Today was the day when we had to pass Freckles on to Olive and Frank as they took her to her new home. Helen and I could not be more pleased with Olive and Frank as adopters of a girl we have come to love. We took Freckles in on November 4th, taking her home from a very gloomy animal control station upstate. She was so shy and afraid of everything when we first got her, pulling away when we went to pet her as she thought she would be hit.
In the first few days, Jodie would not allow her into the computer room where Jodie sleeps, so Freckles would stay out in the hall when the rest of us were at the computer. Eventually Freckles became a real member of the pack, running with Jodie and Coco around the yard and into the woods. Helen taught her to play fetch with a tennis ball and she soon became obsessed with playing, not with just the ball, but playing with Jodie and Coco as well. If there is one thing that I can say that is in any way negative, it's that she will take any advantage to grab a cookie if the door is open to the dog food and cookies. If Helen takes out the vacuum cleaner hose and leaves the door open, Freckles WILL snag a cookie or two. That's as negative as I can get and I think you'll agree that it's not really a problem.
We've had many labrador retreivers pass through here in the last few years and they have all been a joy. Freckles went well beyond that and became a real part of the family, as lovable a dog as you could ever find. Helen felt bad that we were passing Freckles on again, but this is not like anything in her past. I'm sure she's going to be doted on by Frank and especially by Olive as she becomes part of their family.
We knew when we first took her that she would be going to a "forever" home some day. In fact, we worried that finding such a home for her might be difficult. Puppies are easy to place, but older dogs are not always as popular. With Olive and Frank it appeared to be love at first sight and though we are delighted for Freckles, our hearts hurt already and Freckles will be missed. Missed, but never forgotten.
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