***All persons depicted in sexual activity are over the age of 18***
Mid-September
Year 5 of Us
Tuesday
"I've found them!" Lacey said as we were finishing lunch.
"Found who?" I was the first to ask the question, but everybody else joined in.
She was looking at her phone, smiling. "Our new dogs!"
"Our new dogs?"
"Yes!" She leaned past Sam and looked at me. "Remember, a dog for each of the babies?"
"Oh, yeah!" I looked over to where LB and Sherlock were lazing by the door to the deck. "So, how many places are we going to have to travel to today?" She grinned and held up her index finger. "One?" She nodded. "Really?"
"The rescue wants to meet us this afternoon." She showed me her phone, and the pictures I saw were adorable. "This is Princess, this is Charlie, and this one is Teddy."
I laughed. "He looks like a Teddy Bear." Lacey nodded, grinning.
"Are you willing?"
"Of course!" I looked at Duncan and Sam. "After naps, or before?"
She looked at both of them, then shook her head. "Let's do it now. This will wear them out enough to sleep this afternoon."
So, with a lot of giggling and laughing, we prepared for the trek. We got everybody into the van, including LB and Sherlock, who were always excited about going in a vehicle. Lacey was behind the wheel, using her GPS to get us to the rescue.
Once there, we were introduced to the Rescue Center's director, Julie Partlow. She was pleasant but seemed a bit surprised when all of us unloaded from the van.
"My goodness, there are lot of you!" She smiled.
Lacey introduced all of us, then indicated Roni, Tina, and Willi. "They're just staying with us for a while, but they're part of the family."
"So, the new dogs will need to get along with them, too," added Julie. "Well, the three you're interested in are good friends and they tend to get along well with other dogs." She gestured to LB and Sherlock, who were sitting beside Mir and Cathy. "And who are these cuties?" Julie asked as she stepped close to Duncan and Sam, who were standing between Lacey and me.
"This is my son, Duncan, and his twin sister, Samantha," introduced Lacey. They both offered their hands, and Julie shook them, smiling. "Cathy is holding her daughter, Jean, with Sherlock beside them." Pointing, she added, "This is Miriam, holding one of her twin daughters, Haley, with LB beside them." Julie looked surprised, then greeted them all happily.
"And who's the gentleman holding the little redhead?"
"This is Wyatt, and Haley's twin sister, Olivia."
I shook Julie's hand and saw her settle her mind. She led us inside to a large room. "This is our meeting room. If you'll be seated, we'll bring in Princess first."
Lacey nodded, so we took seats. Lacey sat with Duncan and Sam on either side of her, and the rest of us sat further along the row. I smiled when Lacey spoke to the dogs.
"Everything is fine. The babies are safe and you're going to meet some new friends." They both looked at her and wagged their tails.
"Why did you have to reassure that the babies are safe? If you don't mind me asking." Julie was curious.
Lacey smiled at her. "LB and Sherlock are very attentive to the older twins. They also take protecting the younger ones very seriously."
"Oh!" Julie nodded. "Of course! Well, let's bring in Princess first," she said as they brought the first dog in. She was beautiful! A lovely dark grey and tan mix. "Princess is a Shepherd-Husky mix. Her previous family had to move to another state and into an apartment."
I watched as Princess walked in, her ears and head up, her eyes alert as her tail wagged slowly.
"Oh, poor Princess!" said Lacey. We all sat quietly as the handler let the dog lead her over to us, making her way down the row of seats. Her tail wagged more quickly as she greeted LB and Sherlock. I was proud of both of them -- they simply sat there, their tails wagging. When Princess reached Cathy, who was holding Jean, she simply sat and stared at my daughter.
I watched closely as Jean leaned forward with Cathy holding her steady. Princess pushed her muzzle closer to my daughter, then I heard Cathy say, "Soft, Jean. Soft like with LB and Sherlock."
Jean made a happy noise, then rubbed her hand over the dog's nose. Princess's eyes closed and her tail began to wag slowly from side to side. She inched closer until she could lay her chin on Cathy's knee, Jean rubbing her gently the entire time.
Jean looked at me, her smile wide as she kept petting her new friend. "Do you like her, Jean?"
She leaned forward until she kissed Princess on the top of her muzzle.
Lacey looked from Jean to me, then to Julie. I nodded, then Lacey said, "I think that we have a new family member."
Julie smiled. "Good!" she said as the handler gave Princess' leash to Cathy. "Okay, we'll bring Charlie and Teddy in together, if that's okay?"
Everybody nodded, then the handler stepped through the door as two more people with dogs came in. Julie pointed to a Beagle mix. "This is Charlie. He was dropped off here, with his four siblings, by a family who couldn't handle that many dogs." His head was up, and he seemed eager.
