It is necessary to introduce Chris, formerly an animal adoption coordinator from a large metropolitan shelter whom I have come to know and frequent do rescue with and receive adoption referrals from. She is now a director of a no kill shelter in New Jersey.
The fastest foster ever - Missy
Missy was a stray picked up by an animal control officer. She and
her buddy, a black male, were both
placed in a kill shelter for adoption. The black was adopted quickly but Missy was
due to be put down. Chris had been on a "search and save" mission to bring
dogs to her shelter. She saw Missy and knew her fate and rescued her. She then called
Cocker Rescue to let us know - if she didn't adapt well to the shelter, I should
come get her. Well ... she didn't ... so one Saturday morning I was scheduled to
go pick her up. Thursday evening I received a phone call from a heartbroken family
who had just lost their 13 year old dog. Did I have a girl available? Just so happens
... Saturday I'm picking up ... don't know much about her ... their response was,
"We'll be there! Call us from the shelter before you leave and we'll meet at
your house."While in my house Friday afternoon I heard a large diesel truck outside. When I looked, it was a lawn service company truck from a distant town. "How odd", I thought, "out here at this time of the year."
Saturday dawned with the first "real" predicted snow falling, but off I went. I arrived to find a wonderful buff girl. She was dirty and needed to be groomed, but what a sweetheart. The opinion was that she was someone's brood bitch who had had several litters. I called the family as promised and back home I came. I had been home approximately 15 minutes when that same big diesel pick-up arrived at my curb. I commented that I had seen the truck before and the gentleman said he and his wife had nothing to do one afternoon so they drove up (more than an hour one way!) to be sure they would not get lost. My personal feeling was they drove up to check my house out! They were lovely with Missy and almost were willing to adopt Mookie (another story/time) as well.
Missy went home with them. At first her new father thought it would take
a couple of weeks for her to settle in. In the truck on the way home, she sat in
her new mom's lap and gave kisses to both new parents. The next day she was sleeping
next to her new dad with her head in his lap as we talked on the phone.A few weeks went by and she was spayed. She had been in the early stages of pregnancy - and oh were the parents surprised! Must have been that black male! I get mail from Missy and her folks regularly, along with cocker articles and pictures. Missy is a very pampered cocker, but very much loved.
Update: Morgan (the buff girl who came to the SNJCSC meeting).
Morgan went to her new home and went to school with her new mom for the first three days. Mom didn't want to leave her alone so soon after adopting her. The new mom teaches preschool and Morgan found her niche. In the classroom she lays down in the middle of a play group and lets the children pet her. One particular little child was having family problems and through Morgan she was able to talk about it! After several sessions with Morgan, the child's mom wanted to know where they could get "a dog like Morgan." Morgan's mom referred that family to a dog in PA who was in need of rehoming and they adopted that dog. Morgan's mom feels that she would like to pursue therapy work with her because Morgan is so well behaved. Good luck, Morgan!