One by One: My first foster puppy, adopted

            Today I learned that my first foster puppy has a forever home. The lovely people who have been keeping her for a slumber party decided that they want to keep her for good. They have already selected a new name for her.
            I am so glad. In the first two weeks I fostered this puppy, I could not possibly have let her go to someone else. She and I just seemed to have a bond that materialized as soon as she crept out of her crate to take a treat from my hand. I saw how frightened she was, but also how curious about the world. She wanted to try things, but she wasn't sure what might happen. So I set out to provide her with a structure she could understand, to lay the foundation for anything she might do in the future.
            After a few weeks in our house, my dear foster puppy had learned so much. I was very proud of her accomplishments, because I could see how proud she felt each time she succeeded at something. And I saw that she needed to go live with someone else. Much as I love her, not every dog is a good fit for every household. And that is fine.
            I saw when I dropped her off for her slumber party that she will enjoy living with her new family. She now has two humans to love her and an adult doggie brother to play with. I could see that my training worked; for the first time, we let her off leash with no fence. She romped and zoomed and leaped into the air, and every time we called to her she raced back to us, tail wagging. I suspected that was what she would do, but it is another thing altogether to see her in action and to know that I gave her the skills to have that freedom.
           It does hurt a bit to let her go, yes. But when isn't it a little difficult to take away your guiding hands, and entrust someone you love to what the world has to offer? She was ready. I am glad she didn't have to wait a moment longer to start the rest of her life, with her very own family. Be well, sweet puppy.