1459 Days of Corbin

A post by the momma:

Photo by: Tracey Buyce Photography 2013

December 19th marked 4 years that Corbin has been in our lives.  I left work early to grab a few last minute things for Christmas and to make sure I had time to bake some cookies to share with the staff for Corbin's vet appointment later that evening.  On my way home from shopping, the sun was shining bright and the temperature rose to 42 degrees.  I was on a pretty tight schedule to make sure I had everything done before we had to leave, but when I walked through our door, I said screw it... I strapped Corbin's foot up in his snow boot, threw their collars on and outside we went to play in the foot of snow we had from a few days earlier.  We had shoveled a path for the dogs because we had to keep Corbin calmish and his foot dry.  The dogs were good about staying on the path, but once I jumped into the snow banks and called Corbin's name, he came soaring with joy and bounded through the deep snow.

2013

 

4 years and 11 days ago, I left our house and headed to an adoption event for a rescue I had found online.  I had put in an application earlier in the week and received a phone call from a volunteer.  As I was speaking to her, I mentioned that the dog I listed on my application, a fluffy border collie mix puppy named Bass, wasn't necessarily one that I wanted to adopt.  I told her we were more interested in fostering than adopting right away.  She told me to stop by their clinic for some information and they would have more dogs coming mid January.  As I left the house that Saturday morning, I promised Adam that I wasn't coming home with a dog.  I arrived at the clinic shortly before it ended and chatted with a woman named Carol.  She explained things about this fostering gig and just as I was about to leave, another woman came up to me with this crazy brown dog.  She explained he needed a new foster home because he would be boarded for Christmas and for about 2 weeks after Christmas because her other foster dog would be recovering from hip surgery.  How could I let this insanely adorable bundle of insanity go to boarding?  So, I agreed to take him home.

 

I made two phone calls once I got in my car.  The first one to Adam to make sure he was still home to meet our new foster dog. 

Jenn: "Hi Hunny.... are you still home?  I'd like for you to meet Corbin."

Adam: "What's a Corbin?"

Jenn:  "Well... our new foster dog."

Adam: "A DOG?  You said you weren't coming home with a dog!" 

Jenn: "BUT He's just a foster dog!" 

Adam: "HE??  You said you didn't want a male dog!" 

Jenn: "BUT! He's just a foster dog!" 

Adam: "How old is he?" 

Jenn: "Uh, 6 months" 

Adam: "YOU said YOU didn't want a YOUNG dog!" 

Jenn: "BUT!!!! He's JUST a foster dog!" 

Adam: "What kind of dog is it?" 

Jenn: "Well, he's a Pit Bull." 

Adam: "A PIT BULL?!  YOU SAID you didn't want a PIT BULL!" 

Jenn: "BUT HE'S JUST A FOSTER DOG!" 

Adam: "click"

 

The second phone call was to my mother.  "Oh, Jenn... you'll never be able to give this dog up."  To which I replied... "Oh sure I will.  It's just like pet sitting.  I'm just taking care of him until his forever people come to find him."  Then she bet me $25 that I would end up keeping him.  The $25 that I lost to that bet later went to purchasing his first birthday present, a life jacket on his first birthday from my parents.

Meet Corbin.  2009

 

Heather pulled in the driveway behind me and out jumped Corbin.  He dragged her up my stairs and went bonkers in my house.  Flying down the hallway, ricocheting from loveseat to couch to window sill... around the Christmas tree, back up the hallway, ricocheting off the spare bed just to start the NASCAR circle all over again.  Adam shook his head and left to run some errands.  I panicked.  What was I thinking?!  Not only did this dog have some ACL issues, requesting crate rest and restricted activity... but he was INSANE!  And, he was a Pit Bull... and aren't those dogs mean?  Sometimes I think Heather sensed that I was unsure about the whole thing, so she left very quickly to grab some of his things from her house.  Once her car was out of site, this crazy dog jumped up on the couch and curled himself into a ball and fell asleep.  I let out a deep sign of relief... this was a good sign, he wasn't psycho ALL the time.

2010

 

It didn't take Corbin long to settle into our routine.  This fostering thing was a pretty easy gig!  We even brought him over to Adam's dad's house for some football, where everyone had a similar reaction... "A pit bull?  Aren't they mean?"  We tried to get everyone we knew to adopt him, because we knew what a great dog he was and we couldn't bare him going to a home with someone we didn't know.  Everyone was afraid to adopt a Pit Bull, and frankly... we kind of were too.  But, during the 2 months that we had Corbin in our home, we learned the most valuable lesson of all... A Pit Bull is just a Dog.  On February 27th, 2010, I signed the adoption contract and Corbin came home from an adoption event for the last time.  He was what he knew he was all along... Our dog.

Photo by:  Jbenz Photography 2011

 

Football Sunday's at Adam's dad's house happens every football season.  Just about all the same people that were there when we first had Corbin are still there now.  If Corbin is not at a football Sunday, no one is very happy.  He's a staple guest on Sundays.  Along with changing our minds about the Pit Bull "Breed,"  he's changed their minds, too.  He is, after all, just a dog.  A spunky, happy, begging, silly, slobbering, tooting dog and everyone loves him almost as much as we do. 

2013

 

Who knew a dog could change your life so much?  Corbin has brought so many new experiences, so many new adventures, so many new lessons and so many new people into my life.  I simply can't imagine where our lives would be without him.  He means so much to me and Adam and has brought us closer, completed us as a family.  I know we would have loved any dog that we decided to bring into our home, but I can't imagine any other dog would have brought us to where we are now.  He's the symbol of strength for me.  He's cleaned the tears off of my face and found smiles through the sobs.  Stroking his soft velvety fur has sent me into many trances and calmed my highest anxieties.  Hugging that broad chest has brought me so much comfort.  Kissing that handsome snout and telling him how much I love him just never seems like it's enough to repay him for all he's brought to my life.  Looking into his brown eyes, I know he doesn't seek repayment.  I know he's so content with his life, so happy we let him stay with us.  He's grateful to Heather and Jen for going to the shelter that day and taking him home, saving his life.  And, he has been an amazing foster brother to all the canine kids we've brought into the house, paying forward the fortunate life he was given.  I simply can't imagine life without him.

Photo by: Jbenz Photography 2012

 

With the recent uncertainty for Corbin's length of life, I'm soaking in every moment of joy. Corbin makes sure I wake up as soon as my alarm clock rings every morning, he goes out and eats his breakfast and I crash back on the couch.  Amelia goes back to bed in the bedroom and Corbin comes and curls up on top of me and we fall back to sleep.  Then, he has no problem with me hitting the snooze button as much as I want to.  I've been heading into work a bit later than usual, but those extra minutes of snuggle time with Corbin make me so happy.  As much as I would love for him to live forever, I know it's not possible... but I also know every day of his life has been a wonderful one.  No matter how short his time is with us, he's made an impact that will last a life time.

Photo by: Tracey Buyce Photography 2013

 

 So, we celebrate our 4th year with our Corbee Doo.  4 years packed with love and laughter and I couldn't ask for anything more.