Wu're geddin a NEWBIE!! (LunaB 'n Tinkerbell)

This has been a bit of an exercise in frustration -- we were literally about 3 miles out of Lauderdale (4 1/2 hr from home w/pit stops) and we get a call ... his flight was 'delayed' over 3 hours --IN DENVER

 i.e. -- YESTERDAY? and no one called to say we could get him at 6 not 3.  um ...I could have used that information before I got up at 6 this morning - in fact I coulda worked this morning!! *pout*

no problem-- we went to the La Quinta and lo and behold-- out of the zillion we've been to this is one we've been to before and the ONLY bad La Quinta we've ever been to.  No better than last time either LOL

 ok  -- no biggie-- only for one night but we couldn't get into the room til 4.  McDonalds and buying Tums only takes about SO long LOL

FINALLY the day crept by and we GOT him --- he's pretty scared. 

Tonight he's sure EVERYTHING is a trick. 

Think about it -- from losing his home, to then losing this foster home (and they're wonderful folks and fell way too much in love withhim so it's a wrench for him *and* them).  Picked up by the girl from Hounds Town (doggie daycare who does some transport for PetAirways who got him from Binghamton TO LI terminal at Farmdale).

THEN after  being with her 36 hours THEN onto the plane (on off on off on off ...) for 24+ hours then to us (more  new people--- except he HAD smelled us before)

SUPER glad we did the scent box.  Tink Luna and Charlie were immediately old friends.  Sniffed nosed and that's all. 

I'm the female and he decided I was safe.  Well -- me AND my rollator (which I think that's so funny -- but he heads for that - he must smell something on it strong enough to identify it)

He;s been tossed from pillar to post and gone from hand to hand so tonight??  He wasn't sure whether to stay with me or wait -  let's stay with the car .... and let;s just not GO anywhere ok? (if in doubt stay with the car -- the humans ALWAYS come back to the car!!)

he *is* skittish of men ... David IS so good at that and David is gaining ground but he's SO scared tonight after being handed form person to person to person to person .. David got down on his knees by the car to try to coax him out rather than man-handle him but ultimately DID have to pick him up to get him into the inn.

He ate good.  He'll be fine. 

He's NOT going to like it in the morning when David loads everything in the car (I'm pretty sure Tink will try to teach him the Tinkerbell scowl! LOL)

He watches Luna (she's the one who knows the ropes ya no ... he got that in a heartbeat) BUT Tink is likely gonna be the buddy.  We'll see.

I'd have let the girls update this but I'md the only one left awake.  And that's not gonna last long yawn ....

He is So sweet tho -- incredible. 

I can see Billy's paw in this .. he LOVES to come up and sit with his head right near my hand (so my hand might inadvertently rest on his head!) just like Billy used to -- I nearly burst into tears the first time my hand landed on his head. 

BIG boy - he's taller at the withers than LUNA ... I bet he's 25 pounds and he is NOT fat.  He's about perfect weight.  He needs a better haircut - I know Jen and her groomer had a tough time cutting all the matts out of him after he lived in that house during the flood (they came back after him but he was ALONE in that flooded house -- and I"m not saying any more on that but we're both still fizzing about that. I could NEVER .... shut up Callie you weren't there)

Both David and I seriously are in love.  He is a majorly sweet boy -- trust me, it's not just Charlie who has hit the jackpot here -- David, Luna, Tink and I have all struck GOLD.

calliecritturs

I can see Billy's paw in this .. he LOVES to come up and sit with his head right near my hand (so my hand might inadvertently rest on his head!) just like Billy used to -- I nearly burst into tears the first time my hand landed on his head. 

Both David and I seriously are in love.  He is a majorly sweet boy -- trust me, it's not just Charlie who has hit the jackpot here -- David, Luna, Tink and I have all struck GOLD.

Yea!! Charlie's here...cant wait to see pics.  I would have loved to see him and the girls meet for the first time :)  It will not take him long to feel the love and know that he is there to stay and that going in the car is fun not scarey changes.

 Aw, Charlie, it's OK now!!

 Charlie, you did indeed strike gold with Callie and fam! So happy you all found each other.

Wow - what an adventure for everyone!  Definitely a test of patience and flexibility, but all worthwhile now that you're all together!  Poor little guy -- I wonder what he's thinking to himself -- it's one of those times when you really wish dogs could speak/understand the English language, even just for a few minutes, so he could express what he's feeling and you could tell him everything is going to be okay!

Welcome to your new home, Charlie!  Don't be afraid; you're in the very best of hands.  Can't wait to get to know you from some photos and stories!

 Whew; I'm so glad you finally have him! He is going to be sooo happy!!!!! Couldn't have found anyone better than you and David to care for him!

 Poor guy. I'm sure once he gets back home with you and has time to learn that it's where he's staying, he's safe, and it's going anywhere anymore, he'll be much calmer. I always think 25 lbs is huge for a Cavalier, and from what I see now it does seem big. Honestly though, I think I own the only male cavalier I have ever met who is under 20lbs. I always thought until I looked  just now that 18-25 was a normal male weight, and now I am seeing 13-18 everywhere, and I always thought that was the range for a female. Apparently this is for all of them, but in the pictures you have so far, your boy doesn't look like he's fat.

This is an interesting breed population survey I found while searching the weight

http://www.pedigreedogsexposed.net/CKCSPedigreeDogsExposed.pdf

I'm pretty sure this "breeder" was perhaps messing about with adding a Brittany or similar in to "help" the gene pool (I don't think she was trying for designer breed -- this has earmarks of an experiment and she didn't like the size dogs she got so she dumped cavaliers entirely) cos he she doesn't totally look Cavlier to me. 

But he's sure a cutie pie and what a SWEET personality.  He's not a wuss at all -- if he doesn't want to do it, he's gonna dig in and just sit there.  Very easily startled, very noise shy and yep, very shy with men.  But fear provokes a cringe/back to safety mode -- nothing at all aggressive.

This was Dad and the girls "waiting"

This was AT Pet Airways

(sorry so big but it's the best of him I've gotten)

I LOVE the markings on his legs -- I just think they are unique.  But this shows his eyes well.  One is def worse than the other

In the yard with his ball -- Floor-da grass is WEIRD -oooooo

His coat kinda looks like ink 'ran' on it -- the black is like india ink -- almost blue.  I love it.  His cheeks are brown low on the cheerk.

He looks great, Callie! And, I bet he's glad to be in the warm weather instead of the nasty stuff we're getting in the northeast! His leg markings remind me of my old springer's "polka dots" on her legs--love 'em!!  Charlie, you're the jack pot winner!!

    Awwww, he couldn't be any cuter!!!

FrisbyPI

Charlie, you're the jack pot winner!!

   That's for sure!!

FrisbyPI

His leg markings remind me of my old springer's "polka dots" on her legs--love 'em!! 

There are places on his legs and back where it looks like somebuddy took a broad-nibbed fountain pen and "drew" lines on him LOL

FrisbyPI

Charlie, you're the jack pot winner!!

nope -- WE are.  I'm glad we could do something nice for his family, but honestly?  I think WE got the most awesome little guy -- I had a little giggle that he finally "accepted" Florida grass enough to lie down in it with his ball (he's like every spaniel I've ever known -- LOVES a ball in his mouf!!)