So, although I feel a *little* bit like a widow who has gotten remarried about a week later, I have found myself another dog. I am also pretty sure for several reasons that I’ll keep to myself (you’re welcome) that my Dad and Gemma picked her out for me. She is an 8-year-old Cavalier—the same breed and coloring as Gemma was—who has had a very difficult life at the hands of so-called “human beings.”
She was used as a breeding dog in a puppy mill for 6 years: kept in a cage with no medical attention, half-starved, vocal cords cut (just discovered from her foster mom that they weren’t cut although her medical record says they were) and God knows what else, giving birth endlessly to puppies which were taken away from her almost immediately. She was finally rescued two years ago and has been in a foster home with a wonderful, amazing woman named RJ who works on the front lines of rescue, helping animals who have been cruelly abused. All glory to her and those like her, because I don’t think I could do it; she sees the very worst of human nature through the suffering creatures she takes in and tends to.
Although she clearly adores Callie herself, RJ decided a couple of weeks ago that it was time to give her a new home where she would be the center of attention (her foster home is crowded, since there are so many awful people out there).
Serendipity! She was listed on an online adoption site and I found her almost immediately. I brought her home yesterday and fell in love with her instantly.
She is still very shy and timid; it is a lot for her to adjust to, but she’s also very curious and alert…um, except when she’s sleeping. I think once she figures out that I am utterly and completely her slave she will very happily boss me around. As you can see from the photos, she has already staked out her claim to the sofa!
She comes with the name Callie and I will call her that, but naturally I also think she needs something more grandiose and dramatic (she is a tiny little thing, about 10 pounds—less than half the size Gemma was!).
Help me pick a new name for her, keeping in mind that her nickname will still be Callie and also that I might just ignore the poll results if they don’t suit me.
And yes, I will be getting back to the point of this blog very soon, I promise!