Another Long Overdue Update, Another Lucky Foster Adopted

Why oh why does it take me so long to share an adoption update?

Maybe it's because I don't want to get overly excited about the fact that my foster has gone to her forever...so I wait a few days for the other shoe not to drop and know the pup isn't being returned. Maybe it's because I am a little too sad to see them go to fully admit it. Or maybe I just am very untimely in my blog writing. Option 3 seems most plausible.

So, yes friends, it's been nearly a week, and I have not heard any bad news since Suga left the building and moved in with her new pack last Friday. I will be following up tomorrow to do the 1-week "how's it goin'?" checkup, but since the adopter hasn't reached out since last Saturday to send me this photo...

Day 1: she has found the bed and a friend's lead to follow

...I have to assume things are going well so far. As you can see, Suga is living with a new version of her foster brother, except he is a JRT/Beagle mix and has aboout 15 or so pounds on Ollie. Nevertheless, we were able to do a switcheroo pretty easily due to their uncanny look-alike status, and Sug (they are keeping the name!) took to him pretty much immediately. After the first day, it was reported that she was skittish but doing well overall. Taking a lot of cues for where to go/what to do from her canine brother Jack (not surprising), eating meals as normal (not surprising), taking treats from her new parents (not surprising), and going potty normally...and outside (this one was maybe a little surprising, since she went a near 2 days before she graced us with her first bathroom break on the upstairs carpet, much to my relief).

Sug's new parents, who live in a quiet North Springfield neighborhood, have a huge back yard, and with one parent who works from home, came along on April 22nd when we were hosting a rainy, yucky adoption event out in Annandale VA. They were inspired to meet Suga when they saw her Lucky Dog bio (which sort of warmed my heart, because I agonized over that bio to help speak to Suga's true personality, rather than the drama queen people meet at adoption events).



"Look lady, if you would just stop taking me to these things, I could have my Sundays back and stop having hide under cars and behind legs."



For the record, she absolutely did put on her best "sorry, I'm just not that into you show" on April 22nd, but unfortunately for Suga she had her foster daddy Nick with her, who made a point to talk all about her more awesome qualities and how her adoption event antics were nothing more than her way of stomping her feet saying she wanted to go home. Jeff and Noah were undeterred by the tail between her legs, and filled out an application. After a lovely conversation about how their older dog Shorty had passed away, and how they could tell Jack was a little lonely for a new playmate, learning about how many of Jack's personality traits mirrored those of Ollie, and how curious they were about all that Suga had to offer, it became clear to me that after some internal struggle, some light nudging from people and teasing "when are you going to keep her?" questions from my fellow volunteers and family members, and a few would-be adopters before that I didn't feel quite right about (that incidentally also ended up falling through) I was able to let her go and avoid foster failure. Bringing her to her new family was the saddest I had ever been to say good-bye, but oddly, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. We came to do the home visit, and I left with the feeling she was going to a place where after the initial transition, she would be happy and doted on for many, many years.

My time with Suga was 3 months of trust building and earning. She is the first foster that I really had to work for in order to go from this...

Feb 4th on the car ride home from transport...shaking, soggy and avoiding eye contact

...to this:



April 14th adoption event: snuggle buggin', butt waggin', tap dancin' love muffin.

I'm grateful for every moment we had, and my hope is her real, true life forever continues to help her grow, love, and find adventure,trust and joy in each new day. For my part, I can say with confidence that Sug gave that to me in the 3 months we spent with each other. And, she was able to let go and move on to her next best thing in just enough time to let me recover for Pet Fiesta weekend (she told me to let our foster coordinator Kate know that she owed her one).

So fear not Lucky Bloggers. Come Sunday I will have a new four-legged little someone to write about. And your guess as to who it will be is honestly as good as mine.

Stay tuned...

2 Months of Short Legged Steps Forward

Well lucky bloggers, when last I left you it was exactly 1 month and 1 day ago. The month of March was a crazy one with my day job, so my Lucky Dog storytelling took a short sabbatical, except for one liner updates on my Facebook page. Speaking of, the Lucky Blog now has its own page so that maybe I can increase my follow base to people beyond my circle of Facebook friends, and the same people maybe don't have to hear me go on about the cute/funny/weird/challenging things my foster dog has been up to (okay, maybe the second piece of that is a pipe dream, sorry Facebook friends). In any case, to find the Lucky Blog on Facebook, simply visit us at http://www.facebook.com/ALuckyDogsLuckyBlog. This is a space where you'll not only find links to the blog, but other snippets of "additional content", fun links, and random updates from life at the Homestead.

