Our new canine BABY!!!

[blueroses]

I've been off PS for a little while dealing with the logistics of bringing home our new little girl!!! We are crazy poodle people, and lost our sweet 9 year old Gracie back in April, so we've been scoping out rescue options for a couple of months now. (The remaining pack--2 standards and 1 mini--were lonely and ready for company!!)

Anyway, we made a perfect match with a 10 month old apricot girl who was in rescue in Orlando. (We're in San Diego!!) It was a lot of legwork, but after checking our references, lots of e-mails and calls, it was decided that she belonged with us!! I flew to Florida on Monday morning, got in late that night and flew back with the sweetest little peanut yesterday morning. It's tricky flying with dogs in the summer--it has to be the perfect combo of nonstop flights, cool-ish temps, and early AM or late PM flights. She made it like a champ and is now a California girl! She was being called Honeybunch, but she is SUCH a princess dog (trots like a thoroughbred!!), and we already have a queen (13 year old standard Matilda) so we thought it appropriate for her to be a Countess. So her name is Contessa and we are calling her "Tessa" She is such a puppy and full of cuddles and love. We don't know how she came to be an unclaimed stray in the system in Orange County, FL, but we're so lucky that she was so loved and cared for by her foster mommy and rescue group, and now she is the new adopted love of our lives!!!

Check out this little beauty queen!!

(That's special little 12 1/2 year old Mattie the mini in the background)

 

[ammayernyc]

Congratulations!

I hope Tessa brings you lots of love and licks!

 

[blueroses]

Greeting each other at the airport in Orlando (...me looking bright-eyed and way too un-caffeinated at 5:30AM)

What a gorgeous puppy, right!!!?

 

[blueroses]

Thanks Amanda!!

She is full of kisses--a cuddly, licky girl!!

She insisted on sleeping with me last night and likes to curl around your head which, oddly enough, is what our little Gracie liked to do too. We haven''t had a puppy around in years and it is too fun--but great b/c she''s not a tiny puppy so she''s expertly potty trained!

This is the 2nd rescue dog we''ve found through petfinder.com and I can''t recommend pet adoption/rescue highly enough!!

Last one--Here''s the little Contessa going nose to nose with Mattie as they check each other out!! (With my dad and bf in the background)

 

[Jennifer5973]

Oh, God, this is sooooo what I needed. God bless you!

I am heartbrokenn...having a bad day. First, there was a dead puppy on the highway this morning on my way to work...like someone just tossed it away... then, I just got a new charitable solicitation in the mail that has made me very upset (I am crying-no one else is home).... It was from the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare)...it had dozens of pictures of starved and abused pupppies that looked just like Elmo...all colors...I thougt I was going to be physically sick. I feel so depressed. I feel like I want to sell everything and give all the money to them...but then I think, that'll never really stop it...people are so f*cking (sorry) miserable and hateful, they will keep hurting these animals and NOTHING I do will help. I am so depressed...I feel like my life could mean more (and having a kid is NOT the answer for me)...I just can't bear the thought of those puppies suffering...I can't get those pics out of my head. I am just sitting here crying.... everything seems so unimportant but the suffering. I am just so deeply, deeply sad...

But then I see how a GOOD, kind, loving person like you has gone through all this to give this little girl a new chance. Please don't be angry with me ...I am just really upset and had to pour it out. I saw this and was so happy...Best of luck and a big kiss to Mattie from us!

ETA: I am going to have to eat those toes...

 

[Kaleigh]

Oh what a sweet sweet puppy!!!!! Good for you blueroses!!! My hubby grew up with apricot poodles and their dog was named Tucket short for Nantucket where we go in the summer. Give her big kisses from me, she has found a wonderful home with you. btw, you are just stunning!!!!

Keep the pics coming!!!!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

What a precious!!! She does look happy--apparently she was waiting for you!!!! Wonderful

wonderful........

cheers--Sharon

 

[blueroses]

Awww, thank you both Jenn and Kaleigh!!!

Jenn, I know exactly how you feel--for dog people like us, sometimes the reality of the cruelty and apathy out there is just overwhelming. In searching for this little girl, of course I came across so many heartbreaking stories and babies needing homes--doggies are just pure unconditional love, and I will never understand how stupid and callous people can be. You''re in the tri-state area, right? There''s a lot of great rescue groups there....would it make you feel better or worse, do you think, to maybe volunteer or donate to one? It''s such a helpless feeling to not know what to do. Little Mattie is from a group in Queens called S.A.V.E. (www.saveanimalrescue.org) that--like most other private rescues, I''m sure--is always looking for help. For a while I used to go on the CACC website and send links of doggies there to other private and breed-specific rescue groups in hopes of improving their chances.....no idea if that ever helped, but sometimes it was just heartbreaking.
I''m on the fence about my human after-life beliefs, but I firmly believe in a happy doggy heaven beyond the Rainbow Bridge, so I know that that unfortunate puppy you saw is now somewhere else, whole, happy, grinning, and frolicking with a big old pack of mushy wagging pups. Give Elmo and Freddy some extra special hugs.....I have to believe that there''s some sort of karmic justice for all the suffering unwanted ones out there....and that they do eventually get all the comfort and love they deserve, even if it''s not on this go-round...otherwise it''s just too unbearable.

