Even Cat People Fall in Puppy Love

Bill and Jody Geist Find Themselves Going to the Dogs After Adopting a Rescued Puppy

(CBS)  I'd always been a cat person - Timmy, Frosty, Burt, Katy, Peaches, Randy, Scooter, just to name a few.

But my wife Jody and I flipped over our daughter's new dog, Barkley, and decided we just had to have one, too. Our first … and therein lies a tale.

We spent weeks scouring the Internet ("Ooh boy, that's an ugly dog!"). Some were too big (like a bullmastiff - 175 pounds!).

Some too small. (A five-pound dog? "Nah.")

And some just … too much ("$2,500!?!")

But look at that face! This one seemed just right.

Except the dog was in a rescue shelter in Easley, S.C., and we were in an apartment in New York City.

But they offered free delivery! They instructed us to meet them at the Vince Lombardi Service Area on the New Jersey Turnpike, which sounded a little … shady. Jody could almost hear the "Sopranos" theme song playing as she waited for the deal to go down on a rainy dog day afternoon.

But everything was on the up-and-up. Debra from the shelter arrived after a 15-hour drive, her delivery wrapped with ribbons and bows.

Bill gushed: "You're cuter than your picture."

She doesn't look like our other kids.

Now, I knew raising a puppy would be a challenge, but I had no idea. You practically have to quit your job.

The struggle for a name was only the beginning.

Mongo? "Awful!" Banjo? "No, terrible." Cher? "Awful." Loco? "Loco is pretty good."

"Lisa Marie appeal to you?" "Never." A bark rang out. "She doesn't like it, either."

And so she became Daphne. "She was this long-legged, elegant dog," Jody said. "Daphne, just because Daphne's so elegant."

Your whole life's turned upside down. The dog is fighting with the cat who's been hiding in the closet for four weeks; the dog is barking at all hours, and there are guys hauling our carpets out to be cleaned.

You have to get your dog out early - or suffer the consequences.There are always some tense moments in the morning waiting for the elevator, 'cause when you gotta go, you gotta go.

And you are not alone. All manner of dogs and owners congregate in the park each morning when dogs can romp and wrestle unleashed.

"You're off the hook," Bill said, unleashing Daphne, who runs, barks, wrestles.

"The minute you get a dog, it's like living in a small town and knowing everybody on the street," said the owner of Fred. "And knowing the neighbors, it's great. You turn into Fred's mom or Daphne's dad. Everybody knows dog's names, not people's."

Well put, Fred's mom. There's Ollie and Jersey, Tosca and Aspen, Millie and Buttons, Joker, Sammy, Toby, Hudson and Apollo, just to name a few. The gang's all here!

Of course socializing is not the primary reason we're up.

At first we had to walk her for up to two hours to get any results, six times a day! You do the math.

You know how cats have litter boxes and babies have diapers? Dogs don't.

You find yourself doing things you vowed you'd never do.

What's it worth to have someone else handle the job? Priceless - and that's what Brian and Randy call their dog service. Walking 12 dogs this morning, at $15 each, they're really cleaning up, so to speak.

They also provide doggie day care - in a Manhattan apartment, sometimes with live entertainment. They must have very understanding (or hearing-impaired) neighbors.

Daphne arrived untrained. We tried instructional videos.

Come. Daphne. Come. Come to me. Sit and stay. Get my slippers and pipe. Fetch Get the newspaper. Roll over.

Hmm. The dog may be deaf.

But clearly, professional help was needed. With private sessions costing $125 an hour we checked out a class conducted by Phyllis of the Follow My Lead training academy.

Bill and jody and daphne watched as phyllis taught.

"Think there's hope for her?" Bill asked.

"I think, probably," Phyllis said. "I think probably - if her owners learned a few tricks."

As first dog owners, we had an immediate need for lots of dog stuff.

We hit Zoomies, a dog boutique in New York's West Village, where dog beds can run $250. Dog jackets, like an all-weather coat - part of Zoomies' sport line - run $50 to $120.

