Readers it's high time you met Mister Wilson! Before I tell you a single word about him I just want you to look at him.
No, seriously, look at him.
Mister Wilson is a Basset Hound/Chinese Sharpei mix, and he is magnificent.
He is also a park of Gina's pack, a pack we've featured many times here on the blog.
We've shared Moo Latte, Bella, and Dakota. It helps that both Gina and her daughter Schyler are huge animal lovers who also love to take pictures.
It really helps that Gina is a photographer with a knack for animal photographs.
He is also a park of Gina's pack, a pack we've featured many times here on the blog.
We've shared Moo Latte, Bella, and Dakota. It helps that both Gina and her daughter Schyler are huge animal lovers who also love to take pictures.
It really helps that Gina is a photographer with a knack for animal photographs.
Speaking of Gina's pack, with so many dogs already in her home (one of whom, Moo, has medical problems that wind up costing a lot for treatment)
it seemed pretty unlikely that Gina would be taking in any new pets. However, she and her friend Shane have an ongoing joke/battle over exposing each others' rescue weakness.
If Gina sees any Heelers in her newsfeed on Facebook through the many animal organizations she follows, she'll tag Shane, knowing Heelers are his weakness. Likewise Shane tags Gina when he sees any true "mutts" that make people scratch their head trying to figure out what in the world the dog could even be.
And so that's how Gina first saw Mister Wilson. He was three years old and on the South Salt Lake Animal Shelter's Facebook news feed.
it seemed pretty unlikely that Gina would be taking in any new pets. However, she and her friend Shane have an ongoing joke/battle over exposing each others' rescue weakness.
If Gina sees any Heelers in her newsfeed on Facebook through the many animal organizations she follows, she'll tag Shane, knowing Heelers are his weakness. Likewise Shane tags Gina when he sees any true "mutts" that make people scratch their head trying to figure out what in the world the dog could even be.
And so that's how Gina first saw Mister Wilson. He was three years old and on the South Salt Lake Animal Shelter's Facebook news feed.
When Shane tagged Gina and she saw that face. . . well what would you have done?
She called Utah Friends of Basset Hounds, a group she's worked with plenty of times and through which she got Moo, and asked them to pull him as a rescue, after which she would foster him until he found a furever home.
Yeah.
Well.
I'll bet you can guess how that went.
The thing is, Gina feels sure that Mister Wilson picked her immediately upon meeting him. Whether she knew it or not, he did. He knew he was destined to be hers.
There was something else too-he was destined to be a part of her pack.
He had an attitude about him, but in the best possible way.
He was "chill and zen," and his entrance into her home and heart also changed the other dogs as well.
The entire dynamic of the group slowed down in a good way. Little "tiffs" that would arise between Dakota and Moo went away.
Isabella learned how to behave herself on walks. The whole group just mellowed. How could Gina do anything but keep him after that?
He had an attitude about him, but in the best possible way.
He was "chill and zen," and his entrance into her home and heart also changed the other dogs as well.
The entire dynamic of the group slowed down in a good way. Little "tiffs" that would arise between Dakota and Moo went away.
Isabella learned how to behave herself on walks. The whole group just mellowed. How could Gina do anything but keep him after that?
There was an issue though. He needed eye surgery for his entropion eyelids, a problem that's common for Sharpeis, as Wiley's friend Leroy also needed it. Basically their eyelashes and lids turn inwards and constantly irritate their eyes, even causing bleeding.
The cost of this surgery was daunting given their medical bills for Moo Latte, but with the help of both friends and strangers they raised enough money to have the surgery.
After that Mister Wilson officially joined Gina's household, following her everywhere and serving as her sidekick. Here he is hanging out under her desk at work.
The cost of this surgery was daunting given their medical bills for Moo Latte, but with the help of both friends and strangers they raised enough money to have the surgery.
After that Mister Wilson officially joined Gina's household, following her everywhere and serving as her sidekick. Here he is hanging out under her desk at work.
She takes him to all kinds of doggie events and fundraisers.
He even won a hot dog eating contest at the Basset de Mayo party sponsored by the Utah Friends of Basset Hounds!
He even won a hot dog eating contest at the Basset de Mayo party sponsored by the Utah Friends of Basset Hounds!
This picture of Mister Wilson, taken by Gina, won two photography contests too!
Of course Mister Wilson donated his winnings to the animal organizations his mom works with, because he loves to pay it forward.
Of course Mister Wilson donated his winnings to the animal organizations his mom works with, because he loves to pay it forward.
Mister Wilson and Wiley have similar ideas about equality too.
He also loves treats, and spends a good deal of time pursuing them. In fact Gina says he loves just about anything except getting his nails clipped, and carries on very loudly at the vet's office when he has to get that done.
Mostly he just likes being with others, whether it's his sisters (fur and human),
his mom, other dogs, or complete strangers.
Gina is working on getting him to be a therapy dog, and she's also developing a calendar too. Just think of how great Mister Wilson is going to be as the Wrinkly Face of Rescue Dogs! It's his Doggie Destiny!
You can keep up with Mister Wilson in a number of different ways. You can follow him on Facebook here.
You can see pictures of him on Instagram @pawprintsbyfox. I highly recommend checking out Gina's Instagram; she really has an eye for photography and you get great Mister Wilson pictures, like this one
plus plenty of other fun photos.
Wiley and I want to thank Gina for taking the time to share Mister Wilson's story. He truly is a great face for all rescue dogs, and Gina's heart and home represent everything that's right about the Rescue Dog world! Readers, you can share your story with me anytime you'd like, and I'd be happy to share it on the blog. Just email me at pabibliophile@gmail.com. Thanks!
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