So. One month later in my once-upon-a-time foster world meant I may have been through 2-3 fosters by now. Suga is a stubborn little lady though, and doesn't seem to want to leave us quite yet. She has had a slight bit of interest from prospective adopters, but since I took over official screening duties I have yet to receive a single official application on the little lady. A couple of "what a nice dog" responses at events and some follow-up questions, but I have't gotten to a screening interview yet. When I come home and Nick finds me on the phone talking to someone about our adoption policies and asking/answering questions (Suga curled up next to me on the floor, couch, or bed) my husband gives me an excited questioning look and points to her. I give my "not this time" look we don't really know if it's disappointment or perhaps a little relief that we feel.

Yup, that's the face...

Suga had one family that initially seemed a good match about 3 weeks back - they had a second dog and had been pre-screened and approved by another adoption coordinator, and as her bio is pretty straightforward about both her awesome qualities and her shyness (in general and specifically at adoption events) I sort of thought they knew exactly what to expect. I even offered the additional disclaimer, "hey, she's not always awesome at adoption events so we can do a meet and greet at home if you'd like." They seemed eager to meet her and no visit at home seemed necessary. Nick and I had fully prepared ourselves to give her up that week, and as she and I headed up to Kensington, MD I braced myself to come back with an empty car. The adopters came and went while I was working on a contract with another adopter, and before I got a chance to talk with them, they had decided that Suga wasn't the dog for them. But as I came back to her, she had this sort of triumphant look on her face like "HEY MAMA LYNN! I'm sticking with YOUUU!". And i couldn't help but laugh to myself.


So since then, we've been waiting for that first application and making great progress in the mean time. Last week, she gave the dog walker kisses. And remember that first trip to the dog park? Where she attempted to escape under the fence and then hid under a bench? Well, we're moving forward from that. Check out our most recent trip to the puppy playground (and notice the tail position!). Pretty much she is a giant goofball love bug at home, and gets braver and braver (and by default, sillier and sillier) every day. 

In our down time, she spends her time doing typical dog things like sniffing around in the yard....

Hanging out with her foster brother...

And hogging all the pillow. 

To help this sweet gal get adopted, see and share her bio at http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22053055. There have been quite a few folks asking when Suga's going to be here to stay, and we are looking to prove them wrong and find her an even better forever home than the one she's got now. We know it's out there, we just need to find it. 


Hugs and LOTS of puppy kisses (have I mentioned how much she LOVES to give them??),
Lynn & Suga

The Art (and Heart) In Fostering A Shy Dog

Suga now proudly holds the title of our longest reigning foster, having stayed put at the Heun Homestead for exactly 4 weeks and 1 day. Previously our longest fosters had hung around for no longer than two weeks (I think Loopy was 2 weeks and 3 days, still within the 2 week realm from a technicality standpoint). While thrilled when a foster gets adopted and heads on down the road to their new forever, I do have to say that it's been nice spending a little more time with our most recent house guest. Mostly because when a dog gets adopted that quickly, there is little a foster can say about the progress made in such a short window.

Sure, you see little things as they get comfortable in a home. Like Nina came to us too frightened to walk on a leash, but with the help of a harness and a friend in Ollie, she quickly came around. Loopy didn't want to walk up steps when we first got her home, but thanks to some time and some treats she got over that minor speed bump. 

But Suga is different. We've actually been able to see the strides she is making in her time with us. Too scared to take treats or even move on that first night, she found a safe place on the stairs and hung out there quite a bit the first day, then a little less the third and fourth days, then almost not at all. She has gone from nervous curiosity to enthusiastically seeking attention and cuddles. From not going to the bathroom at all, to a daily accident, to going to the door when it's time for a potty break. Running and hiding from Ollie's attempts at play, to chasing, wrestling, and playing with toys with, and in the quiet hours, snuggling with him. They actually oftentimes opt to sleep in the same crate at night, and it's pretty freaking adorable. All of us have had to work to earn her trust to get where we are now, but it's been heartwarming to see her get there, and has made us feel pretty good.

