Friday morning, S. and I dropped off Uno at BFP to be picked up by his shiny, new family.
I choked back tears constantly, but it wasn't until we got to this coffee shop around the corner that I lost it. We'd been through so much with this dog - it was both heartbreaking and yet so fulfilling and joyous.
Friday night we got a text from Uno's new family letting us know he was settling in nicely. And we're lucky enough to get more updates as the family has started their own blog showing him acclimating to his new life. **Heart Melt**
So, it is on that note, this blog winds down and continues with his new family: http://unoforeverhome.blogspot.com/
We love you Uno and couldn't be happier that you found such an amazing forever family. xoxo
-M. & S.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
The greatest of these is LOVE
Growing up in a Christian household, I was no stranger to one of the most popular versus in the Bible. But up until rather recently, like within the past 4 or 5 years, has it really hit a chord within me.
It is right this very moment that I feel this scripture rings so true. Love prevailed. Love endured. Love rocked our world, Uno's world, his new family's world (and what's exciting is we get to watch them fall so deeply in love with him).
While today is the day we say adieu to our sweet, cuddly foster pup, we hope to visit and update - so it's not goodbye. Here's to Uno's forever family. We LOVE you.
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
It is right this very moment that I feel this scripture rings so true. Love prevailed. Love endured. Love rocked our world, Uno's world, his new family's world (and what's exciting is we get to watch them fall so deeply in love with him).
While today is the day we say adieu to our sweet, cuddly foster pup, we hope to visit and update - so it's not goodbye. Here's to Uno's forever family. We LOVE you.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Happy dog, happy life
My husband was the lucky one last night who witnessed Uno playing with our maltipoo, Musashi. They were full on having the time of their life in the guest bathroom. He caught it on video, however it was dark so we're trying to do some creative special effects so you all can see the fun!
This has been an amazing journey watching him morph into a normal, happy dog. He's much better on a leash, he's going potty outside more than inside, he's so much more sure of himself that he uses his beagle voice a lot more, he's playing with the dogs and cats, and he's cuddling with us on the bed AND on the couch - even when the TV is on!
Am I crying writing this? Yes I am. This is the most difficult and yet rewarding thing my husband and I have ever done. We know deep in our hearts that his forever family is out there (hi!), yet, I'm not going to lie, I'm extremely anxious thinking about him leaving. When he cuddles deep into the side of my husband, and my husband looks at me with watery eyes, a half smile and half frown, I know it will be hard to say goodbye for him, too.
The work that Beagle Freedom Project, the foster parents, and adoptive families are doing is nothing short of amazing. These animal testers are becoming dogs in front of our eyes, with tails up, wagging - they are HAPPY. And what a beautiful end to the horrible lives they had. Here's to a hopeful and happy start to their new ones!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Whoops! Lo siento, avid readers
Between work and Uno cuddles, I seemed to have missed almost 2 days of posting.
Things have actually settled a lot. Uno is sleeping through the night on the bed with us, he's still kind of mastering potty OUTSIDE, and the best news of all is that he's learning to PLAY!
Yesterday morning, while getting ready for work, I heard playing growling and a lot of tapping (we have hardwood floors). I realized Uno was playing with my Maine Coon, but as soon as I acknowledged it, they stopped. A little while later they resumed and I attempted to video it and, again, they stopped. I will attempt to get video of it some day.
But while you all wait patiently for the happy photos and videos, I'm going to get up on a new soapbox. Living with Uno has changed our lives. For the better, but also for the more compassionate and knowledgable. I have been a HUGE animal lover and advocate since I can remember. I had wanted to be a vet, I still have dreams of opening up my own non-profit to rescue senior pets from kill shelters, my heart was born for animals.
I also knew that companies tested on animals, but, for some reason, it just didn't feel like it was a big deal. How that never connected before, I will never truly understand, but when Uno walked into our life - it did. My first breakdown (as noted in my earlier post here: an overwhelming realization) was seeing his scars and how little he even knew how to be a dog.
Over the course of the week, I decided to stop living like a person with their head stuck in the sand. My husband lovingly went on the journey with me and what we have found is shocking. We watched a video made by the lovely and talented, Shannon Keith, called Behind The Mask. The movie interviews many influential people apart of the Animal Liberation Freedom movement about how they aim to raid labs and testing facilities to do monetary damage so they have to close.
My purchasing decisions were causing animal testing to continue. How could I call myself an animal lover?
S. and I have decided to wipe meat from our diet. I attempt vegan where I can, however the area I live in has a really horrible selection of vegan restaurants. At home it's easier to control, though. After the movie I ran to my bathroom because I could NOT put bath soap (make up, face wash, shampoo, etc.) on me knowing the company tests on animals. We both threw away a small garbage can full of products.
Everything we buy now takes a little bit longer to review because we check to see if the company tests on animals. I can not and WILL NOT support this horrific industry.
Want to know more? Visit Beagle Freedom Project Other Ways to Help Out
Things have actually settled a lot. Uno is sleeping through the night on the bed with us, he's still kind of mastering potty OUTSIDE, and the best news of all is that he's learning to PLAY!