He stopped by me, took a sniff at Olivia, then locked eyes with Haley. She looked at him, giving him a baby smile before he pulled over to her. There were many giggles and puppy licks as they got acquainted. Charlie seemed very excited.
I smiled at the scene. "And that's another addition to the family, I think." There were six adult nods.
Julie gave me a big smile, then had the third dog brought over to us. This one was very small, and he looked like a... "This is Teddy. He was a stray puppy who looked horrible. His fur was all matted, but he was healthy."
"Because he looks like a teddy bear?"
Julie nodded. "Perfect name, don't you think?"
The handler brought him directly to me and Olivia. The little guy was fascinated by her, and she returned the favor. I slipped off the chair and sat her on the floor in front of me. Teddy was very excited, and he sniffed Olivia everywhere he could reach. She was giggling, a lot, and gently patting him.
"And now, we have another family member." I looked at everyone, seeing nothing but smiles.
Julie looked at me, then at Lacey. "We need to do some paperwork, then they'll be ready to go."
"Okay," Lacey said. "Let's get everybody off leash and let them play while we're doing that."
Julie smiled. "Great idea!"
"Yeah, it looks like Sherlock is going nuts just sitting there," I replied. "Let them off-leash!"
What happened after that was hilarious! First, all five dogs met in front of us, sniffing each other as tails wagged like crazy. Then, Sherlock took off, followed by Princess, Charlie, and Teddy. LB seemed to sniff, then walked over and lay down between Duncan and Sam.
"Why isn't LB joining in?" wonder Willi.
Cathy looked at her, smiling. "She's a very dignified, older lady. Besides, she's getting attention from both of the twins." Sure enough, while Duncan and Sam were watching the other dogs run around and play, each of them had a hand on her back, gently rubbing her.
This went on for a while as Lacey and I filled out a couple of forms, paid the fees, then collected whatever belongings the three new dogs had. I smiled when I saw that Teddy had a Raggedy Ann toy that seemed well loved.
"What's with this?" I asked, tapping the toy.
"Oh! Whenever we get a dog who had nothing, we let them pick out a toy for themselves. Teddy feel in love that and sleeps with it."
I just nodded and smiled. "Well, we'll make sure that Andy stays with that cute puppy boy!"
Julie flashed us a smile. We were finished with our tasks and the dogs were finally slowing down. Lacey leaned closer to me. "I noticed how Princess would go over and check on Jean." She smiled at me. "Charlie and Teddy the same thing with Haley and Olivia."
"I guess they were making sure that the babies were still there." I turned and looked around. "Let's get ready to take the new family members home."
As the ladies started to stand up, I saw Princess, Charlie, and Teddy trot over to the door they had come through. I met them there, followed by Lacey and Julie. All three dogs were standing patiently, looking at the door.
I knelt down, my movement attracting their attention. "And just where do you three think you're going?" Princess looked at me while Charlie and Teddy lay down. "It's time to go home!" I reached out and hugged Princess, then scratched Charlie's head. That earned me two tails wagging, but Teddy looked so sad. I rubbed his ears, getting his tail to wag, too.
Julie reached past me, hooking a leash on each collar. I stood, then took the leashes in my hand. All three dogs came alert. I started walking towards the exit, guiding them to my left side. I was pleased to see LB and Sherlock join our little group, without their leashes. At the door, Tina opened it for us, then we headed for the van.
Once there, I was able to get the back open one-handed, then got the ramp deployed. Once that was down, Sherlock went up it, then turned to look at the newcomers before going in and taking his place on the mat. One by one, the others followed him up and took spots on the mat. LB grandly walked up last, following Teddy. She poked him once when he stopped, then stayed close as they went into the van.
"Well," Lacey said, "I think LB has found a little one to care for." Lacey's smile was huge as she walked around to load Duncan and Sam.
"I think you're right," added Cathy, who was carrying Jean as she stood next to Mir and Willi.
Soon enough, we had everybody in the van, and I drove us home. Lacey and Mir sat in the back, talking to the new pups, reassuring them that they were going home.
"Hey, Hon?"
"Yes, love?"
"Can we unload in front of the house?"
"Sure! Why?"
"I'm going to use LB and Sherlock to help the new puppies learn the boundaries."
"Oh. Great idea!" As we pulled into the driveway, I got us parked in front of the house. Once all the people were out, Lacey and I went to the back door. She got LB and Sherlock out first, taking their leashes before getting them down the ramp. I got a grip on the other three leashes and led the newcomers down the ramp.
"Love, remember that Teddy has short legs."
