In June, my neighbor volunteered to foster a beautiful, timid, rescued Australian Cattle Dog named Matilda. One year old Matilda came from the Animal House Shelter, Huntley, IL, USA, and was estimated to be about a year old.

Every time I saw Matilda, I fell more and more in love with her. The pull to adopt her became stronger and stronger. It was magnetic! One day, she came with Tammee into the yard. When I saw her, I yelled her name and the timid little dog came running to me, wagging her tail. Once there, I cupped her little head in my hands and kissed the white spot on the middle of her forehead. I believe it was then that I had made the connection that I could not break away from. I had to have her and I certainly could not imagine leaving her to a life of uncertainty. I just could not allow anything other than to adopt her and give her the very best that I could provide. This beautiful little creature with the sweet little soul- I had to have her.

She’s VERY intelligent and very funny! She will lie on the ground, draw her paws together, and place her little face upon her “hands” and just stare at me for what seems like hours on end without so much as blinking. And if I then tell her “I love you”, she will SNAP her head to the side and not look at me as if to say: I am mad at you! You are not doing what I want! And with this, I generally drop what I’m doing and take her to the park!

She’s changed my life and I love her so!