How Bruce Springsteen came to be - the dog, not the man

I know this is a post about how we got our dog, but I should be honest and say up front that I don't care how you get your dogs. I don't care if you're an adopt don't shop person, if you have a preferred shelter, if you have a preferred breeder, if you get them from a friend with a dog who had puppies, if you prefer to foster dogs versus own them, if you pick your puppy up off the side of the road, if you take a dog in someone is giving away. I don't care if you get whatever dog you click with at the time or if you look for a specific breed. I don't like that pet stores encourage puppy mills to remain in business, but at the end of the day I don't even care if you get your dog from there. Because all dogs need homes - puppies, older dogs, behavior problem dogs, pet store dogs, big dogs, small dogs, all freaking dogs.

I do care that you get the dog that is right for your family. At this time, I don't get big dogs because I don't have the time to give them the exercise they need and I don't have a yard big enough for them to get that on their own. Getting one because I'd like one would be good for me, shitty for the dog. Do your research. Think about how this dog will fit into your life now and five or 10 years from now. Weigh your ability to care for it this year and next year and eight years from now. Dogs depend on us to make good decisions starting with taking them into our homes. They are family. They deserve love, time, attention, excellent medical care, and quality food. And if you cannot give them any of those things for any reason at any point in time, you can give them the next best thing to your home: a new one where they will get all of that.

I will never judge you for how you get your dogs, but I will judge the shit out of you for treating them poorly.

Let me remove myself from my soapbox to tell you how Bruce Springsteen the dog came to be.

When Geege died, I knew before he even went that we'd get another dog. I didn't know when or how, but I knew we'd get one. Two no longer felt like the right number, especially as the two dogs remaining were not bonded to each other at all and were missing the oil that made the engine run. To state the obvious, this puppy does not replace Geege. That's not how it works. In fact he makes me miss Geege more, and the first time I cried about Geege in over a week was the second day we had him. But he also makes me laugh and reminds me that even though my heart is shaped differently now from breaking and reassembling, it does still work as it should in giving and receiving love. 

Geege came to us via re-homing, as did Mae. I assumed this time we'd do the same for another dog, take one in who needed a home. I made some inquiries. Lori mentioned a puppy in Egg Harbor Township, and I was like nah.  I set up a meeting for Saturday morning for a pug in Lancaster that needed to be re-homed. That lady flaked on me and I thought let me put the brakes on this dog search. The more I thought about it the more I realized it would not be a good move for Mae or Gus or us to take in an older dog at this time. We needed an injection of youth. Nothing I came across felt like the right move, but it still felt like the right time. I think when someone or in this case somedog dies, you never stop missing them. The right time is when you think is the right time, whether that's the next day or never. 

I was looking for replacement dressers for the shore in the South Jersey Craigslist, searching by furniture and town when a listing for pug puppies came up in the shore town where we first took Gus and Geege as young dogs. People like me take a listing that comes up in the wrong place as a sign, 

I contacted the woman on Wednesday before I could even stop myself. Internally we had a lot of back and forth, mostly on MFD's part. We made an appointment for Saturday morning just to see. Well, for MFD to see...as soon as I woke up on Friday I knew in my gut it was right. I even ordered a crate and puppy stuff just in case.

Bruce Springsteen's dog dad Leo is now fixed, but as it happens Leo and dog mom Mia ended up with four puppies. The owners couldn't keep because they didn't have the space. They were really nice people, the puppies were well loved and well cared for, and the puppy parents were such good dogs. We will be keeping in touch so they can see Bruce as he grows up since we're only two towns over. I could not have asked for a better scenario.

Meanwhile if you told me a week ago I'd have a puppy on Saturday I would have laughed in your face. Life is funny. 

Bruce is home, and it's like he was always supposed to be here. We are all happy. And I know Geege led me to him, which makes me really happy.

When it's right, it's right. Another lesson in going with your gut even when it makes you feel crazy...maybe especially then. 

And if you got here because you were looking for how Bruce Springsteen the man came to be, there's a book for that.

Thanks to both of our moms for puppy help today! It takes a village even when they're furry.