If you are not a dog person I can totally understand if you want to skip this post because it may get mushy and contains lots of pictures of Seamus.
Today is Seamus’ birthday, he turns 9 years old. I can’t believe that Seamus has been in my life for eight years, he was one when I adopted him. When I decided to volunteer at the Quincy Animal Shelter I was searching for purpose, a way to matter. It may just have been walking dogs, cleaning up poop, doing laundry, and helping with temperament tests but it was so much more. I got to cuddle the dogs, and show even if it was just a few hours out of my week, that they mattered, someone cared. To me that helped make me feel important even if just to them.
Just a few weeks after I started I came across this little hellion who wasn’t very nice to strangers, lunging and barking, trying to escape but he had the look of a lost soul. I could relate. He escaped once or twice and would even try to bite the volunteers as they got out of his cage. That didn’t deter me though. He was so adorable and I knew he wouldn’t hurt me he was just scared and misunderstood. Maybe I just read into that part but I believed it.
At the shelter – 2006
So when I went into his cage and sat down he ran around in circles and barked but I just sat down.
Me in his cage, even then he smiled
After a few minutes he butted his nose against my hand and laid down, exposing his belly for me to rub. I was a goner. Every time I volunteered I would take him to this little grassy area by the police station and sat with him, and gave him extra belly rubs.
One night I was scheduled to volunteer and he was set to be adopted. I lost my cool, the only adoption to affect me. As a no-kill shelter I knew all dogs were going to the right home not just any home. This one though, hurt. I bawled so hard and vowed to take him if it didn’t work out. Just a day and a half later he came back and as they say, the rest is history.
He has given me so many happy moments, I just hope I give him just as many back in return.
Here is the part where I say Sorry Not Sorry for all the photos of Seamus. His smile gets me every time. *Disclaimer: I only cried 3 times writing this post so I feel like that is a win.
His first vet visit
First snow
First play date with my friend Debi’s dog. They wore each other out.
Always smiling
Raspberry anyone? Psssss
And now deep thoughts
Bath time – I am planning your demise
Cutie Pie Seamus – 7.11 yrs old
Frosty Paws celebration – 2014
Here’s to many more years of this little love bugs faces. Happy Birthday Seamus!
Happy Birthday, Seamus! Enjoy the love! <3
Thank you so much! He is getting lots of extra love today!
happy birthday to your adorable seamus!!!
Thank you. He is pretty adorable! 😉
AAWWE Happy Birthday Seamus!!
Thank you so much!
Awh! So so precious!
Thank you. He is my little love bug.
Awww happy birthday to Seamus!! I have to say he is one of the very few dogs that I see and ALWAYS looks like he has a smile on his face!! Love it!
Thank you. He has his moments but he really is a pretty happy guy. 🙂
Oh my goodness! He was meant to be yours!! This is the sweetest tribute! Happy Birthday, Seamus!
Thank you. He really was meant to be mine. He is just the sweetest pup.
Happy birthday Seamus! Love from your dog pals in PA, Gus, Geege, and Mae!
Thank you. Puppy kisses back to his dog pals.
Happy Birthday to Seamus! I love all of the pictures of the birthday boy. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss my Gracie. Sheltie Poms are the best dogs ever. Please give Seamus a hug from me.
Thank you Hope. They really are the best dogs. I will be sure to give him a few extra hugs today!
Love his little face! So happy you two found each other!
He is just the cutest! I know I am biased and all but still. I couldn’t have been happier to have found the crazy bugger.
Happy Birthday Seamus!! He is so adorable!! Love every picture. I wish I could get a dog but I’m just not home enough.
Thank you. It is a huge commitment. I want a second dog but I know I don’t have the space for a second. It is hard not wanting one though.
Happy Birthday Seamus! I hope one day Seamus and my pups can have a playdate! =P
That would be so much fun. Seamus needs more socialization for sure.
I love his smile! Happy Birthday to Seamus! 😀
Thank you. It warms my heart every time he gives me that smile.
The bathtub faux hawk photo – SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Love his squishy face
Happy Birthday Seamus!!!
That is one of my favorite pictures of him! Thank you.
Omg, I love a good adoption story. What a sweet baby. Happy birthday, Seamus! You are so sweet and obviously bring your mama so much joy!
He is such a good dog, and so glad I found him. He brings me at least one smile everyday. 🙂
Never enough Seamus photos! Licking the ice cream spoon might be my fave, but I love them all. I LOVE HIM. Happy Birthday Seamus!!!
Right?! I mean I had like a million pictures to choose from for this post. haha!! He was so excited for that ice cream.
Happy Birthday Seamus! I love that he smiles for all his pictures.
Thank you. Isn’t it too funny, he really does photograph well.
aWWW Happy Birthday Seamus!!!
Thank you. He is loving the extra attention.
Disclaimer: I only cried once reading this. GYAH I freaking love happy dog stories and this one is awesome!!!
