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Published on August 22, 2005 By dharmagrl In Misc

When Dave and I found out that he had orders to England in 2003 we had to make some tough decisions. 

We had an AmStaff dog named Chyna.  She was a beautiful animal, she was our baby.  When we got orders we decided, after many tears and much heartbreak, to find her a good home here in the US because we didn't think that we would be able to take her with us.  We found her a home, and off she went.  I cried for days, as did Dave.

When we found out that our orders got cancelled and that we would be coming to Illinois instead, I tried to contact the people we gave her to to see if they would let us have her back.  I was unable to find them, and was again heartbroken.

When we got here, we got Henry. He's a great little dog and we love him, but...there's always been a hole where Chyna was.

Today I was browsing one of the St Louis stray resue pages on the internet.  Dont ask me why, I just felt like going and looking for some reason.

I came across this guy:

His name is Beau, and he's the spitting image of Chyna, except in reverse colors.  Where he's white, she was red and where he's red/brindle, she was white.

I emailed his picture to Dave.  Usually he won't even entertain the though of another dog, but this time he asked how much it was to adopt him and said if we could swing the money he'd be "all over it".

We have the money.  I've applied to adopt him.  I'm wishing and hoping and praying that this is meant to be and that Beau will come and live with us.  From what his foster mother says, he'd fit in with us perfectly.  I think that I've fallen in love with this boy already.  He's beautiful, and I want to have him in our family.

Will you wish and hope and pray with me, JU?  Will you send all the 'bring Beau to Dharma's house' vibes you can manage?


Comments
on Aug 22, 2005

Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying
Planning and dreaming each night of his charms
That won't get you into his arms
So if you're looking to find love you can share
All you got to do is hold him and kiss him and love him
And show him that you care

Show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinking and a-praying, wishing and a-hoping

'Cause wishing and hoping and thinking and praying
Planning and dreaming his kisses will start
That won't get you into his heart
So if you're thinking of how great true love is

All you got to do is hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it
And after you do, you will be his

You got to show him that you care just for him
Do the things he likes to do
Wear your hair just for him, 'cause
You won't get him
Thinking and a-praying, wishing and a-hoping

'Cause wishing and hoping and thinking and praying
Planning and dreaming his kisses will start
That won't get you into his heart
So if you're thinking of how great true love is

All you got to do is hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him
Yeah, just do it
And after you do, you will be his
You will be his

(For you, Dave and Beau)

on Aug 22, 2005

All you got to do is hold him and kiss him and squeeze him and love him

That's EXACTLY what we want to do with him.  Henry sleeps with the kids...we'd love to have Beau at the end of our bed.

on Aug 22, 2005
You've got it! He's adorable!
on Aug 22, 2005

You've got it! He's adorable!

Thank you so much, Heather!  Im trying not to get too excited about him, but I do like him....

on Aug 22, 2005

LW:

He's a 'terrier mix'...so I imagine that he has some pit and AmStaff in him along with other things.  Chyna was A,Staff and pit mix, and she was the daftest, softest AmStaff. So were her parents.

The adoption process is a long one, with the agency coming out and doing a home study, contacting our references and our vet, and us visiting with Beau a few times in his foster home so we can all see how we get along together before anything permanent happens.

Apparently he's good with the other dogs in his foster home Males and females), he's good with cats (the only thing she said was that he plays rougher with them than they'd like and has been clawed a couple of times).  He's living with a family that has a 3 year old and a 6 year old and has shown no signs of aggression with them.

Henry is tolerant of other dogs...we've introduced him to other dogs on the street and have had them all playing together in the yards and he's done well.  I understand that it will be different bringing another dog into his home, so I'm glad that we'll all get to meet beforehand and the boys can feel each other out a bit.

I think that between Dave, the kids and I we'll be able to manage Beau and his exercise needs.  His foster mother says that he thinks he's a lap dog, that he prefers to be inside with his humans.  She's been short walking him daily, and then taking him on a longer walk three times a week and apparently he's doing well with that.  I'm home all day, so I'll be available almost constantly to help socialize him, and Dave runs three times a week and would dearly love to have a dog like Beau to run with him.

