I remember it like it was yesterday.
Miko, my beloved German Shepherd /Golden Retriever mix passed away in October 2008 after 14 years together. The months in between were absolutely empty, the house was too quiet and I was heartbroken.
On December 26,2008, I decided that I would consider looking for another dog. I wasn't sure if I was ready for another dog yet, but I told my self that I would start by just looking on the Internet.
I asked a couple of friends who had recently adopted dogs from the local animal shelter. I was told that their were many dogs that were part pit bull mix available. I have to admit that I wasn't really that interested. Not that I have anything against pitbulls. And I believe that all dogs need good homes;but I missed Miko. I knew that I would never find another Miko, but one could hope. So started to seriously think about if were to get another dog what were the characteristics that I would want. Well I wanted another German shepherd/ Golden retriever mix female puppy. Because they were two of the best and most popular breeds of dogs. Because they were not pure bred they were more likely to have less of the health problems that plague their pure bred counterparts. Both breeds make great companion animals, they have good temperament, need LOTS of exercise (just what the doctor ordered) because so do I. I could stand here for days and list why I think that this would be the perfect dog for me. I'm sure you get the point. So now where do we find one? I also considered a pure bred German shepherd or a golden retriever, I spoke to a lady I had met at the golden retriever rescue group. She told me that "when the time was right, my dog would find me".
So I spent most of that afternoon on the computer, looking at different sites. I figured that I probably wouldn't find my dog in Maryland. And that I might have to go out of state. Alright, I decided that I would go no more than a 4 hour drive in either direction. I had to be reasonable about this. So after searching and searching on line trying to find a puppy,I figured that I would call it a day. I couldn't find anything except Very expensive pure bred puppies from breeders. Just when I was just about end my search for the day, I decided to change the wording of my goggle search. And then it happened.
I came across the link for the Ashe County Humane Society. I clicked on the link and there she was. Her name was Holly and she looked just like my Miko did when they bought her home 14 years before. I couldn't believe it I found my dog. I couldn't stop crying. Then I scrolled down and saw another puppy,her name was Noelle. All I could think was I had to have one of those puppies.
So, I map-quested directions to Ashe County,North Carolina and realized that It was about 9 hours away from home. So I sent an email and I called and left a message expressing interest in Holly and Noelle.
So, I map-quested directions to Ashe County,North Carolina and realized that It was about 9 hours away from home. So I sent an email and I called and left a message expressing interest in Holly and Noelle.
Next I called my neighbor to tell her about the puppies, and as luck would have it she and her husband were driving to Charlotte NC that next Saturday. This was a good sign that I was meant to have this puppy.
So then, I rearranged my work schedule so that I could be off. (Actually I "killed off" a relative so that I could get paid for my adventure ) And then we were on our way to North Carolina. On Tuesday of that week I received a phone call from ACHS asking if I were still interested in the puppies. I told the gentleman that I was and that I was making arrangements to come down and see them and that I was coming all the way from Baltimore Maryland. And to "Please keep a puppy for me". So I "killed my sister" and drove to NC to get my puppy. I know it's terrible,but considering that I am an only child, there was not a guilty bone in my body. OK; Do you really think that my job was gonna give me paid time off because I needed a puppy. Duh! When we finally made it to the Humane Society we found out that they were nice enough to keep both of the puppies for me. But I only wanted one puppy. But they were so adorable. My girlfriend and I were both crying while we were holding Holly and Noelle, I couldn't bear to separate them. It would always be in the back of my mind "What happened to that other puppy?" Would she be loved as much as my girl? Then I remembered the poem that's posted to my fridge "There's Always Room for One More". It 's true. What 's another bag of dog food ? I 'll have cut down on my extra spending. I guess I'll have to cut out that fancy imported beer and drink domestic. It won't won't kill me. Alright how am I gonna explain this when I get home? Oh well I found my puppies,what difference does it make. My friends and I got a chance to spend a little time with the wonderful people at the Ashe County Humane Society. They are incredible. I remember filling out the application for adoption and there was a question on the application." Where will the dog sleep? "I asked the lady could I write in "where ever the dog wants to sleep to." She told me that they weren't concerned where my dogs would sleep. Anyone who has a professional portrait of their dog riding in a little red sports car in their wallet ,they aren't really that concerned about. They just seemed happy that the lady from Baltimore actually made it to Ashe County and left with her two puppies.
