Happy Beginnings

Dear HouseHippo, 

This morning I had to wake up way too early, and i believe that's your fault. Dogs don't really say goodbye the way their humans do, but I got to thinking i should say SOMETHING since we were roomates for so long.

Hippo, hippo, hippo . . . you were the annoying little brother i never-knew-i-always-wanted. You made me smile, you were fun, you bugged me, you bugged me lots, and you kept me warm.

Speaking as one rescue dog to another, the world is a really big and wonderful place. You, like me, got your second start the moment FosterMomma clipped on your leash and walked you out of the noisey, smelly, scary place. You did a VERY good job embracing that and making ALL of us proud with how well and quickly you fit in. There will be stuff in your future that is new to you, that you haven't learned yet and might be a bit confusing. Trust the nice people that give you cookies and pets, and if you ever get scared and don't know what to do, look to them and they will let you know. Try you best to remember your manners (stop using your meatball head to crash into things!), continue to give kisses and make people smile, but try to do so with all your feets on the floor (especially when they first come home). Do your best to forget the bad habits I may have taught you (it was only ever that once i got the whole package of bacon off the counter . . . it may have even been a dream . . .) but please know that I enjoyed your company and helping you on your journey to being the dog we all know you are. 

And Hippo, if I ever get to come visit you, I'm holding you to that promise of sharing your liver treats.

With much love and respect (and now more space in bed and whatever couch i want), 

BestFriend Quinn

BESTFRIEND!!!!!!

Yes, we got up early, but you always have to pee anyways! When FosterMomma packed up my "Flying House" and all my stuff, I knew things were really going to change now.

I want to say a big THANKS to you for EVERYTHING! You have always been the coolest dude ever, and you helped me lots during the time I stayed with you. I had so much fun with you BestFriend, and hope that someday I will make more friends like you.

Thank you for always sharing the beds and couches, for sharing the toys, and cookies, and most of all how whenever i didn't understand what FosterMomma was saying, gently explaining to me in dog language so that I could know what to do.

I will miss our morning chats. And how when you woof at nothing I would run around like a crazy Hippo. I will miss lying on the kitchen floor with you, and trying to pull you out of my crate. I will miss playing bitey face, and being told to take your ears and legs out of my mouth, and I will miss crashing into you for no apparently no reason, even when you're trying to poop. But most of all BestFriend, i think i will just miss YOU.

Love always and forever and EVER and EVER,
The HouseHippo

This will be Eugene's last post to this blog. You can follow updates of his travels east on the Ador-A-Bull FaceBook page. And once Eugene is all settled in, wether it is a FanPage or Blog Eugene's parents choose to do, the link will be posted here as well.

Thank you to all of you who followed his journey and enjoyed it with us. On a parting note (for now) there are MANY MANY dogs out there like Eugene, with just as much personality, deserving just as much of a chance. All it takes is a little extra time and a little extra patience, opening your heart and your home to a dog in need of a place to stay on their way to a Happy Beginning.

Until there are none, rescue one.

Emily

ADR Co-Founder, but more importantly in this moment, Eugene's FosterMomma

its ALMOST TOMORROW!

"Got a shiver in my spine when I heard you were moving on
With a feeling so familiar I couldn’t go on
So I packed my bags and I'm heading for the east coast
So i'll have the time to think the most

We found a lot of locked doors.
We've got a lot to learn babe
We've got a lot to live for
I'm with you its okay"

~The Trews (Locked Doors) 

The Trews are one of Foster Momma's most favourite bands. She says not to think of the song as a leaving/breakup, but as a starting a new adventure, in a more enlightened province . . . um . . .sounds good (she says its the woooords). . . now then, where'd my antler chewie go . . . .

Custom Hand Stamped dog tags available from Smork & Beans by PirateEmm, LIKE us on FaceBook

2 more sleeps!

Hey BestFriend! Did you know that in only 2 more sleeps I will be going on my big adventure to go and live with my forever family?!

Actually Hippo, I did know that! It's been hard to ignore all the hustle and bustle around here (interupting my sleeping . . .ahem)

I know! Its been busy! Like how last night Auntie Kara came over to kiss and fawn over me. Didn't you think it was super cool that I had talked to her about a present for you and Foster Momma so that you could never forget the handsomeness that is meeeeee?!!!

PopArt Hippotography

and a lovely selection of candid moments from Eugene's journey! (which Foster Momma had salty wet cheeks from because this was so thoughtful as she hasn't had time to print any photos, and these are very special memories. Thank you so so much Kara! Kara rescues with ARF Ontario)

Annnd you know what BestFriend?! That antler Auntie Kara sawed and sanded just for me, well, I think I will leave it for you to enjoy and remember me with!

Awe, Thanks Hippo, that's really cool of you!

Also BestFriend, a new house showed up here, my "flying house" . . .

Its a little dark and scary in there, but i'm pretty sure my flying house is magic because whenever i am near it or sniff it COOKIES magically appear inside*!

A BIG thank you to Paws United Dog Rescue for donating the perfect Hippo sized crate!

