I miss her

So it's been 6 days since Hope went to her forever home...and I miss her. Granted I've been so busy picking up mom and Rocky and Morrison, attending a memorial of a fallen friend, and making final preparations for my swim around Key West that I haven't had a lot of time to stop and think about how much I miss her.

Hope and I made the short trip to Mark and Kathleen's Friday, June 8 (hmmm...9 months to the date that we adopted Kira?!). The weather was looking nasty as we headed out...but there was a beautiful double rainbow in the direction we were headed. The drive took a little longer than it normally should, due to heavy traffic...but it gave me a few more minutes with my sweet, sweet Hope.

We arrived at M&K's to see several neighbors outside...so Hope got to make a GRAND ENTRANCE to her new neighborhood! All the neighbors OOOOHED AND AAAHED as we exited the car (and I'm fairly certain it was because of Hope...not me!! :>)

As soon as we entered Hope made herself at home. She remembered M&K and greeted them before checking out Angus and the rest of the house. Business was taking care of (contract and such), food was brought in from the car and Hope's little pink bunny (a gift from her foster grandmother) was placed on her futon.

We spent a little time talking about the past week...and then Kathleen was gracious enough to take my picture with Hope (how convenient that I brought a camera! :>)

I gave her a big hug and kiss and told her to be good and enjoy her forever home...and she went over to the sliding glass door and laid down to look outside. I gave M&K big hugs and made a quick exit before I lost control...managed to get to the car before the tears came. Hope is so very lucky to have been chosen by M&K (or did she choose them?? :>) They are wonderful people and I know they already love Hope and will lavish tons and tons of affection on her.

They actually called on Sunday to let me know Hope was doing really well...and to tell me she's become a lap dog!! Yay for Hope!

I'll probably foster another Pyr before long...but I need to give my heart a chance to recover...and I need to finish this swim and find a place to live for Mom. I'm fortunate to have two of my own fur balls that are all mine. I'm glad I could help Mark and Kathleen find another fur ball to love!

sigh...

Forever Family

It looks like Hope has found a forever family. Mark and Kathleen had contacted the rescue club last week after going to the pet adoption expo (that I missed b/c of swimming) last Saturday.

They previously shared a home with Punk (pumpkin) a blond german shepherd they had rescued from the woods behind Kathleen's office. Punk had many, many good years with Mark and Kathleen (and their Wire Haired Terrier, Angus) before old age won out...

They decided to find Angus a new sister and after seeing the Pyrs and talking to some owners thought they'd like a white furball!

I did their home visit just yesterday. I brought Hope with so she could help with the interview. My main job was to check on fencing, talk a little more about the breed. Hope's main job was to look adorable (check), survey the yard perimeter (check) and use her doggie senses to check out Mark and Kathleen (check and check).

Initial greetings were exchanged between all the two-legged and four-legged creatures! Angus was rather frustrated that he wasn't allowed down immediately to lead the introductions!

After a few minutes inside their beautiful home (GREAT artwork on the walls of bears and other wildlife!) we went out for the backyard inspection. I took a quick peek at the fence and Hope instantly made use of the bathroom facilities (just as I'm telling Mark and Kathleen that we've discovered Hope is afraid of the rain and would hardly go out this past weekend during Tropical Storm Barry and had messed in the house for the first and only time since we've had her!)

We watched Hope explore the big yard...including all the nooks and crannies. Eventually Angus was allowed down and instantly made contact with Hope. His initial sniffing was not a problem...but when he tried to get "fresh" with Hope she growled and squashed him down. He took the rejection well.

The humans talked for quite sometime about previous 4-leggeds in our lives and Hope's quirks and character!

Upon going back inside the house we spent most of the time on the floor with Hope...and she was quick to look to Mark and Kathleen for love and affection...especially when I sat on my hands and told her I couldn't pet her!!

The home visit ended after about 45 minutes. I told M & K they would need to let Terry know if they wanted to adopt Hope or if they were still interested in seeing more dogs. Apparently I was no sooner out of their driveway then they were calling Terry saying Hope had finished her inspection and they would like to give her a forever home. Terry called to ask how the visit went, after I relayed all of the above she told me they wanted to adopt Hope and I INSTANTLY started crying. It was a good cry and a sad cry.

I will be bringing Hope back to M & K's house this Friday and she will start her new life with them. I am so happy that we found such an awesome home for Hope. She's such a sweet, sweet dog and deserves lots of love and affection! I know she will keep Angus from getting "fresh" with her...but she'll also finally have a playmate that will PLAY with her. Kira and Patrick still kinda shun her sometimes...at least when Dave and I are looking....maybe they thought if we saw them being too nice to her we would have kept her forever.

Anyhow...I thought I should post this...make it official...before I change my mind and convince Dave to let me keep her!