I too found a very young dog along the street and I was so concerned the puppy was going to get hit by a car that I stopped and took her home with me. Once in the car she did this very strange thing that was a combination of a smile and a growl look but did not make any growling sound. It was as if she was curling her upper lip and showing her teeth.
Did the same thing and took her to the local shelter in case anyone was looking for her. Two days later the shelter called me and said there was no one looking for her, she was very sad and did I want her?
When I went back she did that strange "smile" again as soon as she saw me and I knew we were a pair. She is totally black, even her eyes and the shelter told me she was 3/4's Lab and 1/4 greyhound...so she would be fast and a runner and needed space which I had in my backyard.
They failed to tell me she was also stubborn and had a mind of her own.
She took a lot of love and a lot of work but everytime I had to discipline her she would stop and give me that strange smile as if saying "all is well and I love you".
I am fortunate that I live in a great neighborhood and when traveling for work they tend to her needs and visit her and many times take her into their homes....she now smiles at them too.
One of my favorite things is when I come home from a business trip and open the door hearing her whining on the other side and as soon as I open that door there she is giving me that same strange smile as when I found her on the roadside.
I cannot imagine my life without her.
