Mid-way through the work week. I am sitting at work and just finished browsing through all of the blog posts I did in August. Even though I have been dealing with Sweetheart for four months now, it is hard for me to believe she was really that emaciated and that her leg was that bad. I look at Sweetheart today and she just isn't the same dog. She is so healthy looking now and so FULL OF ENERGY. I have always been grateful for her amazing recovery but reading back in the blog to the first weeks makes me appreciate her all the more.
I watch her play and sleep and eat and marvel at her. I must admit, I can't stop patting her little thighs because it is so amazing to me that she regained so much muscle back after not having any. Watching her run is breathtaking and watching her pounce on tennis balls like a puppy is a joy.
I have started to ponder adopting her myself. I do not know if I will do it or not. I know I probably shouldn't adopt her since I already have three of my own but I would love to have a therapy dog and I think she might be able to pass the certification. My first greyhound I ever adopted, Bavarian, is twelve and a half and he is getting raspy in breath and slower in movement. He will not be with me too much longer I fear. While Sweetheart could never replace him in my heart, she would be a good grey to fill some of the void his loss will undoubtably create.
I am going to keep thinking about it and I plan on looking into therapy certification. She still needs to be spayed and that will happen soon. I still have some time to contemplate adoption. If I do adopt, it will be the third failed foster of mine. I guess that isn't too bad after fostering for five years!
I will try and get some pictures of her for you all in the next few days. She looks exactly the same but I know the blog is better when I put pics and video on it!
Jess, I strongly believe a lot of Sweethearts spirit has come from you. She realised as soon as she met you, you would be there for her. In you she found a foster mum in a million.
ReplyDeleteShe deserves to have you as her forever mum and you deserve to have her in your life.
I believe each dog holds a special place in our heart, never to be replaced by another dog. Good thing you have a big heart! I have fostered about 12 greyhounds and kept two. I don't know what I would do if I were in your situation with Sweetheart. She has come so far in her recovery and you have been a huge part of what she has become. I think it would be very hard to let her go!
ReplyDeleteI believe that things happen for a reason, and I've always felt Sweetheart belonged with you. She's been through enough, and loves you so much.
ReplyDeleteI hope Bavarian hangs on for a while; it's so hard to let them go....
I really think you should adopt her. I just started following Sweetheart's story awhile ago and I hadn't realized that she wasn't officially adopted by you. You have done so much for her and she knows that and loves you. The two of you have a very special bond. I would hate for you and her to miss out on that. And it looks like she's starting to open up with your other hounds. Your absolutely right that you can't replace your Bavarian when he goes, that will be very hard. But, like you said there will be that big void. I actually got my first greyhound a few months after loosing my two 20+ yr. old cats that I'd had since being a teenager. I think I would be a horrible foster, I'd probably want to keep them all.:-)
ReplyDeleteJess, you said you probably shouldn't adopt her because you already have three of your own. Is that the only reason? Are there other reasons why a fourth is not possible for you (financial reasons? practical reasons?). It sounds like you have the love and dedication and time to welcome Sweetheart into your home...you have already proven that to her and yourself for the past 4 months. I agree with everything the others have said above, and I would add for you this...can you imagine life without her? Can you let her go? Only you can answer those questions.
ReplyDeleteI think that she is meant to be with you. While Bavarian might surprise you and fight on to be an ancient greyhound, Sweetheart looks like she would be a great therapy dog. It seems that she will give back in return for being saved ;)
ReplyDeleteI do understand your concerns about having four, but you have a great backyard.
In Australia we have a law that says 'thou shalt not have more than two dogs unless approved by your local Council'. There is also a law against walking more than two greyhounds on a leash! Anyway I have trouble envisioning having more than two, so I'm sure having four can introduce some stress the the household.... but I do know someone in blogland who has 6 pet greyhounds, and another who has 4.... ;)
Financial resources are not an issue if I were to adopt Sweetheart. Space isn't really either. However, as part of Fasthound I have to keep fostering at least two dogs at one time so if I keep Sweetheart and Bavarian hangs in there I will have 6 dogs most all of the time.
ReplyDeleteWow, jet, what is up with that 2 greys at a time on a leash law. That sucks. Thankfully I live outside of city limits and don't have to worry about ordinances like that. Whew!
Thank you all for your input, I do appreciate it.
We have lots of draconian laws in Western Australia :/
ReplyDeleteI've always sort of sensed that Sweetheart belonged with you.
ReplyDeleteMy first Greyhound was named Treat. She was perfect. Well, perfect for me anyway. As time went on, we added three other hounds, too. She was so full of life, always on the go. Two of our other greys were older than she was, and I always thought she'd be around for a long time. I thought I'd get to enjoy life with her as an old dog, if that makes sense. But, at ten years old, she suddenly had a spinal tumor. In five weeks, she was gone. I was heartbroken when she died, and I didn't think there would ever be another dog to take her place. She was a certified therapy dog and READ dog. I really wanted to keep doing those things, but Blueberry, our young dog, was my husband's girl. I realized that I'd have to think about "getting back on that horse." To make a long story a little shorter, I found Bunny. I wanted a three or four year old dog -- I brought home an eighteen month old puppy. But she has always been wise beyond her years, and darned if she isn't perfect, too! She isn't Treat, and it feels disloyal somehow to say this, but I think she might be even better than Treat. There's nothing she won't try for me, from hiking with the German Shepherd, visiting with my class at school, cheering up nursing home residents, and just being my own therapist on bad days. I don't know if it would have mattered if I'd already met her when I lost Treat, and perhaps I wouldn't have been ready if I had met her when I still had Treat, but sometimes I wonder if those weeks of heartache I went through would have been less if I'd had her here. Every one of our hounds has been precious for their own reasons, and I think we've had the right ones for us every time so far. I hope that whether you decide to keep Sweetheart or not, that she finds a place where she has that kind of connection, because she seems like a one of a kind diamond to me!
Sheesh! I've rambled on and on! I just hope that you make the decision that feels right for you and Sweetheart!
houndstooth, you've made me miss my girl so much. we had to put her down 2 yrs ago and i've been so hesitant "to jump back on that horse."
ReplyDeletei love reading sweethearts blog! she's so happy and goofy and full of life! thank you so much for sharing her with us!
Jess, I think you should keep her, she has been through so much, I just can't stand the thought of her feeling abandoned again by leaving you, not that that is what would happen because she would go to the BEST home, but you know what I mean. Fostering is so hard you always second guess yourself and wonder if you did the right thing but we all know you will make the right choice for both you and Sweetheart, we are here with you.
ReplyDeleteit is truly amazing how far she has come. I am glad she has provided you comfort during your loss. Great attitude!
ReplyDeleteI believe that she is yours already. Please don't make her adjust to another home and/or other dogs. She is finally happy. I'm totally in love with her and would adopt her in a second and I have had 4 but I really can't offer her you or your other dogs that she has come to love. She is home, finally.
ReplyDeleteYou're the one for her!
ReplyDelete