....a few thoughts, a little scattered....
In June I applied to adopt a dog from a shelter in Deer Park, he was a street rescue and looked to be Havanese, sweet pup, but someone was ahead of me in line and I didn't get him. I was a little disappointed, but figured he wasn't for me and I would find my next dog in due time. So, a couple of weeks later I was looking online one night and found a Bichon puppy and also a rescue dog from two different places in the DFW area. I emailed in about both and got an immediate response on the puppy and assumed the rescue was already gone, I've learned adoptions don't take long.
However, Thursday I got an email, the rescue was available. I sent in my application and a little more information including stories of my Barney to the organization and emailed a bit with the husband and wife who owned the organization and were fostering this particular dog. I could tell immediately they loved dogs and were selective about who they allowed for adoptions. Later that afternoon I got a call that I was approved and if I came to see him, I could take him home the same day. I hung up and thought about it for a couple of hours, asked my Mom if she was up for a road trip with me and called back to schedule a "meet and greet" with the organization....
Two weeks ago, on July 2nd, 5 months after losing Barney, my Mom and I took a Saturday road trip to east of Dallas to meet this dog. Honestly between Thursday and Saturday I had 100 back and forth moments of fear and concern if this would be a good fit and if this was in fact a healthy dog. It was nearly 3 hour road trip and long way to go for a "dry run", but I knew might not be a fit and wasn't set on coming home that day with a dog.
And then we walked in. And he came out. And ran right to my lap. And licked my nose. And I cried.
Right there on the floor of the entry to their business with him in my lap. And, I knew.
Barney never would lick my face entirely, but he would lick my nose and when that happened, it brought back so many memories and I was caught in the most bittersweet of moments. I told them with tears in my eyes I would take him and then we started talking. Thank goodness for my Mom, she told a bit of my story. The sweet couple who had him read my blog and aside from loving dogs like I did Barney, she told me she's lost a best friend too, who's name was Angie, and read my posts on grief and loss. She told her husband, despite having so many applications that I needed this dog and was the perfect home for him. They were the nicest people who had taken care of him and take great care in placing animals, she told me they pray for people and good homes. And, I've been praying for just the right dog to come along...
Here we are loaded up and headed home! When I walked out with him she gave him a few pats and told him "you've got a forever home, it's a good one" and I cried again as we left.
While we were on the way home Mom and I talked about what to name him and I decided on St. Augustine, great influence of western Christianity, remembered for blessing and grace, a writer, and I will call him Auggie.
He was the best traveler and napped most of the way home while Mom drove and I took pics as he worked his way around the 4 corners of his bed. My new little companion and shot gun rider.
They told me he preferred women over men, but Auggie went right to my Dad when we got home and never skipped a beat. So much to see at the 4G including meeting all their dogs and the one queen cat.
It was 4th of July weekend, so I had an extra day off and we came to my house Saturday evening to start settling in, and he's fit in like he's always been here. I only told a couple of friends and asked them to pray that Auggie stayed healthy, as fear still crept in for me.
He loves walks on the trails by my house, we take them most evenings. I think in the fall he will be able to walk a couple of miles with me, once the weather cools off.
We celebrated his first holiday with me, July 4th! His foster parents sent him home with a festive bandanna.
Barney never tore up toys and after a couple of days Auggie found the toy box and had almost every toy out of it and my house looking like a toddler lives here. I picked them up one evening and this was his pile, which he was so proud of....
And, it clearly makes you tired after all that play...
We went to the vet, he got a glowing and healthy check up, (the vet was so kind and remembered me from the sick dog I first adopted), and she reminded me all things have a way of working out. When she came back into the room after his exam, her first words were "so you got a golden doodle, where did you get him?". Um, I knew he was a poodle mix, had told me cocker-poo, but if you've read here before, golden doodle was what I really wanted, {
click here} and it was like she tied a bow on my whole adoption experience with that one question! Auggie weighs about 16 lbs and is estimated between 9-12 months old, so his birthday will be August 28th; the day of remembrance of St. Augustine.
One of the things I love about my blog is being able to go back and read posts and see how things do all work out, even when hard and sad.
Auggie met the littles and made his 1st road trip with them to the 4G for Camp 4G 2016! They were immediately smitten and he loved to run and play with them too.
He's now made his 3rd trip to the 4G, 2 weekends with the littles and is settling right into his seat in my car and taking in all the sights along the road.
He also figured out the big dogs have toys in their crate and when given the opportunity he steals their bone!
A few friends have been over to my house to meet him and a few to my parents house, including their neighbor who came over to swim and then met him. She snapped this pic and it is one of my favorites....
There's 100 other little things in these 2 weeks, more to come, but so very happy with this little Auggie dog and hope for many many years with him! And, thank you again for all of your kind words, this season has been a hard one but joy comes in the morning!
Blessings,
