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Back in the late 1990s, I'd just moved to the city from the country to live with my father and felt that I needed a companion. At the same time, a television programme was promoting the joy of rescue dogs. Having always had dogs, I felt that a pup would be just what I needed to get me out of the house and would give me some companionship and friendship. To that end, I talked my dad round into getting a pet, and we set off for the rescue center to look for a suitable dog.

We would go once a week every week, but after a couple of weeks of fruitless searching and not seeing any dogs that we clicked with, Dad grew disinterested and one week wanted to skip the visit. I didn't want to stop, so I pushed him along to the rescue center.

We searched while I felt pressured to meet a dog. We went to one cage, and there was this fellow who wanted to be everyone's friend. He bounded up to be fussed over. I looked at the cards on the cage door, and it said his name was Giles. He didn't have much of a history - an estimated age and uncertain parentage - but we waited for our interview. This was a long wait as they were short-staffed. My father grew increasingly impatient. His protestations, however, only reinforced my resolve. I would meet my dog today.

Then it was our turn. The volunteer looked at the card and said she just wanted to check. We went to the cage and she pointed out Giles. Giles was standing and shaking at the back, looking dreadfully afraid of everything and everyone. That was the dog I'd picked, and the volunteer wanted to be sure that I actually wanted that dog. I knew if I told the truth, my father would be angry he'd just spent a couple of hours waiting to not meet a dog. I lied.

Then when I met Giles, and he came out of his shell, he turned out to be absolutely perfect.

Story submitted by David Rapp from Hatfield, United Kingdom.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!