At the beginning of the pandemic, Brian started looking for a dog. Notice that I didn’t say “Brian and I” or “we”. We were not on the same page regarding this situation because A. He was ready and I wasn’t and B. He specifically wanted some sort of “oodle” to avoid shedding, be kid-friendly, trauma-free and I wanted a rescue. He was scared of the unpredictability of a rescue dog and I was set on rescuing. I was literally a dog walker in New York when I was 23 because I loved dogs so much. But I was pretty afraid of adding chaos to our life and while I love animals, I don’t want every animal as a pet in my house, under my responsibility and obligation to love, and getting the wrong dog just for the sake of having a pet sounded very stressful to me.
So I did the obvious and texted Kristen Bell. I had met her and her rescue pups last year and as we were chatting about the idea of rescuing she said “When you are ready, text me. I know where to do go and how to pick the right one for your family”. So on a random Saturday morning during quarantine, I did. She seemed genuinely excited and gave me a ton of good advice (yes, she is extremely lovely and just as generous as she seems – and yes, she reads this blog).
She emailed her favorite rescue organizations, helped introduce us, and asked me a ton of questions about size, demeanor, age, expectations, etc. and followed up with advice. I took her advice and we started looking. But we weren’t the only people looking for rescues during the pandemic as you’ve probably heard. Like most people, Brian’s argument was that since we never left the house we actually had the time to put into training one right now (HAHAHA) and I couldn’t argue with that. We live in the country with a ton of space. We both work from home. The kids are almost 5 and 7. He’s currently working way less (video production has shut down and no theater work) so he said he would do the bulk of the annoying stuff. He promised. I also knew that he really needed the pick me up that dogs can give humans. Ok. I’d just look.
Now the rescue organizations that Kristen recommended (Mutt Match LA, Wagmor, and The Dog Cafe) had so few dogs, but by looking at their faces online Brian fell in love with the idea of a rescue pup. Not to shame anyone who adopts a bred dog, AT ALL, I just felt that it was what our family should do. I grew up with rescue dogs that we literally found on the side of the road on a road trip. And one of the things that changed Brian’s mind re rescues was that Kristen said with a rescue dog (versus new puppy) is you actually DO know more what type of dog you are going to get, rather than a puppy whose personality you can’t even see yet.
So he started shopping every. single. day and they were getting adopted so fast we kept missing them. We went to an adoption fair (drove 2 hours back to LA near LAX) only to be told that they were all spoken for despite having an appointment. The kids were devastated and confused, obviously, but it was a good lesson for them, too. Those kids need more rejection in their life anyway. The other fair was similar – none left that were good for kids (by the nature of being rescued a lot of them need rehabilitation and training and yes, could still be traumatized and be aggressive).
We were pretty open about breed, size, and age. Our main requirements weren’t small though – we wanted calm, affectionate, not jumpy, not loud and barky, happy energy, and most importantly for the kids, not aggressive. It took months…
So we found a couple of shepherd mixes still available at a rescue in San Bernardino and took the kids down to check them out. It was a situation out of the movies. We saw these two dogs on our way in, but we weren’t there to see them and were guided to keep walking while looking back. As we walked past the rest of the dogs, they were all barking and jumping at the site of people, but those first two… they were chilling.
The guy led us into the meeting area and brought the first shepherd mix over and while super sweet even the guy that worked at the rescue was like, “oh no, he’s not for your kids” as he jumped all over them and knocked them down. We asked about the other dog and he said, “no, he’s even bigger and can’t stop jumping”. The kids were disappointed but, like the feel-good family movie that we were apparently acting in, Brian and I looked at each other and said “What about those two?” The man replied, “Oh those? Yah, they came from a litter of 7 puppies that were bred for Christmas money but were born too late. They are the last two left”. I didn’t know that was a thing which is sad on many levels, obviously. He said this happens every year:( Christmas puppy rejects? Born too late? Or maybe born exactly when they should have been?? Perhaps this is more a hallmark holiday movie than Disney movie and by golly will we have a happy ending??????
