It's a Boy!
It's been a while since I have posted, but it's time for the best kind of update - big news.
Most everyone knows that I have been a volunteer with Greyhound Welfare for a while, now. I initially did it because I knew we wanted to adopt later this year, and I wanted to see how this org worked. They are amazing, in short...I have found a group of people who are friends as well as heroes for saving these dogs. Every afternoon that I spend with everyone at Open Houses, or meetings, or whatever, I come away feeling happy and satisfied that there are some great people in this world.
Two weeks ago today, we had a big Open House in Tyson's corner. I was supposed to give a blue male named Timonium a ride out there, and handle him for the day. But Timonium got cut and had to get sutures that day, so I didn't have a dog that needed to go to the OH. I decided I'd show up and help out anyway...the event coordinator, Jenny, always needs someone to hold whatever foster she has brought with her. That ended up being a white and red brindle male named Washington, and I fell in love.
We hadn't even started our application process, because we weren't even going to adopt until April at the earliest. But I had a long talk with Dave, and asked him if he was willing to adopt earlier. It was rediculous, it was far fetched that by the time our process was done, Washington would still be available, but maybe it was worth a try.
In the past two weeks, I've watched people at Greyhound Welfare work SO hard to help us get this done. Everyone knew I was head over heels for this dog, and his foster mom is also my mentor and the person I work with most in the organization. It would be nice if it all worked out, but I gave up on it pretty much after our Open House last week when I handled Washington, where tons of adopters were falling all over the sweet, beautiful boy. He had an enterage, for god's sake.
But...no one put in an appointment to see him last week. And then Don and Diane, two of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, moved our home visit up to Friday night. And Washington's foster mom and I are sitting here in disbelief...could he REALLY have no appointments as the weekend comes? Multiple approved families interested, and no one came to see him. We got our HV done, and Don and Diane went home and worked until after 2am to get our report written up...and at 7am yesterday morning, we were approved to adopt any of the GW dogs. I cried, I admit it.
Dave met Washington yesterday and loved him. We spoke for him during the Burtonsville Open House, where I was handling him. It only seems appropriate that I met him during an OH, and, two weeks later, told everyone that he was going home with me during an OH. I am an events volunteer, after all. ;)
Washington will be coming home on Thursday night. I can't thank my fellow volunteers enough for getting this done so fast...just in CASE Washington was still available. No one wanted to think that he would be, because it would be crushing if he wasn't...you're not really supposed to get attached to these dogs when you're a volunteer. But I couldn't help it...sometimes, it is just meant to be. We really pulled it off! And of course, Dave deserves some thanks for being accomodating enough to agree to let bring our dog home a lot earlier than planned.
I've been shopping and dreaming and thinking about how, in 5 days, something I have been dreaming about for years is finally going to happen. This beautiful, amazing creature is going to be ours. I told him yesterday how much I loved him, and how happy we are that he is coming home.
Here are Washington's GW pictures: Washington
Here's his pedigree and race record (mostly at Seabrook): Dutch Eagle
It really was meant to be, I definitely believe that. :)
Most everyone knows that I have been a volunteer with Greyhound Welfare for a while, now. I initially did it because I knew we wanted to adopt later this year, and I wanted to see how this org worked. They are amazing, in short...I have found a group of people who are friends as well as heroes for saving these dogs. Every afternoon that I spend with everyone at Open Houses, or meetings, or whatever, I come away feeling happy and satisfied that there are some great people in this world.
Two weeks ago today, we had a big Open House in Tyson's corner. I was supposed to give a blue male named Timonium a ride out there, and handle him for the day. But Timonium got cut and had to get sutures that day, so I didn't have a dog that needed to go to the OH. I decided I'd show up and help out anyway...the event coordinator, Jenny, always needs someone to hold whatever foster she has brought with her. That ended up being a white and red brindle male named Washington, and I fell in love.
We hadn't even started our application process, because we weren't even going to adopt until April at the earliest. But I had a long talk with Dave, and asked him if he was willing to adopt earlier. It was rediculous, it was far fetched that by the time our process was done, Washington would still be available, but maybe it was worth a try.
In the past two weeks, I've watched people at Greyhound Welfare work SO hard to help us get this done. Everyone knew I was head over heels for this dog, and his foster mom is also my mentor and the person I work with most in the organization. It would be nice if it all worked out, but I gave up on it pretty much after our Open House last week when I handled Washington, where tons of adopters were falling all over the sweet, beautiful boy. He had an enterage, for god's sake.
But...no one put in an appointment to see him last week. And then Don and Diane, two of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, moved our home visit up to Friday night. And Washington's foster mom and I are sitting here in disbelief...could he REALLY have no appointments as the weekend comes? Multiple approved families interested, and no one came to see him. We got our HV done, and Don and Diane went home and worked until after 2am to get our report written up...and at 7am yesterday morning, we were approved to adopt any of the GW dogs. I cried, I admit it.
Dave met Washington yesterday and loved him. We spoke for him during the Burtonsville Open House, where I was handling him. It only seems appropriate that I met him during an OH, and, two weeks later, told everyone that he was going home with me during an OH. I am an events volunteer, after all. ;)
Washington will be coming home on Thursday night. I can't thank my fellow volunteers enough for getting this done so fast...just in CASE Washington was still available. No one wanted to think that he would be, because it would be crushing if he wasn't...you're not really supposed to get attached to these dogs when you're a volunteer. But I couldn't help it...sometimes, it is just meant to be. We really pulled it off! And of course, Dave deserves some thanks for being accomodating enough to agree to let bring our dog home a lot earlier than planned.
I've been shopping and dreaming and thinking about how, in 5 days, something I have been dreaming about for years is finally going to happen. This beautiful, amazing creature is going to be ours. I told him yesterday how much I loved him, and how happy we are that he is coming home.
Here are Washington's GW pictures: Washington
Here's his pedigree and race record (mostly at Seabrook): Dutch Eagle
It really was meant to be, I definitely believe that. :)