Big changes took place in our home over the weekend. Late Saturday morning we tossed some bannanas, apples, animal crackers and juice boxes in the tote and piled into the van. It was a gorgeous day for a little drive in December. No snow to speak of and actual sun shining through the windows as we began our own rescue mission.
Up in Reed City waited a cute little pug dog who had been surrendered to the animal shelter by her owner. For an afternoon drive and a little bit from our "entertainment" fund she could join our family. We're hoping it will be a very beneficial arrangement for all parties involved.
We'd been considering another dog off and on for several months. Caleb had requested over a year ago that our next dog be a pug. I liked the idea of having a littler dog to keep our bigger dog company when we aren't home. When I was a teenager, whenever we came home from church, Dad would always ask our indoor dog, Tessie, how puppy church was. I was thinking that Max needed a little communion of the puppy saints during his puppy church time when we're gone on Sundays.
Then there's the fact that Grace's bunny is ailing. We're coming to terms with that and Grace said it would be easier to accept Oreo's passing if she had another pet to love. She said she thought a little pug would help.
I also have to admit that I am discovering just how much I love dogs. Whenever a stray roams through the neighborhood, I try to convince Michael to go catch it so we can take it in and give it a home. Reminds me of the many stray dogs we took in at the farm in my growing up years.
The scales leaned more heavily toward getting another dog as winter approached and dad can't get outside like he does in the summer. Dad too is a dog person. Sometimes he'll spend an hour or so just lying outside on the ground next to Ruby, their black lab. But Ruby is an outdoor dog and won't come in the house. Mom suggested to dad that maybe they get a little indoor dog. However, with his physical limitations, they decided house-training a dog would be a challenge for him when mom isn't home. We liked the idea of having a little dog that we could bring over to dad during the winter for play dates as part of his "therapy".
So, given all these factors, we decided to keep our eyes open for a pug that would be cheap and a good fit for our family. (No expensive, papered puppies for us...we go the way of adopting unwanted dogs.) We found a listing on Craigslist from the animal shelter in Reed City where five pugs had been surrendered by their owner. They were about a year and a half old, un-named, unloved, and used to being locked in a crate together.
So, we figured one of those little pugs needed us and we drove off to discover which one it was. As we drove along the excitement ran high among the kids. Possible names flew back and forth as they munched their animal crackers and watched the GPS to see how many more miles we needed to travel. We knew we wanted a name that began with an "M" to go along with Max, our other dog. Mia, Maya, Muff, Minnie, Maura, Moppet, Minty...all were quickly rejected by one or more members of the family. Grace in her wisdom said, "Let's wait until we see her and look at her and then maybe we'll know what to name her." This seemed like a very wise idea.
As we arrived at the shelter and followed Michelle to the back where the pugs were, another dog caught Michael's eye. "No Michael, we're not going to get another big dog." He had seen a sweetie that looked a lot like our Max. He had wanted to get another big dog like Max and name it "Junior". But the kids and I led him on to the pugs. I was wondering how we were going to decide which of the dogs we would get. It would be the kid's choice, not mine; but getting four kids to agree could be rather tricky.
I had been praying over the two weeks that we were seriously considering the pugs that if we weren't supposed to get one of them that God would make it clear. As we looked at the little dogs, I listened as one by one our kids chose the same dog. All four kids were in agreement about which dog should come home with us. They wanted the timid one who was trying to hide behind her sister. According to the kids, "She needed the most love" and they thought our family could give that to her.
Having decided that she was the one, we piled back into the van with our Christmas pug. Micah said, "The pug got her Christmas present early. She got a new family...US." As we drove back home I brought up the name question. Out of the blue Grace suggested the name Misty. Right away the other kids agreed. Another little miracle of all four kids agreeing on something. So, Misty Mae Maartense snuggled up to enjoy her van ride home.
Since having Misty here, we've gotten to watch our kids excercise patience and foster nurturing attitudes toward her. Misty's previous owner was a breeder who just kept the dogs in a cage. They were never trained on a leash or given much loving attention. When we first picked her up, her whole body just trembled and shook. Now, when the kids creep toward her, she wags her tail and doesn't run away. It's sweet to hear the kids praying about Misty; thanking God for her, asking Him to help her be comfortable in our home and that all the other dogs at the shelter will get loving homes.
Misty never had any reservations about Max. She loves him already, wanting to play and lick him. He's not so keen on playing, but is willing to share his food and water bowls. He lets her steal his chewing bone without batting an eye at her.
So, Misty is going to be our therapy dog and we are going to be her therapy family.
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