So they brought the rejected “Christmas” pups over and it was like a DISNEY and HALLMARK “meet cute” moment. They didn’t jump but were so excited and happy and sweet. It was a big sweet love fest and the kids were so excited. They were brother and sister of the same litter (twins!). They had been there for a while (I have no idea how they were still available) and we obviously couldn’t just adopt one and leave the sibling. They were 8 months old (Kristen told me to not get under a year, sorry KB) and the rescue said they were full-grown (not true). We don’t know what they are but they said “husky poodle mix”. We immediately said we would foster and see if they were the right fit for our family (thus staying quiet for a bit). I was still nervous about making sure that these pups were right for us and wanted to live with them for a bit. People give back rescue dogs frequently when they aren’t the right fit (especially with kids involved) so I was nervous and didn’t want to tell the world until we KNEW.
Well, the dogs out the bag, and I can solidly tell you that these two pups are indeed HOME. And not because they have the same hair color as their human siblings and match the wood flooring in our home (it’s actually ridiculous). No, it’s because they are so sweet, so affectionate and cuddly, they love the kids, love each other, are obsessed with Brian (and me) and have indeed added so much joy to our lives in the short time they’ve been with us. They have the exact right chemistry of energy for us – enough to want to play with the kids, but then they come inside and nap and chill. Or maybe dogs just match the energy needed by their parents. They are achingly cute. The fact that they were the last two left of the 7 pup litter begs the question – If these were the rejects, what did the other 5 look like??? We’ll never know and I don’t care. These are OUR PUPS!!!!!!!!
So, world, I’d love to introduce you to Oscar and Buttercup Henderson – named by the kids, obviously. Oscar has the black tips on his ears and Butter looks like a stick of butter. We have thought about renaming him Ralph because he throws up every time he gets in a car. And she came to us with two large ticks (the rescue isn’t one that I’d recommend if you know what I mean – more of a pound). We are still training them to walk on a leash and to not treat our home like a two-story litter box. But all in all, they are actually such great dogs. I don’t know how it happened. But maybe it’s like having kids – once you are in love, once they are part of you, every parent looks at their kid and thinks, “I can’t believe how special you are and how much I love you”. That’s what love does to you, and thank god because the 5 am barking to go out and the pile of dog shit on top of the pile of clean clothes ON TOP of the guest bed can only be tolerated once in love. We took them on a hike the other day in the car and I prepped my lap with two towels. As Oscar ralphed multiple times in the 15-minute drive I just quietly kept scooping it up, and making him more comfortable by blasting the AC.
Listen, “not pukey” wasn’t on my requirement list and you can’t have everything. Is it strange that I can handle lap puke so much more than a dog that barks all the time? We all have our things.
So get prepared to get to know them and see them on social and here now and again. And if you are on the fence about rescuing or adopting, just give rescuing a whirl first – it can work out! If you have your heart set on a purebred or a designer mixed dog there are a ton of rescue agencies that take the “rejects” and find them homes. So with a bit of research, you might be able to rescue a pup that is actually the best fit for you and your family.
We did. 🙂
Ok, one more – INTRODUCING OSCAR AND BUTTERCUP HENDERSON!!!!!!!
Oscar and Buttercup are beyond adorable and I can’t help but smile to see your perfectly styled living room couch overrun by their sweet furry selves. We can fluff and flounce our throw pillows all day long but they always look best with a lounging pup.
The one whose legs are hanging off the couch is a Mood.
OH MY GOD!! I am so excited for you guys!! Just look at their sweet sweet faces <3 It sounds like you did what was exactly right for your family and I wish you all the best of luck (and nerves and LOVE!) in raising your puppers. I definitely won't be mad if we start to see more of them here on the blog 😉
They’re so cute! The car sickness has an easy fix, ask your vet for some Cerenia!
It sounds like you’re already doing that, but I’d also suggest trying it with training first – starting out with really short car rides (1min, 2mins, 5mins, 10mins…) and making it a really positive experience for them so they get more confident at it (instead of associating the car with uncomfortableness and barfing which will just lead to more barfing in the future) Heres a nice, short video with (very handsome) Australian vet Chris Brown with more tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WptK3R-D73A
(For all other dog training I cannot recommend Zak Georges videos enough for great positive reinforcement dog training – like obviously get an in person trainer if you can, but this wonderful, goofy dude has helped me SO MUCH) Have lots of fun with your doggos Hendersons (and hopefully less car puke in your future…)!!
oh that is super helpful. thank you!! Yah, I feel SO BAD for him. so much drool then over and over barfing. thanks guys!
