It's a Long One

For the past couple of months Richard and I have been talking about getting a dog. On Monday I finally said let's do it and go to the pound. We have spent weeks looking at the dogs online and I finally saw one, well a few, that I really wanted.

So all three of us loaded up and drove to a local animal shelter. We spent about two hours looking and playing with dogs before finally settling on a border collie mix. When we picked this dog we had no idea what kind of dog a border collie was. We just knew this one was playful, sweet, and did not freak Matt out! Before we left we had to fill out an adoption application and were told it would be a few days. Matt was devastated that we had to leave the dog there in the cage. Honestly, it broke my heart too but we told Matt that in just a few days, we would bring her home.

On the way home Richard and I were talking about the dog when I made a comment about what if we were rejected. Richard just laughed and said there was no way. So for the next two days Matt and I looked at her picture on the Internet and talked about bringing her home.

Well...a few days later...when we played back our messages ....we were officially rejected!!!!

I don't think I have ever seen Richard so offended! Matt was standing there when we played the message and of course he became upset. It was a mess! He was crying, I was crying, and Richard was just flat out mad. He immediately called the pound back and asked why. Guess what they told him...because the dog would be in the backyard!! Hello. It's a border collie!!

By the time he got off the phone it was my turn to get mad. I called the shelter back and asked to speak to the supervisor. I told her how offended and upset we were, what I thought about their application process, and how upset my son was. We cleared up the backyard issue because they realized the dog would come in and be crated while we were gone and at night. However, they had already given the dog to another family but we could come back and choose another animal. When she said this I almost busted out laughing. I thought thanks but no thanks. We will never go back to that shelter. I know that sounds cold and harsh because the animals have nothing to do with the management. But until you are told that you are not fit to own a dog (after raising a toddler!!!) and watch your son bawl, you have no idea.

Anyways, on with the story. After I got off the phone Matt was still understandably upset. We sat down and talked about how God has a doggie for us and that dog was not the one. We prayed for the dog we lost and her new owners and then we prayed for a new dog.

(This is getting really long, sorry)

We decided to go on a walk to distract Matt. Before we headed off I walked over to my neighbor's house to tell her the story. Halfway through, she interrupted me and told me to look in her backyard. There sat the most pitiful puppy. She was soooo skinny, kind of ugly, and looked scared out of her skin. I busted out laughing and said "you have got to be kidding!!". I'm not sure if I was talking to her or the Lord.

I yelled for Richard to come see and he was just as shocked. The same day we were rejected by the pound, there is a stray across the street.

We told her we would talk about it on our walk and let her know. On the way back home, two houses down, there was the dog; she had escaped from our neighbor's yard. We found out that another set of neighbors had found her a couple of days before and had been taking care of her. They told us how sweet she was and we asked if they were keeping her, to which they replied "no, do you want her?" We stood there for a minute and then said "yes!"

So before I go any further, let me introduce you to Lola.


This was the first night we had her. She is curled up in our cat's bed while looking rather pitiful. Can you see how skinny she was?? Look at that backbone.

Two days later after a trip to the vet looking pretty ridiculous.

Here she is modeling her pretty ears and shiny coat.

Great Purina Puppy Chow ad.

Our ancient cat Rascal was not too thrilled about her new housemate. She is hiding in a chair under our dining room table.

But now they are best friends.

So far Lola has been the perfect dog. Yes she has had some accidents, but she is sweet, playful, not a yapper, and obedient. Sadly, if she would have been at the pound, we probably would have passed her by. I'm so glad that God is in control.