Yesterday we brought home a beautiful, sweet girl named Adele.
She’s a German Shepherd, with hints of Malamute ears and a blue tongue like an Akita. We know she had puppies almost 4 months ago, and she is a little shy of 4 years old, herself.
She comes running when we call her or simply snap our fingers, but we’re not completely sure she recognizes the name Adele any more than Laika, which we’ve both taken to calling her.
Regardless of the name, her disposition won us over. My wife has been patiently waiting to bring home such a creature ever since we lost her dog, Duncan, a few months ago. That dog she found roaming freely in a park called Duncan Woods, and lived by that name for the ten years that they shared together.
Personally, this is the first time that I’ve signed papers and adopted a dog. And while apprehension would have kept me second guessing any decision until non-decision ultimately won out, my wife’s determination prevailed in the end.
There will never be perfect timing.
We were planning a trip downstate for Dad’s birthday next weekend, knowing full well that any dog would be well matched by their three-pack of cats (themselves a rescue litter found days old in a woodpile built by my grandparents at their house, years ago).
And later next month, a week-long trip to Asheville, NC with dear friends who know that part of the country well. Marilyn and I have not taken a week away from work since our honeymoon last June, so understandably there’s concern over kenneling a dog or leaving her with friends or relatives so soon after making her a part of our lives.
Or the fact that we’re both working parents who will leave her home 5 days a week, returning to her patiently waiting to chase the ball or drag us around the neighborhood as we have so many times already since bringing her home, just yesterday.
Last night both the dog and I slept like dogs, worn out from our first day together. We learned she is strong enough to pull a sleigh by herself (thus the malamute blood, and what about those ears!) and she is no stranger to chasing a ball.
Nor is she afraid to get into a car with a stranger. But she is here to stay, and we look forward to many long walks to come and new adventures together.