Huge reversal - Moto has a new home lined up

Right, I last left you with, "Yeah, I guess I am keeping Moto." But the last 24 hours I have been thinking a lot about puppy management and life with a bunch of dogs (given that Yishai and I are long term, no matter how you look at it, I have three dogs if I keep him).

Laura told me about how Emma had been received - just how happy they all were. How she rode home with her head on Jim's lap, how she enjoyed playing with her brother's cattle dog, and how she went straight out to the yard and sat down on their most recent dog's grave. The family is finding so much meaning and happiness out of her.

And everyone who has a FuryBen puppy is pure stoke about them. Facebook updates, emails, photos . . . stoke  stoke stoke. Yishai finds his puppy and rubs all up in her, despite my advice not to let her he insists she sleep in his bed, and just wants to be around her all the time.

I love Moto. He's adorable, he's kind, he's a great dog. I did good with everyone but I am not stoked on him. I'm not stoked on having a new puppy and having to invest the time and money to raise him. I decided if I kept him, I would stop doing stuff with Fury to afford new training, and that was sad because I still have things to do with her. And I feel guilty dividing my loyalties to her. One dog is enough.

So I got up this morning, and I emailed the best home I rejected. Alina and her husband are friends of Amy's (Curry's owner) and that's how we were referred to each other. I interviewed her but was too worried he wasn't a good fit - this is her first dog and I have been careful to give these pups to homes that could handle a stockdog with guardian instincts. She seemed so enthusiastic that I felt bad about telling her I thought Moto was too much dog for her.

But the same thing happened with Moto as it did for Emma. The extra time with him has shown me that, no, he is not. He's a soft dog (something I'm not so good at handling) and that means that any behavioral issues I'd be worried about would be easily correctable because he doesn't want to upset you. He's not protective, he's not alpha, and he more than anything just wants in your lap. He is soooo cuddly (like Reid).

So I emailed her and told her he was hers if she wanted him.

There came back a resounding YES! Alina told me that she'd continued to watch him grow up and think about him despite my rejecting her as a home. She wished and wished, and wow, do I believe in providence? Yes, yes, I do. Her email and talking to her on the phone . . . absolutely convinced me I am doing the right thing by sending him off. Yishai was a little upset, I think, but we sat down and talked about the prospect of having three dogs and eventually having to find a place with three and raising and the resources I'd have to hand out  and . . . when I told him about my lack of stoke, he told me I should home him.

Isn't that funny? It's the stoke that did it. Always follow the stoke.

So, if all works out, Yishai will drive him down to LA on his way to stay with his parents for a couple days and Moto will have a new home in New Jersey.

"My face hurts so much from smiling! You can come visit him any time!"

Yes, this is the right thing to do. I love you Moto, and sometimes you gotta let the baby bird fly.