Welcome....Fio!

Our little family just got a little snugger and a little bigger! On June 1st we adopted our first dog and named him Fio (Fee-oh).

Of course, there is a story ;o)

The fiance and I had been looking for a dog for months and wobbling back and forth about whether or not we should adopt. We repeatedly came to the conclusion that we couldn't afford a dog and I repeatedly tried to sweep dog cravings from my mind.

It didn't work!

Memorial Day weekend I showed the fiance a picture of a three-legged poodle mix that I thought was adorable and fit-the-bill. Over the course of a two-night camping trip we decided to go ahead and try for this dog but when we left the mountains I checked my phone and the dog had been adopted already.

Subsequently I found a few more dogs I was interested in that were staying at local kennels-but when we made it to the shelters there were gone! Two dogs disappeared on me at The Seattle Humane Society and two at PAWS.

Took him 5 seconds in the new home to plant
 a big barf splat in the middle of the living room.

I was beginning to take it as a sign but hope persevered and on Thursday before my volunteer shift I wandered through the dog kennels at PAWS. Not only had the two dogs that had previously "disappeared" on me reappeared, there was a black miniature poodle called George that caught my eye.

I called the fiance and he showed up after work to check out the dog. I even called my mom to try and help talk myself out of adopting or pursuing this dog. But that didn't work...

The fiance and I went back to see the dog and he was gone. I was miffed. Okay, I was pissed. This was six or seventh dog to disappear on me! It had to be a sign. I stalked out of the kennels as the fiance tried to calm me down and I tried to convince him that we had to give it all up. 

As we were talking a lady came up and encouraged us to go back and check on more time. She even gave us a nice little pep-talk. 

We took it as a sign.

Next thing you know we're back at the shelter the next day having a visit with this mysterious poodle called George. He'd come from Idaho after an older couple surrendered him to an overcrowded shelter and was shortly thereafter transported to PAWS where we found him the day he arrived. After a short walk and a little interview we were driving home with a poodle called George in my backseat!

It happened. I have a dog. But he's no longer called George. After trying on a multitude of new names, the fiance and I settled on Fio and cemented the new name with a name tag, an appointment at the groomer's and the vet's office.

Fio is a part of the family :o)

As such he found himself on a trail a week after coming home with us!

We were a bit concerned how he would manage hiking so we started out on a relatively flat trail about 6.5 miles round trip. 

He rocked it! He ended up in mud a little more than I would've liked but he was still a bouncy happy poodle at the end of the trail.

So Fio earned his trail clearance and his spot in our home and hearts this weekend. It's definitely a challenge and a major shift from keeping cats, but the fiance and I are enjoying our new friend.

BONUS-the vet said Fio is in great health, just needs some good workouts and healthy food (seems like he was living a lazy life with lots of junk food back in Idaho). Yippee!