Of course, there is still progress to be made. Yesterday we took Ollie and Suga to the dog park and she made an attempt to escape under the gate (she obviously failed under my watchful eye) and after some time hiding under a bench at my feet, ended up acclimating well enough. But it was a reminder that there are certain things still very much beyond her comfort level, and they may always be, and that's okay. But it doesn't mean we shouldn't work to increase that comfort level.  Adoption events are one of those things beyond her comfort level. But we are working to support her with being as comfortable as she can be when outside her comfort zone, all the while making sure she doesn't think we are putting her in danger. Losing that would only set us back, so we must make sure we work to maintain it as we did to earn it.  But she does trust Nick and me to keep her safe at this point, so our goal is to do what we can to increase that confidence that she exudes at home outside the home. 

Nick was gracious enough to give up his Sunday and handle her today at our adoption event, and while she wasn't exactly having the time of her life, she looked much more calm than she had at previous events when being handled by a stranger. 

Nick was also able to advocate for her, and while nothing's ever certain until that adoption questionnaire comes in (and still not even truly certain until the screening and home visits are complete and the contract is signed), there was a woman who seemed like a good match who was interested in her after chatting with us, and promised me an email. So paws crossed!

There's a balance, and an art to working with a shy dog, and we tell our adopters this. We know we're supposed to teach a dog not to jump up on you. But when that jump on you is a sign of comfort and confidence, it becomes a little more difficult to say "off" at first. A normal impulse is perhaps to expect love at first sight with a new dog, but shy dogs make you work a little harder for their love. And they have every right to. It's reasonable to want your dog to not run and hide from, or bark at the neighborhood children. But if your dog is scared of the neighborhood children, it's unfair to put them in a situation that makes them uncomfortable (and although a cute 6 year old little girl has her feelings hurt when you politely tell her not to pet an adorable pup you're caring for, she will have forgotten about it by tomorrow).  

So while we patiently wait for a forever family willing to toe that line of knowing that Suga's fears are normal, while also allowing her the opportunity to overcome them, we will continue to do that for her. Whether it's one more day, one more week, one more month, or...well....you get the idea. :)

2012 Updates and A Spoonful of Suga

Well goodness, it's been awhile since we've had an update, hasn't it? I guess time flies when you're back in school, switching jobs, helping get a dog park built, and of course, getting some Lucky Dogs Adopted! Shortly following my return to VA after Christmas, Loopy got herself a forever home. I was a little nervous about the family at first, simply because it contained two resident Pomeranian siblings. Those of you who had the pleasure of meeting Loopy knew that she was a big love, but also a dog who didn't know her own size and strength. This worked out fine for Ollie, who was a quintessential Jack Russell, happily chasing, wrestling with , and oftentimes pinning her. Our playful Rottie mix pooch would carefully seek out one square foot of space on the couch and then prance herself up on it, usually sitting on whoever or whatever else was just outside its borders. I was a wee bit concerned as to how her social graces (or lack thereof) would impress upon two small fluffy dogs who had never had to interact, much less live, with a 55 lb lap dog.


In our initial introductions to her adoptive home, Loopy tried to play with her new prospective adoptive siblings a la her standard play initiation move: by taking her big ol' paw and bringing it down upon the bodies of her new tiny and fluffy siblings. Suffice it to say the Poms were less than thrilled. I explained that an adjustment period was to be expected, and training and exercise would help ease the transition. But to be sure, I asked if her new parents were sure about bringing her into the mix, as I acknowledged the importance of respecting the needs of the resident pets. Mom and Dad were ready for whatever lie ahead, and we took her to Petco to get a collar and a new bed. Loopy, now Leela, made herself cozy in the middle of the store upon her new bed, but old habits die hard and she is thankfully still a welcome addition to the couch, where miss Loops/Leela happily snoozes in her spare time.


Loopy on the couch in her foster home...

...Loopy on the couch in her adoptive home.

I actually just got an update from Loopy's foster tonight, here's how she's holding up: "Just wanted to give you an update and some photos. Leela is very loved and spoiled and gets along with Holly very well now. Teddy is just a grouchy old man but she knows to leave him alone :) I recommended your rescue to some clients at my work (vet hospital) so hopefully they can have the great experience I did! Thanks :)"

Loopy and Holly, her Pom Sister, co-existing peacefully.

