Adopted

I'm adopted?!!

Put your paws together for Lucia on her adoption! Our special needs girl who has been in foster care for thirteen months goes home to a wonderful, loving woman who already loves her.

A few weeks ago an application came in, and I met Maggie. I talked with her on the phone and learned about her, her rat terrier Ray, and how she came to be interested in Lucia. Like many of us, Maggie has a heartbreaking story of a dog with severe reactivity, and that experience drives Maggie to help fearful, undersocialized dogs.

Maggie has more than just a huge heart though. She learned a lot from her reactive dog and is comfortable handling a dog with special needs like Lucia. She isn't out to be the hero to all needy dogs, just to be the hero to one or two dogs who really need her.

She has another dog, Ray, a 9 year old, easy-going character who is perfect for Lucia. Ray is happy to be with his Mom, happy to be outside, happy to be walking - just happy to be! He and Lucia have taken walks together and at first Lucia snapped at him, but on our second meeting there were some covert sniffing of one another and Maggie walked them both together for a period. Ray is the type of boy who will avoid conflict when he can, won't take offense if Lucia gets snarky with him, and will welcome her as a friend whenever Lucia is ready to make that move. He's a balanced, loving, and funny boy and I couldn't ask for a better sibling for Lucia.

Lucia goes home tomorrow. Stay tuned for pictures of her getting a bath tonight! Maggie is about 3.5 hours away from me, so after work we are making the drive to her so that Maggie and Lucia can have the whole weekend together.

Maggie knows that integration will be slow and that it will take time to earn Lucia's trust. She sees the potential in Lucia and knows what a loving, affectionate dog she is. Maggie is willing to give Lucia the times she needs and that patience will pay off big time!

Lucia loves her head kisses. 

Adopters like Maggie are rare gems. We have amazing adopters and our dogs have incredible lives, but occasionally we get adopters who want to adopt one of our special needs dogs and go above-and-beyond to give them wonderful lives. It takes a special person to work with a dog like Lucia who is still overcoming her years in an abusive home, a dog who never experienced proper socialization, and who lived in fear of strangers and other dogs. I am so grateful for Maggie for opening her home to this incredible dog, and tomorrow I drop her off knowing that she is in the perfect home.

And now for a little fun - last night the girls got chicken backs for dinner. I knew I had to capture Lucia's hilarious jaw-chatter on film!