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.

[Camilla and Darwin]

What a happy ending for Cash. Thanks so much for what you do, and I hope his owners join DK so we can hear all about his new home!

[Adrianne Matzkin]

@Linnea - OMD!! it is hard to let them go but if you become a repeat 'foster failure' there is no room to help the next one. As Kathy and I know, as well the numerous other doodle foster families here in DK, it is a 'calling' to foster doodle dogs in need. Just as Kathy said, to take the skinny, matted, stinky, unsocialized, untrained doodle and within a few weeks have them go to their forever families with their heads held high and their tails flying like the propeller on on helicopter, you just know you did something right! THAT is what it is all about - Saving Doodle dogs that need us.

 

Kathy - you and your family have done an incredible job getting Cash healthy again! It know it was a long haul but so successful. You can be sure the next bedraggled doodle IS just around the corner - WOL!!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Great story with a happy ending. Kudos to you and your family for a job well done!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Well, now I am crying. What a nice blog and thank you for helping Cash!

[Becky, Chili & Guiness]

Oh, Kathy, you've made me cry... in a good way.  I'm so happy for Cash.  Although I know you would have liked his forever home to be local, your description of his first meeting with the B. family shows they truly were meant to be together.  As a fellow believer in Divine Guidance, I'm sure the Big Guy is working on your next foster right now. Big doodle hugs and kisses for your love and commitment to these beautiful babies.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Heart warming.  Bless you for doing this.