As I have mentioned before, I am totally in love with this little fat cat called “Punkin.”  During Christmas, one of our guests admonished us for letting her “starve” and threatened to report us to the Humane Society 😊.  Bless her heart, she is only about 17 ½ pounds of loveable fluff.  As much as my husband and I love her (and she has him totally wrapped around the flick of her tail), this can’t even compare to the love my sister has for dogs. 

            She has always loved dogs and has always had one except for the short period when college didn’t allow it.  Since she was married – 45 years ago – they have had dogs.  About two or three years ago, the last of a long line of beautiful picka-poos, passed over the rainbow bridge.  She was without a dog for a while, but kept looking and searching for the “right one.”

The following is a transcript of a letter she wrote to the Humane Society of West Alabama.  It was she sweet and so “her”, that I asked for her permission to publish it in my blog.  She said, “yes.”  So here it is:

“I want to preface my story with a couple of comments. The Humane Society of West Alabama is a wonderful facility with wonderful, kind people working and volunteering there. All the animals are clean, happy and well cared for. They truly care about the welfare of the animals. We adopted Scout (formerly Hannah) on April 15, 2022. I remember because it was income tax day. I had searched all the local shelters, never finding the “right” dog. So, I expanded my search further and further out. I wanted a scruffy terrier mix, no hair to trim or groom. In other words, low maintenance.

Through my expanded search, I happened upon the Humane Society of West Alabama website. Once there, I saw Scout’s picture and it was love at first sight! According to her description, she could possibly be a border terrier and corgi mix. I was thrilled. Convincing my husband was the next step.

I was working out of town at the time, but as soon as I got back to my hotel room, I filled out the online application to adopt. The next morning, I got a call from someone at the humane society. She told me that she had already spoken with our veterinarian and then asked me several additional questions, which I answered.

The next morning, I completed my work assignment and headed home. On the way home, I got a call from Tina Evans with the humane society. I had passed the test, I was ecstatic! We set up a meet and greet for the following day. Oh, I forgot to mention that Tuscaloosa is about four and a half hours from my house. So, the round trip would be about nine hours. Even so, I was excited. I had spoken to my husband about Scout, and he had gone online and looked at her pictures and read about her. He was still a little reluctant, but we headed out to Tuscaloosa early the next morning. I was still so excited and could not wait to meet her.

Tina met us once we arrived at the Humane Society. She took us around back where the kennels are and let Scout out so that we could meet her and see her in action. Scout really did not pay us much attention. She had gone through two previous adoption attempts which did not work out. I could certainly understand her attitude.

We made the decision to take her home, completed the paperwork and paid the adoption fees. I could not wait to get home so she could explore her new forever home. She was no trouble at all, just a little nervous and scared. We decided to name her Scout. She seemed to be resilient, kind of like Scout from ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. That first night home, my plan was to train Scout to sleep in a crate in our room on my side of the bed. Well, as the saying goes, ‘the best laid plans of mice and men’! That first night I put her into the crate, and she looked so sad, I could not stand it. I let her out and she jumped right up onto the foot of our bed. I know a lot of people would probably not approve, but she has slept there ever since.

Over the next days, weeks and months, she learned her way around and the three of us got accustomed to each other. We live on our family farm, out in the country, on a red dirt road. Basically, paradise for a dog! And my husband loves Scout just as much as I do. I knew he would.

My mother-in-law’s house is on that same red dirt road. Granny was 90 years old when we adopted Scout. She instantly fell in love with Scout and that feeling was mutual. If Granny was out and about, she would stop and visit with us and Scout. And every so often I would take Scout with me up to Granny’s house for a visit.

In January 2023, Granny began to have some serious health issues. In June she became house bound and by July she went into hospice care. By August the nurse and the nurse’s aide were coming every day. I spent almost every day with Granny. The last two weeks of August, someone had to stay with Granny night and day. She passed away on August 25th.

At some point during this time, I started taking Scout with me to Granny’s two or three days a week. It seemed to lift Granny’s spirits and Scout always enjoyed it. However, after the first trip, I learned that I had to have a leash with me. Scout was fine going up to Granny’s house, it was coming back home that was a problem. Scout did not want to leave! She would stay right next to Granny’s lift chair.

The day before Granny passed, Scout was with me at her house. Just the three of us – me, Granny and Scout. Granny was sleeping. Scout was pacing back and forth in front of Granny’s chair. Scout would stop and put her paws on the footrest of Granny’s chair and smell of each of her feet. Then Scout would just sit at the foot of the chair and look at Granny. I am convinced that Scout knew just how sick Granny was and wanted to stay with her to protect her. Scout was and continues to be such a blessing to our family. We could not ask for a better companion. She is an absolute sweetheart!”

Scout is perfect for my sister and her husband and is such a sweet dog!  I thought you might enjoy an uplifting story to start our New Year. 

Happy New Year, everyone!!!