Okay, so we have a confession to make. It’s been a little more challenging updating our Instagram and writing blog posts lately. We’ve been distracted, and overall just haven’t had the time to dedicate to home improvements – not that we don’t want to! The funny thing is, we were about to start our biggest project yet (renovating our bedroom closets with DIY built-ins) when we got a phone call that changed everything for us.
On a personal note, our beloved cat, Toby, passed away a week before Christmas in December 2020. We shared Toby with my Dad, and were lucky to spend seven amazing years with him. He was a grey tabby cat with green eyes, a shy personality, and a big appetite. Having grown up with cats, I can wholeheartedly say that Toby was my favorite. After his passing, I was emotional for a long time. There was a huge gap left in our hearts that only a pet’s love could fill. If you’ve ever lost a pet, you know how hard the loss can be.
Fast forward three months later to a happier day. We had begun searching for a rescue dog to adopt, and submitted a couple of applications with no luck. Pet adoptions have been at an all-time high because of COVID (more people staying at home), making adopting very competitive. Which is really a great thing for the animals! I’ll never forget that it was a Friday morning, and I was drawing out rough sketches for our bedroom closets, thinking I had the entire weekend ahead of me. My phone rang, and we were given good news: our adoption application was approved!
The adoption
The adoption agency said our references looked great, and felt our application was a match for the dog we applied for: a 20-pound, 11-month-old Italian greyhound/rat terrier mix named Esther (now Sadie!). Sadie was rescued from Mississippi by Motley Mutts Rescue, and was relocated to New Hampshire to find her forever home. Unfortunately, she was adopted by an elderly couple who later returned her because they were going on vacation. I know, as upsetting as that is, Sadie ultimately landed in a wonderful home with us.
So, we set up an appointment to meet Sadie the next day at her foster home. The plan was that if we matched well with her in-person, then we could bring her home with us (!!). Everything was happening so fast. Thankfully, I had that day off from work and was able to run out to different pet stores and buy all the supplies that we needed. Sadie is our first dog, so we needed everything. To get us started, we stuck to the basics like a dog bed, crate, crate pad, collar & leash, food bowls, and a couple toys.
When we met Sadie in New Hampshire the next day, we had a gut feeling that Sadie was the right pet for us. We signed the adoption papers, and brought her HOME! She’s been part of our family for two months now. She even had her very first puppuccino from Starbucks to celebrate her first birthday. As my dad would say, “That dog hit the jackpot.”
Meet Sadie
As fate would have it, Sadie reminds us of Toby in certain ways. She is sweet, a little shy, loyal to her people, and highly food-motivated (making obedience classes very fun for her). People say that she resembles a baby deer, with her long legs, big ears, and brown coat. All we know is that she’s already our best friend, and we’re going to give her the amazing life that she deserves!
She definitely gives us a run for our money sometimes; she is SMART and super high-energy! Nothing that lots of walks, hikes, beach trips, and games of fetch can’t fix 😉.
We believe that everything happens for a reason, and Sadie was meant to find her way to us. Thank you to Motley Mutts Rescue for bringing us together! And for anyone who is considering bringing a pet into their home, #adoptdontshop
