"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

I'm 10 days shy of 2 months with Audrey, and I'm very happy with the progress she's made!  She's really blossomed into a great dog!  For such a fearful girl, she's been extremely tolerant and sweet.  Audrey sleeps in the bed with me and the other dogs, hangs out on the couch with me, plays great with the dogs out in the yard, and pretty much mimics everything her canine friends do.  They've really taught her a lot!  I'd like to credit myself... but it's my dogs who have done most of the work in teaching her how to be a great companion for a family.

She had a meet-and-greet with a family a couple weeks ago and really surprised me in how well she did.  She was totally out of her element... but wanted so badly to meet these two people.  Audrey would walk into the living room where we were sitting, then dart away.  Rinse and repeat.  Eventually, though, Audrey walked in and lied down and fell asleep next to them.  She wants, so badly, to be a part of the family - but she's just not sure what to expect.  Who knows what happened to her in her youth.  We really have no idea what caused her to be so fearful - whether it was being left alone and the lack of socialization or the possibility of someone hurting her in the past.  But... Audrey is learning... and she has come such a long way in a short amount of time.  That particular family decided against adopting Audrey... simply because she's probably going to take a little extra work.

However, Audrey went to her first adoption event this last Sunday... and a couple people had inquired about her the previous day.  I arrived at Petco a few minutes earlier to let Audrey get settled and walk around the store.  Apart from going to a couple unfamiliar places, Audrey hadn't been anywhere like Petco before.  She walked on a leash and did pretty well walking through the store.  She never ceases to amaze me!  The first family who came in to visit Audrey loved her for who she was.  They weren't concerned with the fact that Audrey wasn't interacting with them.  They understood that she was scared... and took our word that she's totally different in an environment in which she's comfortable.  They put an application in on her and have since set up a meet-and-greet with Audrey.

I know this might sound ridiculous, but I think they might be it.  Audrey has been acting differently since she met them.  She's been more outgoing at home and extremely lovey dovey.  She wants to sleep right next to me... and is constantly going in for kisses from me.  Fingers crossed that these people are Audrey's forever family!  It's nice that some people can see through the shyness and believe that there's a totally different dog in there.  Good people are out there!  I hate to get too excited... because you never know what's going to happen... but we'll see!