Not perfect, but getting there.

Seven died the other day. She followed our neighbour’s car onto the road and was hit by a car coming the other way. A stupid accident, a stupid mistake. Unlike Susie, this one wasn’t preventable, as Seven was an escape artist extraordinaire.

But this post isn’t about Seven. Not today.

Since Susie died, I’ve been spending a lot of time trawling the dogs home website, constantly looking at the dogs needing a home and wishing that Nathan agreed with me. All those sad faces, needing homes, dammit, I’ve got a good home and I want a new dog. I miss Susie a lot actually, and now Seven too, as much as I try not to think about it.

Eventually, I put my foot down and made Nathan take me and the kids to the dogs home – knowing that most of the time, the dogs are adopted before they get put on the website.

Of course, I fell in love with the 6 week old puppies because they’re just! so! cute! but they were all spoken for (fantastic).

We walked around all the kennels, my heart breaking for the dogs who didn’t have owners.

‘Look at that one. Pity we didn’t have more land, he needs a job to do,’ I said to Nathan as a 4 month old Kelpie x Blue heeler ran around his kennel, chasing his tail and bouncing excitedly at the sight of new people.

‘Oh! Look at her ears!’

‘Poor girl, you’re 9 and in the dogs home? Where did your previous owner go?’

And then, we found her.

Amy looked at her, nodded her head and said ‘This is our dog. We will take her home.’

She wiggled in the bottom of her kennel, every inch of her body pressed up against the wire, straining to be patted. She didn’t jump, or bark or whine, she just leaned into the wire and looked at us with giant pleading eyes.

‘She’s beautiful’ said Nathan. I agreed readily. A startling white patch over most of her face left me with the impression that one of her eyes should have been blue, not brown.

‘How old is she?’

I read her card. Six months, or thereabouts.

‘Still young enough to learn lots.’

‘Yep.’

‘How long has she been here for?’

‘Ummmmm, since the 30th June it says.’

‘Ah right, she’s only new then.’

‘Yeah.’

While we talked, we were busy pressing our fingers through the wire, stroking her head and ears. She pressed closer to us.

‘You like her?’

‘Yes.’

We wandered back to the front of the dogs home, looking at the puppies again.

‘Your decision’ says Nat.

‘Okay. We’ll ask about the pups first, because it’s very likely they’ve all got homes.’

5 minutes later, yes, the pups all had homes. So we asked about the lovely natured Border Collie, whom we both adored.

Now, before I say anything more, a 6 week old puppy is always going to be my preference, simply because they’ve not had time to learn any bad habits – it’s just how I think. But the look in the collie’s eyes, I was pretty sure she was our dog.

No. No prospective adopters for her yet, no holds, nothing.

So we started the ball rolling.

Almost 2 weeks later, a yard check (I emailed through photos), a conversation with the lovely girl on the phone and a deposit paid, she came down with a stomach virus and the desexing that was meant to happen didn’t.

So we waited a little longer, for her to get better, for us to get more ready. Of course, Isaac then broke his arm and if things are going to hell, you DEFINITELY need a puppy around the place to take your mind off things.

But, when we brought her home, she was just perfect.

And this time, this dog, she’s going to be a mostly inside dog. I’ve lost enough dogs to this highway – I can do without losing anymore, thankyouverymuch.

Ah Seven, we’ll miss you. We were meant to be bringing you home a friend, not losing you beforehand.

This is the new pup. Amy has named her Maisy, after some backwards and forwardsing, but it seems to suit her. She is a dream with the children at this point, not jumping, or bowling them over. Isaac is still unimpressed every time she swipes him with her tongue, but he’ll cope.

The best bit? She seems so freaking grateful to be here with us and not at the dogs home anymore. Rescue dogs are amazing.