Reese has two daddies

I'd like to introduce a new addition to the Hedonia family. Reese is a two-year-old spayed female. The SFSPCA had her listed as a Miniature Pinscher mix, but at the suggestion of the nice lady over at Noe Valley Pet Co., we think she may be a Manchester Terrier mix instead. She also came with the name Reeses, which we decided to shorten to Reese.

Reese was surrendered at the Manteca shelter by her previous parents for the grave crime of having too many puppies (in fact she's still a little, um, uddery from her most recent bout of motherhood). I can think of a few courses of action to solve that problem besides surrender, but their stupidity is our gain. She's our little horn dog now.

DPaul and I have been discussing getting a dog for a long time, and for the past few months have been ramping up in preparation. Given our lifestyle, and since this would be my first dog ever, we had some clear criteria for our dream dog: We wanted a medium-small rescue dog, not too energetic, with short hair, that doesn't shed too much, isn't barky or aggressive to other dogs and that has some basic manners and training. Why didn't we just ask for a dog that types 40 words per minute and shoots bubbles out its butt, too?

We were patient and diligent, looking at dogs at a variety of rescues, talking to foster homes, doing lots of research. On Friday, we went to the SPCA with a different dog in mind, but decided to look at three small dogs once we were there. Reese was shy at first. She came to me right away, but from that point on hid behind the handler, tucking her ears back. Still, I knew from the first moment I looked into her sweet brown eyes that she was the one.

While we talked with a trainer, we got to surreptitiously observe Reese interacting with another family that had come after us. By this time we had already expressed an interest in Reese, so we had first refusal. Outside the pen and away from other dogs, we saw her open up. We had seen several dogs we liked at the SPCA disappear before our very eyes, and we decided to act decisively this time.

Ask and you shall receive. Reese is in every way the dog we wanted. She is loving and devoted, sweet and gentle. She loves rides in the car, hanging out in her crate, playing with her squeaky chicken toy and lots of belly rubs. While her original parents may have been clueless about some matters, they clearly spent at least some time with her. She still needs some training, but is way ahead of the curve compared to what we were expecting.

Our first 24 hours with Reese were far from uneventful. In the middle of her first night in hew new home, Reese became violently ill, vomiting and defecating uncontrollably. We think it was a combination of the change of environment and the new food we had given her that upset her system so. She settled down eventually, and after a quick visit to the SPCA clinic the next morning was on the mend.

As her health improved, so has her personality blossomed. By the next night she was high-spirited and playful. And now her biggest dilemmas involve whether to play with her squeaky chicken or flop over for more belly rubs. It's a dog's life.

Lucky us, we managed to find the sweetest, smartest and most beautiful dog in the world. And for you dog owners out there who thought yours was, well, I'm sorry you had to find out this way.

But don't worry, this isn't turning into a dog blog.

Well, maybe just a little.

Comments

[Joy]

Yay! She is *so* cute!

[Anita]

Aww... I miss her already. I hope you'll bring her over to our house for more dinner parties soon. :D

[Aimee Pavy]

Congrats on becoming a doggy daddy!!

[Brenda]

Congratulations! Taking on a rescued animal is a wonderful act of generosity. I'm sure Reese is going to have a terrific life with her two daddies!

[cookiecrumb]

You had me at "Two Daddies."
Lucky you! Both, no all three of you!
And don't worry about Reese shooting bubbles out of her butt. Just give it time.

[Sean]

Anita: As she is attached to our hip, that's a given.

Brenda: Hell, *I* want her life now!

CC: We've already had our fill of things coming out of her butt. It's more manageable now, but I don't need bubbles on top of everything else.

[gina]

Hi!

I just found you through your This Next profile. How exciting! A new baby! Congratulations!

I have a Manchester Mix, too. Is Reese snuggling under the blankets with you guys? My Cleo sleeps under the covers with her head on my pillow.

Of course I don't spoil her!

You guys are in sooooo much trouble!

