Some of you may know that in June we adopted a new four-footed family member from Buddy Dog Humane Society. He came with the name Andy. I didn’t expect to keep his name the same as we already have one Andrew in the house. But I was out voted by ‘the boys’.
When my son was old enough to say ‘dog’ he was asking for one. We’ve dog sat many times for friends, and he’s really good with animals. He’s gentle, playful and the perfect two-legged friend for a doggo. I told him that when he turned 7 we’d start talking about if we could get one. I always knew we’d adopt; all the dogs that have been in my life have been shelter dogs and I *really* think they’re the best. The first dog I had as an adult I rescued from Northeast Animal Shelter, but Buddy Dog always had a special spot in my heart. The volunteers there are the kindest, most animal friendly people on this earth. Its been 10 years since we’ve last had a dog, and this was the year he turned 7 – the great COVID-19, everyone rush to get a dog, 2020, craziest year of my life so far-year. Phew. Well in for a penny, in for a pound… Right?
We were exceptionally lucky with Andy. We initially applied for a doggo named Marley (who was adopted the day after we got Andy) and a volunteer emailed us to say that Marley wasn’t a good fit for a 7 yo, but this other black Lab mix just came in and were we interested. After 2 months of being turned down for being late to the game OF COURSE we were interested! A Zoom interview was held on a Saturday, a meet and greet was set up for that Sunday. I was worried that this “Lab-mix” was part pit bull (aka American Staffordshire Terrier) because the volunteer didn’t send photos of him right away. But turns out that they didn’t have any because he was so new and she wasn’t able to go to the shelter immediately. But when the photos his foster mom sent finally came thru…… man I KNEW this dog was coming home with us before we even met him.
We met him first on that Sunday and he was shy, timid and not really wanting to come see us at all. He wouldn’t come to us at first even with food. I thought, ugh, he’s not confident – at all. He’s scared of people! But… bribery works almost every time and pretty soon he was trying to sit in our laps and was playing catch with my son. We took him for a walk around their property and man….he leash walks like a dream. His foster mamma taught him well. Right then, we said YES! and I wanted to take him home NOW! Luckily I married a practical man who said “Nope – you need to shop first”, and we agreed to bring him home Tuesday morning.
After shopping up a storm and getting all the necessities, my son and I went to visit him at the shelter Monday to make sure Andy knew we didn’t abandon him. And he remembered us right away… it was so heartwarming to see my son and his dog bonding. We played, we walked, we played and just loved on each other. When we left to go home, we left a toy and some tee shirts for Andy to keep in his pen with him, and he could know that he had found his family. I asked for his foster mom’s email address and promptly emailed her to ask questions so we could help acclimate him to our house easier. She offered to send us his ‘baby’ pictures!!
Thats when we learned his story.
At 8 weeks old he was found by a shelter in TX called Jamie’s Animal Rescue. Andy had been bitten by a bigger/older dog and possibly shaken, resulting in a lower jaw fracture. His poor little baby teeth were facing the wrong way in his jaw. [Not that you’d know it now though! He’s gone through two antlers in 3 weeks!!] Texas Jamie took him in, fixed his teeth and jaw, and sent him to be fostered in a home with a family. She started Jamie’s Animal Rescue when she was 11, and now accepts only the hard hit cases, a few at a time and rehabs them. She has no facility, only foster moms and dads. When I got in contact with Jamie she was delighted to send up baby pictures!
Just look at that face!! 
Andy’s foster mom, the blessing named Rebecca, has 3 dogs of her own and fosters two others in her family of 3 kids and two cats. Andy was one of her foster doggos. At her house and in her care, Andy was able to heal from his traumatic beginning and learn how to be part of a family. Rebecca said as a puppy he toggled along after her oldest senior dog and the two of them would sleep together in their dog bed. She was so patient with all my questions: is he crate trained? Where does he sleep? what kind of food does he eat? is he afraid of thunder? This blessed woman listened to me rattle off 20 minutes of questions and patiently answered every single one. And then offered to me her cell number so I could text her when more questions came up. And I did. Many times.
Both these woman hold a special place in my heart for finding ‘my second son’, healing him, and keeping him safe until he could arrive here.
Andy has a google photo album. Both Jamie and Rebecca were added so they could check in on him. And they do. Often. One day I posted a video of him chewing/eating his back foot. The next day I woke up to a comment from Rebecca telling me he did this when he was an ‘infant’. I love to hear stories of what he was like as a tiny puppy. And while this doggo is not tiny any longer, he’s now 50ish lbs – with another 30 or so to go – he is still my new baby who likes to sit on my lap, cuddle with his brother, and searches for ‘momma’ when I’m not in the room with him.
So in our house lately…… there have been late nights, early mornings, night time potty breaks, scratches, and accidents. And. Love. Happiness. Laughter. Belonging. Our family is now complete.
Welcome to the village Andy Bug.
We’ve been waiting a long time for you.