Yesterday morning, while getting ready for work, I heard playing growling and a lot of tapping (we have hardwood floors). I realized Uno was playing with my Maine Coon, but as soon as I acknowledged it, they stopped. A little while later they resumed and I attempted to video it and, again, they stopped. I will attempt to get video of it some day.
But while you all wait patiently for the happy photos and videos, I'm going to get up on a new soapbox. Living with Uno has changed our lives. For the better, but also for the more compassionate and knowledgable. I have been a HUGE animal lover and advocate since I can remember. I had wanted to be a vet, I still have dreams of opening up my own non-profit to rescue senior pets from kill shelters, my heart was born for animals.
I also knew that companies tested on animals, but, for some reason, it just didn't feel like it was a big deal. How that never connected before, I will never truly understand, but when Uno walked into our life - it did. My first breakdown (as noted in my earlier post here: an overwhelming realization) was seeing his scars and how little he even knew how to be a dog.
Over the course of the week, I decided to stop living like a person with their head stuck in the sand. My husband lovingly went on the journey with me and what we have found is shocking. We watched a video made by the lovely and talented, Shannon Keith, called Behind The Mask. The movie interviews many influential people apart of the Animal Liberation Freedom movement about how they aim to raid labs and testing facilities to do monetary damage so they have to close.
My purchasing decisions were causing animal testing to continue. How could I call myself an animal lover?
S. and I have decided to wipe meat from our diet. I attempt vegan where I can, however the area I live in has a really horrible selection of vegan restaurants. At home it's easier to control, though. After the movie I ran to my bathroom because I could NOT put bath soap (make up, face wash, shampoo, etc.) on me knowing the company tests on animals. We both threw away a small garbage can full of products.
Everything we buy now takes a little bit longer to review because we check to see if the company tests on animals. I can not and WILL NOT support this horrific industry.
Want to know more? Visit Beagle Freedom Project Other Ways to Help Out
Monday, December 5, 2011
HOORAY!
Lots to celebrate these past few 24 hours!
First, we took Uno back to Beagle Freedom Project's HQ yesterday where he got to meet with potential adoptive families and more exciting - mostly to Uno - was being reunited with a lot of his comrades. It was like they never left. They all took to each other immediately and Uno was running and jumping and climbing and sniffing away like a normal dog should.
I commented to one of the other foster moms about how exciting it was to see their tails up! All of the love these people are giving these dogs just warms my soul. We stayed for about 2 hours and within that time a potential forever family put in an app for Uno!!
I'm kicking myself, though, for not snapping photos of the boys playing. I was just too caught up in conversations and watching them. :(
As soon as we got Uno in the car, he passed out. We snapped a pic of him cuddled close to our 15 year old shih tzu.
Uno also *kind of* overcame his TV fear. We took to watching a movie on my laptop versus the big tv and put Uno on the couch with us. Within about 15 min he went from being on my side, to moving to S.'s side to being right in the middle, with his belly up and passing out! To have this dog have so much faith in us to cuddle like this, just speaks leaps and bounds to his ability to forgive and love.
We also decided to put Uno on the bed again last night and he curled up with S. and passed out. He stayed in that same position until I woke up around 3a. Aside from about 15 min of him being awake and trying to get comfortable on his bath mat, he then went back to sleep and slept through the night until I awoke at 7:30!!
And, for my last bit of awesome news, S. took Uno for his morning potty break and guess who did #1 AND #2 outside?!?!? We have been able to get him to pee outside the past week, however #2 has been very difficult. We'll walk and walk and walk and within about an hour of a walk we get a present in the house - granted it's the same spot in the house - but, still.
It just amazes me how incredible these dogs are - most of them have been with their foster families for a week, or over a week now, and to see how far each of them have come just melts your heart.
And it is on that note I would like to ask that you please donate to Beagle Freedom Project. If you know S. and me personally, then consider a donation on Uno's behalf as a Christmas / Hanukkah present. It would mean so much to me, to S., to Uno, and to the other families and volunteers who are a part of this organization.
First, we took Uno back to Beagle Freedom Project's HQ yesterday where he got to meet with potential adoptive families and more exciting - mostly to Uno - was being reunited with a lot of his comrades. It was like they never left. They all took to each other immediately and Uno was running and jumping and climbing and sniffing away like a normal dog should.
I commented to one of the other foster moms about how exciting it was to see their tails up! All of the love these people are giving these dogs just warms my soul. We stayed for about 2 hours and within that time a potential forever family put in an app for Uno!!
I'm kicking myself, though, for not snapping photos of the boys playing. I was just too caught up in conversations and watching them. :(
As soon as we got Uno in the car, he passed out. We snapped a pic of him cuddled close to our 15 year old shih tzu.
Uno also *kind of* overcame his TV fear. We took to watching a movie on my laptop versus the big tv and put Uno on the couch with us. Within about 15 min he went from being on my side, to moving to S.'s side to being right in the middle, with his belly up and passing out! To have this dog have so much faith in us to cuddle like this, just speaks leaps and bounds to his ability to forgive and love.
