A Funny Thing Happened at the Orchard

I'm sure you all know how much we love basset hounds.....and that I would like another one.  What's not to love? 

8 inch ears

2 inch legs

1 end that wiggles

1 end that sniffs

and the saddest eyes you have ever seen.

Sometimes, especially during the night if Belle wants out and I just want to sleep, I wonder if I REALLY want a second dog.   Do I really want the extra work a second dog will require?  Do I really want to go through that period of adjustment?

Then I see a basset face and I am sucked in.

I have been asking for a year or more, "Can we get another basset, pleaseeee?"

And Michael always gently says, "No."

 I'm not the type to get a second dog if it isn't agreed upon.  It's too big of a decision and commitment. 

As usual, a homeless basset caught my eye on Petfinder two weeks ago.  This isn't a new thing.  You could call it a routine. 


Here's how it goes:

I spot one that fits my idea of "uber cute"

drool over it  (pun intended)

want to adopt it
say "please" as above
hear the gentle "no"

then someone else adopts

and I go basset hunting all over again. 

Michael calls it "having a huge heart for animals."  Sometimes I think it is just plain torturing myself!  I don't know why I do this to myself.  But to tell me to stop is like telling me to quit breathing. 

So with an uber cute basset tugging at my heart strings once again, I did my usual plea... and he did his usual response.

(I have no idea why I expect Michael to suddenly say yes, and I have no clue why he would expect me to stop asking!)

His idea?  Let's go to the apple orchard and creamery ----anything to get Barb to stop thinking about homeless bassets.

The orchard was busy - they had pony rides, a petting zoo, train rides, hay rides, they were grilling lunch, etc.  There were a lot of family activities going on.  After selecting our items at the orchard we were walking to the car and what did I spot?  A tent being manned by a pet rescue group.  I couldn't see what they had, but did see a little dog roaming around,  so after we loaded the car we went to the tent to check it out.  Michael knew he couldn't send me alone.  Who knows what I would come back with?

So we went to the tent and they had 6-7 dogs there.

Would you believe...

at an apple orchard...

there was  a basset hound needing a home?

I kid you not!

It was just too funny!! 

All Michael could say was "I thought I was safe coming to an apple orchard."

This basset has an awesome personality, is great with kids, is a bit bigger than what we are used to, but just wanted loved.

We played with him for about 15 minutes.  Michael was telling him what a nice boy he was, giving him treats, rubbing his tummy, walking him on his leash, and asking questions about him. 


I'm thinking "Where did my husband go.. and who is this guy who just last night gave me the gentle but usual no"?!

Then it was time to leave.

On the way home I was not about to bring up this dog first, or ask  Michael what he thought of him.  Finally he said to me,  "So what did you think?"

(I love it when I can hold out longer than Michael - it doesn't happen often especially when the subject is a dog!)

Michael said he thought we should arrange a play date so Belle could meet him.  Like me he thought he had a great personality.

So, readers, I'm wondering - what do you think we are going to do?  I'm curious to see if you think we are going to pursue adopting him.  We have decided but I'm not saying anything yet.


Part 2 coming soon :)