"There is a character named Dooley in the Mitford Series by Jan Karon. He is a young boy that is given up by his mother, comes to live with a pastor, grows up to be a fine person. This elderly woman, Miss Sadie sees the potential in Dooley and sets up a million dollar trust fund for him when he reaches 21. You ask where is this story going??? You saw the potential in this dog and gave him a new lease on life, which is priceless."

The above was sent to me in an email from an dog/animal lover after she asked and I explained to her how I chose the name "Dooley."

On Dooley's paperwork from the Ford County Humane Society, he is named "Duncan." However, I've seen so many dogs on adoption websites named Duncan and I wanted his name to really say something about him. Little did I know about the story in the Mitford Series by Jan Karon. Well, my heart just swelled upon reading the email from this person.

Now, I look at him with all that trust, faith, love, and gratitude spilling out from his eyes and I find it difficult to think down the road about taking him to ForPaws for adoption. Selfish? You bet! I think about how happy I am to have him, how he's living with my other furkids as if he's been here all his life.

Then, reality bites! When I saw the pictures on the internet, I didn't know what kind of disposition he had. I didn't know he would be a "liaison" that instigated play times with my other Corgis.

I didn't know how comforting he would be for me when sleeping next to me in bed at night. I didn't know how he only wanted to be a member of a family.

I didn't know he would feel "left out" when feeding him in the kitchen separated from the others to prevent food fights -- yes, he didn't like eating by himself, he wants to be around everyone else at mealtime -- not to steal food, but just to BE with them as part of the whole.

I didn't know how smart he is, how it only took one time to tell him in a firm voice "No, bad dog," and he would never, ever again do what he got scolded for.

I didn't know how beautiful he would be to watch as he runs in the field at the park with his fur flying in the wind, and how he doesn't pick favorites -- he finds any "active" furkid and runs with each of them.

I didn't know how when he went off into the canyons that he was only wanting to see what one of the others was up to, and he always came back without being called bringing with him whichever furkid he ran off to play with.

I didn't know how he could be so trusted without a leash to stay close by where he was always within eyesight and earshot.

I didn't know how much leash training Dooley had, how he would stand so patiently waiting for it to be attached and detached.

I really didn't know anything about him just from the internet posting I had received.

So, now, I really have to check my conscience and question as to whether I want to keep him because I LOVE HIM!

Or, am I truly being selfish?

My intentions were simply to save his life because he looked healthy and didn't deserve to be PTS just for lack of space in a kill shelter -- or any shelter.

My original intentions were not self-serving. I didn't look at the pics and say "I want that dog." I looked at the pics and told myself "He will make someone very happy."

I will follow through with transport to ForPaws when space is available. Trust me, it will be one of the most
bitter-sweet things I will have to do in my life. I will cry. I will miss him terribly. I will tell myself he will get a good home where someone else will love him just as much as I do.

Doing the right thing for Dooley is sacrificing my own wants, wishes, and desires for his benefit. I do not have the time, (I also work a full-time job and am gone many weekends on transports) and that is not fair to this extraordinarily special dog.

Yes, reality bites!