TO STAY CONNECTED BETWEEN POSTS FOLLOW ME ON
Instagram @ fortheloveofahouse

Friday, February 15, 2019

We have, officially gone to the dogs!!



And then there were Four.

photo by Richard Ortega


Meet our new rescue girl....
Bunny!
Given (by me;) name... Bunny Williams!  
Bunny, because of those ears, and Williams, well- because of my adoration of the iconic designer and dog rescuer Bunny Williams!!  You can read about my birthday lunch with Bunny Williams  HERE .
Yes, I name all our girls with a middle name, my maiden name and then married name!  Because rescued princesses should all have long, fancy names don't you agree?!💝💝💝💝 

photo by Richard Ortega

When we adopted Magnolia and Louise three and a half years ago HERE it changed Ella's life in all the best possible ways!  Ella was 11 and she became a puppy all over again, playing with Magnolia all the time- running and chasing each other.  (Louise loves all, but isn't a big "play" girl; she loves to be chased though and she runs like a greyhound!) Ella is now 14-1/2 and can still keep up on 2-1/2 mile walks with her younger sisters!   She still plays with Magnolia some in the yard, but over the last six months it became apparent to me and Dan that it wasn't enough playful interaction that our silly-billy play-girl Magnolia wanted and needed.  It made us sad, and we realized that we owed her a playmate.

I started looking on at my Texas rescue friend, Alice Lang's Ltyle, Texas dogs and now CCPAL Dogs and, of course, on Petfinder.  You know how I love me my southern💓 girls!  I also started following several rescue groups on Instagram.  
One of the rescue groups I started following was
Second Chance Rescue NYC. (NYCSCR) Over the months of following them I came to realize what an amazing rescue group they are.  They rescue from NYC animal control, all around NYC and also dogs from high kill shelters in the south.  They also take in the really difficult abused and/or critically injured animals. (All people who work/volunteer in rescue are angels on earth in my opinion.  The horrors that they see must break their hearts on a daily basis and yet they continue on and on and on... sadly, because they have to.  There is a special place in heaven for each and every one of them🙏 )   NYCSCR is an all-volunteer 501c3 rescue and the majority of their dogs are in foster homes, but they do have their own Center where they board the dogs that they don't have enough fosters available for.  You can read their mission statement HERE .  And see their adoptable animals HERE


About a month and a half ago, maybe even two months, I saw this face on their Petfinder page and I gasped.  She was so beautiful, and those ears- swoon.  Her name was Momma Misty.
photo by Richard Ortega
  

She was rescued in early fall of 2018, along with four of her pups, from a high-kill rural shelter in the south, heartworms and all.  They were saved just 24 hours before they were ALL to be killed.  Sadly, in some states puppies are euthanized.  Second Chance Rescue NYC pulled her and all of her babies and brought them to NY.   All of her babies had been adopted, but Misty still waited.   She was about 2 years old, they guessed, and was very good with other dogs.

I kept her page pulled up on my computer (I'm that crazy person who always has no less than 25 tabs open at any given time- welcome to my brain😱 ;) then I would save other dogs, then would overthink it and tell myself we were crazy to adopt a 4th, could we fit 4 in the backseat of the car?, and on and on.  I was really good at talking myself out of getting a 4th, so I would delete the dog pages, only to go back and look days later and once again fall in love with her face and have her back and several others in my open tabs.  But it was always her.  That face.  Those ears. That sweet little snow-ring marking on her nose.  But, then I would think- she's so beautiful and sweet and good with other dogs certainly she'll get adopted.  But she didn't.
Then a little over a week ago I saw this image and post on Instagram and my heart just broke for her and I thought "give her to me." Dan, of course, was right there with me, so I submitted an application.



Come to find out she had been in boarding at the Center for the past five months, not in a foster home.  My heart broke for her again.  There are only so many fosters and at the time when she came in there were no fosters available for her and her babies, so she went to the Center.  Now, the Center is a nice shelter mind you, but it's an industrial park setting where there are many dogs, barking dogs just as in any shelter. And, these are the lucky ones!  They are loved, walked four times a day, fed good food, have social interactions with the volunteers who are there every day, but still it's not a home.  

NYCSCR will adopt to within a 6 hour radius of NYC.  So, after talking and texting with the rescue we drove to Westchester, NY to meet her this past Saturday.  The meet and greet went well and the dogs all had really good body language between them; she and Magnolia just wanted to play, and wasn't that how this all got started?!!

