Straydog UPDATE posted TUESDAY 10/7/03 at ~8:47 p.m. CT

Bill Arnold's Daily Straydog Log

TUESDAY OCTOBER 7 2003

Blind Chocolate Lab Chubs and his Black Lab sister, Cassie, are officially adopted and go to their new home today!

     If dogs kept track of dates I think October 7th would be a date that Chubs and Cassie would remember. Today Blind Chubs and his sister Cassie are beginning their new life at their new home with long-time Straydog supporters Jana and Charlie Harris. This was Chubs and Cassie's third home visit, and we were prepared to let the the dogs stay forever this time, bringing along supplies and their medical folders.

     Charlie works out of their home, so he was there to come out and help us unload the furry fellas. All five dogs were happy to see each other, and we went for a ball-throwing party and swim at the pond. I caught pictures of Summer jumping off the pier as she went after the ball Charlie had thrown.

     Cassie jumped right in the water from the edge of the pond and today Chubs decided to swim for the first time! Milo, the Harris's other chocolate lab seemed to understand Chubs and two times went out to him to swim back to shore next to Chubs.

     We had a fun time at the pond and then continued playing ball in the large grassy areas of the Harris's property.

     Sitting down to dry off near Charlie's workshop, Chubs began sucking on Charlie's leg and moving his paws as if he were nursing. Tina told us that since we first got Chubs at only three weeks of age he would do this all the time when Pat would carry him, sucking on the collar of her flannel shirt.

     I went to get the paperwork out of the van, and Cassie let us know she did not want to go home in the van. She backed away from it, telling us, "I don't want to leave!" Chubs also stayed in the workshop. This was going to be home, they wanted us to know! We knew.

     Jana called Charlie on the radio saying that she was on their road about to arrive, and Charlie shut the doors of the workshop so the dogs would not get in the way of the car. After Jana came inside, the dogs ran to greet her, and she got special kisses and hugs from Chubs and Cassie too.

     I took one more picture or two trying to get all five of the dogs in one shot, and then a picture of just Chubbie inside the workshop. The last picture I took was of Chubs with a bone he had found, which Summer patiently let him keep. [All these photos to come hopefully soon.]

     Before beginning to write this update I called Jana to see what the latest news was, and Cassie had met the cat and had sniffed and sniffed her. When Cassie got a little too rough the cat just put out her paw (with nails unsheathed), and Cassie knew not to go any further!

     Chubs enjoyed sniffing Jana's hands with the kitty fur smells.

     Chubs and Cassie had also gone in and out of the doggie door a dozen times, Jana said. The doggie door is an entrance to a large doggie sun room from a fenced area twice as big as Chubs and Cassie's previous kennel area at Straydog.

     They've probably had their dinner now, and will sleep extra well tonight on their new large cushioned doggie beds in one of the many areas that Jana and Charlie have as options for Chubs and Cassie's first evening at their new home!

     Congratulations, Chubs and Cassie, Jana, Charlie, Milo, Nick and Summer!