Kaleigh, what a wonderful name Nantucket is--if I have another boy dog in the future, I just might borrow it! (My folks used to go to Nantucket years ago too before they moved to CA) She is our first apricot girl....we''ve had black, chocolate, and cream, but she''s our one and only, and I just want to eat her!! (Well...Jenn can have her toes, of course!!)....she''s like peaches and cream!! There will be more pics soon....those cameraphone ones are fuzzy.

Speaking of doggy names, the other one I''m dying to use is "Froman." (As in Abe Froman, the sausage king of chicago. (From Ferris Bueller)...wouldn''t that be a good name for a goofy boy dog? Our 9 year old Max IS a sausage dog--in size and appetite anyway!)

 

[blueroses]

Thanks Sharon

I think she looks happy too.....it is all working out so well, I am thrilled!!

Here''s one more of her in my dad''s lap. She still thinks she''s VERY little!! What a lapdog! And she has the cutest little tummy all splayed out here

YUM!

 

[Jennifer5973]

Date: 8/3/2005 7:07:17 PM
Author: blueroses
Awww, thank you both Jenn and Kaleigh!!!

Jenn, I know exactly how you feel--for dog people like us, sometimes the reality of the cruelty and apathy out there is just overwhelming. In searching for this little girl, of course I came across so many heartbreaking stories and babies needing homes--doggies are just pure unconditional love, and I will never understand how stupid and callous people can be. You're in the tri-state area, right? There's a lot of great rescue groups there....would it make you feel better or worse, do you think, to maybe volunteer or donate to one? It's such a helpless feeling to not know what to do. Little Mattie is from a group in Queens called S.A.V.E. (www.saveanimalrescue.org) that--like most other private rescues, I'm sure--is always looking for help. For a while I used to go on the CACC website and send links of doggies there to other private and breed-specific rescue groups in hopes of improving their chances.....no idea if that ever helped, but sometimes it was just heartbreaking.
I'm on the fence about my human after-life beliefs, but I firmly believe in a happy doggy heaven beyond the Rainbow Bridge, so I know that that unfortunate puppy you saw is now somewhere else, whole, happy, grinning, and frolicking with a big old pack of mushy wagging pups. Give Elmo and Freddy some extra special hugs.....I have to believe that there's some sort of karmic justice for all the suffering unwanted ones out there....and that they do eventually get all the comfort and love they deserve, even if it's not on this go-round...otherwise it's just too unbearable.

Well, I called my mom and let it out--cried for 20 min...then, a very special friend called me and it totally lifted my spirits...I am feeling better-thanks so much for tolerating my blubbering in your thread!

I give money every month to four charities and I will add this new one to my list. I tried to volunteer at the local shelter several years ago but they actually asked me (nicely) not to come back after I had a crying fit and a severe asthma attack because I was so upset

... I can't cut it. Since we don't think we're going to have kids, we should be able to retire early...I'd like to do private rescue then, and I think I could handle it.

But, I think the time is coming to adopt a 3rd...I give the money, do some volunteer PR work when I can find it, and will try to save another one. I guess that's all I can do.

Thank you especially for that final thought (bolded)...I have to believe it, too, blueroses...

 

[MissAva]

Oh how wonderful! She looks so peppy and full of life. And you are wonderful too for rescuing a dog who needs a home. Congrats!

 

[AndyRosse]

Congratulations!! Absolutely adorable!

 

[blueroses]

Thanks Stretch and Matatora (She sends Ava a lick!!)

Honestly, I just love her more every minute, she is too sweet for words.

Jenn, you sound like you are already doing SO much good, and your hurting just shows how big your heart is

I think a 3rd baby for the pack sounds like a wonderful idea!!! Big

for YOU!!

ETA: I was remiss!! I mentioned the rescue Mattie came from, but didn't mention Tessa (aka Honeybunch's) rescue group. She came to us from the wonderful people at Mid-Florida Retriever Rescue ( http://www.mid-floridaretrieverrescue.org/ )
Both Mattie and Tessa were found through searches on www.petfinder.com.

