On Saturday, April 2^nd  I received a call from Robert around noon that he was making great time and was already just on the other side of Indianapolis.  I would be getting Lucky Florida Dog #4 today!  Robert called me again from Merrillville, Indiana and we decided on our meeting point.  As I waited for Robert to arrive I fondly remembered the last 3 Lucky Florida Dogs.  They each have very special forever homes now and we hear from their families often with updates. The dog that came up last year has been renamed Danilo.  I am fortunate to be able to see this pup quite often as he was adopted by Leaving Tracks volunteers and he frequently shows his charm at our Meet and Greets.  I had called him “Mr. Perfect” because he was such an angel on the ride back to Chicago. However, once he realized he was home and not going anywhere else, he quickly showed his real 2 year old energy and has given his mom and dad a run for their money ….  in a loving way :)

Once Robert arrived we quickly moved Hasel into my car after a quick stretch.  It was a cold day, lightly snowing off and on all day and this little girl was not used to this weather.  Robert had said it was 90 degrees when he had left Florida the day before. We stopped for a bath at a self-wash Petco on the way home which surprisingly did not phase Hasel.  An hour after switching vehicles we were at my house.  I let each of my 6 greys out one at a time to meet our new house guest.   Our little Banana seemed most interested and quickly decided she had a new play buddy.

Hasel at the kennel in Florida prior to her journey to Chicago!

Car ride! 

Oh how tired I am! (Hasel in the car)

Our trip inside took a while as Hasel was not so thrilled with the steps.  Banana and Penelope flew up and down them several times telling her to do what they were doing but she wasn’t having any of it and decided that if she looked the opposite direction then this terrible event would not really be happening. Finally we got inside and my kids showed her where everything was.  She was not bothered by the hard wood floors, the tile floor or the furniture. She was and continues to be quite enamored with herself in any reflection.  She will stand in front of our dishwasher, wine cooler or floor length mirror and just gaze lovingly.  It is quite cute. I was very pleased that Hasel slept through the night without a hitch. More often than not we find that the first night can understandably be a very restless night for the new pup. New place, new sounds, new smells and minus lots of dogs. This was not the case for Miss Hasel. She curled up in the crate and never woke up until we all did the next morning.  As she came bounding out of the crate, I could just hear her say, “Ya!  I am so happy to start a new day in this whole new world!” and I was happy to show her the way!

-LRA

"Finally! I am at my foster family's home!" - Hasel