Weighing the Pros and Cons of Foster Failing

A post by the momma:

If you're a fan of Corbin on facebook, you may have seen a picture post by Amelia last week announcing a new pair of Sirius Republic collars... one for her and one for Corbin.  However, neither collar will say "Adopt Me" on it.  Amelia's hoping it means we've forever fallen for her beautiful honey brown eyes and her oh-so-close snuggles. 

Foster lady just ordered new Sirius Republic collars...

one for Corbee and one for me! 

But, I did notice that the one for me doesn't say "Adopt Me" on it...

do you think my magic honey eyes have worked on her and foster dad?!
-Amelia

The truth?  We've totally fallen for those beautiful honey brown eyes and her oh-so-close snuggles. 

Super sensitive neck calls for a fleece lined collar.

The reality?  Figuring out if a second dog is within our budget and our current lifestyle.

Amelia is our 29th foster since the Corbin foster fail.  We have loved each and every one of those fosters and thought about keeping a few of them.  They either got adopted quickly or there were a few things that made us realize we might not be the best forever home for them... and most importantly, adopting a second dog means no more, or limited, fostering.  And, I'm sure everyone who's been reading for the past year remembers Brutus and how much I desperately wanted to keep my Brutey.  But, he was still a growing pup and I knew one day he would out weigh Corbin, and a second dog Corbin's size, or bigger, was just too much for our little house and our little boat.  Thankfully, Brute found the most amazing forever home, and his forever dad sends me updates often on my Big Blue. 

First thing that has us second guessing a second dog?  Double the number of dogs in the house doubles the vet bills (although, hopefully no dog will have the medical issues Corbin does!), doubles the dog food, doubles the doggie insurance, doubles the addictions to dog beds, collars, coats, sweatshirts... doubles the dogs needing a sitter when we're out of town.

The other thing that has held us back from keeping one of our former foster dogs?  Corbin's tolerance, or lack there of, for foster dogs hanging around too long.  He usually gets tired of them after a few weeks, which causes him to get grumpy.  He's not grumpy with Amelia, if anything, he loves her more.

And, my biggest hesitation?  The one Adam reminds me of every time I fall in love.  All the rest of the "Amelia's" we won't be able to help if we keep a second dog.  All of our friends urged us to keep Sophie because she was so adorable and such a doll.  But, if we kept Sophie, Amelia wouldn't have had a chance.  You see, Amelia's journey to me is extra special...

Amelia was found as a stray and brought to the shelter, where she was adopted out by a couple, but returned because she "destroyed the house."  She has never touched a thing that wasn't hers in our house (except the occasional underpants) and her house training was as close to flawless as house training comes.  I think her fear of being inside the house was too much for them to handle, and I can see how that would happen with an inexperienced person.  Once Amelia was returned, she was put on the euthanization list and only had 24 hours to make her break for it.  She was loved by so many of the shelter staff and a very special vet and they did everything to find a place for her.  My rescue contact in Kentucky, who was out of the country at the time, was asked by the vet if she had anyone willing to take in a great Pit Bull, they were running out of time.  She heard pit bull, thought of me and quickly gave the vet my number. I received her plea and saw Amelia's face and my heart broke. And, although I wasn't sure I'd have the room for her in the rescue since we had Serena at the time, I told the vet not to let anything happen to that beautiful baby, that I would take her as soon as they could arrange transport.  Amelia was saved literally minutes before she was scheduled to die.

It was a Thursday when I agreed to take Amelia.  I figured I'd have to wait at least a week or more to see her, but she was already vetted since she was adopted and had already been fixed, so Amelia was ready to make her journey and we squeezed her last minute onto our transport heading to New York, from Kentucky, that Friday evening. 

On Saturday morning when she arrived, that beautiful little face beamed up at me and my heart melted.  As fate would have it, Serena was adopted that day and little Amelia came home with me.  It was one of the most flawless dog introductions we've ever had in our house.  Corbin loved her off the bat and they were sharing a dog bed as soon as that night.

The thought in my head the day I was texted her picture is the same thought I've had week after week of no interest in adopting her... How in the world can anyone refuse this beautiful face? This sweet soul?  This perfect dog?!  Everyone who meets her, loves her.  But, everyone has their reasons about why they can't adopt her.  There was one family interested, but living with another dominate female wouldn't work with Amelia.  Other than that?  No one.  8 weeks and not 1 single application.  Not 1 single person coming to see her.  Not 1 single email inquiring on her adorableness.  I've never had that happen before, with any of my foster dogs.

So, in the next few weeks, we will be seriously weighing the pros and cons of how a second dog will fit into our life, if we're the best place for Amelia to live forever and if it's the best decision for all parties involved to keep her.  We know Amelia and Corbin have made up their minds, they're just waiting for me and foster dad to follow suit. 

Perhaps her journey to find me was the last journey she was to go on without me.  Perhaps I didn't come into her life to save her, but she came into mine to save me.  Perhaps, she made her way to me to be my dog, Corbin's sister, and live her life in the safety of our home. Oh, Amelia... where shall your journey continue?