Marshal's adoption and his replacement

Marshal's adopters drove down here from western Maryland today. They were anxious to meet him and loved him right from the start. There's really not much not to love about Marshal. They have a five month old female Dane who came along to meet him as well. She was nervous around him, but I think they will learn to get along and be best friends as she grows up. She's reportedly scared of other dogs so I think that the very chill Marshal will be a good big brother to her.

They are country folks and weren't put off by the cold and the mud. We walked both dogs around the pasture for a while. We had to run back over to Green Dogs for a vaccine and a microchip, and then they were back on the road heading home. They seemed to be both conscientious and informed adopters, as well as very excited to have him. I was both pleased and impressed that they had arranged separated and secure spaces for the two dogs for the trip home. 

Like many adopters, they remarked that seemed easier to get a mortgage than to adopt a dog, particularly a large breed dog when they didn't already have one. Yes, I know it's a pain to fill out paperwork, provide references, etc. But then as they were preparing to leave, they wondered how I could let him go and felt bad that he might feel abandoned, etc. It occurred to me later that their second concern actually answered and explained the first. I'm able to let the dog go only because the adoption process was thorough enough to make me feel comfortable that they were good people and would be a good home for the dog. And as far as it being more difficult than getting a loan, I'd say that a loan is only money, we are entrusting you with a life. 

With Marshal's adoption we would have been down to just two foster dogs, Zippy and River. That seems to worry Erika so she arranged for a chocolate chunk of lab named Finley to come our way today. He spent the day with Zippy and they are both crated downstairs in the kitchen tonight. More on Finley in the coming days. By the way, Zippy has been much better after that rough first night. She is totally attached to me now, such that I'll take her outside off leash and know that she will stick around. She still has a lot to learn, but we will get her where she needs to be. Finley will be good for her; she could stand to be a little more lab-like and a little less like the shepherd she is.