The Family Grows a Little Larger
Posted by: Scott at 5:00 am in Friends, Family, Lovers, & Jerks, Pets
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I’m writing this blog post on Friday evening because today (Saturday) we are getting up early and driving down to Casa Grande (halfway to Tucson) to pick up Karter from his foster family. He’s ten weeks old and finally old enough to be adopted. I figure the rest of Saturday though will probably be spent introducing Karter to our other two "kids" and trying to keep him from tearing up the house. I think I’ve done a fairly good job of puppy-proofing the rooms and backyard where Karter will initially be allowed. Only time will tell though. Today Buckaroo and I put up a temporary but sturdy fence around the pool in the backyard to make sure Karter doesn’t fall in by accident, so that’s why I didn’t write a blog post for Friday.
So how and why did we decide to adopt a puppy? It all started when my friend and neighbor the Pacer started to look around for another dog for himself. His longtime companion Calli recently passed away (she was a good dog- God rest her soul) and his other dog Sofi wasn’t eating because she was so lonely. I was looking through pet ads on Craig’s List when I came upon Karter, and it was love at first sight.
Karter is an Aussie Cattle Dog (aka Queensland Heeler or Blue Heeler) which is the same breed as our current dog Bailey. I wasn’t familiar with the breed prior to adopting Bailey several years ago. I was actually looking for an Australian Shepherd or Border Collie. I took an online test to find out which breed of dog was best for me, and it recommended an Aussie Cattle Dog (ACD). I’m glad it did because I absolutely love Bailey and won’t even consider another breed of dog now. Being a herding dog, Bailey is mid-sized and extremely smart and gentle (almost too smart as she knows just how to manipulate us). I’ve been told that the ACD breed was originally bred from Dingos.
Here’s a picture of Bailey with my cat Zoe. As you can see, they’re quite good buddies.
Now before anyone gives my a hard time for adopting a puppy rather than a rescue dog, Karter is in fact an animal rescue. He was saved from a pound in Tucson by a local organization called New Hope Cattle Dogs. It’s a regional organization (Arizona and Colorado) that specializes in the rescues of ACD’s. Bailey was also a rescue dog at about 9 months old when we adopted her, and Zoe was just a kitten we rescued. I would never dream of buying a dog at one of those pet stores you see in the mall when so many rescued animals need homes.
So our family is a little larger. I can’t wait to see what Bailey and Zoe think of their new little brother. I’m sure he’ll be part of the pack in no time.
Oh… the above picture of Karter was taken by his foster family, but expect a glut of puppy pictures of my own soon on my flickr page.
P.S. For those of you wondering about why we slept on old towels and blankets. We were told that this helps the puppy adopt to the scent of his new owners. And for JdEB, I did like your suggestion about adopting a U of A student. Maybe next time. And Ed, were we talking about the same thing? Karter still has one sister left that needs a home.
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Man. I got mine when he was 2 years old and had been on the road (so to speak) for a while. He followed a woman home from a golf course in Bellview, Texas and she gave him to her daughter to find a good home for him. We happened to meet and he’s the strangest looking dog I’ve ever seen. He’s 7 now and a great dog. I keep trying to imagine him as a puppy and your pics are perfect. Now I know what my baby looked like when he was a baby. Thanks.
aaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwww!!! SOOOOOOOOOO CUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE!!!!!!! You are lucky you live so far away! I would be over all the time playing with that little doggie!!!!!!!!
Do you find that you cattle dogs herd the cat? My aunt had an Australian sheep dog and he used to herd the cat. I was just wondering…
And again, so friggin’ cute.
Oh my gosh… how adorable! Now we’ll just have to live vicariously through you… just don’t leave out anything, I think I have suppressed how challenging the puppy phase was. Let us know when everyone is settled in… we can’t wait to see Karter in person! Congrats!
Karter is kute!!
Beautiful puppy!
A new puppy is so exciting!! So sweet in the picture!! Congrats!
