Three dogs... Again!

This past summer, I lost a good friend. He was a 70 pound, chocolate and cinnamon brindled, mixed breed dog named CJ. Though he was only with me for a year, his passing left a huge energy sink in my life and home. Three weeks later, Oliver, my beloved cat died unexpectedly... Heartbroken doesn't even come close to describing the grief and emptiness I felt in the ensuing months.

My heart yearned for Oliver's soft, furry body curled up on my lap, the way his purr started with the slightest touch, how he hijacked the dogs' beds, and the signature meow which earned him the title of "charming loud mouth." Finding another cat who touched me in the same way Oliver did would take time and, since I waited 17 years for him to come into  my life, I could wait a little longer for a purr-buddy. Focusing on my dogs would keep me plenty busy in the meantime.

Kasbah, the clown on left, Bonnie on right.

Well, life is weird. It takes unexpected twists and turns you can't anticipate.  Sometimes something as benign as a photograph is responsible for catalyzing changes in the way you feel and think, and that's what this image did to my (ahem) firm decision to keep a 2 dog family.

A little back story first: I became a fan and supporter of Bad Rap when I became Poppy's guardian two years ago. Thanks to the resources on their web site and their Pit Ed classes, I've learned a lot about being a better dog handler and guardian. I "liked" the Bad Rap page on Facebook and peruse their orphan gallery every so often to see the new dogs they're working with and congratulate them on successful adoptions. Occasionally a cute face or goofy posture piques my curiosity and I take a closer look. Yum Yum. Olive. Diamond. Star. Smudge. Harley Quinn. Harpo Barx... Many dogs -- all beautiful, unique, lovable, and adorable pups but no heart string-pulling until I saw Kasbah on their FB page.