Off they go!

I can't believe that "my" sweet doggie has left with Kirsten. Yesterday evening, Zoe's first family came for a visit and goodbye.

"I'm so glad they came!" our daughter Kirsten said. "I learned a lot about what Zoe likes, how she plays, and what she knows." We talked a lot after they left, reinforcing what pleases Zoe. "Did you see Zoe do (this or that)? Did you see how they played with her? Did you hear that she is used to... (being a neck pillow, lol)?"

Kirsten enjoyed the visit: the little girl of the family is a cute live-wire who loves people. It was so much fun to get to know the family better, to see how they love Zoe. We plan to stay in touch, which makes the whole experience even better.

We are thrilled that the family is ok with Kirsten taking Zoe home to Austin. That was absolutely NOT my plan when Zoe came here for a compatibility visit. I'm surprised that I was able to let her go... and that's after only a few weeks of getting to know her. She is a lovely doggie girl. How we look forward to our long long visit when Kirsten comes back for surgery and rehab, December 2011 - March, 2012.

W, the dogs, and I started this morning with a final walk and romp around the park. Zoe's wheeled carrier was delivered to Austin (online error), so Kirsten put her tiny bundle of apricot hair into a new Petco carry-on, lined with Zoe's brown dog bed. Zoe happily went into the new carrier, head popping out until she had to be enclosed on the plane. Kirsten put treats and a favorite toy (the pink Beany-Bear from her first family) into the carrier with her.

I dropped Kirsten and my husband W off at the airport check-in. K was armed with both health and rabies vaccination certificates and had no trouble checking them both in. W waited at the counter with Kirsten until a wheelchair arrived: K's saving her wrists and shoulders for the trip home and the chores waiting at her apartment. They have a 4-hour direct flight ahead of them, and Zoe was not yipping or upset. W reported that several people already petted her at the counter, fussing over this beautiful little canine.

Kirsten called from the plane, just before she had to turn off her phone. "Oh Mom, you wouldn't believe how many people stopped to say hi, with Zoe on my lap!" Yup, she's going to have company - Zoe and more! - from now on.

Thanks, more than we can say, to the family who loved Zoe enough to let this process happen. And thanks be to God who watches over all his creatures, great and small.