My now 16 year old dog barfed on every single car ride regardless of length when she was a pup but she grew out of it by the time she was a year old. OMG, as I’m typing this one of my other dogs just started acting like he was going to barf on my sofa throw pillow. Thankfully, I was able to get him to the backyard first!
My sister got a beagle puppy when she was in high school (my sister, not the beagle), and the first time she took her on a ride (other than the ride home) she peed, pooped AND barfed on my sister. And my sister was wearing a muumuu that she HAD TO TAKE OFF OVER HER HEAD. I just laughed!
Please see the vet about the vomiting to rule out a serious stomach and/or food issue before you bother to train him on car rides…..
Mmmmmm…. Chris Brown! Hahaha 😂 An Aussie icon!
I second what Lisa says, and also make sure he is several hours out from a meal when he gets in the car! My pup does great in the car (unless the ride is 1hr+ and then he sometimes gets a little nauseous), but if he’s been fed in the last 30min-1hr, that all goes out the window and he’s definitely gonna barf on a 10min car ride.
Another vote for Zak George! I also follow Reisner Veterinary Behavior Services on FB and that has been most educational. She is a vet and an animal behaviorist PHD who can explain why (in layman’s terms) why dogs do what they do. Dr. Reisner is quite opinionated about shock collars(always no), electric fencing (also a no) positive reinforcement (yes, ys and yes).
oh that is good to know, too. thank you 🙂 do you guys know if its any better if they are in a crate in the back? seems like it would be hotter, but being on my lap (both of them) is also very hot and uncomfortable for them …
Hi Emily,
my dog religiously got car sick, then one day I went on a longish road trip with her (4hrs). Since I was going to be driving alone I got her one of those car booster seats where you strap them down so they cant wander around (dangerous while I’m driving) and NO PUKE! and every time she uses it now theres no puke!I’m not sure if its just the fact she can see out the window ?or not move around? but it works. also I’m sure if she needed to she’d just puke in the booster seat and it has a cover so its easy to clean.
Mine is the one that straps behind the seat and over the headrest but they make larger ones for two dogs that sit on the seat and buckle in like a car seat does. I’d recommend trying it out!
I was a flight attendant for 20 years and that whole…seeing out the window to make sure you don’t puke thing is real…just sayin’
You can restrain them in a harness and then put them in the booster seat.
You should consider constraining the dogs for the safety of everyone in the car, if nothing else. You may be the most cautious driver on the road, but that doesn’t help with other reckless drivers. And I really hope they’re not on your lap in the front seat or uncrated in the front seat at all. If you want to fuel nightmares, Google “air bags dog death.”
Also, loose dogs become projectiles in a collision, and they don’t have to be very big to hit the back of a seat hard enough to propel a person in the front into the windshield. As far as being hot, I’ve transported rescue dogs for years, and if you’re comfortable in the car, they will be too. Crates have vents for air flow. I’ve never put my hand into a crate a dog’s been traveling in and thought it was hot in there.
Yes, this please! The scariest experience I ever had driving was a car spinning out of its lane and into mine while on the highway at 75 mph. The cause? The owner of the car that spun out was a college student who didn’t have her dog in a crate. He got scared by something on the radio and jumped into her lap, shifting the steering wheel. Everyone was safe, thank goodness, but it was impressed upon me that there should be state and federal laws against having your pet unrestrained in the vehicle. It’s not safe for them and it’s not safe for other drivers.
It’s best for dogs to be in a secure spot in the case of a crash. Sometimes even a plastic crate won’t cut it. My dog has a special car harness and gets clipped in the backseat via the seatbelt. It might take some extra planning to fit two adults, two kids and two dogs but it’s best that everyone is secured safely, even if you are just driving a short distance! You really just never know. Plus, if the dogs are in a contained space you can lay down a towel or washable cover in case they get sick.
Here’s a link with some good introductory info: https://www.outsideonline.com/2326736/we-need-talk-about-keeping-dogs-safe-cars
We have hug-a-dog harnesses for our dachshunds, and you can get them with an extra strap (looks like a handle) on the back that you can use to pull the seat belt through. They work great!
As for seeing out the window, we had to get a big booster bed/seat so they’d be able to be high enough.
I second the recommodations for car safety for dogs and humans and in terms of car sickness I’d look into getting a booster-thingy for the crate or whatever else you go with so that they can see outside of the car.