So, they suggested we foster to adopt, which we did and is a fabulous option, by the way, to make sure a new dog will fit into your existing pack.   Two days later (even though we really knew the first night;) we told them to send us the Adoption Contract- she was "home."  She needed us.  And we needed her.   She needed a home, sisters and us as parents.  She is such a good girl, but doesn't know any commands or directions and we are good alpha-dog parents and will have her well mannered and polite, like her sisters, in no time (fingers crossed!)  She pretty much learned sit within the first 24-hours.  If you saw my video of feeding time on Instagram/Facebook Bunny is well on her way to having that down too.  She is pure muscle and very strong.  At the Center she was pulling super hard to the point where she kept choking herself.  We stopped at the first Petco we could find and bought her the same harness that we have always used for Magnolia and Louise- the PetSafe Easy Walk Harness HERE (this is a good price, we paid $29 at Petco.)  And, omg, it instantly made a huge difference.  I highly recommend this harness with the lead-ring at the chest.  If you have a harness with the lead-ring on the back it actually encourages pulling as it's a natural reaction for them to try to pull harder when pulling forward and being held back.  The rescue called her momma, but I thought it was time she passed that baton to me, her new mama, and she could just be a happy, balanced, loved little puppy girl.  The first time I saw her I thought "Bunny," so Bunny it is!

The girls are getting along great.  Magnolia and Louise have given her some corrections when she gets a little too excited and she takes their advice;) very well with no reaction.  She follows me everywhere, but don't worry Dan will soon enough become her favorite;).  And is quick to understand our "aant" which is the sound we use to correct them from doing an undesirable behavior.  We are all learning to trust one another and create a routine.  So far, so good.  One of my favorite things I do with all the girls is to let them "smell" things.  I learned from Cesar Millan that a dog experiences the world through their Nose, Eyes, Ears- in that order.  So to show them respect I present an object, be it a votive candle to a apple or anything else and say "smell" and they all come up to give it a whiff.  I do it a good 5 inches away from their nose so they are not being presented with it and try to eat it, but instead they learn that smell means to simply smell but I am honoring/acknowledging their incredible sense of smell HERE


Bunny is probably 2 years old, is a pitty-mix (heavy on the pit!), she is more grey in person than black, weighs about 43 pounds, and is very smart and loves to play.   And, I'll be damned... she's a southern girl!!!  She was found as a stray in Yazoo City, Mississippi!  So, we're all still speaking "y'all" around here!  Isn't that the darndest?!!!  And would you look at this Texas Longhorn blaze on her chest!!!  Do you see it?!  I'm thinking this girl has some Texas lineage😍
Hook 'em Horns!!



the first walk!


playtime!


sisters!


Our first walk!


Checking out the fireplace in the living room.



Poor baby, her little elbows are worn from laying on a hard surface.  Louise had this too, the fur will fill in with time.  Ohmy, looks like my cuticles need some CeraVe lol!


snuggle Bunny!



Over on Instagram and Facebook I asked you to guess what her name is!  Boy, did y'all have some great (and some lol funny) names!  Thanks for playing along!!
The top contenders you named were:
Valentine, Pinky, Pink, Violet, Rose, Olive, and four of you guessed correct with BUNNY!!!  (and two of you had Misty, so y'all were correct too;)
Here are all the great names, so go out and adopt some dogs & cats
!
Lucky, Bunny, Rose, Maura, Miss Luna, Precious, Suzanna, Misty, Greta Cocoa, LouLou, Olive, Valentine, Louise, Rosie, Papillion, Violet, Pinky, Pink, Thelma, Bella, Sweet Pea, Petunia, Peaches, Betty Jean, Lilac, Pinky Tuscadero, Maggie, Sugar, Abliene/Abby, Clementine, Camellia, Annabelle, Scarlet, Pru, Gray, Joy, Heidi, Lilly, Lucy, Lola, Jubiless, Ouiser, Truvy, Gloria, Savanah, Georgia, Augusta, Charlotte, Sally, Ears, Floppy Ears, Gretchen, Clara, Babe, Grace, Abigal, Shelby, Cerave!, Hazel, Angel, Gracie May, Ruth!, Maud, Millie, Daisy, Penny, Sweet Caroline, Beatrice, Steve!, Pepper, Martha, Lexi, G.G.(for GreyGirl!), Lacy, Pippa, Piper, Claudia, Rosebud, Delta, Valentina, Blackie, Adelaide, Bugs, Floppy, Lovey Dovey, Myrtle, Ruby, Happy, Fancy, Hope,  Lark, Bella, Alice, Breezy, Helen


If you are so inclined, please consider a donation (or perhaps a monthly gift, as we have done) to Second Chance Rescue NYC 
HERE
 to help them to continue to rescue the unloved, abandoned, abused and injured dogs and cats.  Also, if you are within a 3 hour distance from NYC, you can apply to foster, and within a 6 hour distance ADOPT!!!
thank you. xxojoan

A very special thank you to Dana at Second Chance Rescue NYC for loving our girl so much and being her advocate and biggest fan. xxo

58 comments:

