The best things are worth waiting for Chip the dog finds his forever home

By Ginny Privitar
West Milford — The West Milford Messenger has helped bring a man and a dog together, and they couldn’t be happier.
A couple of weeks ago, the Messenger published the West Milford Animal Shelter's pet of the week about Chip, a dog who was its longest resident.
Tony Diorio was at home while his roommate and tenant, John Miller, was reading the Messenger and came across Chip’s story. He turned to Diorio and said, “You should check this out. You should think about getting a dog.”
Miller had a 13-year-old Akita who passed away on New Year’s Eve named “Bibou,” an English translation of the Japanese term for beautiful face. The two of them had lived with Diorio for the past three years.
"BiBou’s passing was really hard for me, and I haven't had a dog in years," said Diorio.
He added that he was thinking about getting one. In fact, he recently went to the shelter "just to look" the week before. Then he read Chip’s story in the Messenger and went to see him. Someone at the shelter had told Diorio that Chip was aloof and not very cuddly, and some people were turned off by Chip not responding to them. Diorio remembers that at first all Chip did was circle in his enclosure.
“Maybe he was shut down with all the distraction and not having someone to be a companion to him," said Diorio. "I could see where he wasn’t being affectionate because people would come and go. And why should he form a connection?”
Diorio went back a second time and Chip greeted him. That's all it took for Diorio to adopt Chip who came home to a 4,000 square foot log home and thought he was in heaven.
“By that evening he was comfortable and no longer paced around,” he said. “I have to tell you that Chip is the most affectionate dog.”
Diorio said Chip adapted easily to his new home and both man and his dog are quite content.
"I can’t say enough about this dog. They gave me a cage at first and he never used it. Right now he’s sacked out on the bed (a big comfortable dog bed). He doesn’t go on the furniture. He’s such a good, good dog.”
The new owner said Chip is very playful and well behaved.
“Shelter personnel were concerned that he would mark inside the house, but he hasn’t. He's smart and listens to everything."
Chip appears to be part mastiff and has webbed feet so there might be some Labrador in him.
“He loves playing in the kiddie pool,” Diorio said, “He’ll get in there and splash around. And he’s eating like a king on the best food."
Miller said he loved his Akita and talked about the necessity of setting rules for large, active dogs and has some words of wisdom.
“She was raised well. I took an alpha position and let the dog be a dog," said Miller. “Chip is a great animal. Unlike being aloof and standoffish, he goes right to the people who come here. He’s got a good home and is appreciated."
Diorio summed things up nicely by encouraging people to consider adopting their next pet:
“There are so many beautiful dogs at the pound,” Diorio said, “I really lucked out and so did Chip. I hope other people go there and take a look at the other dogs.”
And of course cats. There are many dogs and cats available at the shelter and, like Chip, can certainly turn out to be that special companion.
And if now is not the time to get a new pet but people still want to contribute, the shelter is in need of paper towels and laundry detergent. They can always use volunteers too.
For more information, call 973-728-2859 or go to http://www.westmilfordanimalshelter.org. The shelter is located on Lycosky Drive, behind recycling.
For more photos of Chip, go to westmilfordmessenger.com.