Susan from Zoomies thought Daphne needed a whole wardrobe - and, face it, she did look marvelous in everything.

They also sell biscuits. "We have the first biscuit bar for dogs in New York," Susan said. "We have 15 flavors, whether they be organic or natural. There's no sugar, no salt, no butter. Just try a biscuit, for example. Smell, this is gingerbread . . . "

Dogs can share them with their humans - just don't eat too many of them.

Funny how a practically free shelter dog can wind up costing a fortune.

Now our fashionable young girl-about-town needed to be properly quaffed.

You have to make an appointment at the renowned Tomy Magueri Dog Salon two weeks in advance. Magueri's been called "the Vidal Sasoon of dog grooming," and has brought his art to dogs in Rome and Vegas (all of which scared me, frankly).

If I go home and she looks like a show poodle I'm going to get kicked out of the house.

I didn't want Tomy dying her blue or anything.

"We like the 'shabby chic' look," Bill told Magueri. Daphne was treated to a nice oatmeal bath.

There were a few alarming moments like when Daphne tried to get off the table once Magueri started drying her.

But she looked fabulous . . . so good I felt like I needed an oatmeal bath to be seen with her.

Daphne, I don't think we're in Easely, S.C., anymore.


For more info:
goldensrescue.org
pricelesspetservices.com
followmyleadnyc.com
zoomiesnyc.com
tomydog.com

[Catherine77]

"Sunday Morning" is a ritual at our house with morning coffee. Bill Geist being one of our favorites, we always look forward to his segments. This one was particulary enjoyable, dog lovers that we are and having recently adoped a new family member from the animal shelter where I voluntee. Our two dogs were relaxing on the floor when you began the story, as soon as Dahpne appared, Sophie (our new 9 month old girl of unknown heritage) perked up, she put her nose close to the screen and watched the entire piece. I paused the show, went upstairs for the camera and returned. She did the exact same thing when we replayed the segiment. Wish I could send you the picture, it is so cute. Thank you so much for promoting animal adoption, there are so many great pets needing forever families. Thank you also for presenting such a quality show every week.

Sophie, Tucker and I wish Daphne, Bill and Jody many happy years.

[SDJillian1]

Mr. Geist, I just wanted to express my deepest thanks to you and your family for chosing adoption over buying from a breeder. As an animal lover and volunteer at our local animal shelter, in addition to a cat rescue organization, it is absolutely heartbreaking how many animals have to be euthanized. What people need to realize is that there are really very few no-kill shelters. There is very little, if any, public funding given to these organizations. So thank you again for the charming piece on your new addition and please everyone... spay and neuter your pets. If everyone only knew how many milions of perfectly wonderful pets get killed everyday.

[Lparisi]

LOVED your story! I think your Daphne is a wheaten terrier. We got our Winnie about 10 months ago and she looks a LOT like your Daphne. Best of luck!

[BreAnn824]

I think this is a very touching segment. As a dog owner, I have experienced the unconditional, never changing love of a dog. The work of the rescue is a wonderful thing, the loving people involved in the time, expense, care, and all that's involved to help some of these badly abused animals resume a healthy state for adoption speaks for their character. Some are unwanted, "thrown away", but thanks to people like Debra and her associates, a loving home is found!

Congrats, Bill & Jody on your new "baby", I know you have many years of loving thanks coming from her! Hope to see future segments with Daphne and her new family!

[misfithorse]

I would love to hear more about how Golden S rescue helped Daphne and how her life has been saved through the devotion of the rescue saved her life.
She certainly is a Lucky Dog!
SC is full of animals that are put to sleep every day because they are unwanted. So nice to see a happy future for Daphne

[DAPHNESMOM]

Dear Bill,

I enjoyed your segment on Daphne so much. I laughed and I cried. My beloved cat was named Daphne. She passed away last year at 16. We also rescued our Schotzie and we had 16 beautiful years with him. God bless you for adopting a rescue dog. My daughter has a papillion, who I inherited when she moved out. He gets groomed once a month and we have to make an appointment one month in advance. The training was the best...there's Daphne on the chair all comfy and cozy...and when she went right past Jody at the training session, I was absolutely hysterically laughing. We just adopted 2 rescue cats. Keep up the good work. I always enjoy your segments.

