Speaking of Dogs . . .

This is our new dog Riley. He is a male yellow lab, with some hound mixed in too (according to our vet). We were told he was 5 but our vet says maybe closer to 8. We told the lab rescue person who was helping us find the right dog for us . . . "We'd like an adult dog but young, 2-4, (I wanted a puppy, Dan didn't want to go through puppyhood again, so we compromised), I'd like a female, color doesn't matter though I am a little partial to yellow, Dan wanted black since they are the hardest to adopt out, must be calm (to get along with poor old lady Molly). SO . . . . .she (lab rescue lady) says "I have the PERFECT dog for you in Norfolk." Dan was there on business a few days later so I said "Why don't you go over and take a look at Riley." He said "You know I can't just take a look and then NOT bring him home." That seemed fine, he sounded "perfect," or that's what the lab rescue lady said anyway. SO . . . . Dan said (from Riley's foster home in Norfolk) I want to bring him home but I don't thing he'll ride well in my car, he's very excited." I was a little annoyed by that since Norfolk is a three hour drive at best and I didn't fancy doing that anytime soon, and I was SO anxious to see Riley NOW. (Is he concerned Riley will scratch the leather seats of his Lexus? He's not fussy about his car; wet muddy dogs, pizza-eating teenagers, dirt-encrusted plants from the nursery, his car has seen it all with little concern from Dan.) Probably just worried that Riley will be hopping around the back seat and breathing down his neck for three hours. He opened the door to the Lexus and Riley jumped in, rolled into a ball and slept for the next three hours. They arrived at my studio in Lorton at dusk and I came out to the back parking lot and there was Riley. It was love at first sight. He is a male, yellow, very active, older mostly-lab. Not exactly what we thought we wanted but he is perfect. The bonus is he seems to be almost fully trained. We've had him for about a week now and he is completely housebroken, not one mistake. He sits, lays, fetches, comes. He is terrible on the leash and doesn't "stay" well but responds so well to training it will be easy to fix. He is an obsessive compulsive fetcher and will beg to go outside every hour or so so we can play, will actually pick up my hand from my computer with his nose (a lab thing) and INSIST I pay attention to him. When he's is not totally preoccupied with getting us to play with him, he is very calm and affectionate. He's a laugh a minute and already our house is littered with his toys. Hard to imagine this sweet guy as a stray. He was found walking the streets of Norfolk, no tag, no chip, completely infested with fleas and ticks, and starving. He was picked up by animal control and then saved from being killed by the local lab rescue people. From there he went to a foster home but was kept in a kennel because this foster (bless him) has saved so many labs, and they couldn't all stay in his house. The animal rescue people (almost all volunteers) take such good care of the dogs. They take them to the vet, neuter them, chip them, do whatever it takes to get them healthy and ready to be adopted into a forever home. Riley had an allergic reaction to his flea and tick infestation and lost much of the hair on his tummy and legs, but it is growing back nicely. He is a passive gentle dog and never would have survived on his own for very long, so it is fortunate that he was picked up when he was. Because he is so gentle and sweet, and well trained, we assume he was in a home where he was loved and well cared for. Dan is sad for the people who lost him. We are very happy with our new silly boy Riley.

Comments

[Bonnie]

Wonderful story Chris! We too always feel sad for the people who lost Porter. But glad for a happy ending.

[Jackie Jacobson]

He found the perfect home. And you found the perfect new friend. What could be better. Missing you my friend. I will have to spend more time on this site, to see what you're up to. I've lost the link to your other website. New computer. Old one had all the links. Share with me please, so I can see everything that you're doing. I absolutely love your dog paintings.
Hugs