The MomGate MG1

Well I've been kinda broken up since we had to give Sebastian up.  He was just too much dog for us.  So I have casually looked on Petfinder and attended a couple of 'adoption' events nearby just browsing.  Most shelters in the area will not adopt to families with children under age 6.  I can understand their caution and I appreciate it!  It doesnt stop me from looking however. 

Well the Meriden Humane Society is a great no kill shelter.  They work in conjunction with the Meriden Animal Control (housed in the same building) to try and adopt out as many animals as they can to the best possible homes.  You should see their 'cat room.'  It is a paradise!  No tiny little cages for the majority of the adult cats there!  Granted the kittens and the cats who are not used to socialization, or fixed, do not get the luxury of the big room.  

We have adopted two cats from them and foster an elderly cat so she can live out the rest of her days in comfort.  Yet I never thought to look their for a dog.  Granted that a large portion of shelter dogs in our areas are Pitbulls.  And yes I know pitbulls are not inherantly violent, BUT they are just too big for us. 

So when I dropped off my application, one of the volunteers asked what I was looking for, and when I mentioned a small - medium kid friendly dog she said she knew JUST the dog.  So out comes Ben.  I kid you not when I say this dog looks like a miniature golden retriever.  Beautiful dog, and he came right up to me to get some pets and cuddles.  In fact a lady who came in after I had been sitting with him for a little while thought he was my dog coming in for a visit =) 

So I added to my application Ben's name, he isnt even on Petfinder.  Apparently he was surrendered a couple of weeks ago.  When I took him for a walk, he wasn't even phased by the big dog's barking at him, and he was friendly with everyone except for an English Bulldog that walked by.  But hey, dogs are like people right, they don't have to like everyone. 

So we will see what happens.  I am in no rush, I want to make sure I find the perfect dog for our family... I don't want to run into another issue like we did with Sebastian.  So I am sure in the next week I will be schlepping the family down to meet Ben and see how he handles Gabe.  Granted Gabe is a loving child, but some dogs don't care for children.  As of right now the shelter has seen no signs of aggression towards anyone, and he ignores cats.  So keep your fingers crossed for us!