regardless of how uncomfortable it might be to have a dog sleep on your chest, stomach, legs, arm or hair he will always be welcome to share our space.