[shuna fish lydon]

congratulations on your new furry child. one day I hope to be a primary parent to one too. (I step parent 2 in Napa.) Maybe a food bloggers dog walk is in order...

[Sean]

Gina: It's a kind of trouble I'm willing to cope with ... and we don't spoil Reese at all. EVER. ;-)

Shuna: I think food blogging and dog walking must be a wonderfully synergistic activity. Heaven knows so many of us are dogged.

[andie mccutcheon]

hey, i've been reading your blog for a while now (my love for food and cooking led me here). congrats on the new family member, she really looks adorable :)
my girlfriend and I have been thinking of getting a dog recently, but unfortunately with us both still being in uni and not having much time it just wouldn't be fair, really.
anyways, post more pics of reese while she grows up!

andie

[jo]

OMG...she is so cute!
Congratulations.

[Sean]

For sure I'll be posting more shots and adding them to my Reese photoset on Flickr:

http://flickr.com/photos/hedonia/sets/72157600057677556/

[kevin]

Congrats to you two! Way to go with the rescue dog--I wish that more people would consider that option. My man and I have lost our babys over the last two years and our house just isn't the same. I didn't say that to bring ya down, we loved them for 12, 13 and 15 years! If little Reese is your first dog you are in for a surprise at how much a part of your life she will become. Next thing you will be posting is homemade doggie treats. Trust me, it's coming!

[Jennifer Jeffrey]

Oh, Sean, you just keep on getting more and more wonderful. Now you've adopted a doggie? I'm so happy for you!

She's gorgeous, and I can attest to the fact that they give more than they take...

[Tea]

What fun! I had no idea this was in the works. Lovely news--I am sure you three will be very happy together.

[Sean]

Kevin: Well whether she's a MinPin or a ManTer, by all accounts she'll be in our life for another 12-18 years. And oh yeah, you can bet that, though this won't turn into a dog blog, it just might turn into a dog food blog.

Jennifer: She is gorgeous, isn't she? :-) In fact, Jennifer, you were a bit of inspiration. Your post on adopting Petra, not to mention the heartbreaking story of her recent escape and rescue, helped me get over my dog apathy and move me closer to accepting a dog into our lives.

Tea: We already are.

[ming_the_merciless]

Ohhhh! She is too adorable!?!?!

I have been thinking of adopting a dog myself. I have the same criteria as you guys but I have not been able to make that commitment yet.

[Sean]

Ming, I resisted this for years. I was afraid of the commitment, the responsibility, who knows what. All I know now is that, mere days into it, I feel like she's been a part of our life forever, and I can't imagine life without her.

[Garrett]

Awww, cute puppy!

[nicole]

Oh, she is so sweet! How wonderful for you both! Hope she enjoys the dog biscuits -- if you want to spoil her a bit, you can make them with beef or chicken bouillon, but I think they like them just as well without, although I'm sure the meaty addition will be enjoyed, too :)

[Mom]

This is my granddog and I just think she is lovely! I can't wait to meet her in person. Of course this opens up a whole new world of shopping. Do I get her a pretty sweater? Does she like pink? Are diamonds in order? Well, maybe rhinestones.

[Sean]

Garrett: Yes, yes she is.

Nicole: Oh, to be sure there will be meat and stock involved. Since her illness she's been enjoying a diet of poached chicken and white rice with chicken stock. But we have yet to find anything she *won't* eat.

Mom: Sweaters are definitely in order -- she doesn't like being cold. Pink is not so good for her coloring, but she wears red very well. So maybe rubies ...

[Dolores]

Congratulations to all of you -- she's absolutely beautiful! My bet's on Manchester Terrier -- she's too stocky for a Min Pin... But regardless, she's clearly -loved- and that's what really matters.

Enjoy each other!

[sher]

What a lucky dog you are Reese! You're going to be so happy!

[Jenn]

OMG. Congratulations. She's beautiful. And she matches my dog, Bocce, also a rescue pooch. I'll have to send you a picture. We've got the same dog!