  1. What a beautiful story! Thank you for all you do for rescued dogs. I helped found and volunteer for Homeward Bound CT here in Connecticut - and of my four dogs, my two newest are southern rescues. Your girls are just beautiful - and so lucky to have come to you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, that's amazing Karen Ann! Thank you for being a puppy-angel! xxo

      Delete
    2. This just makes my heart so happy! Ya'll are good people! xo

      Delete
  2. we did almost the same thing......we are older and after having 8 dogs, yes....8, we said we won't do any young dogs as as they pass to the rainbow bridge, that will be the same for us. Maybe a senior dog. Just go somewhere and ask who is old, or who had been there the longest. So for Valentine's Day, I wanted to make a donation to a rescue for my husband who was still missing his southern girl Ebbie Sue from 12/31/18......yes, we had to make a very difficult decision.........so we went to a rescue near our home, a very nice place and who was sitting in a room, smiling, looking at us, wanting so much to play with us was Hayden......yep. Husband went in his room, sat down on the floor and that was it. Our donation, plus an adoption. He too is 2 years young, and is HW positive. We are working on that......he will never have to spend another night outside or day. Only playing, peeing, pooping, chasing a ball or just walking.......thanks for sharing your story of Bunny. LIke you he has a full name. Hayden Wellborn Walls. Wellborn is the town we live in and where he was..........he is sweet, loved our other girls, now only two, and very curious of our 5 adopted rescued kitties.......best to you and to us. Maybe we will live longer for him, and him for us.......we love him so much already.................he has made his way to the big bed........shouldn't every dog have room in the big bed....we thought so........thanks, Jerry and gloria g Walls

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love, love, love your story! Thank you for sharing it with us all and for loving and adopting and donating for those with no voice. Adore Hayden's "full given";) name!!

      Delete
  3. Lucky girl, and lucky you! Congratulations on your new addition!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a beautiful story and happy ending! Bunny is beautiful. Congratulations to all of you!!
    Cyndy

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations!!! She is just beautiful. Blessings to you, Dan and the rescuers for having such big and loving hearts! I so enjoy reading about the girls and their adventures-always makes me smile!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a wonderful story of love. You are to be commended for your efforts. Enjoy the girls.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Such a wonderful story, thank you so much for sharing! Coming from a fellow longhorn, I especially love Bunny’s markings. You have a beautiful place you call home, I so enjoy following along on your blog and IG. Please keep doing what you are doing. Love from Austin!

    ReplyDelete
  8. She's a lucky girl! So happy for her and especially you. ❤️

    ReplyDelete
  9. Looks like Bunny hit the jackpot when you picked her out. We never know when an angel is going to our lives. Jeanne

    ReplyDelete
  10. Congratulations! We named our dog Bunny too and yes, also after Bunny Williams. Her nickname is Bun bun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No way!!! That is too fun:) We've called her Bun Bun too!

      Delete

  11. Thank you both for your loving hearts. I have followed you for years on Instagram, but hadn’t seen any recent posts. When I saw the picture of the dogs walking last week I was so happy to see the new dog. Now that I know her story I couldn’t help but write and tell you how much respect And admiration I have for people like you. I will continue to follow your story and learn more about Bunny As the weeks go by.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your sweet comment Donna Rae. Yes, I'm back on IG and here on the blog!

      Delete
  12. We love our furry family members as well...putting great love and thought into their names. Beautiful post!

    ReplyDelete

  13. I understand completely how you fell for your sweet new girl, Bunny. My heart did a little pitter-patter too when I saw her picture. All of your girls look like my Tilly who has been gone far too long. Funny thing, Yazoo City is just up the road a bit from me! I'm so happy she and her pups were rescued and that you have her now. By the way, four dogs is not too many. At one time I had 8 living in my house...they had their own room (laundry room) and were an absolute joy. Take care and thanks for adopting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tilly!! What a precious name. How fun that you live near Yazoo City. Wow, 8 dogs?!! I'm thinking we have reached our limit at 4!

      Delete

  14. I started reading your blog because of your work on your house, I had bought an old house and was looking for moral support. BUT THEN, your dogs! I enjoy reading about your dogs so much, I have shared your adoption stories with many friends, in and out of animal rescue. I went from 2 dogs to 3 because of you, so Lucy thanks you too. I look forward to your posts, but don't ever feel like you have to meet some quota.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohmygosh!!! I love that you adopted another dog because of us!!! Makes me so happy to hear that! Love to Lucy and her siblinigs!! xxo

      Delete
  15. Love Bunny! Pitties are my favorites. She is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  16. So happy for Bunny to have found the perfect home. And for the girls to have a new playmate and sister. What lucky dogs! :)

    I really enjoy your posts, Joan! So glad you're back. I went to Dr Dray's channel per your recommendation and have binge watched many of her videos! Wish I'd discovered her advice years ago! :)

    Have a good weekend, Miranda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Miranda! She is such a wealth of valuable information. And will save you from buying things that don't work. I binged too when I first found her!!

