Say hello to my new little friend

I don’t mean to alarm anyone, but I am pretty sure they are cloning dogs in Northern BC.

We (mainly me) have been talking about getting another dog for a few months. I was thinking since Rusty is slowing down and getting a bit older, it would be good for him to have a buddy, and it would be good for the kids to have a younger dog to play with. Rusty loves the kids, but has never been a playful kind of a dog. He is more of a pet me from a safe distance, then feed me and walk me kind of guy.

And - even though Anders won’t believe me – dogs are actually easier is pairs since they keep each other company and play with each other. 

I have been cruising all the local dog rescue sites, and out of habit, I always check the website of the animal group (Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue) which we got Rusty from. That place is run by this amazing woman and her family, and I don’t think it would be exaggerating to say that they have probably saved thousands of dogs throughout their lives.  

So, during one of my normal Internet cruises for our new dog, I sort of stumbled across this dog – Nina – which they have posted as available for adoption on the Turtle Garden’s site. I swear to God I thought they had accidentally reposted Rusty’s adoption picture from 2003. This dog could be Rusty – right down to the pink nose, rotting teeth, and messed-up, Fraggle Rock looking fur. The only difference is that this is a GIRL Rusty –and that is exactly what I was looking for! And - instead of a suspect IQ, she is smart but has suspect hearing. I was told she is most likely, if not totally deaf, then at least pretty hard of hearing.

There is no way that these two aren’t related. I don’t know the back story on Nina like I did on Rusty, but I can tell you there is a crazy little bunch of meerkat/terrier/spaniel/possum dogs running around up near the small town of Topley, BC. 

Say hello to our new little meerkat/terrier/spaniel/coyote/possum friend Nina (or maybe Nora?) They think she is about six to nine months old. 

Nina...working the beach

And here is Rusty. Clones or cousins? Hard to tell but there are definitely some shared genes here.

Rusty...working the latest in Nordic dog apparel

The last piece to this is that I think I just adopted her. Okay, I did just adopt her. I sent an email to the group asking about her, and then I actually got a call from the nice woman who is fostering Nina (lovely woman), and then then next thing I know – I got an email saying I was her approved adopter and they can fly her out.

Say a big hello to Nina (or maybe Gracie?) the newest member of the Jonsson family!

Nina's little face

Rusty's little face - a bit older and more grizzled - but definitely related!

We worked out all the logistics today, and she lands in Calgary tomorrow afternoon. The kids and I are over-the-top excited…and Anders will come around.

According to woman who is fostering Nina – Nina has a personality just like Rusty. The woman said that Nina is calm, gentle, loving and sweet and added that she loves to cuddle, is housebroken, and she is slow-moving. Plus – she is Rusty’s family…and you can’t say no to family!