Happy Tails to Wilbur! (aka) Mary and Paul welcome WEBBER to their lives!

[Frannie & Callie]

Wilbur's new daddy drove all the way from Ohio to Atlanta on Friday. He and I spoke during the week to plan the big meeting (I greatly appreciated this - I am a planner and don't really like to fly by the seat of my pants!). We decided that he would come between 12:30 and 1pm on Saturday afternoon.

I had it all planned out (naturally)...Wilbur's going away party was Thursday night, I set my outlook to remind me to print out all the adoption contracts at 4pm Friday, take the dogs for a final dual romp at the big (and favorite) dog park Saturday morning, and finish up with baths (all planned to mesh with Inman Park Pet Work's charity dog wash to benefit PAWS Atlanta), then have some final snuggle time with the Wilbs before Paul (new daddy) came over.

By and large, all the plans went off without a hitch. I just had one thing happen that I wasn't anticipating...as I printed out the contracts and was filling them out, I just burst into tears. I started to cry so hard that I decided to leave the office for the day. It just wasn't REAL until that moment! I called my sister for comfort (she tried, but she wasn't very comforting...she got all rational and logical on me when really I was having an emotional crisis). Then I called Shannon at IDOG and cried to her for a few minutes. She patiently listend as I explained that I didn't want to keep Wilbur, but just couldn't imagine him not being at my house (not really a fix for that one!). Shannon was very kind and successful in talking me off the ledge (pretty sure she saw this coming from a mile away!).

So at 12:45 Saturday, Paul calls from the gate. I immediately tear up, grab control back and go and open the front door, trying to not hold Wilbur too possessively. Paul instantly is blown away by how much Wilbur looks like their previous dog, Clay, the silver standard poodle (who unfortunately passed away about a month ago). Except for the length of their faces, they could be twins. Callie of course was being her usual charming, muppety self, leaping all over Paul and Wilbur. Paul was instantly taken with Wilbur and his sweet, gentle manner. Wilbur seemed equally taken, and was giving Paul doodle kisses within a few minutes of meeting. We all hung out and I gave Paul some final instructions on Wilbur (now named Webber).

Webber, now proudly wearing his black leather collar with his name tag, posed for the picture below with his new daddy, they we all walked out the car. I gave Wilbur (sorry he just will always be Wilbur to me) a big hug and helped get him settled in the backseat of the car, said goodbye to Paul, and ran back inside so I could cry and hug Callie in privacy. I confess that Callie and I cried and moped most of the afternoon, and that there was (for me) the ultimate comforter, ice cream.

Today, I don't feel sad just incredibly happy that W is going to such a good, happy home where he will be spoiled rotten!!!

Can't wait to hear from Mary and Paul all about W's first days/week with them!

[Deborah & Emmett Vaughan]

We all at Westover are going to miss Wilbur/Webber but his new Dad looks nice and apparently, W/W thinks so too, or he wouldn't be giving out kisses. He was such a great dog and came such a long way from the time you got him, romping and playing and being a dog. He will always remember you and Callie, I'm sure. Besides no one forgets their first (foster that is).

[Frannie & Callie]

F - Paul looks SO much like Steve Martin that it was unsettling...I felt like I had a celeb in my house!

[Rose]

They look very happy together! Congratulations! You did such a great job with Wilbur/Webber!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I understand the tears and ice cream. Wilbur/Webber looks so handsome now. Paul looks like a young Steve Martin. It is a happy ending.

[Dan, Judi, & Timbow]

Oh my goodness. This makes me cry! Wilbur is the sweetest doodle and I am so glad that his new family loves him as much as you did!! He will be so happy!

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Frannie, Job well done with fostering W. He is getting a great forever home thanks to you and Callie.

[Debbie and Thomas]

You know what...these two guys kind of look alike...same colour hair and just something else I cannot pinpoint about them together...a good match! You are an angel Frannie...thks so much for taking care of Wilb's He is just so beautiful! What a lucky family to get him!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

It is amazing how far people will travel to get a rescued Doodle! A little too far from us in Ohio for a romp, but I'm sure all the others will be happy to romp! Great job ..... he'll always be Wilbur to me too!

[cheryl & oliver]

Awww, I am crying now too, Wilbs, oops Webber looks so happy and proud, and that is because of you my friend,,,Angel wings for your shoulder today, wear them proudly...Hopefully someone from this board will live close enough to maybe get a chance to meet Webber, and have a playdate or romp...Hopefully we will have his new family as members of Doodlekisses...Please keep us informed when you hear news...And again thank you for helping this wonderful fur baby...

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Don't you just hate it when our hearts struggle with our minds. I can so understand how you must have felt. You did a wonderful, loving thing for Wilbur. He's going to have a happy future, and he'll always hold a special place in your heart and you in his. His new Daddy looks thrilled to death!