About Pike
Pike writes an article in the West Hawaii today each week, now you can follow him here as well.
Pike's Peak as he is formally known was adopted from the Hawaii Island Humane Society in March of 2009.
Jolene was dropping off donations to the HIHS and had her daughter Elaina who was just 2 at the time with her. She decided to walk through the adoption area and show Elaina the animals. All of the dogs were barking and pawing at the kennel doors for attention. When Elaina approached Pikes' cage he stopped and got down very low as if to say I would never hurt you. Jolene asked about him and found out he had been is shelters island wide and had just made his way to the Kona shelter.She asked if she could take him outside to the Bark Park. When she let him loose in the park he flew. Being a whippet cross this dog was born to run. He raced around like lighting in a summer storm. When he ran toward Elaina however, he slowed down on his approach until he had come to stop right by her side allowing her to pet him on the head, kissing her fingers, before he tore off again. She giggled with delight.
Jolene told the staff of the HIHS she needed to speak to her husband Dr. Head about getting a dog. When she returned to work she told him and the staff about this crazy dog she had met. It was a Friday afternoon and work was crazy. She told herself if he was there Monday she would bring him down to the hospital to meet Jacob and the staff. You see Pike was damaged. At some point in his life, his right eye needed to be removed and the wound on his side had to be repaired, he was also still running around with his landing gear (testicles) and needed to be neutered. The HIHS agreed to let her take him, only if she agreed to foster him. She said she would. Jolene figured at the very least they would operate on him and get him ready for adoption. Well as you can imagine the kids were so excited about him. They gave him the name Pikes Peak after the Peak in Colorado. The next day Pike underwent surgery to repair his wound and take out his eye. While he was under they decided to neuter him. He woke up from his tip to tail adventure sore and afraid, but gave them kisses anyway. He now officially had a family.
It took some time for him to settle in, he coward and peed when you approached him, he was very unsure about men in general and was ever so cautious of everything. Eventually the Heads' started to bring him to work and keep him up front to socialize him. He began to blossom. He learned to shake, sit, wait, lay down and kennel up. He began to be affectionate and need to be touch rather than recoil from it.
Pike was introduced to the community in the paper and they seemed to embrace him from the first moment . Many people stop by just to tell him hello. He is here to comfort people when they are stressed or sad. He seems to know when he is needed and always offers a nudge or kiss to those who could use one.
If you ask him if he is famous he will tell you. RUFF RUFF!! Stop and meet Pike and we think you will agree we are the lucky ones.
