September was the last month that Buddy had to go to an adoption event. Luckily we weren't having many events, due to the heat, vacations etc. However, taking Buddy over to my good friend, and also Board Member for Barks of Love, was TORTURE. Not to mention, I cried every single entire day leading up to it, I had to force myself every step of the way to take him. Harder than loading him up though, had to be handing him over. It was at this exact moment that I realized I am not going to be able to say Goodbye to this pup, ever. I think I was over at my friends house the minute she got home from the event, I grabbed my baby(not literally) and kissed him a million times! Then proceeded to unintentionally grill her about how many applications he had. To my again suprise..no applications..to say I was THRILLED is an understatment. Driving home with a sleeping puppy in the seat next to me..I knew how I felt about this pup.
I then began the conversation with my husband, that I know, he knew was coming.
Let me preface this by saying that I told my husband before we were married and he was my boyfriend that if he couldn't stand the thought of me bringing random animals I found on the street home then he shouldn't marry me because that is GOING to happen it's just a matter of time. The very good news for me is that not only was my husband supportive of my love, he has the same love for animals I do, he's just MUCH better at hiding it.
<Side Note> You should have seen him when I first brought up fostering, "Megan I don't want to do this, but if you do that's fine, just don't expect me to help." Fast forward to the moment he met our first foster, "oh my gosh give them to me, I think this one wants a nap." Bella and Tank 2 6-week old Border Collie mix pups who had just been rescued from being Euthanized.**picture below**
Fast forward to this decision, I am sitting on the sofa, cradling Buddy in my arms and crying, with tears just running down my face and my husband looks at me and says, "you know I'm going to support you no matter what happens, right?" Okay more tears, "what do you mean." Chris, "I mean that I know your worried about Buddy getting adopted and if you decide to adopt him, I support you 100 percent." Knowing me more than anyone else he says, "I know the only reason you haven't said it first is because you are afraid I'm going to say, 'no way,' and I want you to know if that's what you want(to adopt Buddy) I support you. He's a good dog and while I never pictures us having 3 large dog's, we have 3 Great Dogs."
You would think I ran and typed an e-mail that moment saying, "We're Adopting Buddy." I didn't, I sat and cried more because now I had to stop thinking about what was best for me and my feelings and push those out of sight and truly decide what is going to be best for Buddy. Would this be the end of me fostering, would I be able to handle 3 large dogs permanently, would everyone want to lock me away for being a crazy dog/cat lady?..who knew!
All I know and knew is from the moment I held that baby boy in my hands, literally the moment, I said, "I'm in Love and I'm keeping this one." Phil smiled then thinking I'd get over it, but I never did, without knowing or planning too I forged forth. Loving this puppy as if he was my child because to me, he is and always will be.
Now to decide how to figure out the logistics?..I sat down with my husband, and told him, after a few months of Buddy growing up and more training, I have to have the chance to foster again. At least once. He agreed and so the rest is history. I look back at the trail of e-mails now and laugh and smile and get choked up because now, I can't imagine having decided any other way. I can't imagine not having this love bug as apart of our pack.
Buddy plays with my black lab, Stella, and I NEVER thought that would happen. Not to mention it is SO FUNNY! Stella is our dominant female, who is MILD as far as the word dominant is concerned. However she still rules the roost and only plays with Gypsy, all other dogs are allowed in her presence but must "respect" her. They can't play tug with her, or fetcher her toys..well not till Buddy got old enough.
You see this pup has a way of making EVERYONE fall in Love with him. He walks into any room, wiggling and waggling, and almost hopping with excitement and everyone who sees him is in awe.
In the middle of October my Husband and I made the announcement to our families. I thought for a moment it would be a "fight" but everyone laughed at us and said, "we knew it, we were just waiting to hear you tell us." PHEW..
And so our story as a family of 7(2 humans, 2 cats and 3 dog's) begins. You see Buddy was brought to us to share a story. Please continue to listen and share. As animals by the hundreds and thousands are killed and harmed daily. The more we tell our story the more lives we save, until 1 day things change.
My hope is while Buddy is just one stone thrown into a pond, his ripples will reach all corners. His story will make a difference.
