Thiiiiiis Close!

I have to admit.... Matt and I were thiiiiiiiiiis close to beginning the adoption process for a puppy today. He really wanted to stop by Petsmart to see puppies today. They had 2 beagle mixes, and the girl had the prettiest blonde markings, not the traditional brown/black with white. She was a SWEETheart. They were only 6 weeks old, so they are not available for adoption for 2 more weeks. We held her a long time and talked about it. Matt asked if starting the adoption was even possible, and the animal rescue lady said no, only in 2 weeks when they are old enough.

We planned to step back, evaluate things, and pray about it. But knowing nothing would change (no one else would get her) for two weeks REALLY let us do so. We know several things--I am very lonely, summer is a great time to train a puppy because I am home, beagles don't get too big, she loves other dogs, etc., etc. We also know several OTHER things--beagles love to "beagle" as the lady called it--they are hound dogs and they sound like it (though we never heard her do it), beagles are so scent-oriented that they are harder to train than many dogs, but not "hard," they thrive on routine (yesssss!)--but we are going to a wedding in 2 weeks, the beach 2 weeks later, and to Knoxville 2-3 weeks after that. No steady routine for her comfort and security until it's time for me to go back to school--and then I'm gone most of the day! The lady was really impressed that we want an inside dog, have a fenced yard, that Matt was willing to come home on lunch and let her out, that we were looking in the summer when I'm home, and that we had "crated" my parents' dog as a puppy. She said if we wanted her to come back in 2 weeks and our name would be at the top of the list of those interested in her. Well, we went to the dog book section and read that beagles love routine. That was a big strike as far as timing, as I already mentioned. She is also "available" the weekend we go to SC for a wedding. She's likely to get adopted before we'd have a chance. In addition, beagles can be pretty determined hounds--digging, jumping, baying, etc. We might do better to find something (not this summer, don't worry, we are done considering it until next summer) a little easier to "direct" so to speak.

So, family, do not worry. We will not bring a crying puppy to the beach with us! :) And unfortunately, no sweet little "Sadie" (the name we already have picked out for a dog) will be joining us this year. Though we can see it's for the best, it was exciting to think about a long-eared, short-legged puppy running around our big back yard and sliding around on our hard work floors. :)

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the story of how we came thiiiiiiiis close to trying to adopt a puppy today. :)

Blessings!!!
Becca

p.s. see a Disney recap (short version--details to come) and pictures below!