I am getting cold feet on the rescue lab adoption. One of the HUGE reasons is I don't want to go through this again. I know I have other kitties and I have to go through their passing, unless I go first, that is. But.., the thought of bonding with a dog so deeply and then losing him when I am 10 years older than I am now!

I know that sounds like I am a weenie..., but the fact is, I am. I don't know... I live alone too and getting a new dog would take such energy. But mostly, I'm petrified of dealing with this pain again down the road. I still have the indoor kitties to lose yet.

It's just a scary thought. I looked at Murphy's picture though and he looks pretty cool... I don't know.

You absolutely don't want to rush into bringing a new friend home... it has to be the right time and the right dog/cat. Anything you're not completely sure of isn't fair to you or the dog.

And with that in mind, we've been talking quite a bit about Pebbles over the past few days and we've decided it might be best for us and her if we weren't to take her.

This isn't a decision we came to easily or lightly... our biggest concern is the fact that we'd be bringing a new dog into an environment without having a chance to make sure that there wouldn't be any conflicts. My biggest fear is that we would make the three hour drive there, pick her up, make the three hour drive home and find out she didn't get along with one or both of our current dogs, and that wouldn't be fair to her, our two dogs or us.

We want to make sure that any dog we bring into our family is here for a lifetime, and in order to do that we have to be able to introduce the dog to our two girls first. Without the chance to do that I really feel that we'd be doing Pebbles a huge disservice if we're not 100% certain that she will fit into our home.

And today we had the chance to meet this lovely little girl:



This is Scout. She was just brought here from South Carolina and we had the chance to meet her this afternoon and we fell in love with her. She's energetic, intelligent and so affectionate. I picked her up and she just nuzzled down into my arms and licked my face, tail wagging a mile a minute. Here's another picture of me and Scout that my son took yesterday when we met her. And yes, I know my hair is really gray.



We're going to be having a home visit on Wednesday and if all goes well there we'll bring her home the following weekend.

I'll let you all know what happens.

I got an email from the agency about Pebbles... I don't think they're happy with me. All it says was "I don't know what to say. I'm shocked, but don't worry, we'll find her a good home."

I feel kind of bad, but there's just too much uncertainty with Tootsie (not fair to call her Pebbles anymore)... her health, her personality, her disposition with other dogs. I want the next dog that comes into our home to be with us forever and if there was an issue acclimating Tootsie to Miya and Takoda that just wouldn't be fair to anyone... not to us, not to Miya and Takoda, and certainly not to Tootsie.

With Scout, I was able to meet her, judge her personality and before we've committed to her we'll have a chance to introduce her to our dogs, and that's what really has to happen before we bring anyone home.

Doesn't make me feel like less of a heel about Tootsie, though.

Hi, Clay, while I am sorry about Pebbles I am ever so happy for you about Scout. She is adorable!! And yes, I agree with you 100 percent about being able to meet your new family member first, have a trial meet and greet with your girls FIRST, and then be able to decide if you think the match is going to work. If you didn't already have furkids, then Pebbles may very well have worked out okay.

If you read my post about trying to adopt a little kitten brother for Noah you read that it didn't work out. I was very upset - - not with Noah - - but that it just didn't work out. But he has been adopted into a very loving family who already had another little kitten who needed a playmate to rough and tumble with, and little "Hank" got a home. And peace has once again been re-established in the household here. So, I agree with you 100 percent, Clay, and am proud of you and your wife coming to this decision BEFORE a potentially sad situation happened. The rescue organization in Mississippi will get over it. - - Dont' worry about it.

Please keep us posted on how things go Wednesday, okay? And please know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

I lost my bestfriend about a month ago. Im 19 now and had her since I was 6. To me, its a huge process. It's easier today than it has been. Sometimes I will think of her and smile because we had an amazing bond and friendship. But then there are sometimes I think of her and just cry. Maybe we'll never get over losing a pet. I believe that pet will always be a huge part of us. But maybe in a couple months, the loss of your pet will become managable and easier.

The visit went well... after a bit of of nervous growling by Scout and a bit of overzealous play attempts by Miya and Takoda she settled right in. She even ate a bit of their food, drank from their water bowl, then took a small piece of a rawhide bone and settled herself right down on one of the two dog beds we have out, and Miya and Takoda just let her do their thing.

The end result is we were approved to adopt Scout. She'll be coming home next Saturday at 9am, and we can't wait.



I'm incredibly excited.

Hi, Clay, I am so o o o thrilled for you, your wife, Scout, Miya, and Takoda. Sounds like Scout is a very normal puppy, and am so glad your girls - - now ALL of your girls - - settled in so nicely. Thank you so oo o much for sharing your WONDERFUL news with us!!! I know you can't wait - - and I'm sure Scout is also counting the hours. Please keep us posted as to how things go, Clay.

By the way, is it this coming weekend - - or was it last weekend - - that you went to Virginia Beach? Please let us know how that goes / went, too. Will look forward to seeing your pictures of that event, too.

Hope you and your family have a very pleasant evening, Clay.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Virginia Beach is this weekend... I'm leaving right after work tomorrow and should hit my hotel at around 11:30-midnight. Long drive, but I'll have plenty of pictures.
And thank you for the kind wishes about Scout. We can't wait.

Virginia Beach is this weekend... I'm leaving right after work tomorrow and should hit my hotel at around 11:30-midnight. Long drive, but I'll have plenty of pictures.
And thank you for the kind wishes about Scout. We can't wait.

