**We have been overwhelmed by the kindness extended by so many individuals after our difficult ending with Baby Blue last week. Rarely have we felt so loved and so supported. Your good will has been a true gift to us, and for it we are so grateful. Thanks to each of you who sent your thoughts for Blue and for us.**
you take a few sips of bourbon for your heartache, a couple of advil for your headache.
you call a dear friend — the kind that can interpret your tears over the telephone.
you go for a long, long walk with your own dog soulmate, stopping every minute to give him a hug and a treat.
you replay everything in your head, asking yourself if it could have been different. (it couldn’t have).
you read all of the kind words of sympathy and support offered by friends and strangers. you let your heart swell with gratitude and thankfulness.
you call up one more memory of the happiest moment you spent together and hold it in your mind for a short while. you smile through the tears. for the umpteenth time that day, you resolve to be brave.
then you take a deep breath and remind yourself that your work is not done. you go back to the kennel again to meet the cries, barks, wags, and licks of all the other beautiful, worthy, sad, lonely dogs that you could still save, one by one.
and maybe you start with this one.
Love and a Six-Foot Leash 
He? She? you are going to make us wait huh? I think it looks like a boy, but I could be wrong. In either case they look quite interesting, calm too but I know you like to show that side of your pets indoors. It will be fun to see a brindle for a while. I hope the transition is going smoothly. I really don’t know how you all do it, you will for sure have to do a final year post to show all the dogs that have come through in 2011 with updates on “where are they now”. Looking forward to learning about this one (as I have them all)
Anna
http://www.akginspiration.com
Always love leaving us in suspense. I have a weak spot for brindles – or tigers, as Dental Student calls em. Looking forward to learning more, as always!
Looking forward to hearing more about this beautiful one. I wanted to also let you know that I am really sorry about Blue. It broke my heart reading about it, and realize you are one strong amazing lady. In the past 2 years, I have supported a friend and my sister by going with them while putting their dogs down. It is the absolute hardest things I have ever had to do, and hope that I don’t have to do it EVER again. I only wish good happy things for you and this foster! Can’t wait to read more.
I’m glad that you guys have spent some time grieving over the loss. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been to put Blue down. However, moving on is also part of the process. I can’t wait to read about the new foster.
can’t wait to learn more about the newbie!
He/She is so gorgeous! You two are very much an inspiration. Thanks so much for all you do and I cannot wait to learn more about your new addition 🙂
So pleased you took a short break to grieve the loss of Blue…..you needed that time. But so happy to see that you have taken the step to try again and I am very hopeful that this will be a successful journey for you and your new little (not so little!) bundle of love. Can’t wait to hear more.
Oh what a pretty face!
What a beauty. And what a post.. you always write with such eloquence.
You are so inspiring. Blue’s story broke my heart, but you did the right thing. I foster and have also had to make that so-incredibly-hard choice. But you’re right … there are so many dogs in shelters that need the chance fostering gives them. It helps to think about your next foster, and the one after that, and the one after that (and so on), and believe that Blue is at peace & sending encouragement now and always will. Your new one is a beauty. I can’t wait to learn more.
Can’t wait to learn more about those soulful eyes!
I was going to write the same thing as Harper…it was said with such eloquence. The brindle is so beautiful. I hope the transition is going well.
This is a poetic post. It made me cry. Can’t wait to hear more about this brindle beauty. I’m sure he or she will help you heal.
You two are rock stars. Even though it hurts, there are too many that need to be saved…hopefully your new foster will help to heal the wounds losing Blue left….plus lots of hugs from Chick! 🙂
You are amazing, really, and again I want to extend my sympathies. I don’t know if I could be so brave as to bring another lost soul into my life so soon. But perhaps that is the best way to heal? Even though there was nothing more anyone could do for Blue, there are still many more dogs to be helped in her honour.
Thank you so much for giving so much of yourselves every day.
What an angelic face. 🙂
Welcome new pooch. You are a bright spot in an otherwise gray day.
Looks like our Boss, can’t wait to read more.
I’m so glad you have another dog. Such a sweet pitty face, and it looks a lot like my daughter’s brindle.
I’m glad you have another dog to hug, and that dog has you to hug it…seems like you’ll both be getting something very much needed out of this. What a sweet face that pup has…I wish I could reach out and scratch it behind the ears!
Guess we have to wait to hear more stuff, BOL
Benny & Lily
You guys are amazing! I dont think I would have the strength to get right back into things, but this new pup is so lucky that you two are stronger than me and are now offering him this great gift of an awesome foster home.
Can’t wait to learn more about him/her.
Another handsome dude. We’re so happy to hear that you’re doing just what you should be doing. And we can’t wait to hear more about him/her! xo
I can’t hide my relief. Your blog brings joy to my days, but when I read the title “Goodnight Baby Blue” I can’t lie…I dreaded reading what was to come. I know in my heart that she is frolicking with others that love her and thinking about how great her last days were….but my heart is also frolicking to know that you didn’t give up. Your newbie looks like my very own Dixie (aka Baby Girl), except darker. She is laying on the couch right now with me, my husband and her brothers, Brutus and Boney (we have an extra long couch that fits all of us!). Thank you for making my day brighten just a little bit and for opening your heart to so many of us readers as well as each and every furry child that you bring home (and also thanks to Chick for his incredible patience as a foster brother!).
s/he’s so pretty! we miss y’all – maybe we can party with some more arugula weekend after next?
I’ve read and re-read Baby Blue’s story all weekend. And cry each time. I can’t imagine how you must feel and the strength it takes to keep opening your hearts and home, but I’m so glad there are people like you who do this. The new pup looks absolutely darling and I’m looking forward to getting virtually attached to another of your fosters.
Excited for Stevie Wonder!
We are still so sad over Blue, but it looks like you have a new friend!
Sam
we are sad too, and will be for a long time. but life most go on, and if are to help life go on for the homeless dogs in our community, we have to keep on keeping on.