He was a stray, so I realize that no-one has any history for him.  No-one knows what kind of conditions he was living in before he got picked up, all we have to go on is his behaviour now.  His adoption fee is $85, which I don't think is too exorbitant.  I did (and am still doing) some research about the agency that has him, but thus far they seem above board. I'm glad that he's not in a cage in a shelter somewhere; that he's actually in a home with a family and kids. 

 

I really appreciate your input, S.  You're the most knowledgeable person I know when it comes to dogs and doggy matters.  Don't worry, we're going to take it slowly and make sure that everyone is comfortable with his coming to live with us before we go through with it.  I want him to go to a home for the rest of his life; I wouldn't want him to come to us on the spur of the moment and then have to go elsewhere a month later because we can't manage and he's not happy.  I've seen enough of that from my neighbor's.

So yeah, please pray and hope and wish for Beau to come and live with us.....but just as importantly, pray and wish and hope for him to be happy and healthy, regardless of whether it's with us or not. 

Thanks again for your advice, I really do appreciate it!

on Aug 23, 2005
Dharma, I wish you good luck. I hope Beau brings you and your family all the joy Chyna did.

LW gave you great advice. You're lucky to have such a caring friend.
on Aug 23, 2005
Beau knows football, Beau knows baseball, Beau knows dharma...........?
on Aug 23, 2005

Beau knows dharma...........?

I sure hope that'll be the case!

on Aug 23, 2005
LW gave you great advice.


I second that comment! I'm always a little leery of pit bulls, even if they're mixed.

But you dharma are a good consumer who has taken everything into consideration and deserves to have him join your family. Here's wishing you some good luck and good vibes for this new addition to your family!
on Aug 23, 2005

LW gave you great advice. You're lucky to have such a caring friend

Yes I am...and it took a falling out for me to realize that.

it certainly sounds like you're taking all the proper steps to ensure both your family's safety and Beau's future happiness,

I'm trying, i really am.  it would be so easy to say screw it, i want that dog and just bring him home...but that's not the right way to do it.  I want him to be happy, i want us to be happy...and I'd really love us to be happy together, which is why I asked for vibes and prayers that he'll get to come and live with us.

 

But you dharma are a good consumer who has taken everything into consideration and deserves to have him join your family.

Aww, thank you!  Like i said, I'm really trying to be sensible about this and not get in over my head just because I want that dog.

He really is beautiful, though.  Dave and I talked, and if this adoption doesn't get approved or falls through for some reason we've decided that we're going to look for another AmStaff.  I'm sure if it's meant to be, it will be...but there's nothing wrong with trying to influence destiny a bit!

on Aug 23, 2005

I'm sure if it's meant to be, it will be...but there's nothing wrong with trying to influence destiny a bit!

Coming from you, that is one of the best statements I have read all year!  Best of luck to you and your Beau.

on Aug 23, 2005
Cute dog! ..

Although they are banning this breed here in our part of Oz, I have a theory it is all about the owners and the way they are brought up.. just like my baby is a Mini English Bullterrior, when we are out with her everyone freaks out, but she is really the one to run and is a real baby.

Good luck D!
on Aug 23, 2005
I have a theory it is all about the owners and the way they are brought up..


Yeah, I think that whilst genetics certainly do play a part, handlers/owners and the way they treat the dogs have a lot to do with it as well.

Coming from you, that is one of the best statements I have read all year!


Oookay...well, I'm glad you liked it!
on Aug 23, 2005
Cute dog! ..

Although they are banning this breed here in our part of Oz, I have a theory it is all about the owners and the way they are brought up.. just like my baby is a Mini English Bullterrior, when we are out with her everyone freaks out, but she is really the one to run and is a real baby.

Good luck D!


Your on the money with this one. Like Karen said genetics do play a part. But any dog can be viscous, it's all in how they're raised. It's just that some breeds are more prone to take that kind of conditioning.