I'm going to be a doggy mom!!!!

The long wait is over. I've gotten my hopes up so many times and something always gets in the way, goes wrong, falls through, and my heart breaks a little. Over the last few months, I'd given up looking. But on my birthday, heading to the folks' house, I passed the S. Washington Animal Shelter and glanced over. There was one doggy, smallish, furry faced, sitting on his doghouse looking through the fence at the cars passing. I almost pulled a U-turn, but the chicks were anxious to get to gramma's and Poppy's, so I drove on. But the fire was lit.

Two possible dogs have fallen through in the last couple of weeks, and then I got the message from a friend who'd also been turned down for adoption because her daughter was in a wheelchair. The shelter was under new management, and they were open to placing dogs with families like ours. The door was opening, all I had to do was walk through.

Yesterday, we went to look at the hopefuls, me, mom and Poppy. I've got to tell you, these people are sharp. You have to open a gate and walk a Doggy Gauntlet between two small play yards full of smaller dogs. Adorable dogs. Hopeful dogs. There are baskets of toys and these guys aren't shy. One black cocker spaniel was walking, strutting, around  with a toy in his mouth. We later found out he'd just been adopted and was waiting for his family to come pick him up. They said he hadn't put the toy down since. He was packed and ready to go. I looked back and saw Poppy bent over the fence playing tug-o-war with a little Pug and another little dustmop dog had a hold of his coat sleeve. I was afraid we were going to have to pat Poppy down for purloined pups. In all the excitement, I'd missed the sign saying, "Adoptions on Wed-Sat. 11-6". Well damn.

So as soon as the girls were in school, I headed over, cooling my heels until 11, and dove in a pile of pups. Actually I walked the medium dog gauntlet. And there he was. All the other dogs were at the far end of their runs, barking furiously, but he was sitting calmly, ears perked and head cocked, grinning. He was the only one that would come to the fence and let me pet him, and when I went in? Oh my puppy goodness! He played with me, snuggled with me, ran up and down the fence, stopping in front of me saying, "C'mon! Let's go!"

It took me 20 minutes to fill out the paperwork, listing 3 references, a vet reference and giving them my address so they could check out the environment. Then I came home to wait, figuring it would be a few days to do all the checks. Shock me silly, they called at 2:30 to tell me Max was mine. I pick him up in the morning. Is it silly that I started crying?

Oh! His name is Max, I refer to him as Maximus Puppinus, he's a 2 year old terrier-spaniel mix, house trained, and just a lovely little dog. Pics to come tomorrow.