As I wrote this morning in Going Shopping, Della and I had a set of criteria for the new dog we hoped to add to our family. I also stated that, while this criteria would guide us, we also planned to allow for a certain measure of flexibility.
It is a good thing we decided to be flexible because our new addition is nothing like we expected in the least. Each of the dogs we had identified online as a strong possibilty turned out to have one or more glaring negatives.
For example, a young terrier mix in Long Beach simply acted too scared of our dog, Jaz. We almost picked out a Wheaten Terrier in Warrenton (near Astoria). She got along with us and really got along well with Jaz. We were all set to adopt her until she failed the last test: she didn't get along with the shelter's cats! She acted as if she couldn't wait to eat them!
Dog after dog failed, at least, one key test. We were about to give up for the day, but decided to go back to the Humane Society shelter in Long Beach. When we arrived, the staff made us an offer we couldn't refuse.
They had two young dogs (1 male and 1 female) that we hadn't seriously considered earlier in the day. We were told that their previous owner was a terminally ill older woman who very much wanted them to be adopted together. A friend of this woman had even offered to pay the adoption fee, IF someone would agree to adopt both.
We said we would consider it and so they led us to the "get to know ya" yard. Photos of the two doggies are below. They turned out to be too adorable and affectionate for us to say no!! And they seem to get along with Jaz and cats too.
Here's the most ironic part. One of the breeds my wife was least interested in adopting was a dachshund and, of course, these are dachshunds. But they aren't ordinary wiener dogs -- they have been crossed with a Mexican Hairless, so they are built like dachshunds, but they have no hair! A rather unique combination.
Both will be neutered tomorrow, so we will return Saturday for another "meet and greet" with Jaz. If all goes well -- we anticipate it will based on today -- we will come home with TWO new additions to the family.
For both of us, it represents another lesson in the "you never know" of life.
It is a good thing we decided to be flexible because our new addition is nothing like we expected in the least. Each of the dogs we had identified online as a strong possibilty turned out to have one or more glaring negatives.
For example, a young terrier mix in Long Beach simply acted too scared of our dog, Jaz. We almost picked out a Wheaten Terrier in Warrenton (near Astoria). She got along with us and really got along well with Jaz. We were all set to adopt her until she failed the last test: she didn't get along with the shelter's cats! She acted as if she couldn't wait to eat them!
Dog after dog failed, at least, one key test. We were about to give up for the day, but decided to go back to the Humane Society shelter in Long Beach. When we arrived, the staff made us an offer we couldn't refuse.
They had two young dogs (1 male and 1 female) that we hadn't seriously considered earlier in the day. We were told that their previous owner was a terminally ill older woman who very much wanted them to be adopted together. A friend of this woman had even offered to pay the adoption fee, IF someone would agree to adopt both.
We said we would consider it and so they led us to the "get to know ya" yard. Photos of the two doggies are below. They turned out to be too adorable and affectionate for us to say no!! And they seem to get along with Jaz and cats too.
Here's the most ironic part. One of the breeds my wife was least interested in adopting was a dachshund and, of course, these are dachshunds. But they aren't ordinary wiener dogs -- they have been crossed with a Mexican Hairless, so they are built like dachshunds, but they have no hair! A rather unique combination.
Both will be neutered tomorrow, so we will return Saturday for another "meet and greet" with Jaz. If all goes well -- we anticipate it will based on today -- we will come home with TWO new additions to the family.
For both of us, it represents another lesson in the "you never know" of life.
Oh and what do we plan to name them? We will keep the male's name of Buddy, but in remembrance of one of our favorite early rock 'n rollers, we plan to change the female's name to Holly. Together, they will be Buddy Holly. Kinda funny, don't ya think?
Awesome! Very cute...and daschers are so bold, too.
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