Let me begin by saying that we lost our beloved Lab, Mercedes, last May and she was 18. Laura had had her for 17 years and saved her life because she had heartworm and had to undergo chemo. We also lost our beloved Pug, Piglet, last August and she was 13. This was like losing two of our children. Also, in October of 2006 I lost my mixed breed, Pouddles, who was 10 and I had her since I was 16.
I knew that I wanted a smaller dog, as I was calling them, a "purse puppy," but I had never had a dog since it was a puppy, so I knew this was going to be a journey for me. Laura and I have been discussing and I have been ready longer than her, because as much as I loved our Lab and Pug I had not had them as long, but it was still tough. I had told Laura that since I am turning 30 in July I would love to have one for my birthday, but she had said we would probably wait until Christmas. Needless to say I began looking at dogs on Craigslist and different types of breeds so I could figure out what would be best for me. I figured out I would need a breed that could be compassionate, loyal, loving, patient, understanding, and energetic. I wanted something that would help me during this time of healing because I am a big believer in the fact that an animal can be therapy for a person healing or going through depression and other things.
For some reason after Laura and I had lunch on Friday, she went to the Humane Society after dropping me off. She calls and says I think I found a dog that would be a good match for you and she is a puppy, she is only 2 months old. What she said next though, surprised me even more, there is a dog that is in the kennel above her that I really love. I went on the website and found a picture of the one she found for me but could not find a picture of the one she loved. (I even made her my background on my work computer because her face was so beautiful.) My co-worker was so awesome and let me leave work an hour early so I could go and look at her because she knew how badly I wanted a puppy.
I left and when we got there Laura first took me to the large and medium dogs, just so I could look and would not automatically make the decision on the one she found. Nothing connected with me. So, we went to the small dogs and I began at the opposite end of where she was and still nothing was connecting with me, but the moment I saw her, then held her, I knew she was the one. Then Laura showed me the one she loved, they say she is a lab mix, her coloring is a mixture of chocolate and black (Mercedes was chocolate). I could tell how much she loved this little girl. My girl, was a border collie mix (they said lab, but we think terrier), is white with beautiful characol spots all over her body, and her head is split down the middle with characol on either side. We definitely decided on her and first Laura went looked at an older black lab mix, took her out, but soon realized she was not the one for her. Next, we went back in took out my girl and the lab puppy who is also 2 months old and sat in the enclosed room with both to see how they would get along together. At first it was slow going. Then Laura looked at a Retriever/Lab puppy and we let him and my girl play and they seemed to play together a little more. But I was not in love with him like I was with the lab. So, we went and got the lab out again and let her and my girl play together...this time was like magic.
So, we adopted both. Laura did not think she was ready for another dog, especially a lab, but I knew this girl was special and there was a bond between them. Laura named her lab Darby Dae and I named my border collie mix Adele Dappy. The names have special meanings that fit both of our girls very well.
This was probably the best decision we could make, because now both of our girls will grow up together and have become so incredibly bonded in just a few days. They play so well and we even took them to the doggie park yesterday and they played with other dogs, but always knew where each other were. It was precious.
Both of these girls bring different things into our lives, but for both of us it is a type of healing. I will upload photos at some point.
I will always and continually support the Humane Society because there are so many dogs who need homes and we need to help those who have been dropped off and not help those who breed for their own good. Plus who knows what kind of bond one can make...you always will know when it is the right one for you!
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