Hello Penny

I drive to the Springfield animal shelter alone. I have heard that it is a kill shelter and so with that menacingly in mind, I walk around staring at every dog, knowing I could take any of them home.

I ask the red faced woman behind the front desk if I can see one of them. She walks up to the glass I am pointing to and says, "Oh yeah, her, she has a strange medical history. I'm her foster mom. She doesn't like babies, dogs and most people."


"Ok..." This woman does not want to part with her dog. I think, while she walks back to the front desk.

Then I see another pup. "Has Nicole been adopted?" I ask.


"A guy applied for her yesterday, but he had to talk to his girlfriend about it." The guy behind the desk explains.


"The WOMAN?" The red faced lady asks in an awkward attempt to be funny.


"Huh? Yeah... He was supposed to call me back today, but he hasn't yet. Do you want to see her?"


"Sure! Thanks."


I am escorted to a small room with three chairs, while Nicole is fetched for me. Led in on a florescent pink leash, Nicole walks to me and sweetly smells my outstretched hands. When I bend down close to her, she sniffs my ear and licks my cheek.

Yep, I want her.

A few minutes later, I walk her to the front desk and fill out an adoption application to be next in line. 


"I'll be back later." I tell them.

And I sit in the car waiting for Scott to arrive. I read my book in the twenty five minutes of waiting, but turn my head to watch people walking into the shelter more than I turn the pages of my book.


Scott meets Nicole and loves her as quickly as I knew he would.

We take her home the following day.