I had a call from my son last night. He has caved. Finally. His daughters have been after him to get a puppy. Their old dog died several years ago, and since then their only pets have been betta fish and a sun conure (parrot) named Sammy. The bird is their mother's pet and he is a one-woman bird, so the girls want something they can call their own.
Their pet shop was having a day of adoption with a local pet rescue agency last week, and as he surveyed the animals, the younger girl came running to the front of the store with a 2-year old Japanese chin dog in her arms. Tears streaming down her face, she begged, "Please, please Daddy......if you'll get me this dog you can take back all my birthday presents and I'll take care of her and she's all I've ever wanted."
Daddy and daughter # 2 looked around for the older sister, and they found her sitting on the floor with another Japanese chin puppy (4 months old) asleep in her lap. The same pleading (minus the tears) ensued. Her thought was that her younger sister should not get to choose the family dog. So, he said they might be able to get both.
He reported that his wife looked at him as though he had lost his mind, since she tried to get him to agree to a dog at Christmas, and he wouldn't hear of it, and now, just 4 months later, he is considering two of them?!
If you have ever filled out an application for adoption with a rescue agency, you will know what I mean when I say that you have to tell them everything you have ever done with and for a pet. They want to know if you have ever surrendered a pet to the SPCA, and why. If you have, that alone may prevent you from being allowed to adopt one of their animals. The process entails filling out the application, and if they think you might be okay to own a dog, they bring the dog to you for 10 days. If they judge you to be a good pet steward, then they will award the dog to you. I think it might be easier to borrow $10K when you have no credit than to adopt a dog from these people.....LOL. At the moment, he doesn't know if they will be allowed to get the dogs or not. I'll keep you posted, and if they get them - photos will be taken!
EDIT: thanks to Shephard (see blogroll) I now have a good photo of this type of dog. See what good friends we make in the blogesphere??!! Thanks, Shephard. 
26 comments:
Know what you mean by going through the process of adopting rescue pets because my daughter was doing it on the Internet. When she actually met the dog, she decided the doggy wasn't right for her. In the meantime, she did find her forever friend on the Internet (not a rescue dog).
But, imo, I'm happy they require the application process thereby eliminating most of the people who might not be the best fit for the pets.
Just checked out Japanese chin puppies... how adorable!
Michele sent me over this bea-u-ti-ful morning to say "Hi"! :o)
They look kinda like Pekinese without the smooshy face. Now I want one!!
I googled my way over to a Japanese chin dog site (I'd never heard of the breed before) and they are just precious!
I'm glad to know that rescue pet organizations are so thorough in the screening of potential adopters. They want only the best lives for these abandoned dogs.
I used to watch SPCA's program on TV and I love it! I am looking forward to see the dog's picture!
Have a nice Sunday!
And thanks for your visit and kind words about my city. Living at Enseada Azul I miss so much São Paulo.
We are suckers for puppies...and when the kids were small we were worse...if you can believe that...we have 4 cats and 2 dogs at the moment. After we lost Charlie and had adpoted Penelope, we still considered getting a lab puppy...crazy. Your son sounds like a softie actually. Have his wife tell him she wants a little bling...maybe timing is everything!
Ah, Chins are cute!
~S
They are also called Japanese Spaniels. How sweet!!
Who could resist a plea like the one from your little granddaughter.
That is soooo sweet
Here from Michele's, cute doggie!
I do hope he's successful and I endorse what Karen says. I know people who think a dog is just for Christmas - time and time again. I'll bet Grandma is going to be smitten also!
Sheesh, your son is made of something tough - that little girls pleas almost would have made me give her MY puppy.
Japanese chins are good dogs Kenju!
I spent the last 15 years working Vet Hospitals running anesthesia for surgeons and neurosurgeons - NOT seeing a breed is a good thing in that environment - it generally means we haven't screwed them up enough to have too many genetic defects.
GO FOR 2! GO FOR 2! They are teeny, no one will even notice.
:)
What a cute little dog! What a wonderful addition to the family!
I relate so well to this, Judy, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the animal rescue folks give them the green light.
As I write this, I find myself looking at the old-man face of our recently-rescued Frasier. Sure, it's insanity to bring a dog home, much less two. It's illogical when you consider the years of never-ending walks and worry and work that accompany a furry animal.
But when I listen to our kids play with him - morning, all day, and night, and then some - and I think of the dimension he has added to our home, any misgivings I ever had seem to evaporate in an instant.
This is one of those moments that adds to the richness of a family, and it's a special one indeed. Lucky son. Lucky daughter-in-law. Lucky daughters. Lucky dogs.
Cute dogs Judy, hope it works out that the girls get both.
Patience. The dogs will pay you back.
Oh my gosh--those kinds of dogs are adorable. So, when will they know if they got the dogs? Most my dogs were rescued, but from the pound or taken because of friends. My friends recently got a rescue dog from an organization and it was a major big deal with a background check.
Oh that is a darling dog...I have seen pictures of that breed before but had forgotten. I hope they get to keep both these puppies...!
I am only too familiar with those promises. "I'll take care of him... I promise!" Not even one week would pass before the less glamorous aspects of pet ownership would fall squarely on my shoulders. It was ok though, I wanted the dog too.
From Michele's for the last time this weekend,
Mike
After Borat it may be even harder to adopt a puppy.
I've been through this process in the UK and I know exactly what you mean. I even got visited a year later to ensure that my cat was healthy and happy!
I hope they get the dogs!
I sure hope they get them....adorable dogs btw! Keep us posted!
Ever since I got my dog about a year and a half ago, I have been so happy. Everyone should have a dog!
Hubby and I rescued our girl in November and don't we know the process. Interviews and home visits and references. Every neighbor was interviewed and our vet and and and.......yikes! Then we had a pre visitation with our girl and who could ever give the pooch back???
Following the pre-visit was the official adoption and Lord Help Us..After what we promised to do and signed our lives away...that 2 year old Rottweiler -- she be ours. Foolishly I told Hubby that we had one more Rottie in us -- everytime she bounds, and I mean BOUNDS, through our very small home I think - poodle why didn't we go for the poodle. Ah well -- Luck to your boy and his girls and what a great time they will all have. Can't wait to read more.
I just wrote this very long comment and then signed in and oh my -- it disappeared.
Bottom line.. Hubby and I rescued our girl and know that the background check to adopt our dog was more than the FBI puts their new hires through...
Good luck to your boy and all his girls...they will have such fun with those pups.
Looking forward to reading more...
Are you sure that's a dog, Judy? I don't think anything less than 20 pounds should count as a real dog! LOL
How adorable and how funny that they chose the same kind of dog! Parents occasionally have lapses in will power.... but it's OK!
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