Toshing Around

2:30 p.m.
My co-worker calls to me as I breeze past, on the way out the door to meet my mom: Hey, Sarah, do you know anyone who wants a dog?

Me: No...we've got two older dogs, and I don't think they're looking for any new friends.





Co-worker: My son has two puppies he's trying to give away; they're half Burmese Mountain Dog, half German Shepherd.

Me: Ah, well...

Co-worker: I'll post a sign, I guess.

Off I go to coffee with my mom.

2:40

Me: Oh, so my co-worker is trying to give away puppies, but I told her we couldn't take one.

Mama: You should ask Daddy, he might be interested.

Me: blank stare.

2:45

We meet my dad in the parking lot at his office to drop off a cinnamon dolce latte.

Me: So....I have a question for you.

Daddy: Uh-oh.

Me: Well, someone at work (who my dad actually knows, too) has two dogs she's trying to give away.

I go on to describe the dogs and the somewhat sad circumstance that they're in at the moment. I expect my dad to immediately decline, as he's declined any mention of adding another pet to the family FOR THE PAST TWELVE YEARS.

Daddy: Let me think about it. I need to look up stuff on the Burmese, because I'm not familiar with that breed, and they might be too big.

Me: When will you know?

Daddy: Before the weekend.

Well, seeing as how the weekend would be coming up in, oh, about two hours, I knew my dad was hooked.

Me: Will you want to see the dogs first?

Daddy: Of course.

Me: Well, let me know.

4:05

I text my dad to let him know that I'll be away from the computer, and he'll have to call or text me with his decision.

4:07

Text from my dad: Ok.

4:10

Text from me: Ok, you want to see the puppy?

4:15

Text from my dad: Yes, please.

By 4:30, I had talked to my co-worker and had a phone conversation with her son, the officiall owner of the puppies.

At 5:05, I called to fill my parents in the puppy details and give them the owner's phone number.

By 7:30, after I'd finished dinner with my regular group of librarians, I had three pictures of my dad and our two older dogs playing with the puppy on my cell phone. So, of course, I had to go play with a warm, fuzzy, squiggly, awesome little dog who can't quite stand on his legs (he's like a newborn colt), who also won't stay little for long!

And the big bruisin' puppy had been named Peter Tosh.

We'll call him Tosh.



Tosh has made good friends with Bailey, the German Shepherd, and follows him everywhere. Apparently this morning, Bailey has been following Tosh all around the yard, making sure he doesn't fall in the pond and otherwise showing him the ropes.



(look at his cute little baboon butt!)

Last night, JJ, our Beagle/Pit Bull mix, barely tolerated Tosh's presence, but she took out on Bailey, growling at him whenever he came by, instead of on Tosh. By the end of the night, she could handle him sleeping near her.



I have a feeling that this big boy will get away with a lot...I mean, look at that face:



All told, Bailey (the German Shepherd) is thrilled to be a "dad" and have someone to mentor. And my dad's face is simply glowing as he both watches his Shepherd come out of the funk he's been in over the last several weeks and gets to enjoy a brand new ball of fur.



And after just a few hours on a random Friday, Tosh found a home.