Dogs gone....

Oh well. Both of the small dogs that we found last night are now in the local shelter. Being that they're less than a year old, and seemingly healthy, they have more than a good chance of being adopted. The shelter doesn't charge money for taking in stray dogs, but I gave them $20 anyway, towards food for the dogs.

Our handyman W got them into Gracie's old puppy crate for me, put the crate into the back of his truck, and then followed me into town to the shelter. The dogs were quiet, and went into the crate willingly.... but also came out of the crate quickly once we got there.

I knew we had to bring them to the shelter as quickly as possible, because it doesn't take long to get attached to a dog or a cat that's quite content to follow you around the yard and sleep on your back porch. That's where the dogs slept last night, on the porch near the kitchen door. They were both curled up in tight little comma-shapes, and seemed to be happy there when I turned out the porch lights late last night.

However..... I wasn't in bed for more than five minutes when I decided they might like to sleep on a soft blanket, rather than the wood boards of that porch. So downstairs I went, into the laundry room, and I took out one of Gracie's old blankets. Surely big enough for two smaller dogs.... and they seemed to know what I was doing with it out on the porch. Both of them curled up on it and went to sleep, and that's where I found them this morning.

I fed them some dry cat food again this morning, and they didn't seem to mind. Hungry dogs can't be too picky, and I had long ago given away all of Gracie's food that we had left when she died. Off to the shelter we went as soon as I got myself ready early this morning. I told both dogs that I was sorry to be giving them away. I sincerely hope they end up with good families who take care of them and don't let them run wild. I gave the doggie-blanket to the girl at the shelter, asking her to let the dogs sleep on it while they're in the kennel.

My husband and I talked about this whole dog-thing last night..... do we? don't we? No, we don't. Not ready for another dog, no matter how cute that little black one was last night. I swear, she followed my husband all around, just like Gracie used to do. And she would have been a good dog, I'm sure. But.... would she have been okay with the cats? With the chickens?

Not the right time.... just not the right time. Two of my cousins from NY will be here tomorrow..... definitely not the right time for a new puppy. Puppy..... I don't even want to go through all of the puppy-training again. If we were going to get a dog, I think we'd get an older dog who's already been through the house-training stage. Much easier than a puppy...... and it's the older dogs who stay at the shelters..... the puppies always seem to get adopted.

I can still see that little black puppy face looking at me this morning. But...... just not the right time for another dog.