The beginning... bringing home a small black dog

It all started with a visit to the Humane Society to just "look".  Our friends Becca and Nick, talked us into "looking" and not committing to a new dog to take home.  They had successfully visited the Humane Society several times and not come home with a new dog.  They are much, much stronger people than me and Simon.

We sat in the parking lot discussing how we would just look and not get excited about any one dog in particular.  As we wandered up and down the long corridor of pens, many dogs were interesting to see- the straggly looking chihuahua "Ginger", the old pit bulls with sad looks in their eyes, the big dogs that were 10 years old. Who would adopt these animals?  Then, I looked in a pen and saw a sweet, small, all black puppy named Patrick.  He looked up when I loomed closer and he stared into my eyes; he stared and stared. I thought we had better get out of there or else we would take all of the dogs home.

Simon and I visited him in the "Getting to Know you Area" and we played and played.  The volunteer said that puppies don't last long; his brother Walter and sister Sarah were just adopted hours before.  (This is the part of the story that differs).  Simon claims I "insisted" we bring him home.  I remember us deciding equally that this dog was a good idea.

How could one really leave this precious little guy behind?  He had to come home with us.

Playing and getting to know each other at the Humane Society. 

Simon quickly renamed Patrick to Tahi.  Tahi is Maori for "first" as he's our first little guy.  Oh how we have fallen in love with this dog.  He is very loved, a little spoiled, so smart and loyal and we just feel like he's an extension of us.  He's become a familiar part of the neighborhood and people recognize him as he "greets" neighbors walking by with his friendly bark.  Tahi quickly became friends with a little girl, we'll call CeCe.  She scooters around our neighborhood; she knows all of the dogs in the neighborhood and loves Tahi.

A few weeks ago, she came to our house flustered and frustrated.  She saw an abandoned stray dog who was very pregnant, but not willing to let strangers go near her.  CeCe had seen this dog near the same house repeatedly, so she thought perhaps the family moved away and left her behind.  Simon lured the pregnant mama dog into our living room with treats and a leash and she spent one uncomfortable night in our home, with major contractions, a friendly Tahi who wanted to play with her and a belly full of puppies ready to be born.

We named her Honey because of the color of her coat and because she is so, so sweet.  If we hadn't fallen in love with Tahi, I am pretty sure this dog would still be out on the street.  It's true, we love dogs.

Many people have commented on how this all happened right around Mother's Day.  Honey was becoming a mother and soon, we'll have a baby, too.  It's raining babies!