little choc

was adopted the morning after his return so i had to go through the whole goodbye thing again...but at least this time i got to say goodbye.

a day later, Boots was returned to the shelter.
he was apparently "too much responsibility."  the folks who had him only took 3 days to figure out that it wasn't going to work and on the one hand you want to say what??  and then you want to say what did you expect?  he's 9 weeks old!  and then you think about it and what you really say is

thank you for bringing him back so soon.


thank you for not keeping him in a situation where neither of you would be happy.


thank you for not giving him to someone else or selling him at a flea market.  


thank you for not waiting until the situation becomes unbearable and you end up returning a dog who is wildly out of control or else cowered and afraid.  


thank you for returning him while he is still a confident and adorable little guy and while his chances of finding another home are so much better than they're going to be a few months from now.


thank you.  i appreciate your acting responsibly.

the folks at the shelter agreed to let me take him home with me at night and return him for display each day till he's adopted again.  he's a gorgeous little guy (not just the foster mom's opinion) and chances are he'll be chosen soon.  meantime, he's been reintroduced to the pack here at rottencocker house.  reviews were mixed from ellie and max, but maggie was so pleased to see him.  they ran off touching side by side toward their old yard, she with her head turned back to him most of the way.  it was a totally disney moment...mother and child reunited...trotting off through green pastures into the golden light of the setting sun.  no kidding.  beautifully scripted.

it strikes me that she's had the experience twice now, of being reunited with her lost son.

it strikes me with terrible longing.