[michigan2]

Geez- glad you adopted a pet but getting one from so far away was crazy. You wasted so much money and resources. Then to pay top dollar for the dog supplies and hair cut - you should have adopted a kid. I have successfully trained dogs by reading a book. Did you just have cash to burn? I think you should pay $50 for matching shirts for you, your wife and dog that say "Sucker"

smart people live in Michigan

[Fred_Levy]

Thank you Bill for creating what I think is one of your more personal stories. I often see you looking at others with a lighthearted curiosity but this time you turned the camera on yourself and brought a much more personal touch to us. You were able to bring out some of those little details of why we dog owners love our dogs so much. I hope we get to see more of you and your dog in the future.

I also posted a comment about it on my blog today.
http://thedogparkbook.blogspot.com/2009/09/no-park-for-me.html
Thanks again.

[jkfbrown]

Bill & Jody - I used to have a female dog who looked just like yours and we named her "Rusty" (our kids idea because her fur was a rusty tint). She was a great family dog who lived to be about 16 years old. She was also a rescue dog of unknown origin. Hope you enjoy Daphne as much as we enjoyed Rusty.

Your old friend from Champaign, Judy Forte Brown

[peppers1mom]

I loved the segment on Dafne this am. It rang true on all accounts as to what we devoted dog owners go through to assure that our beloved pets have the best life ( a dog's life). They help us to live better lives especially when our children are grown and spouses have long gone (one way or another). Thanks for this upbeat segment and I hope to see follow ups on Daphne in the future. Maureen O'Sullivan from Tucson,Az

[iSqueek]

Bill, my wife and I are from your old home town (Ridgewood, NJ). We just loved your news story as we just adopted a mini dachshund from Texarkana and used Alpha Dog Transport (true heros) to transport him (Eddie) across the states to us. We met them in the parking lot of a hotel on RT. 80 and we thought it all was a very stealthy operation sitting in a parking lot waiting for a scheduled stop. But when they arrived and handed us little Eddie we were so impressed with their operation. I just wanted to pop on here and mention it because we saw how happy you were with this "delivery". As I said these people are real heros.

I also wanted to mention that my brother and I have a squeak toy iPhone app that your new dog will love called iSqueek. Which was inspired by my late dog (Hemmy) that was also a rescued dog. This is his story:

http://www.harryapps.com/Harry_Apps_LLC/Story.html

Thank you for the inspiring story of your own rescued dog.

My best,
David Alexander
Harry Apps LLC

[drewh49]

Thanks for the great story and thanks for bringing a rescue dog into your home and hearts...kudos!

I'd like to second the request for a story on rescue transporting and rescue organizations. The transport for Daphne was likely done as a labor of love by a volunteer. These dear people are willing to donate their time and energy to give critters a chance at a good life.

[jenniferclune]

Thanks for airing this heartwarming story! It's so important that people consider the overflowing numbers of adoptable pets in shelters and rescue organizations, and your show has done a wonderful job of illustrating this! Best wishes to Bill, Jody, and Daphne! What was the name of the rescue? I've helped to transport many dogs and cats for rescues in this area (I live about 15 miles from Easley), and was THRILLED to see that Bill and Jody had chosen a dog from a local rescue!

[msalabama]

Unlike Biden & Obama, who BOUGHT a pet from a breeder, the Geist family did it right and ADOPTED their wonderful pet, who they found on Petfinder.org. A charming report Bill! I enjoyed it immensely.
Do you know about rescue transporting? It would make another teriffic animal adoption story.

Bill and Jody, thanks for rescuing Daphne from the animal shelter. You not only have a new life long friend, but you've made others aware that you can find a loving pet by adopting rather always purchasing from a breeder. Enjoy your new family member!