Awww thanks! It really was just perfect timing and I am so glad I have him.
awww! Happy birthday to Seamus!!
Thank you. He is getting lots of hugs today!
Happy bday to Seamus! It is truly amazing how you picked him out like that. I wouldn’t really want to go into the kennel of one who lunges and tries to bite. I understand they act that way due to how they were treated and it is soooo sad but I wouldn’t want to be the next one to be bitten either. I am glad you did because he found a great home!
He really just nipped never really bit down so I know it wasn’t serious. Disclaimer: I would never go into a cage of a dog who we felt was out of control or overly aggressive.
For him I knew that he was poking to see who wouldn’t back down. He needed someone to stick up to him without hurting him. If that makes sense.
Kerry, this melts my heart more than words can say… I love Seamus and I love your story with him even more. It was completely meant to be that the initial family that adopted him brought him back. That just shows you, he was meant to be yours. I love that.
Yes, as soon as he came back I knew he was supposed to be with me. I just knew I would give him the patience and space he needed to show me that he was a really good dog. He proved it to me every day!
Happy birthday Seamus! He sounds like such a great fur child and companion.
He really is, and he gets a bad rap from some people who knew him at the beginning but he is such a good boy.
YOU ARE AN ANGEL! I always want to help animals, and me and my family has fostered nearly 20, but it takes a really strong, brave person to be able to go into a shelter and volunteer your time. I’d be crying the whole time. Everyone should be grateful that you are able to get in there and make a real difference. SO commendable!
And I love that you stuck with the “tough” one. He’s such a great little guy and you’ve given him a terrific life! Happy birthday, Seamus!
Now I’m freaking out that I missed Coco’s birthday haha! Gotta look it up!
Thank you. I think fostering is such a noble thing to do and very brave. I might not want to let them go. I thought I would have a tougher time letting them go but I think the shelter did such a great job of finding the best home not the first home.
He had his issues for sure but we have worked through a lot of them. He has always been a love bug though and always such joy. Haha! I have Seamus as a contact in my phone with his birthday as a reminder! 😉
These pictures are adorable and I love knowing his adoption story. Those always speak right to my heart! I’ve adopted all of my pets throughout the years and love it when others do the same. I think the picture of him in the bathtub is my favorite. Enjoy his birthday!
Thank you. I would always adopt. I think they are full of so much love and just need the right person to bring out the best in them. He is having a blast indulging.
Seamus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy birthday to you!!!
That bath picture is PRICELESS! I love it! And it sounds like you and Seamus were meant to be.
Thank you. After he came back so quickly I knew it was meant to be. He has gotten so much better from when I first got him.
he is adorable – and always looks so happy!!! happy birthday to him 🙂
He really is a pretty happy pup. He doesn’t like strangers but once he knows you won’t hurt him he will snuggle with you.
Happy birthday, Seamus and many more. You two were meant to be together. We have a black and tan German Shepherd, Yogi Bear and a white German Shepherd, Sasha. They are our kids! Animals are pure souls and a gift to us.
Can’t imagine life without them.
Enjoy the celebration with Seamus!
Love, SMD’s Momma
They really are, they are in our lives for a reason. They bring so much joy.
Girl you almost made me cry, too!!! You two were meant for each other, it’s obvious. 🙂
The bath pic and Frosty Paws ones are the best, hahaha!
It is a match made in heaven. Two lost grisly old souls keeping each other company. Haha!
My favorite picture is “and now deep thoughts”! Happy birthday Seamus!
He looks so serious, but those eyes and the tongue. Makes my heart melt. Thank you so much Heather Feather!
He is too stinking adorable! Happy birthday Seamus! Here’s to many, many more!
Thank you so much! He totally makes me smile.
happy birthday to that adorable seamus!!!
Thank you. He was spoiled for sure!
Awww, what a sweet adoption story! I definitely cried a little 😉 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SEAMUS!
Thank you. I got a good one with Seamus.
THERE ARE NEVER TOO MANY SEAMUS PICTURES!!!
I love your story. It’s amazing how they choose us rather than us choosing them. And you two are perfect together.
Happy belated, Seamus!!
Haha! Good because I share them a lot. Yes, it was like he put his paw on me and said “Yup, I’ll take you” and I couldn’t agree more.
Happy Happy Birthday to your fur baby!!!!
Thank you. I showered him with extra luvs.
He’s just so cute!! How is he now with strangers??
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEAMUS! (was that his name or did you rename him?)
Thank you. He is much better. He still has issues with strangers outside but I can have people over and he is okay. That was his name at the shelter and I liked it so I ended up keeping it.
Awwww he’s so cute!!! I hope that I can write as fabulous of a post about Daisy in 9 years 🙂 I had no idea that Seamus was such a terror before you got him! He seems so sweet! I’m glad you got him!
Thank you. He did not make a good first impression on people. He really is sweet he is just afraid of strangers and needs time and space. Looking forward to many Daisy recaps for years to come.