Meet Argos!
(full set of pictures)
We drove up to Wilmington this morning to the Clinton County Humane Society, and adopted this little guy. He's about 12 weeks old, and he's a husky/chow mix. He has a very sweet, even temperament, and he's very friendly. He rode on my lap all the way home with no trouble at all. No barking or squirming and thank god no excreting!
We stopped by Petsmart on the way home to buy him a leash, collar, shampoo, brush and treats, and he handled all of the excitement quite well. I gave him a bath to wash off the shelter-funk, and then he tried to play with Jack a little. He went for his first real walk after he had a nap, and he actually tinkled in the grass like I hoped he would.
We named him Argos after Odysseus' faithful dog. Also, Argus was the name of Baron Munchausen's dog. It was apparently fated to be, because after we left the shelter, I was thinking about what to name him, and my train of thought followed from the golden color of his coat to shining silver, and argent, then Argus. I didn't say anything at the time and a few minutes later, Erik suggested the same name out of thin air. The coincidence was too much to resist, and the pup already seems to be catching on that his name is Argos now.
The other names we considered were Barnabus (after the dog that Destruction gives to Delirium in the Sandman graphic novels) but we decided that it was too likely to be shortened to "Barney" which we could not abide; Sirius, after the dog-star, and of course Sirius Black from the Harry Potter series; Remus or Lupin after Remus Lupin also from Harry Potter.
He's an adorable and sweet pup who is currently passed out cold in front of the bookshelves. I'm looking forward to raising him into a dog as wonderful and sweet as Jack.