Oh, she is just adorable! What a sweet face! I hope Toby and Casey love her.

I sure hope it works out for you and Fawn. She's adorable.

The pros and cons are the toughest part...

We spent a week rehashing them before we decided to bring Rex "home". We've never worked harder training a dog than we have with him. And there is no end in sight, lol.

But never, in my life (and I'm a "cat person") have I ever liked (LOVED) a dog the way I do this one.

Take your time. Think about what will "work" for you, and how much work you're willing to invest. You will make the right choice... I know it.

You guys are great! But what are we all doing online on a Saturday night? Here, we are watching the Tigers get 10 runs in the first. Now, in the seventh, we are ahead 15-0. Any Missourians out there? We are just heading toward that pennant, sorry if the Royals got in the way.
After the dismal years we've had, it has been great watching this season.

Fawn better love baseball - with DH and Dad here, she will see a lot of it (and golf, and tennis, and football and basketball..and HOCKEY! - that's the one that I turn on.)

Fawn seems to have the attributes that will help her fit in here. I was more attracted to the Gordon Setter, but she was too young and energetic and I really am not up to that. Fawn is a cute and practical doggie and I am sure her personality will teach us more about ourselves.

What a cutie!!!! I say GO FOR IT. Hope Toby & Casey agree.

Summer

Look at those big adorable eyes!!! She is perfect. Good for you.

Here's what I'm doing online on a Saturday night:.... I'm exhausted and enjoying a {{!gwi}}

Today I cleaned up my garden - tons of weeds, and then put fresh mulch down. Those bags are flippin' heavy! Then I cleaned my sister's gutters, and it was NO picnic. They were *packed* with leaves and sticks, so I couldn't use the power spray until I pulled most of them out by hand. That entailed a stepladder, which had to be moved every 3 feet. So I was up and down the ladder about 30 times. I'm in pretty good shape, but, well.... I am 48! To add insult to injury, her hose had some 'pinholes', as she described it. Total understatement. There was a fine spray coming from numerous points along the hose, so after 10 minutes my jeans were soaked. Do you know how heavy wet jeans are? Then there's my hands. OY.

TIP: Never clean gutters without gloves! The edges of the shingles nicked the carp outta my hands. By the time I decided I should have worn them, it was too late. Man, they hurt! Enough that, as beat as I was, I went to Bed Bath and Beyond tonight and got some of those cotton gloves where you put lotion on your hands and wear them to bed. I'm putting neosporin on them.

Anyway, I am going to hold this over her head for many years.

She is adorable - I hope all goes well with your pack when she joins. If Toby and Casey are both boys I'm sure the integration will go well. Bless you for adopting a dog with a history!

No word from the adoption people yet, I emailed them yesterday about our intention to have our dogs meet Fawn. Yes, Cynthia, that is why we are only considering females. The boys are used to having a pushy sister! All of our dogs have been rescues.

Weed, you deserve that drink. That is a lot of hard work and I agree that you sis owes you. Do your hands feel better today?

What a sweetie! I hope you get her.

I get so impatient wating to hear from these adoption people. I can only hope that they are processing my application. No word at all that they even got my request to try Fawn with our dogs. I know they are busy, but.....

Nancy, btw.. all of my dogs' adoption stories are on my website. I have not posted a page about Gypsy yet. She is my dad-in-law's dog. He just moved in with us this January -- he found her during hurricane hugo several years ago pregnant and with heartworm and adopted her.

She is doing great*** with my other 3 shelter dogs. It just goes to show that shelter dogs can do wonderfully with each other and in home settings that are loving, nurturing, and disciplined.

So far, "Dad" has been here 8 months. He commented that he was amazed that 4 diverse dogs will actually lick from the same plate and never ever snap during treat time. I think that speaks highly of shelter dogs and adoptions.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://bellsouthpwp.net/M/o/MochaGal/

Cindy, I haven't had time to read all of your stories, but your pictures and the dogs in them are beautiful!

Well, after not hearing from the rescue in five days, I bugged them by email and got this reply:

"Nancy,
Sorry about the numerous delays. We get hundreds of emails on a daily basis and it's hard to keep up. That said, we've found a family we believe will be the best fit for Fawn and they are beginning their two-week foster-to-adopt Saturday.
Thanks for your interest in Fawn and good luck in your search.
Regards,
Almost Home"

This was after I found a really great American Sign Language site and learned how to sign "little deer" for her name. She does not hear well. I was really excited, thinking that she would fit very well with our boy dogs. I was angry at first that we were not told about this other adopter when we spent an hour with Fawn on Saturday. Now I am just sad.

I think I will let the whole idea go for now. Our boys are doing so very well together at this time. Maybe I should not upset the apple cart!

Oh Nancy, I'm so sorry. It was pretty thoughtless of the adoption people to leave you hanging like that, especially when they knew how interested you were. I would call or write and let them know they are losing potential families by doing this. How many times do they expect someone to get their hopes up and then be disappointed? There is a simple way to manage those emails - I have done it when I get 50 responses to a Freecycle ad.

