Boo Goes Home

Remember Boo, the adorable deaf boy who stayed with us this spring when his foster mom was traveling?  Well he came back to visit us again.  It' didn't turn out as well this time, as we made the rookie mistake of bringing in an unbalanced male dog into a house with an unbalanced female in heat.  But that's another story.  This story is about Boo's happy ending. 

Boo came to our rescue back in March when his devastated family had to let him go, per Doctor's instructions.  His mom was critically ill with bone cancer.  She was to have no contact with anything that could potentially bring bacteria into the house, including her beloved Boo.  The family had rescued Boo from the only life he had ever known, shelter life, and it killed them to give him up.

I was literally speechless last week when I got a text from the director "Boo's family wants him back."  My heart started pounding instantly.  How could this be true?  It turns out that his mom had been misdiagnosed.  Although she isn't well, she doesn't need to fear infection.  There was a lot of random back and forth partial communication because our director was out of town, as was Boo's foster mom, as was Boo's former "Dad".  I think all of us were holding our breath, anxiously awaiting the outcome.  Then we heard that wasn't going to happen after all.  When a dog is in our rescue as long as Boo has been, everyone becomes attached.  He goes to almost all of the adoption events, so everyone knows him.  And those of us who have gotten to know him well, with all his silliness and quirks, love him dearly. 

So why, after all these months, did Boo not get a single application?  We networked him like crazy!  He has his issues, of course, but so many do, especially the deaf ones.   He is good looking, smart, outgoing, and super sweet.  But nobody showed any interest.  He saw numerous foster siblings come in and then get adopted, leaving him behind.  Although Boo was very loved at his foster home, we all prayed that he would find a forever family.  But it didn't happen. 

Now we know why.  Because Boo had a forever family all along.  He came to us when tragedy found them.  The rescue kept him safe and healthy and his foster mom loved him with all of her heart.  We thought that our job was to find him a new home, but we were wrong.  This time, our job was to let him wait with us until he could return to his true home, to his family.  It was meant to be.  

A tearful reunion happened on Friday night as Boo and his family got back together after four long months apart.  I wish I could have been there.  I am told that everyone was crying like crazy.  The pictures and video were enough to bring on the waterworks for me.  Boo was overcome with joy when they were reunited.  Mom (not my place to share names) was so emotional that she had to step away for a few minutes and gain her composure.  The family is hopeful that having Boo back in their life will improve her health.  Dogs have a way of doing that. 

It's not often that these kinds of story book endings come along, but when they do, it feels pretty amazing.  It seems God had a plan for sweet Boo Boo.  I'm glad I got to play a small part in it.  

Boo talking to me!