Oh, Nancy! She is a doll! Sounds like this was absolutely 'meant to be'. I just know she will fit in with your boys and family perfectly. Congrats!!!!!!!!

Nancy she looks like she has Rottweiler in her. Dear to my heart. Good luck with her, I'm sure she'll spend her days thanking you.

Jane

OMG she is so sweet looking! Her foster mom did a wonderful job describing how great she is. I'm amazed seeing how she spent her whole life in a shelter. Too bad the woman turned into a collector - I'm sure her heart was in the right place. She must've done some things right though for this dog to turn out so well.

Good luck Friday - let us know how it goes!
Sher

Thanks Weed, Jane, and Sher! I am excited. She is sure to be one funny-looking dog, so she should fit right in here. Her face just gets me, she has that puppy-dog look. She and I can lose weight together.

My stepmom says that the lady with the kennel has a German accent and a WWII concentration camp number tattooed on her arm. I can only imagine what she has lived through.

If you click on the link above and then click on the Waggin Tales Rescue link, you can see the rest of the dogs they have. Alphie, Beta, Gina, Juneau, Rory, Tori, Bix, Jenny, and Buffy all came from the same shelter. Bix is Sabrina's brother, and she has short little legs like his. Rory had the cherry eye, and Beta has some poor muscle development from being cooped up, but otherwise, the lady kept the dogs well-fed and without illness. Dad says that she started to build a concrete outside run, but that the project stopped halfway done. These dogs were inside a big kennel building almost all the time, I think.

Just in the past few days Petfinder has improved their picture-enlargement option. Isn't it nice how you can bounce back and forth between the picture choices for a dog now?

She sounds like a sweetheart and it's great that you found her. She would have a wonderful home with you and your gang. Please keep us posted. Eyes crossed that your current pack accepts her quickly :-)

Bix is cute! I love his stubby legs - I'm sure Sabrina will be just as cute in person. Her pictures didn't really show how long her legs are so seeing him makes it easier to picture.

What is the plan for Friday? Do you keep her a few days to see how everyone gets along? I'm excited for you!
Sher

Sher, the plan is for her to meet us, us to meet her, all three dogs get along, we pass the home inspection, and she stays and we have a new dog! I had a conversation today with someone who does rescue and she gave me pointers on doing the introductions. She suggested we meet out in the front yard (which our boys never see much, so may feel is less their territory), let the dogs meet slowly and only as long as they are not barking or growling or raising hackles. She also suggests that we not let the boys be alone with her during the day for a while - keep her gated separate. I am not so sure about that. Dad's arthritic hands cannot handle the baby gates, so he could not let her out if we gate her in. I can't see shutting her up in a bathroom all day, either.

I got an email from Leza today:
"Today I went home on lunch and Sabrina was PLAYING!!!!
She was so feisty with me and the other dogs! It was so refreshing to see her finally comfortable enough to do this. Last night, I put her on the bed (too big to get up there on her own) and she cuddled with me! She was a
little scared at first, but than she liked it! She also started taking treats yesterday. Everyday she makes progress. I just love her and I think you guys will too!"

How can we not love a dog who is just learning about treats and cuddles!

Weird news is that I also got an email from the rescue with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Apparently, we are still in the running! They want to talk on the phone. I have to ask DH to be sure, but I imagine we will be telling them that we are not interested. How can we continue to think about a much-wanted purebred with too many genetic risks when all those dogs who have never known a home are waiting?

Well today is the day! I hope it all goes well. Please post and let us know what happens!

Sabrina is here! She is very anxious and is pacing a lot. She will settle down and rest, near me, but she is scared and hand-shy. She has gone out twice since Leza left her here. The second time, I had to go out and herd her back into the house, with the help of both other dogs and DH. She had been out for 20 minutes or so, and would not come back into the house. We called and went out to her, but she kept backing away if we came within 10 ft. DH remarked that it was funny to watch us herding the herding-dog back in the house.

Yep - she is an Australian Shepherd mix. She looks like an Aussie in the body and when I looked them up onine, I saw that they do come in her color. See the link below.

I learned more about the "shelter" that she came from. It turns out that the lady with the concentration camp tattoo was the lady who died last summer. She helped out the owner with the dogs. The owner had 150 dogs at one time, but now they have her down to 7 dogs. Two of them are Sabrina's littermates. The rescue people have been giving the lady food for the dogs for three years now. She really neglected some of the health problems - like tumors and cherry eye and ear infections. Sabrina is finishing up her treatment for a yeast infection in her ears. She just got spayed two weeks ago.

Toby is a bit interested in Sabrina, but Casey is obsessed. He loves her fluffy fur. He wants to hump her every chance he gets. We have been saying "Unh Unh Unh!" to the poor boy all night. Leza said that one of her dogs tried humping Sabrina a lot the first few days, but she growled at him and he quit.

We expect it to take a week or so to let Sabrina settle in.

Tomorrow I wil try to take some photos. Thanks for all the support!

Here is a link that might be useful: Black Aussie with copper points.

Congratulations! Panting and pacing is pretty typical for a dog in a new environment. Are you walking her? The exercise will get rid of some of the nervous energy and of course will help her to bond with you. I ask because you mentioned that you 'let her out' twice. Walking her with your other dogs (one at a time to start) will help the integration too. (Dogs who walk together... :-). Sounds like your boy is establishing pack order with the humping. They'll decide who's in charge within a few days. Try not to intefere! That can cause issues.

Looking forward to the photos!

Hi Cynthia,
Sabrina got here at 6 pm, her foster mom left at 8, so we have not had a chance for a walk yet. Later today we will. We have been in the single digits here at night lately, so walking was not in the agenda. Plus, I need to get her a tag for her collar with our info on it before she leaves our yard. Right now, I am going to try to get her to eat. She wouldn't last night. She did sleep in a bed next to my side of the bed, though. Pictures later.