Ruby

Our tiny little fury family has grown from 3, to 4.  I've expressed to friends and to Alan that I really would love to have a small dog.  I hike so much, I run the block on warmer nights, my routine is pretty down to a science, and I am ready to be a dog owner again.  I had 2 great dogs in my marriage years ago.  We had found a full bred Queensland Heeler walking lonely and cold, who was actually pregnant with 8 (full bred puppies).  When posters, newspaper ads, and even a trip to the pound all were answered in silence, two weeks later, she delivered 8 healthy babies, and 8 weeks after that, we sent them off to good homes, but kept 1, Mikey. 

I loved those dogs, but in our long, drawn out, hasty decision "who's keeping what" moments, he claimed the dogs, and Jagger the cat.  I was living back at home for 3 months, so it was ideal, till I moved to Napa, and then he suggested I take Mikey....I pondered the thought, but wrote it off.  There are days I regret that decision...he was after all, my dog, I named him Mikey after the baby from 'Look Who's Talking' ( I was 17)  I found out over Thanksgiving weekend that Girl (the mama dog) had been put down, she was 14 after all, and Jagger our gypsy cat, had been hit by a car.  I'd like to not blame him for that...but I do.  Poor Jagger...I miss Mikey.

I started remembering how much I love the companionship of a dog.  How much they love you even at your worst, how excited they get to see you come home.  How they learn hand gestures and words, and know when you are sad, and comfort you.  I still love Scout so much, but sometimes he is in his own world--he is a cat, afterall.  I started researching rescues.  Some of them are crazy about adopting...it would almost seem you are adopting a child from another country.  They can drop in on you, make house visits...they want to know where the dog will be when I'm at work...I guess I understand a little, but it's an animal, and rescues are expensive...in my logical mind I'm thinking...I'm going to be good to this animal, but I guess there are some losers out there that aren't.  At any rate, one night I was just so sure I was ready for a dog...I stayed up late reading, and reading....and the next day Alan and I went to the local shelter in Napa.  I mostly wanted to review their procedure...but there she was, prancing around like a miniature horse.  "Pebbles"....they suggested I walk her, so we did...

I was ready to take her home that instant, but we have to be approved, and we have to get the go ahead by the Property Manager. So, we left. I hated leaving her there, and now that I know her, it makes me even more sad....the consensus after texting my circle of friends was she was perfect, but the not good decision maker in me really battled with myself for the next 24 hours.  Having a dog is what I wanted, but what if it all of a sudden became a decision I kicked myself for later?!?  Alan really had the last say, and he really thought she was great, so we just had to wait...wait for the shelter to give the okay.  And they did! I paid the fee, filled out her information, and off the 3 of us went.  She took to us right away, we had friends over that night for ELF and pizza, and she just is so social.  We got so lucky.  She's trained well, doesn't bark, loves Alan, wants to play with Scout--she's amazing.  And, I'm sure I'll have plenty of stories about her along the way.

Everyone, meet Ruby!