The Big Day
The Arrival of Bailey
It was a bright and cheery Sunday morning. And we were about to start our next big adventure. We jumped out of bed and got organised. Well me and Husband did. BB hadn’t a clue what was about to happen as we had decided it would be a complete surprise for her. As far as BB knew we were off on a drive. BB dragged her heels, on drive days, mornings were not her friend.
We eventually got her into the car and we were off. Halfway up the motorway, Husband pulls into a service station for diesel. He says cheerfully, “Why don’t you run in and grab a coffee while I’m doing this?” A good idea I thought. Just as I am about to get out of the car, the enormity of what we are about to do hits me like a ton of bricks. Panic sets in and I freeze, unable to get out of the car. The panic hits my stomach and I cramp uncomfortably. Husband gets back in the car and says “No coffee?” I shake my head and tell him about my dodgy tummy. He shrugs and starts the car.
I sit in silence for the rest of the drive, all sorts running through my head. Are we doing the right thing? Do we have the time, the energy, the money? What if BB doesn’t like it? What if the cats freak out and leg it? So many questions had my head swinging in circles. By the time I had decided to say something to Husband, it was too late we were here. The Dogs Trust sign looms before us.
“BB,” he calls out. “Look where we are, would you like to go in and see Butch?” BB has been sponsoring a dog, Butch, here at Dogs Trust for years and had been pestering us for a visit. Her little face lit up! “Can we really go in there?” Husband pulls into the car park and BB is out of the car before it had time to stop. There was no turning back now. I struggled to get out of the car.
In we go. As Husband goes to the counter to explain our visit I distract BB by the wall of doggie pictures. She is amazed at the sheer amount and the variety of names. Husband walks over to us and explains quietly that there has been a mix up, we were not expected until 12. More panic, it was only 10am what were we going to do for 2 hours?? He goes on to explain that they are trying to contact the foster family to see if they can come up earlier.
As we wait, I take in my surroundings trying to calm myself down. There were 2 workmen looking for a manager. The photo we were looking at were permanent residents, I realised. So many, there must have been 30 or 40 photos on that wall. There was an empty closed off area to one side with a sign that said ‘dog of the week’ hanging over it. Another sign behind the counter read, ‘To date we have rehomed 618 dogs’. Husband wandered back over to the counter. He would talk to anyone. A mother and daughter walk in. A car pulls up outside as Husband comes back over. “It’s a clerical error, we are here at the right time.” I stare out the window as he speaks.
My eyes wanders back to the car as Husband turns his attention to BB. A mother and 2 kids get out of the car. They move to the rear of the car and open the boot. Inside is a huge crate, which the kids start to take out of the car. In the crate are 2 curious little puppies. The panic starts to ease and I point them out to BB. The mother comes through the door and the kids carry in the crate. Realisation hits me. This is it, it’s now or never.
I suddenly realised BB was talking, “They are so cute!” Husband smiles, “I’m glad you think so BB, Because one of them is yours.” She freezes for a split second. Then jumps around, hugs and ‘I love yous’ galore. Seeing this had my panic retreating. She hadn’t even met the puppy yet and already she was in love.
The man behind the counter called us and the mother and daughter over. He was pointing out which was which. This was Ramen and that was Sashimi. The foster family started to explain where they were with training and feeding, but to be honest I was only half listening. I was too busy watching the creatures in the crate. The Dogs Trust worker called us over to complete the paperwork. We had to give registrations details for the microchip. We had to provide proof of dog license and vet registration. We had to prove we were serious.
After we had given payment, the mother and daughter went to their car for, what I can only describe as the biggest cat carrier I have ever seen. The foster mother turned her attention towards me, “Have you had dogs before?” I told her all about Ziva and she told me about her collie, her cat and her chickens. I explained we had 2 cats, Velcro and Smokie. She reassured me that Sashimi and Ramen were well used to having a cat around. As she spoke to me I noticed that the Mother and daughter were taking one puppy from the crate, it was Ramen. This meant that Sashimi was our little girl.
The foster mother explained the feeding and training to me and this time I was listening. She asked if we were keeping her name. “No,” I said “Her name is Bailey.” Sashimi was just too much of a mouthful. She explained that she had been calling the puppies ‘pup-pup’ as she wasn’t sure if we would keep the name. She also explained that the puppies were fed 3 times per day and were still being toilet trained. She took Bailey out of the crate and dropped her into my arms. I was immediately attacked with face licks.
“Hello Bailey.” I said quietly. Husband was quizzing the foster mother and the Dogs Trust worker about Bailey, how often to feed her, how to train her, when her next vaccines were due, when she could go out for a walk. “It’s all in the pack we are giving you, her vaccines are due in 2 weeks but don’t worry we will be in touch about them and she can go out for a walk 1 week after her vaccines.” Husband was satisfied with the answers. The foster family said goodbye to the puppies and left. We had the puppy pack and a months supply of food, the only thing to do now was go home.
So we packed the car and headed off. On the way home we realised we were woefully unprepared. We had no bed or food bowls. This called for a quick stop in Maxi Zoo. In there we were surrounded, everyone wanted to meet Bailey but they were super helpful. We came out with a bed, 2 bowls, 2 toys and puppy training treats. BB bought a toy and the treats out of her own money. She was so eager to be involved. With the car now well and truly stuffed we set off again and were home in no time.
At home we cleared and cleaned the sitting room. Husband set up the crate and bed while I took care of the bowls and food. It was feeding time when we got home so I measured out her food and brought it to her. When Bailey saw the bowl she quickly sat. The foster mother had explained that when feeding the puppies she never put the bowl down until they were calm, so they learned that they did not get any food until they sat.
After food and a toilet break, Bailey went into her bed to have a chew on one of her toys, then promptly fell asleep. Velcro and Smokie did not appreciate the new scent in the house but I had expected that. It would have certainly been a miracle if they had taken to Bailey straight away. This was going to be a learning curve for all of us.
As I sit here writing this Bailey is asleep in her crate, while Husband and BB watch over her. Did we make the right decision? Who knows. Will it be difficult? Yep. Will it be expensive? Probably. Will the cats adjust? Eventually. But did we do the right thing?
Lets have a look at the math. Dogs Trust take in on average 200 per month. That’s an average of 1600 dogs since the start of the year. They have rehomed, including Bailey and Ramen, 620 dogs this year. That means that about 1000 dogs are still looking for their furever homes this year. So taking the decisions, difficulty and adjustment period out of it, I think its safe to say we did the right thing, for at least one puppy.
