We adopted a dog!

James and I recently made the decision to expand our family and adopt a dog.  We thought this would be an easy process, especially considering how many dogs there are out there that need a home. Little did we know, the dog adoption process is pretty intense.  We actually attempted to adopt two different dogs before we had success.  With the first dog we got flat out denied (apparently we were not fit parents because we planned to crate the dog while at work) and with the second dog, when we showed up to the shelter and the dog we were interested had been adopted 45 minutes before we got there. We did get a little discouraged, but now that we have our sweet pup, we know that this he was definitely the dog for us.

After we made up our mind to get a dog, I stalked pet adoption websites like it was my job. Early last week, I found a two year old cavalier king charles/cocker spaniel mix named Royce on the Atlanta Pet Rescue website.  He wasn't available for adoption until Saturday (yesterday), so James and I decided we would show up right when the shelter opened so that we could meet him.  On the way to the shelter we made sure we were on the same page that we wouldn't try to force it with the dog. We really just wanted to check him out, see what his demeanor was and then make a decision on whether he would be a good fit for us or not.  Afterall, this dog wil be a part of our family for the next ten years or so.

When we walked in, he was in a pen with about five other dogs.  We walked over to the pen and all of the other dogs started going crazy, jumping up and barking at us.  He just calmly looked up at us with his sweet eyes and let us pet him.  We decided right away that he was the dog for us.  We started filling out our application and then learned that there was someone else there who was interested in the same dog.  We sat down in a separate room and were interviewed to get a feel for why we wanted a dog and te type of environment the dog would be living in .  The staff at Atlanta Pet Rescue told us that whoever was going to be the best fit for the dog would end up going home with him. It was kind of nerve racking, but apparently they thought we would be the best fit and told us that if we wanted to take him home, he was all ours.  After filling out all of the paperwork and asking a million questions (we've never had a dog before), we got to walk out with our little guy. We ended up changing his name from the name the shelter had given him.

Introducing Buford Beauregard Ostenson: 

Trying to get a good picture at the shelter before we took him home

Finally! Our little family of three

Before we got Buford home we had to make a few pitstops at Petsmart and City Dog Market.  And after spending our life savings waaay too much money we finally got him home.  

At Petsmart

Riding in the car

First walk around the neighborhood

He's not supposed to be on the furniture, but how can you resist that sweet face?

Y'all, he is such a sweet dog.  He doesn't bark, he doesn't jump up on you when you come in the door, he is house trained, he walks pretty well on a leash, he slept through the night in his crate and he doesn't require much attention. He just kind of follows you around the house and will nuzzle up against your leg when he wants you to pet him. James and I keep looking at each other and being like, "we have a dog". We love our little Buford and he is the perfect addition to our family!