Biologically speaking the reason for car sickness for (most) dogs is the same as humans – they can feel that they are moving but they can’t *see* that they’re moving since they can only see the car interior and then some mechanism in their brain goes off ‘it feels like I’m moving but I’m not actually? Probably ate something poisonous – better empty that stomach’ and then you get *barf*. So at least for a lot of dogs it can be helpful to be able to see outside (which they are usually too low for if, like yours, they’re not ginourmous) so they can connect the feeling of motion with a movin visual – so I’d try crate+booster+no meals directly before+training in slow intervals and giving lots of praise for small successes – good luck!
Our old cain terrier got carsick sometimes before we even left the driveway, and no medicine or crate or space in the car seemed to make a difference – definitely anxiety related, I would guess. We drove him to our cabin a few hours away all the time and he never got over the car sickness, over 10 years. We finally ended up just always crating him for car rides and lining his crate with old towels topped with those blue bed liners that they use in hospitals to help soak up the vomit. When we got somewhere we would give him a wipe-down with dog wet wipes or a wet towel (or just hose him down in the summer). I wish you luck with the carsickness, since in OR I’m sure you’ll be taking them to many rivers and lakes! Good luck!
My dog throws up every time we get in the car… it’s basically just really bad motion sickness. I second the medication Cerenia. It keeps my dog happy and feeling better. What a tease to feel sick every time she gets excited to go in the car!
Oh! Also – the crate never helped. She’d be even more miserable sitting in it ☹️
Cerenia – I was just going to suggest it too. It has been a life saver at our house! We have IBS cats who take it for flare ups and a car sick dog who can now go on ROAD TRIPS with no problemo. It is amazing.
CBD oil was great for our dogs motion sickness. She also grew out of it, which is common. Good luck!
CONGRATULATIONS! Brian’s face in those pictures is one of PURE joy and says it all. Excited to see how these two cuties will impact your design. (P.S. you’re just now telling us you finally met KB?? 😆)
Congratulations on your new fur babies!!! Just a suggestion…. we had a mini schnauzer that threw up every time she was in the car. The vet gave us some pills to help prevent it…. and eventually, over time, she outgrew it.
OMG the Henderpups are here and they’re sooooooooooo cute 😍
they truly are. every day i’m like, ‘how is it possible that these two were just sitting there waiting for us?????’
That’s how I feel about my rescue as well! Thank you so much for adopting – there are so many dogs who need homes. And as much as I love a bedraggled old mutt, there are also a lot of puppies and more “desirable” dogs in shelters. I think everyone wanting to get a dog should at least look into it as an option!
Oh, they are DELIGHTFUL and heart melting! They look like they were made for your family.Congratulations!
I am so happy to read this post!! Congrats to all of you on saving two lives. They sure are photogenic, too 🙂 I am also very suprised and so pleased that you are letting them up on the furniture. Looking forward to many more posts about them, and how your decorating and styling will evolve as a result of your two new furkids. You probably have already experienced putting no breakables or important stuff in the “tail zone”. Yay!! I am just very happy today because of this.
Wow I’m so happy for you!!!! I have a husky poodle mix that we got from a city animal services center (not a cute rescue… basically, the pound in Lady & the Tramp) and she is the BEST DOG!!!!!!! Very, very low shedding (less than me!) and the best personality. I could talk about her all day. Congratulations!!
ooh, does she look like ours? Everybody thinks that ours has some terrier in them. WE could get the DNA test but it also doesn’t really matter.
Emily, the DNA test is super easy and super cheap—like $65 or $75, so it might be kind of fun to know what they’ve got in them. 100% Adorable, that’s for sure!!
+1 to the DNA test just for fun really because you may be surprised like “wait you don’t look at ALL like a you have any golden retriever in you!”.
I DEFINITELY see some Wheaten Terrier in those faces 😍😍😍, and some collie!
Yes, I was gonna say that they definitely have some terrier in them too! ❤ If you are curious down the line, I saw in Daniel Kanter’s stories a couple of weeks ago that there are actually DNA tests for dogs now as well 🙂
We did the DNA test for our rescue about 5 years ago and it was actually pretty helpful understanding our rescue dog. You can’t tell at all from looking at him but he’s 50% miniature poodle (half his great grandparents were miniature poodles; from the family tree he pretty clearly came from someone who was doing backyard breeding of -oodles). Just knowing that explains so much about his behavior.
oh! ha. i just wrote ‘it doesn’t matter’ but if you are right, of course it might shed some light on their behavior. …
We DNA tested our rescue (roadside find) when she was still a puppy and I am so glad. She is half Great Pyrenees which we probably wouldn’t have guessed because she is smaller and black. But now we understand why she will never in a million years not bark at strangers – it is literally her strongest instinct. It’s annoying but now we don’t see it as a behavior issue.