What a cute puppy Scout is! That is one lucky little pup to be getting into such a loving home. I'm glad the home visit went well and your other kids allowed you to bring Scout home for good.

I tried to bring a new dog home yesterday, and things did NOT work out. Mainly, my indoor cats would not accept this new intrusion. And people kept saying, "Oh, they will work it out...", but they don't know my one cat, Hobbes. Hobbes does not just hiss at newcomers, Hobbes attacks any intrusion, man or beast.

Plus, and I know this may sound goofy, but I live alone, have a horrible work schedule (work midnights), and I simply don't have the energy or temperament to try and have everyone adapt to each other. This morning when I did like everyone told me to and allowed the dog (I don't want to call her by name, trying to unattach) to walk throughout the house and not confine her to the den, Hobbes went ballistic and actually looked for the dog to attack. Had I not been there, Hobbes would have continued attacking that poor dog.

So, anyway, I took her back to the lady that was fostering her and they will find her a good home, for sure. If I had a normal cat and not a seek-and-destroy cat in Hobbes, things would have worked out.

But, I am glad you are getting the new addition, Clay - looks great. I hope you post some pictures of all of them together once they get settled in. I can't adopt a dog, but I can live vicariously through yours, I guess....

Scout is adorable. She looks like such a bundle of fun! Keep us updated x

wchamilton

I first would like to say thank you so much for your supporting words on the loss of my dog Lukas; it has been a really hard time for me. It means so much to me to see people like yourself taking the time out to console others although you too have been grieving a loss of a beloved pet. I am so sorry to hear about your dog Winston; it was such a sad story to read. Your words when you speak about Winston express the love you have for him and how much he truly meant to you and your family. I am glad to see that you and your family support one another during this grieving journey.

The pictures you have of Scout, your new addition to the family, are so beautiful. I truly wish you all the best.

MommyluvsuLukas

Hi, Clay, just checking in with you to see how things are going. I know you had a BIG weekend last weekend with the air show, and I believe this weekend you are bringing sweet Scout home - - so your hands are full. Just want you to know you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers, and I will look forward to hearing from you whenever possible.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Thank you so much for that, AngelCareOne. It brought tears to my eyes.

And yes, Scout's home and she's a little pisser. She's doing all the stuff a puppy should; this morning on her dog bed she had all four of the rawhide chews we had down for them, one of my shoes and a sock.

She's very affectionate and very playful; her and Takoda have been roughhousing alot and a little while ago Takoda actually just sat right on her.

And last weekend was my airshow and it was incredible; I'm still going through my pictures and editing them... I shoot in a format called Raw and all it does is created a digital negative; each picture has to be touched and adjusted before you can share them. It gives you more control over the picture but it's time consuming. But here's a few of my better ones thus far.








... and as apparently I can only post three pictures per post there'll be two more posts.

And yes, the next post will be Scout.

As promised:



Chilling out on her bed in a rare moment of sedateness.



Playing outside.



Very intently looking at... something. For all I know she saw a leaf blow across the road.

I think she's going to be very happy here. More pictures will be forthcoming.

Scout is so beautiful, thanks for posting the pics. I'm so happy for you all. Please keep us posted.
Love the Airshow photos too. It's great that good things are happening for you now.

Jan and my Angels and Pixie

Hi, Clay, what PRECIOUS pictures of your PRECIOUS Scout! She truly knows how to tug at the heartstrings for sure, and I know she has her daddy wrapped around her paws already - - like the instant you looked at her!!

And thank you so o o o much for the WONDERFUL pictures of the air show!! They are TREMENDOUS!!!

Thank you so o o much for sharing these wonderful pictures with us, Clay - - of your precious Scout and of the air show. I look forward to hearing many stories of Scout's escapades - - she is so o o o precious.

Please know you and all of your family are in my thoughts and prayers, Clay, and look forward to sharing your news whenever possible.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

I've been posting pictures of her in my thread about the loss of Winston but I think something that's happy belongs here as well. smile.gif

This is Scout.

Reduced: 22% of original size [ 2875 x 2054 ] - Click to view full image


Reduced: 21% of original size [ 2990 x 1994 ] - Click to view full image

Thank you for the compliments on my airshow pictures... I'm quite pleased with them.

Scout is settling in fine... I posted the below text under the "new beginnings" forum but thought I'd post it here as well.

I do, however, have a question as far as my other two dogs. For the most part, it's been pretty harmonious... Takoda absolutely loves her and plays with her but Miya has snapped at her twice, catching her once on the snout as Scout walked past her on the floor (Miya didn't have a bone or anything else, as far as I remember) and once yesterday, getting her ear. Of course, each one of these times Scout yelps and cries like she's being tortured but settles down fairly quick, but both of these bites have drawn blood.

Miya, for the most part, is okay with Scout... she sniffs her when she passes her and when these two instances have happened there really hasn't been any warning, especially with the bite on the snout, and for the most part Miya seems okay with Scout; they can pass each other fine and this morning I had Scout on a leash and my son brought Miya out and put her on a dog run to potty and when I brought Scout in Miya sniffed noses with her, tail wagging. And then when I brought Miya in the house Scout, who had been brought in before Miya, saw her and jumped on the couch with my son. So Scout is learning to stay out of Miya's way.

I'm hoping these are isolated incidents that are going to resolve, especially now that my wife his home with her for the next five days and my wife is clearly the alpha of our pack. But I was wondering if anyone else has seen behavior like this when introducing a new puppy. All three are spayed females, if that matters.