      Delete
  17. What a sweet sweet story. I have a rescue and she is the absolutely the best dog I have ever had. I honestly think she appreciates everything we do for her because she remembers what it was like to be alone and unloved.
    I think the only thing that would make Bunny even more perfect is if that longhorn on her chest was a A&M!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. haha Marilyn!! I agree, I think rescue dogs are so appreciative of everything! xxo

      Delete
  18. What a lovely share so Happy for you and the new Bunny Girl what a true Love Story perfect for February Valentines Month!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I was so excited to see that you had adopted another dog! We adopted our super sweet Callie from Lytle ,TX after seeing her on your blog. We went from 2 dogs to 3 when she joined us. It was because of you that we found her and it was seeing you with your 3 that encouraged us to think that we could, too. Not sure a 4th dog is in our future but we never say never!
    Leia in Litchfield

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LEIA!!!! Ohmygosh!!! You adopted sweet Callie!!! That makes me SO happy. And I loved that you went from 2 to 3 because of us! Yes, I think we are at our max now with 4;) Even had to get a bigger car:) Are you in Litchfield CT or NH?! xxo

      Delete
  20. She's darling and looks like she's fitting right in with your wonderful fur family. I'm always teary eyed when I read about mistreated dogs. Thank you for sharing "happy endings" for at least a few of these dogs.
    Karen

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you for "Adding one more" We added one more also, Our Lucky Penny, I needed her as much as she needed me. The love from a rescue is ten fold. I think everyone should experience it. Please don't stop blogging ! You make my Sundays :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, thank you! I totally agree... everyone should experience it. It is a totally different emotion than buying a dog. Kisses to Lucky Penny and her siblings!

      Delete
  22. We made room for one more also. Our Lucky Penny ! She's as red as they come. She's still timid from her untrusting life before us but we're working our way thru it slowly. Everyone should experience a rescue dog, the world would be a better place. Love your blog, please don't stop !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. (sorry, I know it's confusing as my comments go to moderate instead of posting directly) I love knowing that she is a red girl! Yes, you never know what they have experienced in their lives. Thank you for adopting her!

      Delete
  23. You know what works great on dog elbows? NUSTOCK. I love this stuff. A little smelly but WONDERFUL! I loved the dog newsletter. My favorite yet! How can these get any better?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good to know dog-angel Alice! I love being part of your pack and helping to get some of these sweet souls adopted! Thank you for all of your hard work. xxo

      Delete
  24. Congratulations on your new addition to the family! I love your darling little Bunny girl! We recently adopted three cats here in Mass. and they, too, came up from Georgia and also from Puerto Rico through roadtriphome and wags2riches. I'm so grateful that these organizations save as many of these amazing, beautiful dogs and cats. I can only imagine the journey our little cats took.
    Thanks for sharing your gorgeous puppy girls with us! I look forward to seeing your updates on Bunny. Love to those girls.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ohhhh! 3 cats, that's amazing. Thank you for adopting!! xxo

      Delete
  25. Joan, I've always felt a little doggie connection with your posts because your three girls look so much like our boy Puffin. With Bunny in the mix it's officially worth a comment--my husband grew up in New Hampshire and my mother grew up in.....Yazoo City! What a combination!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that is so fun Mollie!! Where in NH did he grow up? Kisses to Puffin!

      Delete
  26. Love seeing Bunny all cozy in the bed with the other girls. She couldn't have been taken home by better owners than you and Dan!

    ReplyDelete
  27. She couldn't be in a better home!! xoxoxo Peg Allegretto @pegallegretto

    ReplyDelete
  28. You and Dan are such a blessing to these pups (they're all pups at heart!). We had sisters we got from Shreveport. First we had Bailey, then we had to rescue Sydney from my dad...long story. Loved those girls till they passed. Now we have Sophie who was found in a parking lot in Houston. No one in my husband's office wanted her so he brought her home. Love this girl!! My DIL had 4, is down to 2 and fosters as often as she can. The shelter here in The Woodlands needs foster homes until the dogs are taken North for forever homes. She is such a hero to these dogs. The first one was a very senior girl, Birdie. They kept here. Won't heaven be wonderful when we can see all our fur babies? You guys are special!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. This warms my heart. Bunny is one lucky dog!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Congratulations and THANK YOU for saving this beautiful girl!!

    ReplyDelete

Welcome! Thank you for leaving a comment; you have no idea how much your comments inspire me to keep writing- I appreciate each and every one. Comments are moderated by me prior to publishing on the blog, so if you don't see your comment post immediately it will be posted as soon as I receive and read it. joan