It Begins

Before anything else, I must explain why adopting Duncan was even possible for me. On January 2nd, 2007, I lost my longest and most beloved friend. His name was Charlotte, and he was a 19 year old long-haired black cat. I got Charlotte when I was about 9 years old, and he's been with me ever since. We had that typical single woman and cat relationship that so many people find incredibly strange. That cat trusted me implicitly, and loved me even more. My Mother often said that she had never seen a cat love some one so much as Charlotte loved me. My favorite times with him were always at night when he would crawl under the covers and curl up next to me, often stretching out one of his front paws out to drape over my neck - as if putting his arm around me. But, as animals will do, Charlotte aged and his body could no longer stay with me, even though he wanted to. He became ill just before Christmas, which in his old age was not incredibly uncommon. But when New Years Eve rolled around and he was not recovered (inspite of care and medication and much prayer) I suspected kidney failure, and I knew that it was time to let him go. When the Vet's office opened on January 2nd, my Mother and I drove Charlotte there, and his doctor confirmed my fears. We gathered my Sister and my Dad, and all four of us said goodbye to my dear friend, and we let him go.

I was a complete mess for the next several days. My heart was broken. Actually, to be more precise, my heart was just shattered, and even now my arms ache to hold my sweet, sweet boy. However, Charlotte's departure has allowed me to bring an animal into my home who so desperately needs the love and care that I can give him.

Before I even lost Charlotte, I knew that I wanted to adopt a Sheltie. I occasionally browsed the adds on Petfinder.com and looked at all the beautiful dogs that needed a "furever" home. But the relationship that I had with Charlotte allowed no room for the needs of a dog. To be honest, I think it would have broken his heart to see my love for him shared with another animal. Charlotte did have a companion all his life named Bootsie - a short haired grey and white cat. This sweet girl died about a year before he did, and I adopted him another companion a month later. Gracie was a 2 year old Spotted Tabby with the most wonderful friendly and outgoing personality. Though they were not soul mates, she and Charlotte enjoyed eachother's company, and she was a good companion for him during his last days.

After Charlotte died I began searching the Sheltie adds on Petfinder in earnest. There were not any dogs that really stuck out as a good match for Gracie and I. But then I took a closer look at an add that I had seen over and over again for more than a year. He was a small Sable and White Sheltie who's foster family had named Dylan. (See his Petfinder add here.) Dylan was a 9 year old Sheltie who was reqlinquished by a puppy mill breeder because they were finished using him for breeding. He was a very shy and frightened little dog who would need a great deal of time, love and attention from the family who addopted him. He did not know how to be a pet. I had never seriously considered him because of his age and special needs. But in thinking of my late friend, I realilzed that Dylan (who I would later rename Duncan) was exactly the animal who needed me. And so I sent an email to the rescue who was fostering Dylan and waited for a reply.