Foster Dogs: Sweet Bessie-Belle Goes Home

Out of all of the dogs we've fostered, Sweet Bessie-Belle was the one we could have seen adopting ourselves. She fit in so well with our dogs and lifestyle, and her sweet nature made our own pooches look like the two wild characters from a Disney Movie.
But, we've realized we just don't have the resources to support a third dog, so we were fine enjoying Bessie-Belle as our foster pooch until the right family came along. We knew it would be hard to give her up. And we knew we would be really sad.
But then a funny thing happened.
Per happenstance, and charm, Bessie met the family she was meant to be with.
And we weren't sad.
We weren't sad because we realized that's where she fit in and it was where she was supposed to be.
She is no longer 3rd dog under bossy Miss M's reign. Now Elderbull Bessie is a confident little sister helping out her shy older sister Roxy....and 3 cats!
Bessie-Belle knew she was home the first time she was there, and on her second visit, as she walked down the block she knew exactly which house to walk into.
Here is the story of how Bessie was reunited with her family:

As a single person with a lot of pets, I had contemplated adopting another dog to keep my 10-year old heeler mix, Roxy, company.  Contemplated is about as far as I got: Am I slowly on my way to hoarding? What will people think? I was more concerned about finding the right dog for Roxy, who is shy and quirky and has been that way since I got her from a shelter about 5 years ago. 

So I decided to bide my time and see if the right dog would find us. And along came Bessie Belle.

Roxy and I were shopping for her food at Ruff Haus when New Leash on Life was holding an adoption day.  Bessie was one of the dogs featured and she greeted everyone in the store, showering each person with kisses and a smile. She wasn't really my "type" of dog.  She was a pretty big girl, a mix of bulldog and boxer and not the coloring I usually go for. But  I was smitten. I thought about her for the rest of the weekend, how her gentle nature might be good for Roxy. I read more about her on the Pities in the City blog and could not think of a reason not to jump at the opportunity.

I have not regretted a moment since that decision.  Bessie's integration has been almost seamless:  she is curious about everything, but not overbearing. She was not fazed by my cats' initial hissing.  We've been jogging (sorta) in the park and I swear she is smiling.  Roxy has gained some courage, following her younger sister into the crowd of dogs gathered for play every morning.

And she's not just good for Roxy; she is good for me.  At 80-plus pounds, she is one powerful cuddler.   

For many years now I have made an effort to adopt older animals. I have always felt fortunate to know them, love them and I marvel at how they still have the capacity to form attachments after a rough start in life.  And I've learned an important lesson from Bessie:  the best companions can come in unexpected packages. 

We've been so happy to hear how well Bessie has been doing. Her mom has even started her on aqua therapy to help some of the stress on her joints. (I think we all have the same imaginary image of her in goggles, a flowered bathing cap and full-piece swimsuit as Bessie goes to 'swimming lessons').
And we are so thankful to New Leash on Life, the same group who took a chance on mangy Miss M, for recognizing the value of the older, seemingly broken, underdogs for helping Bessie to her happy ending.