We stayed foster-less for pretty much the entire month of January, and brought our first Lucky Dog of 2012 in on January 28th. Mitzie was a super cute, mis-categorized pup who was labelled as a stocky, rugged muscular dog called a Mountain Cur. When I picked her up from transport, this teeny, 18 lb terrier is the dog that greeted me:

Suffice it to say that while I'm not quite sure what she was, she was definitely not a Mountain Cur. Mitzie was an incredibly easy foster...no accidents in the house, no chewing, got along great with Ollie, snuggled right into her crate at bed time. She was also incredibly affectionate, lovey, and playful. So it's probably no big surprise that she was adopted a mere 24 hours after her arrival. Two families were taken by her charms at an adoption event after she got to town, and one was lucky enough to keep her at home after we stopped by for the home visit. But she didn't need more than a night to get comfy and snuggle into our hearts. 

So, fast forward a week, and a transport from our friends at the Florence Area Humane Society. Many a foster is needed on transport weeks, and so I took a look at Kate's weekly foster needed list to see who I could help out. I saw there were a couple dogs who needed to go to a foster with a second dog (typical for dogs who are noticably shy in the shelter), and offered to take one of them. I ended up getting assigned to take a Dachsund mix named Suga. She arrived last Saturday and came off transport shaking. Likely because it was cold, but also likely because she was terrified. We got her a doggie jacket to keep warm and patiently waited to get a collar and leash while it started to rain. I brought some high value treats with me, but she was just so scared that she wouldn't take any. Leashed and collared up, we finally got her photo snapped and headed down to the parking garage. We got to the car and she attempted to hide under it.  I lifted her into the car and she curled up in the back seat. We got home and she ran up onto the steps, where she seemed to feel as safe as she could, given her scary and stressful day...and all of a sudden being in a place that was completely unfamiliar, wondering what was next.

It probably didn't do much to get in her good graces by giving her a bath next.

Then Nick brought home Ollie, who immediately wanted to play and sent her running for her life. Suffice it to say we weren't off to a good start. But we got all the uncomfortable transitional stuff out of the way, and I was forgiven after a warm meal and a comfy snuggle spot on the couch. She was exhausted, and I didn't blame her. But she slept like an angel in her crate and awoke the next morning with her tail half mast and half wagging (a marked improvement from the night before). The adoption event that next day frightened her (not surprisingly), but Suga was a good sport and got through it. For the following week she's been able to work on building confidence, her housetraining, and seeing the world through new eyes.

I don't know what Suga's life was before she came to Lucky Dog, but whatever it was, it left her faith in humanity somewhat shaken, and left her not entirely sure how to socialize or play with other pups. But like most dogs, she is resilient and eager to find reason to have that faith restored. While she may be afraid of loud noises, she is curious about the world around her. While she was too afraid to go to the bathroom for our first two days with her, she is following the example of her foster brother to learn what to do. There are mistakes and missteps along the way, but above all else she loves to be loved. I came home from work only two days after welcoming her into our life, and she greeted me with such excitement that her entire body was wagging. We have immediately learned that she is a cuddle bug and loves human affection once she gets comfortable around you. 

We have immediately learned that in spite of her shyness, she is a cuddle bug and loves human affection once she gets comfortable. That said, her fear of loud noises leaves her best suited to a family with older kids (12 and up). Small kids just don't really know how not to be loud I'm afraid. Also, because she is still learning how to trust people and work on her socialization, sweet Suga needs to go to a home with a second dog. She also does not like being left alone when her people need to leave, so a buddy to hang with when the humans are out is a big help to her. Outside of that, she's pretty much a perfect companion who loves to play but doesn't need a ton of exercise to keep her from going crazy. We are still perfecting her housetraining, but hey, it's only been a week and she's come a long way in that time. As you can also see, she's very comfortable in her crate and sleeps like an angel through the night, as long as she can be by your side.

If you'd like for Suga to be by your side, feel free to check back on the blog for more updates, and check out her bio at  http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22053055 to learn how to adopt her! In the mean time, she'll be crashing at my house, and I'm pretty okay with that :)


Puppy kisses,
Lynn & Suga

A Shining Star and a Bowl of Froot Loops

Last week I took on my final foster of 2011. Loopy, a Rottweiler mix with the disposition of a baby fawn, will help round out the new year (and maybe get adopted before then?). Loopy came up from a shelter in Florence County, South Carolina last Saturday, and her overnight foster fell in love with her pretty much immediately. I had another dog at the time, who I expected to have longer than two days...but she went and got herself adopted. Her name was Star, and she was a shy little Rat Terrier/Chihuahua mix, who needed the company of another dog to help her gain some confidence. We picked her up on Friday, and within a day she had gone from trying to bury herself behind a pillow in a corner of the couch, to running around with Ollie, jumping off and on furniture, batting around tennis balls, squeaking squeaky toys, and tail a-wagging. She tired herself out and was pretty happy and content by the the end of her second night, as you can see below. She was a fast little bugger so the only decent shot I could get of her was when she was sleeping.

