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Tivo's Happy Ending
Posted: Thursday, January 06, 2005
Dear Carol,
I have promised you a success story from the moment you left Tivo in my care and I think I'm ready to share it with you. But before I can tell you about Tivo and where he fits in my life, I have to tell you about Suzi. In June 2004, 13 years and one week after Suzi came home with us, she went over the rainbow bridge. It's funny how you take for granted the love and devotion that our canine friends give to us without question. Sure, as she aged, I looked forward to not sweeping up the dog hair in the corners of rooms. I looked forward to not cleaning up dog poop in the yard. I always wondered if my grass would grow healthier without dog poop and pee.(it didn't) I looked forward to vacations without worry about how the pets were dealing with being alone. That lasted for about two months. And the entire time I would look at the fence gate when I drove up the driveway, looking for her loving stare, seeing the happy face that was no longer there to welcome me home, watching tv in the evening looking around for the dog that should be at my feet. We also have the two kitties of 14 years, Peanut Butter and Jelly. Their behaviors changed somewhat after Suzi died. They started being very needy, and started spatting with each other like youngsters.
I had made a decision. It was time to bring a new family member home. I needed to introduce the new canine family member before I lost either Peanut or Jelly. If I was left with just one, I was stuck. I read everything I could on animal behaviors. I was ready. Yes, I missed Suzi, and I will love her forever. But I had a hole in my heart that I could not mend. The problem was Hubby was not at all on board with my thinking&.not one bit. I was in for a challenge. And this was a battle that I was determined to win, without alienating my true soul mate.
I had been to several adopt-a-thons. I met several dogs and puppies that had very high potential for what I was looking for in a companion. Every single one of them was adopted the day or two before I made contact with the foster parents. (good for them by the way, I'm not sulking here) Then one Saturday, I decide that I'm going to PetSmart to play with some puppies. I get so much pleasure out of playing and petting, why not? I've been really good luck to so many so far, maybe I can spread that around a little more.
And then I met Spot/Drake. At his first head-butting hug, I heard in my head that this little guy just chose me. It was like he was saying, I'll take this one! Oh no&..what am I going to tell the hubby? Sorry Honey, I've been chosen. That's exactly what I did. We had a play date. The kitties didn't hate him. We had a long holiday weekend trial visit, and they still didn't hate him. By day five, they were all smelling each other openly. Needless to say, Spot/Drake/Tivo never went back to foster care.
By week two, the two kitties and Tivo were waking me up before the alarm, all rubbing on each other on the way to the kitchen. By week three, Tivo and Jelly are sleeping on the sofa together. Did I mention that Tivo had Hubby connected on day one?
It's now been almost six weeks, and he still makes me smile at every moment. If Suzi could have hand picked my next canine buddy, she would have picked Tivo for me. He is an amazing companion, so full of love and affection. He is exactly what I wanted in every sense. At two years old, he still has enough puppy in him to play, but also is calm enough to be the couch potato that I knew my hubby would love.
I would like to thank Second Chance Adoptions, for giving me another chance to experience that unconditional love that only a dog can give. I'd like to thank his finder, for knowing that a rescue group would help him find his forever home. I'd like to thank Tivo for choosing me out of many that played with him that day. And I would like to thank my husband for the best gift ever. (I'd also like to thank Peanut Butter and Jelly for allowing me the opportunity to keep him, as they really did have the final say!) And thank you Carol, for being his foster mom and caring for him when he needed it most. And thank you mostly, for knowing that he would be happy here with me in my home where he is most definitely loved.
All the best, Tivo's Mom.
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