Pick Me!

I decided it was time to add pet fur to the house again after the passing of Maddy (Oct 08) and Cootie (Jan 09). I've had a pet in the house since 1984 and didn't like the thought of the house being free of fur sources after Skipper goes back to CCI for advanced training at the end of May.
With the help and prodding of multiple friends I submitted a "Pet Request" at the Sacramento SPCA. For $30 they will look for a dog that meets your requirements. You get priority, and you have a short number of hours (8 or so) to come look at potential matches. I turned down a few dogs in the process. While this was hard, the Sac SPCA has a very high turnover rate, so while the dog may not be right for me, they have a good chance for a home. One day while I was there they adopted out at least 4 dogs in the hour that I was near the desk.

- SADIE was shaped like Maddy, but had the coloring of a brindled bulldog or pit bull. She was sweet, but very shy. Tail tucked. She hid from the little kids walking by her run.

- POLLY was a little black dog, long and low to the ground. Sleek fur. Still a puppy. My concern was that jumping would take it's toll on her, and if I used her for therapy, the lifting might take a toll on the both of us.
- TERRIER mix. Hmmm. Passed on visiting him.

I got the call for HOLLIE on Sat 3/21 while I was at puppy class. I went to the SPCA and first watched her for a while as a LOT of people walked by and interacted with her. A truckload (60) of dogs had been brought up from So Cal. The kennels were packed with lots of little dogs, and quite a few herding dog mixes. The SPCA gal noted that we have a lot of pit mixes up here, in So Cal the ranchers are the source of the herding dog mixes.

What did I observe:
- Lying in her run quietly amid the chaos
- Not barking, not a peep
- Interested in people, but not overly interested
- Kenneled with another dog
- Checking the door latch
- Didn't shy away from kids
- Piercing blue eyes- Expressive ears
- Soft as can be
- A tail, but perhaps docked
- Prey drive for flying things
- Would leave something of interest to visit with a person, check in
- Interested in dogs, sniffing, people, but not fixated intensely on any one thing
- Not black!

I will say I didn't fall in love with her immediately. She seemed to be a good prospect and i really couldn't hold it against her that she wasn't black. So, I decided to proceed. As my friend noted "Does this dog know she won the lottery?"

Being in heat, perhaps why she was on the run, she was to be spayed on Tues 3/24, and then I would need to bring Skipper in to meet her. If that went well, I'd have the option to adopt her.