Star, renamed Starlet by her new mom, now lives in Alexandria with two Chihuahua sisters, who hopefully will continue to help her blossom and grow into a well-adjusted dog. Her Adoption Coordinator said she was doing well when she checked in with her. Our time together was brief, but it was enjoyable. She was also to date our smallest foster dog. Ollie looked gigantic by comparison. :)

So, Sunday's adoption event came around and I was foster-less by the time I got there. But the day before a new transport of shelter dogs had arrived, which means of course that there were some dogs who had an overnight foster the night before, but needed a place to go come Sunday. Some of those dogs went to doggie daycare, but there was one dog who they really wanted to send to a home: Loopy.

As you may have noticed, this beautiful young lady only has one eye. She had gone blind in her left eye due to trauma, and her eye was enlarged and causing discomfort to the point that veterinarians determined removing it would give Miss Loopy a better quality of life in the long run. This photo was taken right after she arrived to DC, and relatively recently post-op. Because there are so many dogs in doggie daycare, LDAR wanted to be sure Loopy's healing continued to progress and that too much playtime wouldn't cause her stitches to come undone. She's healing up beautifully now, and the eye area that was shaved is starting to grow in so unless you're really paying attention, you hardly notice she's only got half her vision. Loopy doesn't seem to notice at all, although she can be clumsy sometimes and bump into things, due in part to her limited peripheral vision. 

Loopy, like any foster, has not been without her own set of challenges. The first night she was with me, we spent teaching her not to be afraid of stairs with lots of treats and coaxing. She now goes up and down them like a champ. Loopy is also an energetic pup who needs plenty of exercise and playtime, but some long walks through the neighborhood and having Ollie as a wrestling/chase/tug buddy has helped tend to that....she's calmed down lots since last week, and in spite of a few accidents is making strides in housetraining (having a schedule and a little consistency really goes a long way). In the last week she has learned "sit" and "down", and is very motivated by treats and praise. She adores trips to the dog park and has been complimented for her sweet demeanor, and I truly think she has no concept that she is a 54 lb dog. She prefers to think she is a lap dog, and loves to nuzzle up for snuggles and cuddles. I think she'd be brokenhearted to learn otherwise if you won't tell her, I won't. In the mean time, I'm just going to go ahead and keep letting her lay on top of Ollie when she's tired. He also apparently doesn't have the heart to tell her she's 40 lbs heavier than he is. 

She is a little bit like a toddler, and has managed to find random things on the ground she isn't supposed to have/chew, so I've needed to keep an especially close eye, and sadly have had to repair a vacuum and replace a laptop cord from failing to do that (she was just outside peripheral view when the vacuum became a casualty, and it was foolish for me to shower without crating her while leaving her unattended with the laptop plug). Ah well, lesson learned. In spite of my vacuum, she has wormed her way into my affections and those of my dad (she'll be spending Christmas with us in NJ, and is settling in just fine at foster Babchi and foster Poppy's). He's rallying hard for me to adopt her and has affectionately given her the nickname of "Love Pony" because she sort of walks like a pony and has nothing but love to give. I am rallying that there is a much better home for her than the one I can provide, and I owe it to my future fosters not to adopt her.  :) In her time with us, she's also donned the nicknames of Loopy Loo, (Hang on) Sloopy, Froot Loop, and Loony Toon, just to name a few.

