Strillacci: Arf! Another canine in the home!

Strillacci: Arf! Another canine in the home!

Published 12:00 am Sunday, February 15, 2026

We have three cats and two canine, two hen feeders and between three and 5 barn cats that we feed and in winter, hold heat.
We added Victoria, our tri-colored fluffy Pembroke Corgi within the fall, although we hadn’t deliberate on it, as a result of she was a seven-year-old rescue from a pet mill and we couldn’t say no.
We thought our pet roster was really full!
But I’ve discovered that life very not often lets me make these selections.
A pricey pal has been working unbelievably exhausting to place her life again collectively after an intense trauma, and she or he and I discovered an unimaginable house by means of a beautiful household property enterprise. The people who’re her new landlords are in fact enterprise minded, they usually have guidelines in place for a purpose, however they’ve additionally been extremely type to our pal.
The house is in a stunning neighborhood and is in her worth vary, and the entire thing is a blessing.
But, our pal has a 13-year-old pup that she loves, that she will be able to’t convey alongside as a result of no pets are allowed.
She thought a pal may foster her, however that fell by means of.
We simply couldn’t let such a beautiful alternative move her by, so we at the moment are fostering her candy pup.
This great canine has been so effectively liked that she is at all times blissful. Her tail, which curls up over her again, is alway wagging and I swear she smiles. She is a mixture of maybe Chihuahua and Terrier and possibly different issues. She is barely greater than our Buddy, a mini Schnauzer/Chihuahua combine, and much taller than Victoria, however she’s nonetheless what I contemplate a small canine. Maybe weighs about 25 kilos, and her quick fur is tan, white and black. She has the loveliest brown eyes and sure, she barks when she desires consideration.
The first night time with us, she began out on the ground of the kitchen, not fairly certain about this new place and these new canine. About midnight, she got here and joined me on the sofa. But she was nonetheless on watch, as she had been along with her mother for thus lengthy. Eventually, she eased down little by little til she was relaxed sufficient to sleep. By morning, she was a part of the pack. All three went racing out at 5:30 a.m. to discover the massive, fenced yard, and all of the sudden she was main the best way. Buddy and Victoria adopted wherever she needed to go.
I then noticed our pups present her the methods to get round behind issues, the hidden paths.
She additionally has great manners for a pup, listening to instructions, not overstepping, as if she understands she’s not an solely little one, and she or he has to share with a brother and sister now.
Tonight, as we moved towards our second night time collectively, she climbed on the couch between the hubs and I, and put her hand on his arm, asking for love. Buddy was on the opposite facet, and Victoria was in her spot at her dad’s ft.
I knew then that she’s OK, she feels secure right here and liked.
She isn’t technically our canine, and that’s OK. I would like her at all times to be her mother’s pup, as a result of they’ve been by means of a lot collectively. But she is our canine in that we all know it’s our job to deal with her till her mother is in a spot the place she will be able to go residence.
The door right here is at all times open to this pup’s household, any time.
I simply couldn’t contemplate that she might need to surrender her finest pal with the intention to transfer on. That is senseless in any respect.
Animals give us a lot. When we’d like them essentially the most, they’re there, no questions requested, simply there, regular, robust, loving. She has given her mother a lot love and a lot devotion.
How might we are saying no?
And although it’s at all times just a little added stress to convey one other animal into the home, she has been straightforward.
It’s additionally been a reminder, simply in time for Valentine’s Day, that I did certainly marry the proper man for me. He won’t have been enthusiastic about one other animal, however he took one take a look at her and I knew he appreciated her. And he has accepted her with ease and charm.
It takes a unprecedented man, one who loves me oh, a lot, to take this on. And I don’t take that without any consideration.
Welcome to the household, little lady. I promise we’ll hold you secure and blissful till mother can convey you residence.

Elisabeth Strillacci is former editor and reporter for the Salisbury Post.