So nothing quite happened as I expected it to happen when I drove to the Foster home to see Bentley. There was Bentley with his absolutely stunning colored coat and sleepy eyes. There was one of his sisters who was white and black in typical Terrier colors.
Tucked into blankets was another one. The tip of her tail was white, three paws had a touch of white and ---- she had a few white hairs on her nose along with her chest.
She looked up at me and I knew right then that it was her I'd come for. I don't know how that happened or why but it did. She chose me when I sat down.
I had 'wanted' the one with the beautiful colored coat and I had thought I wanted a male pup. But her choice was me. It happens that way. I've been chosen by mules, dogs, and humans for some weird reasons. I knew it when I felt it.
Those eyes said. "Hey, I am here to steal your heart!"
She is so tiny and petite! I got a history of her vet check, vaccinations, and her date of birth.
I visited a long time with the Linda the foster mom who does an incredible job of caring for her charges. We are following each other on FB so she can see how things go with us.
Do you remember how sick and miserable I was on Christmas Eve? I was missing Rich so badly and had Influenza A. I was beside myself. Her birthday is Christmas Eve. [Charlie's is December 28th]
She cried for a while in the crate on the drive home and then was quiet and peaceful.
The meet and greet was pretty anticlimactic, though Charlie decided that he really didn't want a lot to do with her.
We did some walking and potty stuff along with the usual puppy stuff. A lot of indoor - outdoor until she realized that she could go on the grass and snow like Charlie did.
After outdoor exercises and a meal. Pup sort of moved up by my feet and looked at me. I put her next to my feet and covered her up with a blanket.
Charlie deemed her safe to check out and ....sneaky doodled up to check her out.
....and she didn't move. She didn't attack with bared fangs and claws. She just looked at him sleepily and closed her eyes in comfort.
Her name on her paperwork is Brooklyn. I thought of calling her Brooky, Lena, ...I listed a question on Social Media and got 40+ offers of names.
Overnight was good. We did a before bedtime outside walk and she did all the appropriate things she needed to do. I put her in her crate on a nightstand next to my side of the bed so I could hear her if she woke up.
Charlie took his place on the other side of the bed and we all fell asleep from our busy day.
At 1am, she started barking and crying. I'd slept in my sweats so grabbed a jacket and hat and took my charges out. Without hesitation, my new pup did her business and was ready to go back in.
We all slept well until I got up at 4:30 thinking it was 5:30. Back out and jobs done!
We did chow time in separate places and then play time and another trip out.
Charlie was conflicted. He wanted to be in the same area as me and her but he didn't want her to be too close. Here she is growling at her reflection in my stove and pouncing on the Kong.
Then they both crashed like good little dogs.
Charlie is pretty sure that the pup is going to eat him alive even though she has never tried to bite or scratch him.
He asked me why I brought a female Hannibal Lecter into our house. A tiny bundle of energy that curls up and falls fast asleep. He said she is just daring him to walk by so she can pounce.
Well then.
She has earned a name I can call out with two syllables.
Welcome Home
Hannah
Photo from the Foster Home she was at.
This morning I woke up still missing Rich, still grieving, but the huge hole in my heart didn't hurt so bad. In fact I felt true happiness for the first time in months. Oddly enough, one more thing. 8 years to this day, I brought Charlie home to our home. How weird is that?
