Baron is our Pup of the Week

Is there a better Christmas gift than a puppy?

Is there any sadder sound at Christmas than the silence of a missing heartbeat?

Odie, Scooby and Rusty, my angels, and friends, knew the answer to both questions was no. After Odie had passed to the Bridge, preceded by Scooby and Rusty, their parents were going to be without a dog on Christmas for the first time since they were married.

During their last mortal years, Scooby and Odie had walking issues and could not be left alone. Their parents gave up many opportunities to travel because of their injured boys. After Odie’s passing his broken hearted parents decided to have some adventures of their own while their Angels secretly looked for their successors.

The Boys, Rusty, Scooby, and Odie, knew even if they found the perfect pup, the pain of losing The Boys would have to be excavated from their parents’ hearts, and a new foundation lay before the memories a puppy would bring could build towers of love in their hearts. The Boys slipped in and out of their parents' dreams and spent lots of ghost time next to them while they were awake, looking for a sign that their parents were ready. When the Christmas bells chimed, the Boys' parents realized they did not want to spend the holidays without the soft sound of paws on the floor.

They contacted their local rescue and said they were looking for puppies. Being long time adopters, the process should not have been a problem for The Boys’ parents. But there were constant communication problems with the foster parents and the rescue. The Boys’ parents were told they would have two rescues by Christmas, then backed off and said they would only be getting one.

This frustrated the Boys’ parents but when they found the reason why they knew it was for the best. The foster family had a blind dog. When the female rescue arrived the blind dog bonded with her. When she was with him, he was happy. When he was without her, he was morose. The foster parents knew they could not separate the girl dog from the blind dog, and when that was explained to the Boys’ parents, they knew they could not take the girl.

Before the Boys’ parents could adopt a dog the Rescue needed to inspect the house. When the inspectors met the Boys' parents, they knew they could not find better adopters if they tried for a thousand years. When they got to the back yard, where there were memorial stones at Rusty, Scooby and Odie’s graves and next to each stone a small Christmas tree with special ornaments for each lost dog the inspectors knew they had found the right home.

And soon the Boy’s parents were introduced to Baron, a young pup who went from a foster house to one of the best dog homes in the world. Baron is sleeping in the big bed, getting the best food and treats, and meeting the neighborhood dogs. Soon he will be walking and meeting more dogs.

He could be getting his Brother as soon as next week, and the Boys’ house will be back to being a two dog house. The lives Baron and Brother will have! Two young dogs who have gone from the Rescue to the Jackpot.

Merry Christmas Baron. You are both the greatest gift even given, and are the recipient of a splendid gift as well. Love.