It can also help you be prepared for potential medical issues that are more common in certain breeds – heart murmurs, allergies, back problems, etc. Better to know what you should be looking for so you can catch it early!
The last photo for sure with those dark ears. Gotta be a little wheaten in there somewhere 🙂
Thank you for committing to rescue! They’re adorable. My dogs are all rescues and ones name is Butter too 🙂 She threw up in cars till she was about a year old.
They are absolutely adorable!!!!
So adorable. Congrats. They look like they are perfect for your family
Shut the front door…I’m so excited for you! (I thought I saw a peek of one during one of your stories!) We have been a two dog family since before our boys were born and can’t imagine life without them. Oscar and Buttercup are adorable and they look like they were made for your family. Congratulations!
Nice! For the car sickness, get some dog CBD and give him a dose about 30-40 min before your ride. It helps a million times over (like able to make a 16 hour drive over) and is an organic product. Just do a search and find a real quality brand, there are so many out there. Our first place was so tiny we decided on a responsible breeder and then “rescued” our runt-of-the-litter, umbilical hernia puggle that no one else seemed to want. She is the GREATEST dog. Our second pup we rescued from a shelter not even getting to meet him first and although he has been more work to train, it’s oddly even more satisfying. He had a rough start found in a trash bag with his full litter, lived through distemper and hunger and whatever else. He can’t just blindly love any human, you gotta work for it, he has to trust you and it has been so so worth it. You’re right about being cautious with kids for sure. We don’t have kids and will not bring him around kids unleashed since they are just too unpredictable for him (he’s terrified of them), but we make… Read more »
I respect that CBD works for you, but I would not give anything like that to a pet without a vet’s approval. As another commenter said, car sickness can be treated by a vet.
CBD is pretty standard for pets in the USA now.
There’s a company called Charlotte’s Web (great back story about how they started off to help a little girl with untreatable seizures) and their products are totally regulated and quality controlled.
Unfortunately, it’s not readily available in Australia or I’d be using that instead of the very expensive calm chews for my Rosie.
Martha Stewart also has a CBD line coming out for dogs – CROSS PROMO OPPORTUNITY for team EHD 😀
I asked a Veterinary Internal Medicine specialist at a major teaching hospital about CBD and he advised against it, saying that not enough research has been done and, as in all supplements, quality control is not guaranteed since the FDA does not oversee supplements.
Just said goodbye to our rescue golden, after 10 years of bliss. Got Tanner when my kids were 8 and 5. It was the closing of the most glorious chapter of our family. I am so jealous of you, and where you are in your life right now. If I had a time machine, I’d certainly go back. For now, I just try to appreciate the time I had. I miss him so much, every single day.
Love seeing the pet pictures with your family and all over your house, on your new couch.
It’s just THE BEST. Shows what matters in life. Thank you for sharing this post. -AG
ah, i’m so sorry. kids are similar ages so hopefully it was the right time of their lives for pups (seems like it is). I’m sorry about Tanner. Thanks for sharing. xx
xoxoxoxo, reading your post was like a hug from Tanner. Thanks for the reply. -AG
I’m sorry to hear about your loss. Losing a beloved pet is like losing a family member.
Sending you hugz from Australia. xOx
Hugz from Australia? I’ll take it! Thank you for your kindness. -AG
My mom’s dog had the same puking-in-the-car problem and they found that cracking the windows on either side of the car down about an inch helped, along with getting her a bed for the car with very high sides. It helped block the motion of the scenery and she could tuck her head in and close her eyes when she started to feel sick.
My friends had the same problem, but only doggy Dramamine helped out their pup. They were of course hoping to avoid any meds, but ultimately she suffered less, began enjoying car rides, and didn’t spend days recovering from the barfathons dehydrated and not eating.
Good luck! I hope you guys and the kiddos have many happy, furry romps to come!
