This little cutie was in great demand when she came into shelter care. Everyone was trying to figure out how big she would be when grown. Of course, this become our best “guesstimate, just like trying to figure what breeds are involved in a dog you know nothing about.

We guessed that Dancer, so named because of her little prancing steps and her white tippy toes, was perhaps part poodle and part spaniel and maybe even a little black lab mixed in.  Smaller dogs are always wanted, but we try to be honest – she could get bigger than we think if there is some lab in there. Right now she is at  that little puppy stage that makes everyone start thinking with their hearts and not their heads. “I want a puppy!”  They stay puppies for only a VERY few months!

Anyhow, Dancer went up on the PetFinder website and there were a number of inquiries. The choice came down to a nice woman who had recently lost her “Dancer” to old age. She hoped this Dancer would be perfect for her.  Meanwhile a visitor at the shelter had also expressed a deep interest in Dancer and it came down to “Which is the most suitable home?” This decision is very difficult, especially if both homes would be equally wonderful for our “baby”.

Interviews began. Yes, we carefully interview the possible families of our shelter dogs. If necessary we make home visits. This was really a tough one to decide, but my nice lady who saw Dancer on the web agreed that with  an elderly mother living with her, perhaps a lively puppy like Dancer would not be a good idea. Her mother would be spending the days alone with the puppy. In and out and in and out, and also, underfoot. Bless her heart, this sweet lady said that Dancer should go to the youngster who had fallen in love with her at the shelter. It was a joyous young lady who got the call to come and get Dancer, if she was still interested in adoption.

I wish I had not forgotten that young lady’s name. Such happiness is rare, I think! She wrapped herself right around that puppy eager to take her home. “Her name will be Zoey!” she said. And that’s fine too. We put temporary names on our shelter dogs, and always let the adopting family know that it’s definitely okay to change the name. Several weeks went by and we received an Email and photo of Dancer – now Zoey. That young lady is “still wrapped right around that puppy” wrote her mother, and sent us a photo to prove it!