Whitman, named for the candy, which is usually sent to love ones on Valentines Day, is also Whitman’s arrival date to DRT. 

Whitman was a mess when Carol got him, he was so shy and got “spooked “ by everything, however, we all know that Carol likes a challenge don’t we?

I usually check the DRT web site at least once a month because I just want to keep up with what’s going on and I like to see the “Dobes Available” page.

Whitman’s pictures and story intrigued me, I kept coming back to it time after time, and after about a year, I was wondering why he had not been adopted.

My big Doberman, “Buddy” had passed away after 10 years as our constant companion, and my wife Nancy, our female Delilah (Buddy’s mate for 3 years) and myself, were heart broken which is definitely an understatement.

5 months after Buddy’s death, I called Carol, she answered in her normal breathless manner, and I asked did she have a few minutes to chat with me about that Doberman, Whitman,  “I’m just curious about him” I said.

Carol made a Heavy sigh, taking a deep breath, and said ok I need to take a little break anyway.

“I can’t believe you of all people, who want their Doberman's ears to be perfect, are interested in Whitman” she said in almost wonderment.

(This is the short version folks, to see the complete story look for it in the next News Letter.)

Carol and one of her fantastic volunteers, Kellie, met me at the gate of the compound and took me to some benches in the play area then asked me to sit down and be still, they told me not to look at Whitman, or try to touch him, when the brought him out. Carol told me he would be checking me out and should he come close enough to sniff me a bit, just go with the flow. Should he allow me to pet him, and then only rub under his chin they said.

This is a fantastic Doberman Pinscher, which nobody wanted, I suppose no one wanted to take the time required to get him to accept them, but I did, and I’m glad I did for sure.

I made about 12 to 14 visits out to the DRT at about 1 hour per visit, sometimes longer, and Carol, Kellie, Trish, Debbie. Kay, Claretta and Amy were there to help me each time, and these volunteers are truly angels, I am privileged to know them and without their help, we most likely could not have made it happen, but Whitman was a really special guy to all of the volunteers and especially Carol and they went way beyond the call of duty to help Whitman and I to bond.

Our female Delilah was in love the minute she met Whitman, in fact she threw herself at him shamelessly and they enjoyed their romps out in the big exercise field together. Delilah had a lot to do with getting Whitman to relax and enjoy our company, without Delilah we would not have gotten as far as we did in the length of time we have spent with Whitman.

So Whitman is now home with us, and let me tell you, he loves it, and he has fit in wonderfully, this guy, is the Doberman we were hoping for and needed, and you know, I suppose he has just been waiting for me, and we are happy he did, and now he relaxes with the choice he made in “picking us.”

A delighted DRT
"repeat adopter,"

Bill Ellis

When Jack is not lounging on the sofa in the RV, he likes to help Phil watch the road.