Doc: Hi! I'm new here!

Hi! I'm Doc and two days ago I found my forever home! I have a mommy and daddy, a brother and sister, and a really big yard to play in! I'm too young to write, so my new mommy is doing it for me. I call her Momma. She is married to a very nice man who is my new daddy. I call him Pops.

A friend told them about me. I call her my Fairy DogMother. Another friend showed them my picture and Momma says Pops and she were smitten. The next morning Pops went to the animal shelter to meet me. I wasn't there at the time, so Pops and Momma came back later that afternoon. They both fell in love and so did I! They told the shelter people that they were going to "foster" me. That must be another word for "adopt" because that is just what they did. I heard Momma say, "In this house, fostering means forever!"

Pops and Momma said they were concerned how Gus might react to me. They thought I might bother him because he is older. Well, turns out Gus likes me! He even lets me play and snuggle with him. I love my big brother. He is very sweet and patient. My sister Abby is not as warm and inviting. I try to get her to play with me, but she doesn't seem very interested. She did let me follow her down to the lake yesterday to play ball. I think my charm will eventually win her over.

There was a little party for me when I came home from the shelter. Some nice people took turns holding me and playing with me. I also met a nice dog named Tom. He is BIG! I hope I grow up to be like him. We look a lot alike. He is a yellow lab. Everybody thinks I'm a golden retriever mixed with yellow lab. We don't know exactly how old I am right now, but the kind shelter people seem to think I'm between six and eight weeks old. Momma says I'm PURE puppy. I'm sure that's a good thing!

I found out that I was named after someone special. Doc was a very dear friend to Momma and Pops. He passed away a few years ago and they miss him very much. They said he had a sparkle in his eye and that I have that same glimmer. Sounds like Doc was a pretty neat guy. His first and middle names were Doctor Arnold, so that will be mine as well. He wasn't a doctor. He was a helicopter pilot. His mother said she always wanted a doctor in the family, so that's what she named him. Pops and Momma like that story. I do, too.

Momma and Pops said I wasn't planned, but that none of their doggies ever are. They feel like God brings them the ones that need them most. And the ones they need most, too.

I look forward to learning more about my new home and family. I'll be sure to have Momma write in The Doggy Diary for me again soon!

Puppy love and licks,
Doc

These pictures were taken at the animal shelter. Momma calls them my "school pictures." (The name of the shelter is Oconee Regional Humane Society. Here is their website: orhspets.org)

This is when Pops and I first met. As you can see I am very happy!

I like Momma's ear.

This is my new friend Tom. He is very big. His tail is a fun toy.

Gus let me snuggle with him my first night here.

I so sleepy.

My yard has lots of soft, fluffy pine mulch and cool shade. 

It also has big trees, plenty of grass and even a lake. I can't wait to explore it all!

I found a great spot for napping.