New Furbaby - First Time at Dog Park!

17 years ago

As I shared last week, we inherited my brother-in-law's 6 year old yellow lab after he died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 41. Dexter has fit into our family of 5 beautifully! I thought it would be a harder transition, but it's been very easy. I will give a lot of credit to our 3 teenagers who have taken such good care of Dexter's needs. They love him so much!

Over the weekend I experienced the dog park for the first time in my entire life. Can you believe it? And I loved it! So did Dexter.

Dexter loves to ride in the car and has adjusted to sitting in the back of the car instead of the front seat.

Doesn't he look happy?

He's brought so much joy to our family.

Sheryl

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Comments (23)

caroline94535
17 years ago
((((Sheryl)))) I'm so sorry to hear about your DBIL. I must have missed that post.

How wonderful of you to adopt Dexter. In his doggie-way, he does understand his family has changed and will love you all the more for it.

I wish he could come have a long romp on the prairie with Harry and Sam.

Give that handsome boy a hug from us...and get to piecing his very own quilt!
rthummer
17 years ago
I am so glad that everything is working out for your family and Dexter. He does look like a happy boy. Hooray. A happy ending to a sad beginning. ((((hugs))) to all of you.
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marilyn_c
17 years ago
How wonderful of you to take in Dexter. I know your brother would be so happy. I work very closely with the humane society...I pick up wildlife for them...and it breaks my heart to see so many dogs brought to the shelter because their owner died and they had no one to take them. You are a very special person, Sheryl.
lisa_fla
17 years ago
I was thinking the same thing as Marilyn. Its great that you stepped in to take care of Dexter. He had a great time at the dog park, didn't he? What a happy face! I wonder if he headed for the couch when he got home!!!
gemini40
17 years ago
Sorry to hear of your brother in laws untimely death,how very sad.His beautiful dog is so lucky to have you as his family now, great dog for such a loving family.
Linda Wayman
17 years ago
Aw Sheryl, he looks like he is adjusting to his new family very well. He sure is a pretty boy.
Linda
kim_okla
17 years ago
I'm glad it's going well.

Good job, dogs should not ride in the front seat if you have an airbag.
nodakgal
17 years ago
He looks VERY happy!
**I'm** happy for you all! I agree, so many animals don't have the chance for a second happy home! Dexter is lucky to have you all!
linda_in_iowa
17 years ago
Dexter looks so happy. I know that dogs can recognize people by smells and I keep wondering if your DH kind of smells familiar to Dexter.
I am looking forward to our dog park opening in June. I have never been to a dog park either.
itsmesuzq
17 years ago
Sometimes animals are sent to us for a reason, and I think in Dexter's case you came into his life for the same reason. To help with the healing, and to have a very special connection with your DBIL. What a gift!

He looks so happy; you can see him smiling as he prances around the dog park. I've only been a couple of times with a friends dog...but they are amazing aren't they? The dogs have so much fun together! LOL

Susan
Pieonear
17 years ago
Dexter's pictures and your enthusiasm about sharing your life with him makes me smile! Good for you.
jennmonkey
17 years ago
Sheryl, we took our chocolate lab to the dog park for the first time last night! He had a blast. This has been the first time we have really had him around other dogs, and it is obvious that he believes he is the king of the world. hahahahaha. He was pretty much the boss of the dog park.
clubm
17 years ago
I'm glad to here Dexter fits right in. Enjoy they bring so
much joy!!
pawsitive_gw
17 years ago
I'm so glad he is an older dog. I was going to ask you to make sure the "puppy" was all caught up on vaccinations. Parvo is so nasty and rears it's ugly head in the spring. He's probably well protected at his age. Glad everyone enjoyed the dog park. We finally have one in our area, but it's 80 miles away.
intherain
Original Author
17 years ago
Pawsitive - Jamie didn't have any paperwork on Dexter except, thankfully, his last vet visit a couple of months ago, showing he is up to date on all his vaccinations. Thank goodness!

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words! Jamie lived in CA (we live in OR) so we didn't see him much. However, whenever he visited, he drove up so that he could bring Dexter. Jamie had a girlfriend who asked if she could have Dexter for awhile after Jamie's death. As much as we wanted Dexter, we knew she might want him permanently. However, after a month she said she knew he needed to be with us, that Jamie had told her many times that he wanted Dexter near all his family in OR if something happened to him. Dexter was Jamie's child. He was well loved. We just feel so blessed to have Dexter in our lives.

Caroline - My daughter, Rachel, and I have always loved pictures of Harry. Every time she'd see a picture of him, she wanted a dog. Now she has one!

Sheryl
jannie
17 years ago
Great photos! Everyone looks happy!
Jamie_MS
17 years ago
Dexter does look so happy!! I love that first picture.... he is a beautiful dog!
labmom
17 years ago
Yellow labs own my heart!! What a beautiful boy-how lucky he is to be part of your family.

Suzanne
glenda_al
17 years ago
Wonderful that he is in another loving home!
hollyinontario
17 years ago
I'm so glad you had this dog join your family. I took my mother's 20yr old siamese after she passed away and for the two years I had P.C. (Perfect Cat), I had a lovely connection with her. It helped me through the grief. I hope Dexter helps your family with this also.
trinitytx
17 years ago
I knew if I opened this post, it would make me cry....
Good tears though. I am so glad that you have given him a new life, in spite of what all of you have been through.
Animals can be the best healer of all. This one tells me so.

Trin
intherain
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks, Trin! What's most very special is by taking Dexter, I've become good friends with Jamie's girlfriend.
We e-mail every day and will meet next month.

Dexter has been the best healer. I get sloppy kisses and love it!

Sheryl
liz
17 years ago
(((Sheryl and family)))...You are a good egg...Dexter the main man couldn't be in any better hands...may he bring you years of lovin and wet sloppy kisses!!

New Furbaby - First Time at Dog Park!

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