Welcome Home, Morgan

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you know that we adopted a dog this weekend. I wanted to share the story of how she came to be in our lives because it's a pretty neat story--at least, I think so.

Our basset, who I got when I was 19, died a little over a year ago. He didn't spend all of his time here, which is kind of hard to explain. He was basically a split custody dog. I got him as a puppy, when I still lived at home with my parents. When I moved out, Shane had a pug who didn't really like other dogs, so it made more sense to stay with my parents. Still, later on in life, he spent a lot more time over here, especially when my parents started spending 2-3 months in warmer climates during the winter. The boys got pretty used to having him around and our second winter without him seemed pretty empty. Bassets are, by and large, such a gentle breed. Even as an older dog, he put up with Tommy thinking he was a horse and sitting on him.

I missed a dog like that, but we knew that we wanted to adopt a dog. Shane kept saying when the boys were older, too, and could take on more responsibility.

I followed the Humane Society FB awhile ago because they sometimes share missing dogs, and I often come across dogs while running. Then a Saturday night two weeks ago, a six year old basset hound popped up on the page. I fell in love with her picture and description (housebroken, good with kids and other pets, low energy), but Shane was playing poker that night. I thought about her all night, then showed it to him first thing in the morning and was all, CAN WE GO SEE HER NOWWW? Of course, he hedged. Then it started blizzard-ing. Then we had two days of polar vortex cold, the Humane Society was closed because the roads were a state of emergency and Shane kept saying, "We can't get a dog now and shut her in the next day when we go to work, blah blah." And I was like, "fine. We won't get this dog. Just don't talk to me about it ANYMORE." While pouting.
Of course, he changed his mind a few days later, right about the time she was adopted. He said that it was okay, it just meant that she wasn't the dog for us, but that we would start looking for our dog now, whether a basset or another older dog. I grudgingly accepted this.

Then Monday night, I was on Facebook and Morgan's picture appeared in my Facebook timeline again. You know how sometimes Facebook will glitch and you'll get posts from a week ago? That's what I figured was happening, until I read it and saw that she was returned to the HS because the people who adopted her had another dog who didn't accept her. I showed Shane and he said, "Well, I guess maybe we ARE meant to have her." Then I said, "I TOLD YOU WE SHOULD'VE GOTTEN HER THE FIRST TIME. THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT. CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW SAD SHE IS?!" Because I like to subtly point out when I'm right.

Without discussing it, he called the Humane Society from work the next morning as soon as they opened and let them know we were interested in Morgan. Unfortunately, their hours are such that with after work meetings for both of us on Tuesday, neither one of us could get up there to apply for her (and meet her!) on Tuesday. This, of course, drove me crazy, but I was really hopeful that this would work out because how could it not? Wednesday morning, Shane called back again to let them know that he would be up that afternoon to apply for and meet Morgan. Except. He learned that apparently, she was a product of a divorced home. The husband had kept her, while the wife took the other dog. Unbeknownst to her, he took Morgan to the shelter, and she saw Morgan on Facebook (or someone told her about it--I'm not entirely certain) and was driving from where she relocated that day to pick up Morgan that afternoon. I was crushed but understanding--obviously she should be with her real family. I kept checking the HS FB page, waiting for the reunited picture because that seemed like something they would show. Or update on, at least. Only they didn't.

I asked Shane to call back Thursday morning because I just… you know how sometimes you have a feeling? I just had this feeling that if we didn't call, another week would go by and I'd see a post where Morgan was adopted by some random person or who knows. I just had this feeling. So, he called and by this point, the Humane Society was like, "Yes, we know who you are, sir" because he'd called SO many times about Morgan. Then they told him that her owner hadn't shown up, that she wasn't sure if she'd be able to take her because she was in apartment, already had one dog and didn't know if her landlord would even allow it, so she needed to talk to him first. They asked her to call them back by 4PM that afternoon and let them know because they needed to get Morgan out, one way or the other (insert sad comment about the Humane Society filling up with post-Christmas puppies and kitties here). And seriously, you guys. My heart breaks for her so much. I can't imagine what a colossal awful feeling this is/was, and I accepted that whatever the outcome, she was getting out of the shelter one way or the other. Our phone rang at 4:15 and it was the HS, calling to let us know that she was unable to get Morgan. They told us that they let her know that we had two young boys, a house and that we were teachers (summers off to chill with Morgan?). I pray this all gives her a peace of mind to know Morgan is safe and loved.

Shane told them we couldn't make it in Friday afternoon because of the hours (this killed me), but that we would be in Saturday morning after Luke's game. We hadn't yet told the boys because there was a little part of me not entirely certain that we would end up with her, after this was such a roller coaster ride. I actually made Shane call when they first opened to tell them that we'd be up ASAP. I am sure they were tired of hearing from us! We told the boys after his game ended and headed up there right away. They were both so excited. We got there and the visitation room was in use, so they just brought Morgan out to the lobby to see us. She came trotting right out, tail wagging, as we all bent down to love her. Tommy kept saying how soft she was and Luke noticed that her nails were painted. After seeing that she clicked with us, they told us that all we had to do was pay the fee and fill out the remaining paperwork and she was ours to take home. Finally!

When we left, she trotted happily to our car and jumped in with a little boost. She rode home with her front feet up on the center console.

When we got home, she ran through the whole house, exploring happily, tail wagging. Then she hopped up on the couch and settled in to what is going to be her spot. I really didn't think we were going to allow her on the couch, but I guess she has other ideas… and I'm not really going to argue.



I'm not really sure how she's going to do when we go back to work on Tuesday. It might take some adjusting for all of us, but we'll deal with that when it comes. I know that it's really nice to have a dog around again, and we're so glad she's here.