So then, I rearranged my work schedule so that I could be off. (Actually I "killed off" a relative so that I could get paid for my adventure ) And then we were on our way to North Carolina. On Tuesday of that week I received a phone call from ACHS asking if I were still interested in the puppies. I told the gentleman that I was and that I was making arrangements to come down and see them and that I was coming all the way from Baltimore Maryland. And to "Please keep a puppy for me". So I "killed my sister" and drove to NC to get my puppy. I know it's terrible,but considering that I am an only child, there was not a guilty bone in my body. OK; Do you really think that my job was gonna give me paid time off because I needed a puppy. Duh! When we finally made it to the Humane Society we found out that they were nice enough to keep both of the puppies for me. But I only wanted one puppy. But they were so adorable. My girlfriend and I were both crying while we were holding Holly and Noelle, I couldn't bear to separate them. It would always be in the back of my mind "What happened to that other puppy?" Would she be loved as much as my girl? Then I remembered the poem that's posted to my fridge "There's Always Room for One More". It 's true. What 's another bag of dog food ? I 'll have cut down on my extra spending. I guess I'll have to cut out that fancy imported beer and drink domestic. It won't won't kill me. Alright how am I gonna explain this when I get home? Oh well I found my puppies,what difference does it make. My friends and I got a chance to spend a little time with the wonderful people at the Ashe County Humane Society. They are incredible. I remember filling out the application for adoption and there was a question on the application." Where will the dog sleep? "I asked the lady could I write in "where ever the dog wants to sleep to." She told me that they weren't concerned where my dogs would sleep. Anyone who has a professional portrait of their dog riding in a little red sports car in their wallet ,they aren't really that concerned about. They just seemed happy that the lady from Baltimore actually made it to Ashe County and left with her two puppies.
So it's been over year and a half since we left Ashe County.
What's happened since. Well,Fiona Holly Adams and Buttercup Noelle Adams are doing quite well. They are spoiled rotten. Having two dogs is definitely an experience. I guess it's like having twins with two distinct personalities. Fiona Holly is really laid back. Buttercup Noelle is more dominant. Even though I have a large fenced in back yard,we still walk 3-4 miles a day(in good weather) if not they get restless and try to find a new way to escape. And they are good at escaping, I've become a regular Bob Vila/ Martha Stewart. If there is a way for them to get out of the yard to chase squirrels they will try to find it. But I'm not having it. I'm not going to let them get the best of me. They love the snow. During the month of February;Baltimore received over 50 inches of snow. They absolutely loved it; but I truly think that they were the only ones. I had to practically drag them in the house. They wanted to spend all day and all night playing in the snow.They love to chase birds,squirrels,foxes, and each other. They both think that they are a lap dogs. I have to admit that trip to Ashe County was the Best Road Trip Ever.
What's happened since. Well,Fiona Holly Adams and Buttercup Noelle Adams are doing quite well. They are spoiled rotten. Having two dogs is definitely an experience. I guess it's like having twins with two distinct personalities. Fiona Holly is really laid back. Buttercup Noelle is more dominant. Even though I have a large fenced in back yard,we still walk 3-4 miles a day(in good weather) if not they get restless and try to find a new way to escape. And they are good at escaping, I've become a regular Bob Vila/ Martha Stewart. If there is a way for them to get out of the yard to chase squirrels they will try to find it. But I'm not having it. I'm not going to let them get the best of me. They love the snow. During the month of February;Baltimore received over 50 inches of snow. They absolutely loved it; but I truly think that they were the only ones. I had to practically drag them in the house. They wanted to spend all day and all night playing in the snow.They love to chase birds,squirrels,foxes, and each other. They both think that they are a lap dogs. I have to admit that trip to Ashe County was the Best Road Trip Ever.
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