Riley #2

So third time's a charm. Joey and I drove out to Fallon to look at some adult dogs. The lady selling the dogs said she had two labs that would be perfect-older, happy, great with children. She just happened to leave out that they were both severely obese. However, she did have a little min pin/lab mix who was two years old. The lady said she was a type of dog that was always there but barely noticeable. Very quiet and not needy at all. Joey liked her immediately.

I was a little hesitant. She looked frail to me, the way she tried to bring in her hind legs, like she was scared and wanted to dart off (which brought back bad memories from that first poor puppy we brought home) but the lady said she was just cold.

The lady said we could take her home, try her out. If we didn't like her, she'd give us our twenty five dollars back.

She slept all the way home, has had no accidents in the house, sleeps silently in her crate, has not made one peep in the form of a whine or bark, and does not bite or nip, even when you stick your hand in her food bowl while she is eating. She likes to have the back of her ears touched, but not so much her body. She's a little skirmish, maybe a consequence of the new house and people, but maybe something more. We'll see. She sits sometimes, but always comes when you call her, even with her new name.

The lady said she had a name (Hallaha)but that the shelter had given it to her, so we could name her whatever we wanted.

"So what should we name her?" Joey asked as we drove out of her driveway.

"I donno."

"I still like Riley."

"Yeah...I still have the tag."

So what the heck. Riley number two.

It fits her and it's one less thing we have to buy for her.

She really is a sweetheart. And Joey loves her and she loves Joey, so much so that I have had pangs of jealousy when they snuggle cheek to cheek. I am not as sure how to approach her.

And of course our main concern was Ethan. So far, he has been totally OK with her, even feeding her from his little hand. He is not afraid of her because she isn't trying to smother him with kisses or use his foot for a bone. I can't believe it.

Thank you Jesus.