The Pursuit of Puppiness

After posting Puppy Trouble about our fateful trip to the local animal shelter, my daughter told me,

"Mom, I have a puppy-shaped hole in my heart!"  

What mom could let that puppy-shaped hole remain unfilled?


So, for the last month, I scoured www.petfinder.com and our local shelter websites to check for any new dogs that might be available.  Puppies preferably. 

I think every kid should have the experience of raising a puppy.  It's an important part of childhood.  Learning to take care of someone other than themselves, growing up together, and being there for each other in sickness and in health.  Together, they will experience things like sleepovers, team tryouts, first love, first breakup, braces, zit cream, and eventually, college.

My husband and I have logically discussed this numerous times.  I have to wait until I find the right one.  This dog will be with us for its' lifetime - we had better make a good choice!

So I looked at the local shelters. and there weren't many dogs that met my requirements.  Namely, puppies.

I was looking for something small, hypoallergenic, and friendly.  Prices for full breed dogs are ridiculous.  Even one of our local (bigger) pet stores wanted upwards of $800 for a puppy.  Ridiculous.  It's a little bundle of fur on four legs.  I buy a month's worth of groceries for less than these people charge for puppies.

And then, yesterday, it happened.

Our local shelter posted pictures of 8 puppies available.  They had been moved from an overcrowded shelter.  It felt like a miracle!  And I found one I thought was really cute.  The kids agreed.

Hubby came home early from work, so I could go right when the shelter opened.  The parking lot at the shelter was full.  I had a sense of doomed mission, but I continued in to see if there were any puppies left.  As I was filling out the paperwork at the shelter, the puppy I wanted walked out in the arms of its' new owner.  Rats!

"I need to keep a level head about this,"  I told myself.

I still turned in the forms in hope that they'd keep it on file for next time.  I walked up and down past the cages of the other dogs, but none of them was the right one for us.

Finally, they called my name and said I had been approved.  "Would you like to see the puppies?"  the attendant asked.  I was surprised to find some were still available.  "Why not?"  I thought.   

Some of the puppies looked like Saint Bernards, so I knew those were out.  There were two small puppies snuggled together in a nest of shredded newsprint.  Crackle and Pop.  Chihuahua mixes of some sort.  Are they hypoallergenic?  I can't tell.  They're small.  They're cute.  Two of my requirements. 

I wanted to discuss this with my husband, but they said if I left to make a phone call, they could sell the puppy while I was gone.  Ack!  What to do?  I tried to quickly call him from inside the building, but the concrete block walls prevented conversation.  I knew he would support the decision I made.

So I bought it.

He was just so cute and cuddly.  He scuttled all around the adoption room, chewing on things, then he fell asleep in my arms.  If that doesn't melt your heart, I don't know what will.

So here he is - Captain Rex!  He's so small right now - he may have to grow into his name.

Mission Complete!
Puppy-shaped hole filled!

...and the new normal begins.