I’ve sometimes been critical of rescue groups and the way many exclude people who would love to adopt a dog, but don’t meet the increasingly arbitrary and difficult standards so many groups are setting. i do understand the need to protect vulnerable animals from often irresponsible, cruel and even dishonest people.

But do I really need to explain to a stranger online where my dogs are precisely when company comes? Or agree with the provably false idea that dogs like Boston Terriers should never be adopted by people with children?

Having said all that, I should say in fairness that I found an animal rescue organization that I appreciate and respect, I felt that  while their application was long and sometimes irritating,   Friends Of Homeless Animals/RI were  thorough but also simple and human to deal with.

They are careful about where their dogs go. And they are conscious of cost. They are impressive.

There is a $200 application fee, but they will transport Bud free of charge all the way from Arkansas to somewhere in the Northeast near me. They are also treating his heartworm themselves and at no charge to me (I will donate more money to them.)

They answered my phone call on the first ring, and were available to answer all of the questions I had about Bud. They were not frantic or rushed. They could dish it out, but also take it.

If they were thorough about me, I was thorough about them. I like to know a lot about the dogs I bring into my life. Carol Johnson was easy to talk with, honest and forthcoming, and unyielding in her desire to make sure I could give Bud a good home.

She has also been nice enough to send me some photos of Bud.  I explained the blog to her, and I said my dos were  not only my dogs, they belong to a lot of people. She would be able to keep an eye on Bud almost every day.

Carol was frank about his fear of men and his sad history of neglect, sickness and abandonment. She is fostering  him herself. There will be few, if any, surprises with Gus.

She was on the phone right away with my vet and her staff and the references I had to give, and she decided I  was all right for Bud. It was clear I was not getting approved until she had talked to quite a few people in my life.

I was approved.

I have rescued a number of dogs and other animal, I’ve only once gotten a dog who lives  so far away, and who I will not have a chance to see before he is shipped north sometime this summer when he is cured of heartworm. I guess Red is the closest in experience to that, although Dr. Karen Thompson sent me a slew of videos of Red working over some months, and I felt as if I knew him.

That worked out wonderfully. There are lots of good ways to get a dog.

Bud is sick and he will need some further rest and care. When  he arrives, he’ll go right to our vet, and we’ll work out a thorough recovery and support plan. I’ll let him get used to me and will evaluate him over the first few days. He is find out soon enough, as all animals do, that is a lucky thing to be in a house with Maria, animals love her intuitively.

I’m glad it will be a month or so before he comes to us, this is a particularly busy time for Maria and I and we can now make sure he has out full attention when he is here.

Our dogs are almost never alone, and when we have to leave or want to go away, we hire Nicole, our vet tech, to come and stay at our house (something i had to explain in my questionnaire in great detail. If he wants to, Bud can ride along with us during our many trips to town each day.

Carol Johnson was patient with all of my grumbling, and to be honest, it wasn’t all that much trouble in exchange for the dog we are getting. I’m no better than anyone else.

I take stewardship of animals very seriously, and he will be well cared for. He will also perhaps be famous, as Red is and Gus and Frieda were and Fate is. My dogs have a lot of surrogate caretakers.

I’ve been looking at the photos Carol has been sending me of Bud, trying to guess what he is like, and  how he might evolve. I try to give my dogs the opportunity to live the life they were meant to live, but every dog is different.

I know from Carol that he is a sweet dog, I can see that in his face. I think I can also see he is a sick dog, he doesn’t look vial or strong to me in his photos, especially for a one-year-old. My guess is that he is a laid back dog. A good thing, with two border collies in the house. There are lots of strong personalities around here, people and animal. Dogs generally have a lot of fun at Bedlam Farm.

Bud has soft eyes and his ears are always down in his photos, I suspect he is anxious and careful. I am impressed that he was fearful of men when he came to Carol, if you look at the news, that is just common sense.

I’m not worried about his anxiety around men, if I could train  Frieda, I think I will be able to handle Bud.  But I don’t want to be cocky. It takes some work.

The  task is to be patient and consistent and loving. And to to have good and healthy treats around.

Training wary and beat-up dogs is something of a specialty of mine, I have learned a lot about it, even written a book or two about it (Second Chance Dog). We will give Bud time to acclimate, safe spaces to hang out in, lots of affection and clarity.

Bits of beef jerky go a long way to help a dog like a human. But I won’t ask for much, at least not at first. He doesn’t look as imperious as Gus, but that might change. it usually does around here. I love to do what I call calming training, I will share the experience.

And I will not call Bud a rescue dog or an  abused dog. Dogs don’t use labels like that, and don’t need them. Humans do.  Bud is a dog, period.

We’re not sure if we will let Bud near the farm animals or not, we’ll have to see. Gus loved them, Bud might not. We won’t push it on him.

We will take him with us when we drive into town and socialize him slowly. When I look at his soft eyes and relaxed demeanor, at least in this photo, I think I might see if he can do therapy work. Gus, an active and charismatic dog, would hardly sit still for photos like Bud is doing on Carol’s sofa in Arkansas.

I can see Bud sitting happily with Maria in her studio and with me in my study. We have nice sofas. The dogs are not permitted on them, Gus didn’t care.

I sense that Bud is a dog who has had enough trouble and is looking for some peace and quiet.

It will be interesting to compare my idea of him to the reality when he comes. I am fond of sticking my neck out, and happy to be wrong. That’s how I learn.

Thanks for coming along.