Addy's Journey

Addy was found "at-large" wandering the streets in Fon Du Lac, Wisconsin.  She was a friendly little dog, but obviously pregnant, cold and hungry.  Addy had been someone's pet once-upon-a-time.  She was housebroken and seemed to have good manners.  Her eyes are soulful.  No one came to claim her and she found her way to Oars so she could have her babies in a warm, loving, home.

She had 3 beautiful pups.  Addy was a wonderful mama-dog.  She was protective, nurturing and sweet with her babies.  As the puppies grew and became playful she would romp with them and play.  When they were old enough to venture out into the snowy backyard she'd herd them and run with them in the snow.  As the puppies would sleep though, she'd go to the door and just wait for someone to notice her.  She wouldn't bark or paw at the door that led from the "puppy room" to the main part of the house.  She would patiently wait.

There's always a flurry of activity at my house from 4pm to 8pm.  The kids get home from school.  The parents home from work.  Meals are made.  Homework is done.  Dogs are walked.  Baths are taken.  Foster animals are loved and played with.  Around 8pm though, we all fall into some quiet time.  I usually retreat to the couch to watch some HGTV or Animal Planet and just relax for an hour.  I found myself inviting Addy to join me each night.   She was so sweet and eager, it was impossible to deny her.

Addy seemed to reflect how I felt after a long day - one tired mama to another.  But she had this affect on everyone really.  She liked to snuggle and she'd stare right into your eyes.

Usually, in rescue, the adorable puppies get adopted first.  Then mama would wait and wait and eventually be adopted.  I honestly, didn't even think to post her online until after her puppies......my husband, Tim, mentioned he had a co-worker who'd like to come by.  This happened often enough.  People would stop by to see and play with the puppies and sometimes drop off donations of food or puppy pads.  This was always welcome and part of the fun of fostering puppies.  I mean, they were unusually adorable puppies.

This visit was a little different.  The visitor and her young, autistic son came to visit Addy.  The connection was undeniable and surreal.  The young boy laid down on my office floor and Addy proceeded to lay right on top of him and clean his face with the sweetest kisses.  The boy giggled, the mom teared up....see, the boy rarely giggled.  I explained that Addy wasn't quite finished with her mama duties and needed to be spayed etc.  The family visited her several times over those weeks and Addy seemed to know when they were coming and that they were "hers".  

I took her to their home on a particularly cold Saturday morning.  She sat in the passenger seat of my car, looking out the window.  She'd periodically glance over at me and wag her tail.  I really felt she knew she was going home.  When we got to the house, she didn't bark or jump.  She waited in the seat until I attached her leash and lead me to their front door.  When the door opened she walked in and sat down in the living room and looked at me, like "So, this is it huh?  Not bad" and the boy started to show her all her "things".  

    

Addy has her own family now and I feel like we did our part to ensure the trip was safe, warm and loving.  Of course, her beautiful puppies all found wonderful homes too.  But Addy will always have a special place in my heart, she got the whole tired-mama thing I got going on here.  Addy's journey involved the efforts of numerous volunteers and several foster homes.  My home was just lucky enough to ferry her and her puppies to their final destination, but it's a callaborative-team effort.  What a beautiful soul!