Bringing Home a New Furry Friend

This week my husband, our dog Barnum and I welcomed a new family member into our lives. Chauncey, a five and a half year old black lab and rottweiler mix, officially joined our household on Thursday morning, adopted from . 

I met Chauncey when I first wrote a He was big and loving and I hoped to find a home for him through the feature. I didn't know at that time that my home would eventually become his home.

As the months passed and Chauncey remained at the shelter, my husband and I began to discuss the possibility of bringing him home ourselves.

Not long after we adopted our cocker spaniel Barnum in May 2009, we began to discuss the possibility of finding a brother or sister for him. However, Barnum is a shy dog. Finding a suitable brother or sister, we knew, would be a difficult task.

When we began to discuss the possibility of Chauncey joining our family, we were both nervous for Barnum. Chauncey is a big dog, around 85 pounds. Barnum weighs 22 pounds. Chauncey is boisterous with a deep, resounding bark. Barnum is careful, almost delicate in all of his mannerisms. Could these two dogs ever happily reside together? Would we be doing Barnum a disservice by bringing Chauncey home? Would we be doing Chauncey a disservice by not even trying?

We decided we had to at least try. We took Barnum to Kent, where under the supervision of the Kent kennel staff, Barnum and Chauncey met. There was no barking, no lunging, no tugging at leashes to get away. In fact, the two seemed rather apathetic in regard to each other. My husband and I decided at that point to proceed with the adoption.

On Thursday, after references had been checked and paperwork cleared, we brought Chauncey home from Kent. Holding Chauncey on his new leash, we let Barnum out of the house to meet his new brother. Barnum could not stop wagging his tail when he saw Chauncey. He followed him around the yard and then the house, so excited to have a companion of his very own.

Chauncey immediately made himself at home as well, smelling everything, investigating everything and pouring love onto my husband and myself.

We know we will face challenges as we proceed with our new family of four, but we also know it will be worth whatever we face. Chauncey joining our family has already filled our hearts.