Atlanta will miss you Bixby!

[Frannie & Callie]

Bixby Foster Doodle is leaving today on the first leg of his journey to his forever home. He will be transported to New England, where Liz Syring from the DRC will be fostering him for about 10 days until his wonderful new forever family comes back from vacation. The reason for this is two-fold...first - Bixby is so super attached to me and to Callie that we worried about the bond continuing to strengthen over time. Then, I loved having him around so much that I worried less about that (yes, I freaked out a little) and decided that I would keep him until his family was ready...and then it turned out that the transport won't be back through Atlanta until September and this plan is really the only workable one. Wah!

A little on the family...this is a mom with two daughters aged 10 and 12. They have two cats (who reportedly like dogs). They live in a neighborhood filled with dogs of various sizes and ages. The girls are dog-crazy...they walk the neighborhood dogs and every time the mom askes the 10 year old "Guess what?" the daughter responds "we're getting a dog?!?!". The mom saved this as a surprise for the daughters until they were home from camp. Once told about Bixby, they were over the moon! Bixby is wonderful with every child he has met and I genuinely wanted him to go to a home with kids. Bix met my neighbor's cat as a trial run, and it was fine (the cat wasn't super interactive with Bixby, but Bix didn't try to attack it or anything, so I call that a success!).

I've enjoyed having Bixby sooo much. All of my friends thought this would be the foster that I couldn't bear to see adopted out. In some ways, they are right. Bixby melded very well into our lives (our being me, Callie, and the neighborhood). I've been super sad all day. Bixby is a wonderful dog, and I feel completely happy and comfortable about his new family (and I know he'll have an amazing time with Liz and her crew in the interim!). That won't make me not miss him though!

[Donna K & Quincy]

I can only imagine how difficult it is for you to say good bye to such a sweet boy.You just tell yourself that Bixby moving on makes room for another precious doodle that will need you and Callie to make a difference in their life the way you have in his and others before him. Quincy and I say thanks for loving and caring about our doodle friends until they find their forever families.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Frannie - I can only imagine how difficult this is for you and Callie. You have done a great job, truly a mitzvah. It is only due to unselfish people like you that these dogs get that second chance. Thank you for all you do.

[Camilla and Darwin]

Oh, I'm so glad for Bixby. I think you are so selfless and amazing, and I am so happy Bixby has found such a good home!

[shelly]

Awe, Frannie... YOU are such an unselfish person! I don't know how you do it, but I thank you for it... I wish everyone had a Frannie and Callie in their life! You have truly done something wonderful for this family! Not only have you given them a dog to love, but you have given them a well trained, lovable new family member! I'm sure this is still a tough one to let go! BLESS YOU !!!!!!!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I will do a virtual wine toast later with someone...lol. It's been one of those days and I will end it toasting to Frannie, Callie and Bixby with a glass of pinot grigio :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Shoot, I miss him, and I've never even met him!
Please join me in a virtual Haagen Dazs toast to Bixby and the next part of his journey to his new home. Mango Sorbet or Chocolate Chocolate Chip?
Thanks for everything you've done for Bix, Frannie. I lift my spoon to you. You're the best!

[Leslie and Halas]

You've done a great job with Bixby. He'll make his new family very happy, thanks to you and the DRC. Whenever you start to miss him, you'll just have to picture how happy he's going to be with his new family.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

When you find one of those 'perfect' dogs, it is hard to let them go. Lucky new family. I hope they really appreciate Bixby which I am sure they will.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

ohh, I am sure you and Callie will miss him so much! Make sure his new mom joins DK so we can keep in touch with him!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am very happy for Bixby and sad for you. His new life sound great. But I am sure it is heart wrenching to let him go. You have done a very good deed. All this despite having to put up with the execrable (glad to be able to use that word) Atlanta magazine : ) I hope you can continue to do your day job without the help.