This most recent fostering experience has also taught me the importance of making sure I clear fosters with my husband before bringing them home. It makes it a lot easier to take in a foster when you know that the other person you live with can live with the decision. Loopy was one foster that I didn't exactly clear through Nick to ensure he was cool with it, and took home because (a) I wrongly assumed he would be, (b) there was a need, and (c)my heart is soft and I have a tough time saying no, as long as I feel I can responsibly care for a dog that needs a place to go. But this past week has taught me it's not 100% responsible when not everyone in the home wants to be part of the fostering experience Lucky Dog only adopts to families where all members are on board for the adoption, and while the fostering period is much shorter than placing a dog in a forever home, the same principle sort of applies. Though it tugs at my heartstrings every single time I get a "Foster Needed" e-mail, I get why I can't take it upon myself to try and save them all, so to speak. One piece of advice I got at foster training was "know your limits". So I think once Loopy gets into her forever home, I'll be taking a short fostering hiatus until at least 90% of the boxes of our new home are unpacked, 60% of the pictures hung on the walls, and my husband is 100% behind me. In the mean time, I'm still committed to event coordinating  and application screening for Lucky Dog, and helping with PWC Dog Park Development for the betterment of saving and enriching the lives of local pups, at least for a little while. 

On that note, I think my next issue will be a foster lessons learned. There sure have been a few take-aways from this past year with 1 adopted Lucky Dog, 5 full time fosters, 2 overnight fosters, and 7 dogs that I had AC'd having my support in getting adopted (possibly 8 by the end of next week!). So, stay tuned. Without fail though, my biggest take-away is this has been one of the most fulfilling volunteer experiences I've ever had. And playing a small part in getting the 1,319 dogs of 2011 rescued somehow makes me feel a pretty big sense of purpose.

Happy Tails Tale (aka post-Thanksgiving Update from Sabrina's new home)

Below is a note from Sabrina's new mom, including some pictures of the cutie with her canine sibling, Skittles. Rescue can sometimes have it's stressful moments, or your moments of wondering if you have failed somehow along the way. These are the notes that make fostering and rescue so totally worth it.

We had family in town for the long weekend. Everyone loved Sabrina, and Sabrina loved everyone right back!

We have been working with her while on walks not to "walk" us, and she is improving. She does seem to try to take over new walkers, as family members wanted the opportunity to hold the leash, but she quickly got the hang of each new person. It was quite a pain at first trying to get her to go into her kennel for the day, but since she has realized that she will get a treat if she does it on her own, we haven't had too many issues. She actually likes going into Skittles' kennel with her, even though she has her own! They are very affectionate towards each other, very cuddly and playful. We've also been working on sit and stay while we prepare her meals, and she has started to get the hang of waiting until we say she can eat. She now waits patiently like a little angel.

Overall our first week and a half has been wonderful. She remains very loving and always wants to be on one of our laps. Luckily, she has been very gentle and patient with the baby, so that is a blessing.

I've attached some pictures of Sabrina and Skittles cuddling. They are very cute together. I'm pretty bad at remembering to take pictures, but I will try my hardest to periodically update you with any I have taken!

I hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving and thank you for the continued support!

Caitlin

Sabrina Goes Home

This update comes a few days after the fact (mostly because I was a little sad about it) but this Sunday Sabrina found her forever family. She and I headed out to Sunday's adoption event at White Flint Petsmart, admittedly a drive I wasn't amped about making because it's on the other side of the DC Metro map. But Beana and I decided to make it worth our while by picking up some of her fellow Lucky Dog pals along the way: Captain, Trina, and Bo Bo. Driving 4 dogs is adventurous but we had a good time. The dogs ate Milkbones and co-existed peacefully, which means it was a good drive for me. My hope was at least 25% of my car load would be adopted (50% of it did), my expectation was not that I would be arriving with Sabrina and leaving without her.

While screening a potential adopter for Bo Bo (an adorable, tiny terrier mix still looking for a home), someone came up to me saying a family was interested in Sabrina. I got super excited, then almost immediately wanted to cry. But when I headed over to meet the family, I knew almost right away that if I could have hand picked them, I would. Nice young couple with a second dog named Skittles, who could have easily been confused as Sabrina's biological sister, and a baby girl about 4.5 months old. Who will soon enough grow into a great playmate. It didn't take long for this family to earn my stamp of approval, and they had passed all the other tests to adopt. And Sabrina had immediately won them over.

After checking in the first night, Sabrina was getting along great playing with her canine sibling, and being very gentle with the baby two-legged sister. Her new mom commented on what an incredible cuddler she is (but I knew that already) and are so happy to have her. And I couldn't be happier that she has a family that is going to love her and look forward to a long life ahead with Sweet Sabrina, starting with this Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for the mark she left on my heart, and that she has a wonderful new family to make a mark on theirs.