Good morning everyone -
I just wanted to share my excitement with you all. I just dropped the adoption contract and fee in the mail for Sasha - now known as Mochi (Mo Mo for short). She is such an amazing girl!! Back in 2006 when my husband and I originally filled out an adoption application we were looking at Sasha. By the time we made our home visit she already had a pending adoption. We were disappointed but we met Porter whom we fell in love with and brought home. Porter quickly made his place in our family and reassures us everyday with lots of kisses and tail wags that he is glad to be here. Fast forward to December 2007. I helped with transporting the bi-color boy who was a foster failure. When Michaela came to pick him up at my house I asked her if the Sasha that was on the website was the same girl we had inquired about the year before. She said yes - and hope sparked. I told her that my husband and I would like to meet Sasha if she was still available for adoption. Michaela called John Stein to let him know we were interested. John invited us to his home and spent over six hours with us getting to know our Porter and watching how everyone interacted. He was patient with all of our questions and his concern for Sasha's well being was very evident. We weren't sure how Porter would do as he didn't have a very good history of accepting other dogs. John offered that we could foster Sasha for awhile to see how she and Porter would get along at home. We took him up on his offer and brought her home the day after Christmas. I sat with her muzzle in my hand for much of the ride home as she rested during the ride. She was very relaxed and didn't seem to show any anxiety. We stayed up for a couple of hours with her once we arrived home. By the time we laid down for bed, my husband and I decided she was home to stay. She and Porter took to each other right away. I have kept in frequent contact with John to let him know how she has been doing. She loves my 8 year old son who cannot get in the door from school without being soaked with shepherd kisses from her and Porter. She spent the day at my in laws farm yesterday with lots of farm cats and though she was curious, she never chased a single one. The last few days we have had a Chihuahua (1.5 lb toy breed) in our home and she has not threatened him at all. John had told us that when she was surrendered back into rescue that the previous adopters noted she had a high prey drive, had injured a cat and was not good with children. She has been teaching us that she is none of those things ever since she arrived. She is gaining more confidence every day. Yesterday she met 9 children (ages 6 mos to 14 years), 6 adults (ages 30-63 years 3 men and 3 women), 4 small dogs, 2 large dogs, 1 horse and some cows - she greeted everyone with a wagging tail and perked up ears, then for the little ones she sat and gave kisses. At one point she was trotting the length of the house with 3 little boys hanging on her, she would bow her head and they would fall off giggling then she would turn and play bow to get them to follow her again. She did not display an ounce of fear or insecurity. In fact she checked in with me occasionally but not as frequently as when we first brought her home. It took a little longer than one would expect to get her here, but it was sooooooo worth it. We love her so much there aren't enough ways to say it. Thank you to Michaela and John for everything and to GSRAW members and volunteers for giving us the opportunity to adopt these wonderful members of our family!!
Cate