Mushy is home... forever ...

It's the little things that count. Little Mushy (above) was a stray in Long Island, 5 mos. old, picked up by Animal Control on July 20th. She was a brindle pit bull -- a dog with less than 5% of survival and flourishing. She had many strikes against her -- she was a stray, she wasn't an itsy-bitsy baby any more, she was a pit bull, she was brindle, and she was in a high-kill shelter.

Dee, from Real Dog RSQ, pulled little Mushy and Mushy was transported to me by Benni last Monday -- a day Benni took off from work just for Mushy. I had Mushy spayed and HW tested at my vet -- she came through the procedures with flying colors. Mushy's description and pictures then went up on my Petfinder site.

Late last week, I got a call from Bill in VT. I didn't know Bill, and didn't take him too seriously, since he lives 4 hours from me. I took him seriously when he said he wanted to come visit Mushy on Sunday, driving 8 hours just for a "look see" visit. Bill came and fell in love with this little dear. She is such a princess.

I told Bill about home-checks and the like, and he agreed. He went off, on his four hour drive, thinking about Mush. I then called Lynn, of Vermont Pug Rescue, asking for help with a home-visit in her home town of Ludlow, VT, where Bill lives. Lynn did the homecheck within a day, and Bill PASSED!!!

Today, Bill drove another 4 hours to meet me at home to adopt Mushy. He was so proud of her, sitting on the front lawn, with her in his lap. He even read up on the raw food diet and wants to keep her on it. Bill is a teacher and also a part-time web-site designer. He offered to help me spruce up my web-site, not just in the short term, but as it develops.

So, Bill and Mushy are now off again, on a four hour ride to Vermont, where Mushy will go to school with him, pal around with him, and forget the days of being a stray on Long Island, wondering where her next meal will come from.

THIS is what it's all about, an I am so proud to be a part of it. Thank you Bill, Dee, Benni, Lynn and Petfinder -- I am so happy for her!

The Mush -- 5, yes FIVE, years down the road!

Well, the ol' Facebook has done me well -- !!

I just received the following email and pics from Bill and Mushy five -- YES FIVE -- years after her adoption -- !!

COULD I HEAR AN "A'MEN" ON THAT??!!

"Eric! So sorry to have been out of touch, but wanted to finally let you know Mushy is doing GREAT."

"Most spoiled pitbull around. when she's not at work with me (which is rare), she's at doggie daycare, where she's the most popular dog.

She's got a mom now, Vermonter named Nicole. We've moved to Asheville, NC.

Those puppies are beautiful enough we may have to consider driving up there and bringing one home.

Amazed at what you continue to do so well! Sorry again for the delay in response, but know Mushy's got it about as good as it gets! Check out some of her photos. I'm new to this facebook thing, so testing it out with mushy to decide if I should get my own account.

Hope you're well!

-Bill and Mushy"

Well, what's worth it in life?

This is.

To have given a somewhat stranger complete control of a beloved foster five years ago --

-- and then to see an update such as this --

-- this is what it's all about.

Mushy was at the end of her line in Long Island back in 2004, and I took her in on a whim -- and for her, it paid off in spades!

It's funny, with foster pups I always get VERY attached to them -- oftentimes thinking to myself, "Could any adopter ever know how great and majestic this creature is?"

Well, with Mushy, she has been appreciated -- and then some.

To many, she was simply passed over as "too pit bull" or "too brindle" or -- to some -- "why would I help another?"

Well, for Bill, the Mush has proven everything -- and more -- than he ever wanted in a companion -- well, a four-legged one, that is!

Thank you so much, Bill, for such a great update -- this is the stuff I live for.