Also from someone who used to be active in dog rescue, thank you for not considering buying a puppy when there are so many that need a home in pounds and shelters.
Karter is so cute!
My parents had an Aussie when I was in high school. Smartest dog around, and when we were in the pool he used to herd us to the steps! lol!
Congrats on the new bundle of joy!
Gil
What a super cute puppy!
Aww!!!!!! Beautiful!!!!! I am envious. Good for you for rescuing pound puppies. That’s cool.
Our cat is a one-cat two-person sort of cat, and loves it being that way. We got another cat about 5 years ago, sadly he was killed in the street 3 years later, and Shara loved it. She didn’t miss him one BIT…
But when that awful day happens, and she goes, I might get 5 all at once.
cute pooch!
I wasn’t aware of this breed of dogs.
‘hope the new pup and the others get along.
I’m definitely with you Scott. Buying a dog when there are so many good ones that need adopting just doesn’t make sense.
The issue there is that many of the animals in pet stores (and their as-yet unborn siblings) need rescuing as badly as shelter animals. Through interning with veterinarians, I’ve seen a number of cases where a puppy’s first visit to the vet found a number of problems that are easy and inexpensive to prevent. Not surprisingly, they tended to come from one particular pet store in the area.
And that doesn’t even get to the puppy mills!
Please folks, if you do insist on buying a purebred dog, buy direct from a breeder. Know your animal’s history, its temperament, and its needs. Animals also make bad gifts. Get a breed that’s right for you (Kudos, Scott.) Have the time an patience to deal with an animal, especially when its new.
Ok, sorry for ranting. I think I might have to go blog about these kinda issues. Congrats on the pup, and know that none of these criticisms are aimed at you. Just general considerations I’ve seen people ignore.
Scott, I wish Karter a long, happy life. He obviously has got a good start in it. Every four legged member of our family has come from the animal shelter. Some of these family members needed some help, some were emotionally scared for life. Never once have we regretted any of them.
If I were a god for a day, I’d find a home like yours for all of them…and put the pet shops out of their “products” misery.
Keep us up to date on all the fun you will be having.
OMG, Karter is adorable!! May you have many happy years sharing your life with your new fur-kid.
Oh hello Mr. Cutie McKarterson!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ohhhhhhh the puppy breath and the little doggie kisses and oh!!!! I’m so excited for you! Nothing is more wonderful than a nuzzly pup! Congrats!!!
Congrats! I love puppies, they are so cute and fun to work with and watch them grow and learn!
Have they got their own dogster.com pages yet?
They are sooooooo adorable
Both of mine are rescues and I posted a slide show ( http://330597632.slide.com/p/4/Dog+Park?view=True ) of our weekend trip to the dog park 
You had better keep us all up to date on the cuties and their day to day life, they are so fun and loving. Dogs are just the best things ever to remind of the people we need to be 
Congrats on the new additions
Ok, I get a little sappy about the cuties
All I can say is, multiply the above 17 comments times 2 and that’s my comment! He’s a dollbaby. We have a 6 year old boxer, 1 year old pit and a 7 month old pit (the 1yr. old’s niece)… The boxer was a rescue and we were afraid the two pits might’ve ended up in that sitch, so alas, 3 poochs… combined with 3 cats (I won’t even go into the “Reptile Room”, those creatures belong to SOLELY to the hubby in my married/straight roomates situation.), this place is a frickin menagerie… and we wouldn’t trade it for nothin!
Oh, not that you don’t more than likely already know this, but start buying deterg./papertowels at D. General…we’re up to 4 loads of towels/couch throws a week, the papertowel is for well….we ALL know what that’s for!
OK that does it… I’m coming out there now.
I need some puppy lovin’! 
scott -
congrats - he’s a beautiful pup and will no doubt be a great addition to your family.
kyle
congrats on your new addition! Maybe sometime soon we can get together and I can meet him?
Smooches to you all…
Maybe I’m just a victim of the greeting card / calendar industry, but there’s nothing cuter to me than a dog-and-cat friendship … so cute