 

[teebee]

Awwwww!!! She''s just precious!!!! What a cute girl!!! And aren''t the more mature puppies great?!?! Still puppies but they''ve got the ''potty outdoors'' thing down!! I just want to give her loads of kisses!!!

 

[Mara]

She''s absolutely adorable, what a great addition to the home!!! Congrats and more pictures!

 

[blueroses]

Thanks Teebee and Mara!!!

We''ll take some more pics tonight....cameraphone ones, sadly, but we''ll have some decent ones later in the week. She is so yummy and kiss-worthy and SWEET I just can''t stand it! She likes to curl up on the floor right behind me when I''m on the computer, so she''s now become my PS buddy!

 

[Ann]

Blueroses,

What a wonderful person you are. Of course I already know that - you helped my daughter in LA find a DR. on her 3rd day there. I love love love animals! We are petless at the moment. In a 3 month time we lost our cat Slinky to feline aids, and then our full size standard dachsund, Sgt. Tucker,to cancer. It is really hard to not have pets, but right now we are not home enough and I feel it would be unfair to leave an animal alone. But we have neighborhood cats that still come by and visit!

Love the pictures!

 

[mrssalvo]

Oh what a wonderful doggie. I would have a dozen if hubby would let me. I'm know how happy you must be to find such a special new baby. zoe sends friendly licks your way ( my lab )

 

[coconut]

WHAT YOU DID IS WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!

Thank you for rescuing Tessa....
I hope you follow your footsteps very soon....

LOTS OF HUGS AND KISSES FOR TESSA from DC....

 

[Shay]

Congratulations on your new baby.

 

[icekid]

oh blueroses- she is absolutely beautiful!!!

I''ve been spending a lot of time on petfinder lately as well, looking for our new doggie-to-be. It''s truly a wonderful thing to be able to remove a dog from a bad home and be able to show them the love they deserve!

The breeder who has been helping me find a dog is actually the president of the National Shiba Inu rescue. I can''t even believe how much wonderful work she does. She always has dogs coming and going (to new homes!)- it''s amazing!

We''re actually getting one of her old show dogs, as she did not want us to have a rescue that might be iffy with children. Though we''re not having children anytime soon, it will probably be while our dog is still around! Pictures to come of our new baby too; she should be arriving soon!

Congrats blueroses, and Honeybunches

 

[Morticia]

Blueroses, your new baby is adorable. Too cute!

I think it''s so wonderful of you to do so much to get her. How generous. Don''t you just love petfinder.com? That''s how I found my little lovebug and am determined to get all my future pets through adoption.

How is the new baby getting along with the sweet Mattie?

Good luck and congrats!

 

[MelissaSue]

Adorable puppy! Congrats on the addition to your family!

 

[Sundial]

Blueroses your new poodle is adorable and I know that she will add so much joy to your household. I am impressed with the lengths that you went to in order to add this dog to your family. She is one lucky puppy!!!

 

[Kaleigh]

Blue,
I showed my hubby your pics this morning and he thought she looks just like Tucket. Keep the pics coming she looks like a sweetie pie!!!!

 

[blueroses]

Awww, thanks and slurpy Tessa-kisses to Ann, MrsS, coconut, Shay, icekid, Mortixia, MS, and sundial!

I can''t tell you how much joy this little goofy pumpkin is bringing already...honestly, she is so full of beans, she just makes me laugh!!! More pictures soon--we''ve already used up a whole disposable on her and will get them online!

 

[Rockchick]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaw

SO CUTE!!!! adorable!

 

[blueroses]

Thanks Rockchick!! Kaleigh, I''m so glad that she looks like Tucket--that''s some good poodle karma for her if she ends up as sweet as I know he was!! (And I think she will,) Glad she could bring back fun memories for you two!!

 

[fire&ice]

How did I miss this thread!

OMG - too cute for words. But, I have to say a combination of devil dog/angel dog in those eyes & a great sense of humor to boot!

Warms my heart she found such a great home. I do believe the Rainbow Bridge is full of gaurdian angels looking after pups like this.

 

[blueroses]

Thanks F&I!!

Ok, as promised, here are a couple more fuzzy phone-pics.

Tessa got her brand-spankin'' new BIG-GIRL collar and tags today, so I was trying to get a good shot of it. I picked it out last week before I''d met her, but just knew it was perfect--shmancy/preppy-cute enough for a Countess dog like this one. (Kaleigh, ironically enough, I saw on the way out of the store that the name of the pattern is "Nantucket!!" Funny! It''s by "manhattan mutts" and I think Miss Tessa is suitably cosmopolitan in her pink/brown/blue