*rescuers note: when flying/transporting a dog in a veri-kennel/hard sided crate (if they are not already used to being in one) it is important to make them comfortable with it first as the travel alone can be stressful on the pooch. This is done by rewarding the dog when they go near the crate, tossing cookies in to encourage them to enter the crate on their own (NEVER shoving/forcing the dog in, that just makes it more scary), and working up to having sessions with delicious things to eat/chew inside the crate while still in a comfortable and familiar environment.

And ANNNNND, last night Foster Momma got a letter and pictures from my new Mom and Dad! Lookit how smart my new Dad is!!! He's installing a safety gate to prevent my huge meatball head from Cannonballing down the stairs for fun or to greet new guests!

Foster Momma was super impressed by this (she wasn't even the one who suggested it! She suspects that my new Mom had something to do with this!)!!!

thank you new Mom and Dad for making holes in your nice walls to keep the Hippo safe and practicing good manners! Wow!

Owners Manual

Foster Momma thought it was important to provide my new parents with as much information about me as she could (pretty cool right?!), and they said that she could share what she did with you, so here goes!

page 1

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page 3

page 4

Slowcooker Sunday

Hey BestFriend?

Yes Hippo?

Are you snuggled under the covers dreaming about what we got to do yesterday?

I sure am, that, and its cold and RAINING out (shudder)

Mmm, yesterday when the whole housed smelled so good, but FosterMomma said that "slow cooker sunday's weren't for puppies" . . . but then, THEN, when she took all the good smelling food out, she let us LICK the whole slow cooker clean!!!!

Yes Hippo, it was delicious, even though your big ol tongue flicked stroganoff sauce in my eye more than once . . .

I'm sorry, it was just sooooo good, and i took my job of pre-washing the pot very seriously!

Well Hippo, you did a very good job, i actually didn't mind sharing with your meatball of a head . . .

Oh! Speaking of meatballs, did you get any meatballs yesterday? Because i didn't . . .

Sometime there are perks to being an Elderbull (and not having a tender tummy), i bet if you go back to sleep with me you will be eating meatballs in your dreams . . .

Okay BestFriend . . . i sure hope my new parents have dogs-need-to-lick-the-slowcooker-sundays too . .

Breakfast in bed

Daphne, if Foster Momma lets you have some of her bagel, you promise to share with me please....?!

Well rested

Behold, my cute and sleepy face (using Foster Momma's leg as a nice pillow)

I have an extra happy sleepy face because last night the girls slept with me too! (See Beans' brindled bum! Daph sleeps under the covers)

And of course BestFriend was there too!

Behold my cute and HAPPY sleepy face!

Spoiled!

BESTFRIEND!!!

Yes Hippo, why are you shouting, its early . . . 

 

Bescause I'm excited!!!

Oh, why? This better be good, I want to go back to sleep.

Well, my new parents sent a picture of alllll the cool stuff they have to SPOIL me with! Seeeeee

Wow Hippo, you are going to be spoiled . . . Mmmmm, liver treats! Going to dream of liver treats . . .

You know best friend, if you ever wanted to come visit me at my new house i'd share alllll my toys AND my liver treat with you!

Awe, thanks Hippo, thats real nice of you. Now then, can we please sleep again?

Yes, we can, you know what BestFriend?

I think i'm really going to like this new place where i'll be living . . .but i'm still going to miss you, and our morning chats.

Hurley

Dear new Mom and Dad (i am hearing these words a lot, so I am going to try this out) I wanted to show you (and everyone else) my NEW favourite toy! (the wubba is old news, . . . well, its in pieces and no fun anymore) It's called a Hurley, and its green, and i can chew it, and chew pieces off of it . . .

I take it EVERYWHERE

Foster Momma says it helps keep me entertained, but i just like it! New Mom and Dad, can i please have one of these at your house? Um  . . . MY New house (gulp!)

The only time i like to take my Hurley out of my mouth is when i have kibbles. Oh, also, can I maybe NOT have a pink bowl at your house? Foster Momma says this was a "donation" - pfft! Something in a boy colour please?

Also, might you have a take me out for walkies coat that MATCHES my Hurley? If not, thats cool too!

Mmmmm! Hurley!

Pillow Talk

Hey BestFriend . . .

Yes Hippo

Can we have a chat?

Sure, lets get more comfortable

So FosterMomma said I'm moving soon, to a really cool place where i am going to do really fun stuff . . . but i'm going to miss you, and am a little nervous about things being different . . .

Thats great Hippo, i will miss you, sometimes . . . you'll be fine, i heard the phone call too (you were to busy running around with things in your mouth, ahem!), they sounds really great! You're gonna get to do so much fun stuff! Trust an elderbull, i know these things. I've listened for Foster Momma have MANY of these phone calls over time.

Foster Momma promised that my new parents will let me sleep in bed . . .

Thats good Hippo, you knew she would!

Do you think they'll let me bring my toys in bed too?

I'm sure they will Hippo, but maybe opt for a stuffy over that gross chewed fire hose, honestly kid!

Thanks BestFriend, you always know how to make me feel better.

You're welcome Hippo, now, sleeeeeping . . .

Right, yup, wanna snuggle my toy . . .?!