Happy Tails | Tama

Every single animal that comes through our shelter has a story. Some are complex, many are sad, but all of them get better the minute they arrive at the Virginia Beach SPCA. Tama’s tale is a familiar one. A young dog with boundless energy, he had been adopted and returned twice and spent far too many months in the shelter. Despite his backstory and a less-than-stellar first introduction, Tama’s sweet face captured Wendy’s heart – beginning a companionship that has lasted more than a decade.

We recently caught up with Wendy and Tama to see how this blue-ribbon senior continues to amaze.

When did you adopt Tama?

We adopted Tama on February 17, 2013. I remember the date because it is also my husband’s birthday.

How did you know Tama was the one for you?

We actually met Tama a few months before we adopted him. My daughter and I saw him during a visit to the kennel. He was wild and was bouncing off his kennel walls. He made an impression for sure. 

Then one day the shelter changed their profile picture to one of the sweetest faces I had ever seen. Turns out it was that wild dog we had seen so many months before. So my daughter and I made the trip back to meet him for real. He had been there for almost a year at that time and had been adopted and returned twice already. In the meeting room, he nipped at us, tore my daughter’s shirt, and pulled the laces out of her friend’s shoes, but his eyes told a different story. 

So, against common sense, we decided to bring him home. He had so many issues and was young, strong, and full of energy and just didn’t know what to do with it all. He destroyed furniture, dug under the fence and ran off repeatedly, ate eight remotes, and just generally wreaked havoc. It took many years and lots of training, but he is now an amazing member of the family.  

How is Tama doing in the home?

Tama is incredible and loved by everyone who meets him. He still has a huge personality. We always say “Tama does what Tama wants when Tama wants to do it.” We go for walks every day, and he loves to go on trips to parks, stores, and anywhere he can go.

What sort of activities do you do together?

Tama and I have done agility, scent work, and even some therapy dog training together. Right now, our main activity is scent work, and he has achieved his novice titles from both the American Kennel Club and United Kennel Club and is working towards his advanced titles now.  He also has several trick dog titles through the AKC and Do More With Your Dog! 

Our sports journey started at the Zoom Room, and he was their agility league champion twice and on the podium several times as well.  

Does Tama have any funny quirks?

His favorite thing in the whole world is dressing up. He loves wearing bandanas and will bring them to us to put back on if they fall off. Every Halloween he and I dress up to hand out candy, as he loves kids as well. He has also won prizes for his costumes at the yearly Zoom Room Halloween party. In fact, one year he dressed as a trainer, and I was his dog. That picture was used by Zoom Room as their “now hiring” photo for years. He always seems excited when I pull out costumes for him. It makes me smile every time. 

How has Tama enriched your lives so far?

Tama cemented his place in our home when he twice chased off potential burglars from our house.  One was during the day, and Tama went through a screen to chase him out of our yard. Then he dug out of the yard to try and play with the police K9 after they apprehended the suspect.  He is our protector for sure. Always on duty.

From where he came from to where he is now has been a long, difficult journey. I wouldn’t change a minute of our time together, and I hope we have many years more. At 12 years old, he is still very spry and always ready for some fun, though napping is his favorite pastime these days as well.