We've had Kenzie for ten years

I realized this morning that it was ten years ago today that we all (well, those who were living at home) went down to Felines and Canines (extremely highly recommended if you are looking for a new friend) in Chicago to see if we could find a dog. 

For those who weren't reading here ten years ago, this was right after we had returned from China with R. and Y. We had left on that adoption trip a week after my father unexpectedly passed away. When we returned home, our Labrador Retriever, Gretel, unexpectedly passed away shortly after our return home. She had not been doing well, but what we didn't know was that at the age of three she had developed cancer through many of her internal organs. We were all reeling for any number of reasons and a new dog was feeling necessary. 

I had made an initial trip to the shelter by myself in advance. I was well aware that families with as many children as we had were not always welcomed with open arms. I needed to scope things out in advance before bringing my children. The staff at Felines and Canines couldn't not have been more welcoming and I have nothing but good things to say about them. 

So we all descended on the shelter one morning. They introduced us to a few dogs, but Kenzie is the one we all fell in love with. They were very up front that he had been adopted out and returned once because he was reactive at the vet. This didn't seem like a deal breaker to us, but we appreciated the information. Here is a part I don't think I've ever shared here. After we had done the paperwork we were told that he had been waiting for quite a while for a new family. The staff hired an animal communicator so they could tell him that they were trying their best to find him a family. The communicator said that Kenzie wished he could have a family with lots of children for him to play with. Think what you want about animal communicators, when we all walked in and then chose him it made the staff more than a little verklempt. 

All of us together at Felines and Canines 

Ready to go to his new home

A few years ago.


And here we are ten years later. Kenzie is probably somewhere between 14 and 16. He's got some anxiety, he's grayer and slower, but he is still very beloved. And, will still happily go for long walks (sniffs?) in the forest preserve. 

Taken this evening 



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