The Saga of Pet Adoption....Welcome Nina!

BA and I have always known we would adopt a dog but since losing our beloved 16 year old dachshund Penny, we felt we needed time. After returning from Alaska BA did some amazing research and we started our quest. Last Saturday we headed over to the Monmouth County SPCA in Eatontown. We really had no idea what to do and were told to go visit rooms "D" "O" and "G". Get it?
The new rooms at the SPCA are glass enclosed areas that look so comfortable for these animals. Nice to see. We looked at one dog who was not interested in us and then at one of the rescued Chihuahua puppies from Middletown. This poor thing was kept in deplorable conditions and you could see it really needed to be socialized. After about an hour and a half BA and I felt we would not be able to give this dog the care and nurturing it would need. The next day BA saw a blurb about an adoption event in Toms River. We drove down to a madhouse and somewhat disorganized event of people and animals. I know these people do a wonderful job rescuing these animals but it was just too hard for us having to fight our way to look at them. We left really disappointed. I suggested we stop at the Humane Society on Shafto Road in Tinton Falls and ended leaving there more depressed than ever.
That evening I fell asleep but BA persisted and came across a rescue in Oakhurst called Wag On Inn. She clicked and said that she was interested in Nina (Pictured above on "her" couch!). The next morning they contacted BA and said they had checked our references, called our vet, etc and would we like to meet her? BA emailed me and I, of course, said yes. Nina was described as a calm well adjusted dog and a real couch potato. She was one of a group of what are referred to as Sato dogs. Wag On Inn describes them: "These dogs have been abused, tortured and abandoned on beaches such as "Dead Dog Beach", "Los Machos Beach" and "Los Pinones Beach" as well as other animals abandoned on the island." Nina was with the Life With The Animals/Pinones Beach Project. Click the preceding link and it tells of Nina's journey to the US with her friends. We arranged to meet Nina last Monday and when we did it was instantaneous! Nina loved us and we immediately loved her. We took her home and it did not take long for her to realize that she is now unconditionally loved! Nina is a calm, laid back, great with EVERYONE loving dog. Since we have her we have yet to hear her bark. She has been following all the basic commands, sit, stay, and has really taken to our home. BA and I look at her each day and can not believe our good fortune. She has been introduced each day to another area of our home and neighborhood and is quickly adjusting. After a couple of nights she has now joined us in our bed! Right where she belongs. We can not thank all of you involved for helping us adopt her. Click here for a welcome Nina slide show.