I am, once again, complete......Welcome Ginger Bee

It was a bit of a surprise for me,  how sudden and immediate the desire for another dog invaded my day to day life. I'd still tear up at the thought of Lacy, but my healthy mental side took over my blubbering, self pitying side and the search began in earnest in April.   With it came notifications from Precious Pets Rescue, Petfinders, Bichon Rescue, Animal Haven, Wings of Freedom, Labs and More, 20 Paws Rescue, Pets Alive, Posh Pets Rescue, and Luv Pets. I sent out emails requesting adoption details for Angel, Elliot, Blondie, Princess, Squeegee, Mia, Tasha, Bella, Kermet, Lena and Lula.  Applications were filled out and sent :::no response::::, requests for updated status emailed :::Adopted::::.  Good for them, not so much for me.  I even got a call about two sweet looking little Westie mix sisters.  My references were called, my vet contacted and I was interviewed over the phone while at Peron in NYC shopping for fabrics.
Next step? I would be contacted in a couple days to set up a meeting.   Then......NOTHING.  Why would they do that?  I don't know, but I was hoping it was because someone came along who was willing to take both sisters.  I was not.  
I had decided against getting another bichon for obvious reasons, and concentrated on other "mixed" breeds, even considering shedding breeds and the inevitability that, by doing so, I would need to increase my intake of Claratin.  So be it.

Then along came Ginger Bee and I knew she was mine.....All the judiciousness and resolve went out the window.   I contacted Posh Pets Rescue and found that she was available, filled out the paperwork and waited.  Again, references were contacted (sorry Allen in Santa Monica, for the 6 AM phone call....I love you)  Vet was called and once again, a phone interview was conducted.  Yes, she will have a splendid life, I work from home so she won't be left alone for long periods of time, yes she will have free reign of the house, yes, she will accompany me wherever I am permitted to take her, yes I will treat her as a part of the family, yes, if she gets sick, I will spare no expense to get her well.  All the things I had done with Lacy ....so the answers came swiftly, with no hesitation.   

Then THE MEETING was set up. Jeff and I drove into the city on a Sunday afternoon and met with her foster mom, Linda and the adoption coordinator, Kim...We chatted outside the Chelsea building while he found a parking spot, and after 15 minutes, went to meet Ginger. 

It was instant, the impact she had on my heart. She was busy playing with the 5 other dogs running around the tiny living room, shrewn about with toys, wee wee pads, bowl of water and containing one couch and a hassock where we all sat.  I handed her a treat, then offered the same to the other dogs...with that, my pocket was empty. Who knew I'd be surrounded by 5 little beggars.  Jeff remained aloof and cool as is his custom, while I gushed over each dog and politely answered questions about how we'd care for Ginger. The ladies  filled me in on her history, as they knew it.  Being she was a surrender, you would think the original owner would be happy to give as many details as possible to insure she got into a good home.  First, she was about four years old, she was house broken and also used wee wee pads.  Being a NY city (well Brooklyn) dog, I should have realized that some people like to take the easy route to pet training.  She was not neutered by her owner, which I thought odd, so that was done by Posh Pets' vet.  She was micro chipped, had all shots (no papers were provided by former owner so she needed them all) and groomed.  (see above picture....awwww!!)

Then the questions got a bit ridiculous like "what would happen if you two got a divorce?" Huh?  

or "If you don't get Ginger would you consider another dog?"

Um....yes, but I want Ginger.

We chatted or I should say Linda and Kim chattered.....um, chatted....about other things besides dogs....which of course, made Jeff itch to leave.  So, the last question I had was

did any other applicant meet her?  Yes, I was told, one other really great woman was being considered.  Jeff said we'll need to discuss this over lunch and Kim told us she'd put in a report to the director, who makes the final determination and that she 'd let us know.

Well, judging by my past bad luck, I immediately felt a wave of disappointment.

We left .  Next step, we'd visit the nearest shelter and take a look at some other dogs (Jeff's idea since he could read the disappointment in my face) 

Two days later.......
my new "Lollypup".

After figuring out where to go for lunch (our usual pattern of walking into restaurants and looking at menus which takes at least 30 minutes) we settled on a diner with sidewalk tables (and dogs lying beside their owners).  I stayed calm, listening to Jeff's astuteness and good judgement and pretended to be indifferent about Ginger, knowing there were other dogs out there in need of a home. Then Kim called me on my cell to let me know that she and Linda talked it over and she was going to recommend to the director that we get to take Ginger home because, after my past experiences with disappointing results, she felt she couldn't do that to me again.  End of story.