PUP-DATE: Zazu

Zazu is living the life! Her people sent us an email saying Zazu (now Lulah) has been a wonderful addition to their family. She and the other dog are best buds. Just look at this picture!

Wordless Wednesday: Interspecies Love

Missy and Franky: Who Said Dogs and Cats Can't Get Along?

Kissies!

Cuddle time!

"No, I love you more!"

 Franky loves playing "Frank in the Box" with Missy.

Franky and Missy have a shared love of chasing the red laser.

Franky has taken it upon himself to give Missy a nightly bath.

What Is She?

This is a question I’ve been asked numerous times over the past two weeks while out on walks with Missy. My answer is always the same, “She's a purebred dog.” But seriously, what breeds came together to make this super cute, medium-sized love of a dog?

Missy is about 30-35 pounds. Her legs are short, and her body is “stocky.”  She has long, soft fur, small triangle ears and a big, fluffy tail. Her head is pretty small in proportion to the rest of her body.  (Okay, disportionately small.)

In the end, she’s just a mutt, and I love that. Will I do a DNA test that reveals her “true” heritage? Maybe if I’m curious enough and have extra cash to blow on something like that. But in the mean time, I’ll go off of your thoughts—what do you think Missy is?

The Year of the Dog, or ADOPTED: Missy

One year ago, we said good-bye to Chance. We walked around our town's annual street fair on the first Saturday in October and hid our tears behind sun glasses. 

In turns out it's not just dogs that deserve second chances; us people do too. In the year since then, we've fostered (or helped to foster) 10 dogs—Wookiee, Jack, Karina, Bella, Jagger, Chloe, Lucy, Bentley, Zazu, and Honey. We've met wonderful people in the process (both volunteers and adopters) and have come to believe what Margaret Mead said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."Without a doubt, this has been The Year of the Dog.

We've taken in the dogs and transformed them from unwanted underdogs to pampered pets. We’ve given them baths, filled their bellies, taught them manners, and then found them forever homes. It's never easy to say goodbye to a dog, especially one who you've seen through some of their most vulnerable hours. Perhaps it’s even harder because we don’t have a pet of our own to cling on to when a foster dog leaves. But we’ve been able to let go when we find them better homes than what we can offer them. Upgrades, we've come to call them. (Copyright Jen at Inu Baka)

We knew we'd foster fail miserably at some point. I suppose it was only a matter of time before one came along that would fit seamlessly into our lives, and we couldn’t let go. 

Enter Missy, the black, fuzzy mutt that came into our home as a temporary houseguest last weekend but has claimed a place all to herself on our sofa, on our bed, and in our hearts.

We’re told she had a “family” in South Carolina who moved away and left her behind. A kind neighbor noticed the poor dog alone and fed her for two weeks. When it became apparent the family wasn’t coming back, the neighbor brought Missy to a shelter. In that shelter (the same one Honey came from), Missy had five days to find a home. Luckily, in that time, our rescue came across her and agreed to take her.

A few days later, Missy made her way to New Jersey with the help of the wonderful volunteer transport. Up the eastern seaboard, volunteers each drive an hour leg of the trip. The dogs are handed off from driver to driver until they reach their rescues and foster homes. As soon as we saw Missy, her big, brown eyes begged us to love her. And love her we will.

How anyone could move and leave a dog behind is beyond us—let alone a dog like this. Sweet and affectionate, smart and well mannered, she’s a mutty-mutt mix of who knows what breeds. Her size and energy level fit perfectly into our life in a condo, unlike most of the dogs we've fostered. She's good with dogs, cats, and people of all ages. You couldn’t ask for a better dog. And we believe she couldn’t ask for a better home. We are her upgrade. 

So Missy is here to stay.