HOME FOREVER...

Kai

Who knows how a dog 

really ends up in a shelter? 

 There are many reasons,

 some are excuses,

 some are a necessity

 and some are strays.

 In the case of Kai,

 he was owner surrendered. 

 The owner was moving

 and couldn't have pets in his new place.

  I think it would be very hard

 to leave a pet after seven years,

 but who am I to judge,

 never having been in a similar situation.

  Anyway,

 that's how Kai came to be

 at the shelter in Santa Cruz

 where we met him.

Our daughter, Tami, 

volunteers at that shelter

 and since we lost our sweet Buddy 

last year, 

she has kept us informed 

of many of the wonderful dogs 

up for adoption.

 We didn't feel ready 

to welcome 

another dog into our life just yet

 and it took awhile for

 her to wear us down! 

 But the minute we saw Kai's picture

 it was a done deal.

 Thank you, Tami, 

for your perseverance. 

 You are the true meaning of the old adage:

  If at first you don't succeed,

 try, try again.

We drove to Santa Cruz last week

 and met Kai.

 The name that he came into the shelter with 

was Kanai. 

 It is Hawaiian in origin 

and means content or champion

 but we kept forgetting

 how to pronounce it

 so we settled on Kai.

 He is starting

 to respond to it already.

 It was love at first sight 

all the way round.

  He is a

 small miniature black poodle mix,

 very sweet

 and gets along well with humans

  and other dogs

 but wants to chase cats.

He bonded with us,

 especially the Captain,

 right from the beginning.

  If we are not all together in one place,

 he will start searching

 for the missing.

When I first went to my office car

 this morning 

and the Captain was walking the dogs,

 he had a little melt down 

of separation anxiety at first

 but, as you can see,

 he finally got over it.

On the way home

 after picking him up,

 I noticed a similarity between us...

...it was meant to be!

He had a beauty treatment

 at the salon

 and he looks less like a ragamuffin

 and more like the refined little gentleman

 that we hoped

 he would be.

He looks very black

 in real life 

but more silver in most photos.

Kai and friend at Pet Smart

Kai goes to the vet tomorrow

 for his wellness check-up 

and then we will decide

 if he needs obedience training or not.

  Although he is seven years old,

 Kai doesn't know

 the meaning of the word 'sit'

 and we are working toward that goal 

for the time being...

...until then, 

little guy,

 you are learning to dance

 and we love you.

  Welcome home.

...Judy...

I would say

 the "content" meaning in his name 

fits him well.

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