Teensy

I've thought about it, actually, but I thought maybe it was not a good idea to foster strange dogs in someone else's house. Sounds like you did it though, so, maybe I'll come around on that one. Lots of "mythology" evaporating these days. Heh, you didn't even say "foster," you said "volunteer." See how intense this whole, "bring dog home" thing is? I see it when it's not even there!

I think you are on the money about the most difficult part of the process: waiting for the right dog. I was ready to take the first dog I read about. The process is smart, though. They make you cool your heels a bit. P.S. We're also new to Maryland, Marylanders, so I'm sure we'll be looking for all sorts of advice.

I've thought about it, actually, but I thought maybe it was not a good idea to foster strange dogs in someone else's house. Sounds like you did it though, so, maybe I'll come around on that one. Lots of "mythology" evaporating these days.

I haven't met any dogs yet. We are going to an open house this weekend. I have heard from them, as in they've been in touch, but there is actually an interview and a home visit which haven't been scheduled yet. Could have been because it took me a while to get a hold of my landlord (he was on vacation), and get the official go-ahead. He allows dogs, but he has a special rider that he adds to his lease for pet owners, which wasn't in our lease, because we didn't have pets when we moved in. Anyway, it's only been a week + one day since I made the application. I would hardly claim that I'm languishing. I'm just excited. We'll meet some volunteers this weekend, though.

I've really had to restrain myself from driving the volunteers crazy with emails. "Can I have a dog now? ...how 'bout now? ...and now? ...ok, but what about now?"

Thanks everyone. I think I'm fully converted, already. I haven't been interviewed or visited yet, though, and it's been over a week, so I'm getting a bit antsy. Perhaps it's because of the holiday. On the other hand, waiting has really given me time to investigate and let go of my initial color/size/sex biases. At first we were set on a particular dog, and now we're more like, "I wonder which one will end up charming us."

Howdy! Kind of funny how I wound up here. I grew up with dogs, but I haven't owned one, yet, in my adult life. I always lived in situations where it just didn't seem appropriate, apartments in cities, mostly. And I had my heart set on living abroad before I die, and I didn't want anything to stand in the way of that. Well, living abroad: check. I managed to find a way to live and study in the Netherlands for four years, where I met and married my husband. Part of the deal when I met the Dutchie was that I was going to return to the U.S. Flash forward a couple of years and we were planning our emigration, part of which was figuring out in what kind of situation we would be happy living, including my daydreaming about getting a dog. Several permutations and cities into the process, my DH shocked me by announcing rather firmly, "we're not getting a dog!" I thought I would fracture into a million pieces, but I didn't. He just didn't think it would ever be workable in the city, so I just gave up on the idea for a while, since we had already settled on Baltimore. Flash forward again to the recent past. We are now safely installed in Baltimore, and enjoying the weather and the park, which is full of dogs and their owners who are enjoying the weather and the park. Then comes an announcement on our neighborhood listserv: "A stray dog has been found. Does anyone know who she belongs to?" Then another announcement a week later: "No one has claimed this stray dog. I'm going to take her to the shelter unless someone wants to adopt her." At this point, my husband said to me, with the coy smile of an animal lover who has finally found his courage, and is slightly embarrassed that he ever doubted himself, "maybe you should tell them we're interested." So I did. We met the dog. Took her home. Took her to the vet the next day, and found out that she was chipped. The dog and her beyond-words grateful owner were reunited. And we were left in the throes of dog fever. So, on to Petfinder.com I go, just trying to figure out what kind of dog we would like to adopt, when I ran across the hilarious descriptions of the greyhounds from Greyhound Welfare. I was literally laughing out loud, Dutchie, too. I thought, "this must be the agency for me, because these people think about dogs the way we do." I made the application right then and there. I didn't really know the first thing about greyhounds, actually, except that they can run really fast, and that you cannot let them loose. So we went to work. Since the application we have both read 3 books about greyhounds, located potential vets and the Canton Dog Park, browsed a couple of the local pet supply boutiques as well as the online retailers, and this weekend we will go to an open house to meet some dogs. Oh, and I joined this site. Now we wait, with eager anticipation.

Actually, that's not totally unhelpful. I forgot about the new Boston Street Animal Hospital. I just called them. I'll let you know what they say. Even a, "nope, you have to leave the city," is helpful, though, so, thanks. *edit: They called back. Their vet has been in practice for 20 years. He has lots of experience with greys. He said they're one of his favorite animals.

Hi. I've read the sticky for about vets. Really a smart and helpful idea. But there was nothing listed for my area. If I have to drive to Reisterstown, ok, but really? No one in the central city knows greys?