Introducing Rachel

So here is the newest (temporary) addition to our family: Rachel the Rhodesian Ridgeback.  Her owner was apparently an elderly woman who could no longer care for her.  Rachel has been a very pleasant surprise, as we did not know anything at all about her before she arrived at our house on Saturday evening. 

She is the perfect lady: beautiful, young, housetrained, calm and loving, and she doesn't even chase Liam (much to his relief!).   Smart as a whip, too: it took her all of two days to learn that MJ is the softie in this household, almost certain to give her treats or sneak her bits of food when I'm not looking! 

Ever since we brought our beautiful Rory home as a 10-week-old puppy, we've been besotted with Ridgebacks.  So once we moved here and had a house and yard suitable for a dog, we became involved with Ridgeback Rescue.  This involves helping transport rescue dogs to their new or foster homes, interviewing potential families who are interested in adopting a rescue dog, and having foster dogs live with us until they are ready to be adopted.

It's been a great experience.  We get the dynamic of having a multiple-dog household, which is always fun in a chaotic way.  But we don't have to make a long-term commitment, since we usually just have each foster dog for a few months before they find their forever home.  People often ask me if it's hard to give the dogs up after they've been living with us for so long, but it's never difficult: we love them so much we are thrilled when they find new homes!  It's the best thing in the world for them.

I suspect Miss Rachel will not last long at our house: she is too "perfect" not to be adopted quickly!