I’ve spent months dreaming and planning for you to become a member of our family, but it has only been a few days since the search for you officially began. It came upon me much earlier than I was ready for.
I had a list of mandatory qualities you’d have to match but, typical of real life, some of those are now left in the dust. One can plan intricate details of what s/he thinks would be perfection, only to encounter other realities which were never even thought of.
It’s pretty much a lost cause trying to find you through a Golden Retriever breeder. Of course they’re striving for AKC standards and that’s just not tall enough for what I need you for. Even for a male, 26″ at the shoulder is over the breed standard.
Then I got an email the other day from a lady who suggested I contact Arizona Golden Rescue and talk to them. Hmmm. I really wasn’t interested in a rescue. My perfect plans were to adopt a 3-9 month old pup. I worried a rescue dog might have behavioral issues, aggression issues, no medical history, no knowledge of parents … no, I really didn't think that was going to happen … until I talked to the lady at AGR for whom I coincidentally write a newsletter service dog column. Boy, did she set me straight on things! I learned so much from our wonderful talk this afternoon, and I could see item after item on my perfect list fading away.
They don’t just take in a dog and adopt it out. There’s so much more that goes into it, none of which I knew. Every aspect of the dog is evaluated and there are so many factors creating a correct match. After adoption, they’re always available to answer questions and address concerns, and they truly care what happens to their adoptees. It’s all about the welfare of the dog, and that’s exactly how it should be.
Another of my preferences was that you'd be a female. I’d reluctantly accept a male if that’s all the choice I had but, wow, after talking to Deb, I think I’d actually prefer a male! So if you’re a boy, and you turn out to be the easier-trained, eager-to-please, cuddlebug that males so typically are, we’re going to get along great.
Another thing … Deb recommended you be 10-18 months old to ensure you’ll grow tall enough to meet my needs and, as such, we could begin training right away instead of waiting a whole year.
Gosh, Puppy, I don’t know how long it will be till I meet you, but I can hardly wait to have you in my arms. I have such great hopes for you, but I know it’ll be up to me to make them happen. And they will happen. I don’t accept failure; it’s not an option.
May I offer my first prayer for you? Dear Father, You have my puppy in Your care somewhere out there. You know all the things that have to happen to bring this pup to me at the right time. Please protect my little one from harm or abuse. Keep its mind gentle and sound, and its body healthy. Then bring us together in the fullness of Your own time. Amen.
I already love you, little one. And I’m waiting just for you, to give you a lifetime of joy.
Then I got an email the other day from a lady who suggested I contact Arizona Golden Rescue and talk to them. Hmmm. I really wasn’t interested in a rescue. My perfect plans were to adopt a 3-9 month old pup. I worried a rescue dog might have behavioral issues, aggression issues, no medical history, no knowledge of parents … no, I really didn't think that was going to happen … until I talked to the lady at AGR for whom I coincidentally write a newsletter service dog column. Boy, did she set me straight on things! I learned so much from our wonderful talk this afternoon, and I could see item after item on my perfect list fading away.
They don’t just take in a dog and adopt it out. There’s so much more that goes into it, none of which I knew. Every aspect of the dog is evaluated and there are so many factors creating a correct match. After adoption, they’re always available to answer questions and address concerns, and they truly care what happens to their adoptees. It’s all about the welfare of the dog, and that’s exactly how it should be.
Another of my preferences was that you'd be a female. I’d reluctantly accept a male if that’s all the choice I had but, wow, after talking to Deb, I think I’d actually prefer a male! So if you’re a boy, and you turn out to be the easier-trained, eager-to-please, cuddlebug that males so typically are, we’re going to get along great.
Another thing … Deb recommended you be 10-18 months old to ensure you’ll grow tall enough to meet my needs and, as such, we could begin training right away instead of waiting a whole year.
Gosh, Puppy, I don’t know how long it will be till I meet you, but I can hardly wait to have you in my arms. I have such great hopes for you, but I know it’ll be up to me to make them happen. And they will happen. I don’t accept failure; it’s not an option.
May I offer my first prayer for you? Dear Father, You have my puppy in Your care somewhere out there. You know all the things that have to happen to bring this pup to me at the right time. Please protect my little one from harm or abuse. Keep its mind gentle and sound, and its body healthy. Then bring us together in the fullness of Your own time. Amen.
I already love you, little one. And I’m waiting just for you, to give you a lifetime of joy.
I got Buffy through RagOfAz. They also split so you could look at Arizona Golden Rescue.
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