Yes, funny boy Owen was adopted yesterday by none other than Marcia S., who adopted blind Suzi from us in November 2010! Suzi is doing just great, and over the past 18 months Marcia has kept in touch with us about potentially adding another blind dog to her family down in Connecticut. A few weeks ago Marcia felt she was ready, and we suggested she consider Owen (and not because we were tired of remaking the bed in the dog room every day or putting the boots back in the mud room!).
Owen thought it might improve his adoption chances if he personally showed Marcia how he could collect footwear from one room and move them to another room, and this he did while she was here yesterday. He also thought some facetime with a surprise kiss or two might help too:
Marcia emailed us this afternoon to say, "Owen rode so well all the way home - we were here by 7:45 greeted by the most gorgeous sunset. He IS a character - Suzi is having a bit of an adjustment but the other dogs play with him and all have embraced him into the "crew." He has to learn the difference between dog toys and MY toys, but I'm home today working on it. He slept real well last night in his kennel with Mr Ducky and other toys. Do you think he has some vision? I swear he's looking at me and he gets around so well - he has found every piece of furniture! He's so full of pep and such a cutie!"
Her question about whether Owen has any vision is interesting, because he is so bright and so well adapted that he moves faster than most blind dogs we've had. And he does have an uncanny ability to look right at you so intently that you can think he is seeing you. But he is focused on sound and smell, and he tracks really well. Owen is a high IQ dog, and I joked with Marcia yesterday that she'd better hide her car keys from him because you just never know what he might do next.
Marcia, thank you so much -- and good luck with those beds!
Meanwhile, Billy is off sizing up other potential gladiators -- plenty to choose from here!
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Please Vote for the Farm!
The new Shelter Challenge started Monday, April 9 and ends at midnight on June 17. Grand prize in this round is $5,000, plus $1,000 for weekly winners and $1,000 for state winners. There are also other categories ... please see the Shelter Challenge website for details.
*** We are now LISTED UNDER OUR NEW NAME, ROLLING DOG FARM. State is still NH for New Hampshire. ***
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We just won $1,000 as a weekly winner for Week 4 of the last contest, and thousands more in the previous contests. The Shelter Challenge really does bring in a lot of money for the animals here!
You can vote in the Shelter Challenge here.
Thank you for your votes!
G R E A T news!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | April 23, 2012 at 09:37 PM
What wonderful news for Owen....he has his own people and other animal friends! All the best to him and Marcia!
Posted by: Nina | April 22, 2012 at 07:56 PM
Voting every day so that more Owens have the same chance as he did to find his forever home with someone who looks past slight differences to see the love potential in every animal. Congratulations Owen. Thank you S & A and Marcia. Love builds on itself.
Posted by: Anne in FL | April 21, 2012 at 08:39 PM
Congrats Owen on your great new forever home! Thanks Marcia for all that you've done to help out the animals that need permanent homes filled with love.
All the best,
ginger & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger | April 21, 2012 at 10:23 AM
However will Alayne change bedding without Owen around to help? Owen is such a character! May he and Marcia have a long, loving, adventure filled life together.
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | April 21, 2012 at 10:17 AM
Congratulations Owen! Here's to a long career of moving boots and unmaking beds in his new home.
Posted by: Tonya Allen | April 21, 2012 at 05:23 AM
*****Congrats. to dear sweet Owen and his new family*****....please keep us posted on how he is doing!
Posted by: Valerie Hildebrand | April 20, 2012 at 05:01 PM
Lucky Owen. Even luckier Marcia!
Posted by: Mary H./Washington state | April 20, 2012 at 03:27 PM
Great News for Owen and Marcia!!
I thought the same thing about Levi when I first adopted him, that maybe he had some vision as he gets around so well but no he's just a very confident and smart dog!! You should see him running up and down the stairs!!
Posted by: Laura, Levi & Timmy | April 20, 2012 at 10:30 AM
That is really great news. Of course Widget is now down one member of her protective detail. She will have to find a new undercover beagle to take Owen's place.
Posted by: Bob | April 20, 2012 at 10:30 AM
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME OWEN WELCOME HOME
Posted by: Eric | April 20, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Best of everything to Owen in his new home!
Posted by: Lisa K. - San Diego | April 20, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Wonderful news about Owen--it sounds as though he is fitting in perfectly. The footwear thing intrigues me. Our adopted blind poodle has only one 'trick' which is to bring a shoe from somewhere in the house and deposit it near us. He expects to be 'paid' with a treat. Maybe Owen's working the same trick! Our sighted dogs rush over to claim a treat when they see the blind guy bringing in a shoe. Talk about lazy!
Posted by: Jan from Winnipeg, Canada | April 20, 2012 at 09:00 AM
That is wonderful news for Owen and thanks Marcia. Hope that Billy adjusts quickly to not having his wrestling buddy around.
Just have to wait and see who he wrestles with next.
Posted by: Karen | April 20, 2012 at 08:42 AM
God bless Marcia for adding sweet Owen to her pack!!!
Whenever I read of one of RDF's adoptions, my heart just overflows with joy!:-)
A huge hug to you all from Italy.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | April 20, 2012 at 04:09 AM
I know you all will miss him, but Yay for Owen getting a new forever home! Thank you Marcia for opening your hearts and family to this wonderful sweet boy!
Posted by: Ann | April 20, 2012 at 01:49 AM
That is super news! Hooray for Owen and Marcia!! ...and Suzi too. Thank you for all you do Rolling Dog Farm!!
Posted by: LH | April 19, 2012 at 10:03 PM
Awesome! Wonderful adoption!
Posted by: Linda Murphy | April 19, 2012 at 07:33 PM
Owen~ it sounds like you will be having lots of new adventures in your wonderful new home!
All the best to you and your new family. And don't forget to keep us posted.
Posted by: Chloe | April 19, 2012 at 05:50 PM
I am delighted! I wish I had space and resources, but thank goodness for folks like Marcia! ... and YOU!
Posted by: Roxanne Johnson | April 19, 2012 at 05:44 PM