Companionship

After much consideration and thought, Parker has decided it is time for him to have a dog in his life again. This is a HUGE relief to me to know he will have a companion when I go home, and he says it will fill a big void in his life that happened when he left Scout with me in Maryland. We have always discussed sending Scout down here to live with Parker once he got settled in an apartment of his own, but after being here this summer I know Scout would not do well in this heat, so that is no longer an option.

Yesterday we went to a shelter in Bastrop. Ugh. So sad, so hard. Although I could tell the people who worked there really did like the dogs, and they knew their personalities, it is still a high-kill facility and it was really hard to leave without a dog. However, the dog we went to look at had no interest in us what so ever, so we left empty handed. It has to be just the right dog. the dog who needs and wants Parker as much as visa-versa.

Three of these photos are the rescues he is considering. The top is a smaller Aussie mix. We watched a video of her retrieving a stick for her foster owner. Like Scout, so long as they threw the stick, she went for it and brought it back. She also has that same kind of "duhhhh" look about her that Scout does, which is why the picture of Scout is right below her.

The second photo is a small husky mix who was rescued from the shelter here with a broken front leg. He's had surgery and is now mending well, but needs a quiet, low key home with someone who will take him for rides in the car.


The bottom photo is a female golden mix, small, who apparently was rescued from an abusive home because they said she is a little shy with strangers. She is very quiet also, and has that golden retriever "What do you want me to do next" look and attitude about her.

Austin has tons of dog parks (and a surprising number of dog rescue organizations ~ with a huge amount of unwanted pit bull mixes.... so sad) and many of the dog parks are near the river. There is a strong dog-lover community in Parker's apartment complex, too, and his apartment is across the driveway from a grassy, tree filled area where people take their dogs to play while they cook out on the grills. we've seen so many different kinds of dogs, from labs and great danes to chihuahuas and bulldogs.

For the first time since we got home, Parker slept through the night last night. I think he slept for 7 hours straight. Can't help but wonder if the idea of having a companion dog is helping him settle in his mind a little bit.