October 16, 2010

White Dog sat next to me with her head on my lap. It had been an emotional roller coaster of a day and we both were spent and feeling more than a little disappointed. "Everything happens for a reason, you know," she reminded me and I sighed.

The saga began the other day when an Eskie rescuer (who I respect for the fact that he focuses on saving senior and impaired dogs) sent out a plea for help. Because of his focus on the hard to home, he often just ends up becoming their "permanent foster." Anyway, he had been found out and cited by his city for his excessive number of dogs and was at risk of losing them all. He was desperately trying to find new homes NOW for several in hopes that he could placate the officials somehow. We followed his story as others stepped forward to take in a 17 year old Eskie dad and his 14 year old daughter, and a trio of three teenagers rescued when an empty nester couple lost their home.

Last night White Dog and I read his update and discovered that Snowball, a 13 year old Eskie girl who was "quirky" still hadn't been rehomed. We sent a note asking a few basic questions and upon getting answers, the family powwowed.

White Dog and Steve agreed that we had to "do the right thing." Quinn never had any doubt. We composed an answer saying that we would welcome Snowball as a part of our family.
This morning we rushed to the computer to find a gleeful answer and made plans to fly Snowball to us. We discussed the logistics and excitedly planned for a new arrival early next week.

Our excitement was crushed this afternoon and our hearts wounded when we received a second response saying "Thanks, but a local home has been found for Snowball, and you do not need to take her in after all." Deflated, we tried not to take the ending as a rejection. We focused on the most important fact...this senior girl would have a home to safely and happily live out the rest of her days. And that are lots of pups in similar situations that need help, too.

But the spontaneity and rightness of the moment is what made this adoption seem so right... now White Dog and I sit side-by-side and try to remember sometimes magic happens (like when Quinn came to us)...and sometimes it is just smoke and mirrors.