There is nothing sweeter than seeing your kids and Brian with these two!!!!! Absolutely positively gorgeous pair they are! I’ve also played the ‘get the dog before it gets adopted’ and it is so hard! Somehow the two you were meant to have were aligned with the universe that special day ♥️ Much love to the Hendersons!
They look perfect! Congratulations!
I tell people all the time that rescuing an adult or adultish dog is better than a puppy. You have absolutely no idea what you are getting with a 10 week old puppy. You can try to socialize and do everything and they can still grow up to be a completely crappy dog. When they are a bit older you can see their personality and know how it will vibe with your needs.
Super cute! And it cracks me up how much they match the decor (and the kids). 😉
Congratulations!! They look perfect!!! Please I’m begging for a post on how to pet proof your house. Rugs and all- I’ve had to throw out two rugs in the past month 😩 please and thank you!
We have officially given up on rugs-my fully housetrained terrier identifies them as “not house floor” and always uses them as a bathroom in case of an “emergency”
Yep, I have a tear in my eye, the emotion I always get when I hear adopt-not-shop stories! Not sure who’s luckier, the four happy humans or the pair of precious pups! Congratulations and best wishes to all six of you.
Is it weird that I’m more excited for this then your big move news? And Kristin Bell? Of course you two would be friends!
I’m beyond happy and excited!
It’s nearly midnight and this just woke my brain up BIG time!
Dunno how I’m gonna sleep now?!
Puppy dreams.
Congratulations they are adorable. For pandemic friendly virtual classes Fenzi Dog Sports Academy is great. There is a huge, welcoming, supportive online community. My kids love “training” our dog.
Congratulations! Your family is now even lovelier (and I didn’t think that was possible). I was a LITTLE disappointed that you weren’t announcing twin babies on board :). But this is wonderful, too.
I’m still recovering from the loss of my 12 year old pug, Clem, on July 4th. I do have my 11 year old rescue, Boo, to console me. He arrived as a mysterious stranger so was named after Boo Radley. The fact that we actually received him on Halloween only supported our name choice. So we sally forth…..
Much luck with your new loves. You have done a wonderful thing and your lives will be enriched in ways you can hardly imagine.
Mosie…sorry to hear abput Clem.
Sending you hugz from Australia xOx
I am so happy to see you rescued!!!!! They are beyond adorable! You are the only blogger I follow who has chosen adoption during this pandemic, and there are many. I can assure you there is no love like a dogs love, and it seems you may have already felt it too.
Serendipity, for sure with these two! They are adorable. For house training I recommend frequently taking them out (every two hours), using a word command (we say “hurry, hurry), and click and treat when they go. Clickers are available at most pet stores and are a great training tool. If you do this consistently, they will catch on very quickly and will not be soiling your floors or clean laundry — lol.
Yes! My Rosie wees and poos on command (she’s otherwise very stubborn) due to the potty training vigilance.
It’s worth every minute of effort put in.
I used to take her out every hour when she was tiny.
It works.
I second this. We’ve always had the best luck using little slices of hotdogs as the treat. Whatever treat you use, make sure it’s super high value (our dogs LOVED hotdogs) and ONLY give that treat when they potty outside. (You can use other treats for training them to sit, etc.) They learn that they only get that super awesome treat when they potty in the right place, and training goes so much smoother.
WHY AM I CRYING?! I love them. I want to cuddle and kiss them in the worst possible way and that’s big coming from a woman with her own dog, baby and toddler within feet. I’m so happy for all you. Your lives will be so much richer. congrats!
HAHAHAHA. Because they are SO CUTE. xx
BTW…have you recently completed z PhD in How to Keep Secrets!?
You’re getting really good at it! 😂
They are beautiful, and they are so lucky to have each other, too. I would imagine that separation anxiety won’t be an issue when you guys leave them alone.
How cute are they!! Congrats Hendersons. Also, how do I get on the waiting list to be friends with you and KB?
Oh they are stinking cute! And the pure joy on Brian Henderson’s face while holding the pup at the pound- perfect. Enjoy!
This brought happy tears to my eyes. They are so cute! Congratulations, Hendersons!
So adorable! What is the name of the dog rescue org in San Bernardino where you found your new babies? Do you have to go through another org first or can you contact the San Bernardino rescue directly?
