"Dina" was a 2-year old yellow lab I had been checking out on the county animal control's website for several days, pitching the idea to Adam (who, from a distance, kinda sorta melted...). I took Bryony to the shelter to meet her and she captured both our hearts, so we put a reservation on her. Adam came in the following weekend to move our household goods back to the new house in Virginia. As we were driving from the airport straight to the shelter to pick up "Dina," he suggested we consider adopting a second dog to keep her company. I was caught off-guard, but thought, "Well, why not?" So once at the shelter, he noticed "Meha" a little 5-month old black lab mix. We took both dogs out of their crates for a meet-and-greet and they played well together. It was a done deal.
Bryony was thrilled when we showed up at school that afternoon, not only with Dad in the car, but with two BIG surprises. The look on her face was priceless.
Life with two dogs has been chaotic, surprising, frustrating, but even more, fulfilling. I especially enjoy having quiet time in the evenings with them, as well as the lunchtime walks when I leave work to come home and walk them. I don't enjoy the process of housebreaking, however.
We renamed the dogs a couple days after adoption. It was important to me to name them after pieces of Michigan, since we would be leaving this state that has been our home for a decade. After much trial and error, we finally landed on Erie (the yellow lab, formerly Dina) and Au Sable (the black lab mix, formerly Meha). They already come to their new names just a month after becoming part of our family.
The cats are not as happy as we are about this new normal, but we are trying to coax them into acceptance. We also have baby gates erected around the house so the cats have some room of their own, separate from the overly-curious dogs.
So, Erie and Au Sable. Welcome home.
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