Cash will soon go home!

[Kathy Janes]

This is probably the final Cash blog I’ll do. He’ll be leaving for his forever home in a couple of weeks. We have loved being part of this guy’s life for the past few months, and he is now part of our forever memories. He’s managed to snuggle his way into our hearts.

I think the first dog you foster is probably the hardest because you aren’t prepared for the mixed emotions as they leave your care and move on. You watch them bloom from the fearful, confused rescue animal to a confident, loving dog. We cried and hugged as we watched Gus drive away, torn by his wondering eyes looking out the window at us, but excited because he had his own home and they loved him and wanted the best for him.

Somehow with Cash it’s different. We tried not to let ourselves get attached to him, but he’s really grown to be a part of our family. And yet I love the B. family, with their two animal-loving daughters and the warm and genuine parents. I’m so excited for them and for him, although I know he’ll have some anxiety with the move. I couldn’t have found a better home for him had I searched the world. A nice yard, a quiet neighborhood, a great family who is so thrilled to be having him join them – everything a dog could ever ask for! Matches like Cash and the B. family are why we do this; sometimes it is so perfect and falls together just so well that you can actually see and feel the touch of Divine Guidance.

We decided to have him get to know their smells first. When he got home from the hospital after his last heartworm shots he had a package of little girl smelly, worn socks and a slept-on Pottery Barn baby blanket. He immediately stuck his nose in and snuggled all of it, wagging his adorable stub of a tail like he does. He loved how they smelled! He played with the socks and slept with the blanket and grew familiar with them.

When the family walked in the door to meet him a week later it was love at first sight! He knew them! They all sat on the kitchen floor and hugged and kissed like long-lost friends. Cash – who didn’t give me a single sweet doggie kiss for months – was kissing all four of them! Now I know why we have helped him and given him a chance to be loved so much; he will take what he’s learned with him and the love will grow with them for years to come.

He might miss us at first, but not nearly as much as we’ll miss him. The house will be quiet again. There won’t be two dogs rumbling on the kitchen floor or four sweet eyes watching to see who gets to lick your ice cream bowl. Life will return to usual. But then when we least expect it another poor bedraggled and frightened doodle will come in the door needing to learn that the world really is a good place. And it will start all over again.

[Carol and Banjo]

Kathy, So beautifully put...tears here.  Bittersweet.   Cash had you and your family to give him the confidence he needed to go on and let love in for the rest of his life.

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

TEARS!!!!

[Leslie and Halas]

What a great story!  Thanks for sharing.  Enjoy your new family, Cash!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Kathy I know how you feel.  A little piece of our hearts go with every foster ti their forever home.  And what a great idea you had about the sockes and blanket with his new families smell.  I am definitely going to keep this in mind for our fosters.  I think will help them transition easier.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Kath, you made me cry, too. There are no words adequate to thank you for what you have done for Cash these past few months. I can only hope that the satisfaction you feel when he finally goes home will help to ease the ache in your heart, along with the knowledge that you have given Cash the best possible future.

JD and I will be watching over him, too. I know that Jack would love to visit the B family again, the girls are tireless tennis ball throwers!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Kathy, I can't even tell you how much this post touched my heart.  Yes, I'm crying....happy tears.  Thank you for the way you and your family open your home and your heart to help our Doodles.  You and the other foster Moms and Dads are very special.

[Anna and Achilles]

Wow! you are amazing. Brought a tear to my eye. What a wonderful thing you did for Cash.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Bless you Kathy for all you have done and will do....

[shelly]

Awe... What you do is just so wonderful and UN selfish!  I don't know if I would be able to do that.  You have given so many people and doodles a life time of joy and LOVE!  BLESS YOU!

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Kathy I love what you did for Gus and Cash and will do for other fortunate doodle babies.  You are a good woman.