Holy cow, it is making me ubsurdly happy that you got BOTH! A bonded pair, 8 months old, of course you couldn’t leave one behind. We adopted a “pandemic puppy” in March (I literally reserved her while high-tailing it back from an abruptly ended spring break) to join our current older dog. They are so great together, and as a friend said, “for a dog, having another dog around is like having another person who speaks your language in a foreign country.” ❤️
Your big move sounds wonderful, can’t wait to see how it goes. We left the city for western Montana 8 years ago to start a family and never looked back! best of luck!
What a beautiful story of perseverance (on BOTH yours and the pups’ part), sensibility (not rushing into adoption, and waiting for the right fit) and compassion! Oscar and Buttercup hit the lottery, and your story/photos warm my heart. Thank you for sharing this, and the joys of adopting. I am a cat/kitten foster and nothing is more satisfying to those of us in rescue than finding the perfect match…it makes it so much easier to give them up. If you EVER want a kitty again, let me know (I commute/fly from Houston to Lake Arrowhead, and we take them with us when we go to the cabin). As fosters, we get to know our “kittos”, and can help find the personality you’re looking for. Love Love Love this post!!!
I was due for a Monday morning happy cry! So so happy for your family, and cannot wait for more Henderson dog content!!
Oh my gosh! They are adorable! Congratulations on your new fur babies!! We rescued a dog years ago and she was THE BEST dog–she seemed so happy to be a part of a family. One product that we’ve found to be helpful for nervous car travelers is Rescue Remedy for Pets. Maybe it would help your pet too.
https://www.amazon.com/Rescue-Remedy-Pet-Dropper-20/dp/B004IFKSLY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=EHMKND66KNTG&dchild=1&keywords=rescue+remedy&qid=1598884847&s=pet-supplies&sprefix=rescue+remedy%2Caps%2C178&sr=1-1
Aaaah, yes. Rescue Remedy from Bach Flower Remedies!
I use this too. 🙂
Oh my gosh, they are ridiculously adorable! So happy you found the perfect pups for your family!
😍😍😍😍 so stinking cute
Adorable pups! I realize you are just repeating Brian’s fears, but please do not state as fact that rescue dogs are unpredictable. As Kristen Bell notes, all puppies are unpredictable. #adoptdontshop
They are great! Im glad you did rescue and took your time. Give oscar a ginger pill 30 mins before car rides…the puking will be less.
holy crap they’re cute, and looks like they make themselves right at home on the nice Henderson furniture. 🙂 CONGRATS!!
Brian’s face in the first picture says it all. They were already your “kids” the minute he picked up Buttercup. Intuition is everything.
Congratulations! Cuteness overload!
My husband (not us) also decided we needed a dog at the very best of times – when we were in the middle of getting a new roof and were all sleeping in the living room because the bedrooms had no ceiling. It was chaotic but no regrets 😉
Our dog (and our kids) get car-sick and homeopathic remedies work for them. Now the dog is 2 ½ and he has mostly outgrown it.
Your comment cracked me up! Sooo funny. So real life!
SO CUTE. Congrats– owning a dog is a lot of work, no matter how they come to you, but I am also partial to rescues and Oscar and Buttercup look like they know they are home 🙂
Of course you found the world’s most photogenic and adorable dogs! I have three dogs and these dogs are making me want more dogs! haha. Congratulations! I can’t wait for more Oscar and Buttercup stories!
Ooooo Mmmmm Gggggggg!!!!
When I opened the blog, my heart sang so loudly and I was SOOOOOO HAPPPPPY FOR YOU HENDERSON PEOPLE WITH YOUR HENDERSON FURKIDS!!!!!!!
They are waaaay cute and remind me of my Rosie-bear (Irish Terrier) only Oscar and Buttercup look very soft coated.
Emily…there are things you can get to help with car sickness! Speak to your local vet and go get some. Oscar will feel a whole lot better about car trips (you don’t want an emotional issue developing) and you won’t have to svoop vomit. Really, just do it.
I’m so happy for you! And those lucky pups!
La la la la la 🐕🐕🥰 xx
They look like they are part Weaton Terrier. Very cute
So happy for y’all!! DOGS ARE THE BEST. I can’t imagine growing up without one or having one in my family as an adult.
My dog used to throw up on every car ride for the first 3 or so months after we got her, but she got over it. Hopefully yours will, too!
Now you just need two cars and your family is complete! 🙂