We also decided to put Uno on the bed again last night and he curled up with S. and passed out. He stayed in that same position until I woke up around 3a. Aside from about 15 min of him being awake and trying to get comfortable on his bath mat, he then went back to sleep and slept through the night until I awoke at 7:30!!
And, for my last bit of awesome news, S. took Uno for his morning potty break and guess who did #1 AND #2 outside?!?!? We have been able to get him to pee outside the past week, however #2 has been very difficult. We'll walk and walk and walk and within about an hour of a walk we get a present in the house - granted it's the same spot in the house - but, still.
It just amazes me how incredible these dogs are - most of them have been with their foster families for a week, or over a week now, and to see how far each of them have come just melts your heart.
And it is on that note I would like to ask that you please donate to Beagle Freedom Project. If you know S. and me personally, then consider a donation on Uno's behalf as a Christmas / Hanukkah present. It would mean so much to me, to S., to Uno, and to the other families and volunteers who are a part of this organization.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Ending our night with a video & pics
S. and I thought it'd be cute to try and take pics of us with Uno and our pups, however we attempted to do this with my iPhone 4S and it proved rather difficult. That being said, the stream of pics that emerged had us cracking up, so we thought we'd share.
Additionally, Uno has taken to protecting us from the "evil window reflections" and so I thought I'd put that on video.
Additionally, Uno has taken to protecting us from the "evil window reflections" and so I thought I'd put that on video.
A forever family is needed
I realized that I didn't post yesterday, but then again, I was also a walking zombie. So, I'm sure if I had written anything, it'd be an incoherent stream of awkward words. As I discussed earlier, Uno went in to get neutered on Wednesday. Because he is deathly afraid of the dreaded e-collar, I have had to stay up to make sure he wasn't licking. It's been a challenge. BUT seeing him learn more and thriving in a home makes it all worth it. Plus, he's such a lover that even through your delirious sleep-deprived haze, those cuddles just melt your heart.
Last night S. and I had a fundraiser to attend, so we called in our incredibly awesome petsitter who watched him to make sure he was okay. Today is a big day, we're taking the pups to a local park to run around and play for an hour or so. He needs to stretch those legs! I will definitely take pics and post. Other than that, S. and I are enjoying the lazy day.
I have already let Beagle Freedom Project know to withdraw our pre-adoption app, but, while Uno LOVES us and we love him, we feel his forever family is still out there. We initially went into this just wanting to give a pup the chance to know that there are humans who love them and they can have a good life. He's still healing from his neuter, so I'm not sure when he'd be ready to leave, but I just wanted to get the word out as a reminder that he, and others, still need forever homes.
Uno needs someone who can walk and run with him often - perhaps they work from home or have a pet sitter. He needs someone with a high, fenced yard where he can learn to be outside off leash. Uno is used to my small, low key pups and cats, but is still very skittish around big dogs - especially loud ones. He hasn't been around kids yet, which I'm sure he'd be fine, however there have been a few moments where a reflection has irritated him so he growls. It's nothing off-putting to us, but I'm sure a family with children may find that a tiny bit scary.
He's a great, amazing pup and I can't wait to meet his forever family. I also know there are other pups still out there, too, needing permanent homes from this rescue. I encourage you to share this post with all of your friends in hopes that more people are called to adopt these guys. For more information on how to adopt: click here.
Perhaps I can work with the non profit to see about getting a list together of available dogs, but in the meantime, I ask that you like them on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BeagleFreedomProject, check out the above link for adoptions, and share this with your friends.
Last night S. and I had a fundraiser to attend, so we called in our incredibly awesome petsitter who watched him to make sure he was okay. Today is a big day, we're taking the pups to a local park to run around and play for an hour or so. He needs to stretch those legs! I will definitely take pics and post. Other than that, S. and I are enjoying the lazy day.
I have already let Beagle Freedom Project know to withdraw our pre-adoption app, but, while Uno LOVES us and we love him, we feel his forever family is still out there. We initially went into this just wanting to give a pup the chance to know that there are humans who love them and they can have a good life. He's still healing from his neuter, so I'm not sure when he'd be ready to leave, but I just wanted to get the word out as a reminder that he, and others, still need forever homes.
Uno needs someone who can walk and run with him often - perhaps they work from home or have a pet sitter. He needs someone with a high, fenced yard where he can learn to be outside off leash. Uno is used to my small, low key pups and cats, but is still very skittish around big dogs - especially loud ones. He hasn't been around kids yet, which I'm sure he'd be fine, however there have been a few moments where a reflection has irritated him so he growls. It's nothing off-putting to us, but I'm sure a family with children may find that a tiny bit scary.
He's a great, amazing pup and I can't wait to meet his forever family. I also know there are other pups still out there, too, needing permanent homes from this rescue. I encourage you to share this post with all of your friends in hopes that more people are called to adopt these guys. For more information on how to adopt: click here.
Perhaps I can work with the non profit to see about getting a list together of available dogs, but in the meantime, I ask that you like them on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BeagleFreedomProject, check out the above link for adoptions, and share this with your friends.
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