Anyway, I'm sorry it didn't work out. (((Nancy)))

Nancy,

I'm so sorry that things did not work out for you. Please find some peace knowing Fawn is in a good loving home & you still have your two.

Please don't be too harsh on the volunteers as they are under staffed & stressed. Recently, while helping a friend (without a computer ) find a dog on Petfinders I heard about a Shepherd they were hoping to save when they brought my friend's 'dog' to her house for the three week trial. They sent me a pic saying her days were numbered on death row unless someone adopted or fostered her. I really didn't want another dog, as I have two. So I said I would foster her, knowing I'd probably end up keeping her. They replied this was wonderful, her life had been spared & they would have her spayed & transported to me. I didn't hear anything for some time. The response to my inquiry was devastating - she had tested HW positive & was unadoptable -- the rescue had no funds & was under staffed. I agreed to adopt her sight unseen & treat for HW - the only way to save her life. I'm so glad I did. Hannah is a sweetheart. We love her so much & she gets along with our two dogs & two cats as if it's been forever. Here's a partial email from from the volunteer that transported Hannah from the US to me in Canada ( she refers to Francine from the rescue here, that I had met at my friend's.)

I love all the dogs, but German shepherds have a special place in my heart.
Please pet Hannah for me and maybe
one day i will be able to see her again.
Francine, you need to organize an adoption get together
one day, it would be neat to see some of the dogs again.

Francine is right, alot of Pounds care less if a dog gets out or gets
euthanized and alot of them are not even willing to work with rescues.
I'm very fortunate to have the Warden on my side, he let's me do pretty much
whatever i want and let's me hold the dogs that i can get to a Rescue.
without his coorporation,
i would have a hard time to get them to safety.
Usually a dog with Heartworms does not have a prayer left.
Thank-you so much for giving Hannah another chance
and also thanks to Francine who works so hard to find homes for our Pound
dogs. We could not do it without eachother.

Sorry this is so long. Think I'm trying to say things happen for a reason.

Summer

Yes, I am not as upset now. Fawn sounded like a perfect match for our two, but there is always some question about whether it is a good idea to disturb the status quo.

I have been looking casually for months. My friend thinks I am crazy to torment myself looking at dogs I cannot have! I will probably cocntinue to browse the net and just wait for something to feel right.

Instead, I need to get Mr. Jones to a refresher course where he can be exposed to dogs in a controlled situation and get over being beat up by a pit bull girl this summer. Sometimes dreaming is just more fun than real life!

I was so disappointed when I read your update, so I can only imagine how you felt when you got that note! Have you asked them to contact you again if the foster/adoption doesn't work out? That happens, and their website says that all adoptions are considered foster-with-intent. It's also likely that the family she went to already had an application in before yours. So if your application is now approved, you might have a better chance of being first in line for another dog they have.

Nancy,

My friend, that I was searching for a dog for, was also very frustrated & depressed because it took so long to hear back about the 'perfect dog' for her. Anyhow, the adoption went well & her canine gets along well with her 9 indoor cats. I really believe things happen for a reason. Please don't give up browsing for another dog. There are so many dogs out there deserving a chance. Hard as it is, I hope you continue to browse til you find that right fit. I sense you have enough love for three! I know I do, & more.....if only I could. DH says we may have to sell the house & move to the country where there are no restrictions on number of dogs! Heaven help me. lol.

Summer

Thanks for all the condolences and encouragement. I just filled out an application for Buttercup, a doxie mix. She appears to be less elongated than a full Daschund, so maybe no back problems? She is the right size and Dad loves the dogs when they clown. I am sure she would make him laugh.

Here is a link that might be useful: Buttercup

I talked the other day with Buttercup's foster mom. She has had Buttercup for a year and a half. She did not want to rescue her, once she found out she was only part doxie, but could not walk away knowing that the owners planned to put her to death for knocking over the kiddies! She found one home early on, but Buttercup came back to her after snapping at the mom of the house when Mom tried to stop Buttercup from attacking a fridge that was being delivered. Fostermom says she'd keep Miss Cup forever if she lived in a sub that allowed fences. Since she does not, Miss Cup is on a line all the time that she is outside and cannot romp and play. Buttercup loves to be outside. Foster mom thinks our situation sounds ideal for her - big yard, good fences, two dogs to play with, no kids, calm grandpa home all day. She'll bring BC over to meet the boys on Friday the 13th after we are back from vacation (we are finally taking a short vacation starting tomorrow and the boys are now at the Bed and Biscuit).

As you can tell, I am not in love with the name."Buttercup" is A.) too cute; B.) too long - I am used to two syllable names with one syllable nicknames and Mr. and Miss formal names; and C.) not a name! My dogs have more dignity than to walk around with cutesy names. Jessica, Megan, Toby and Casey will tell you that. Who would name their kid Buttercup?

I am iffy about how well she might fit in. I can't have a dog who wants to bark outside and who does not come when called. I work hard at it, and Toby is finally GETTING it - but his poor Beagle mix ears cannot hear when he is smelling or barking. The last thing I need is someone worse than him, so I hope she learns early that outside is nice, but there is a time for inside, too.

So that is the scoop! Hope you all have a great week, I am off to see the colors change in Northern Lower Michigan!