Sunday, September 04, 2005
The Best Laid Plans...
Today M. and I met the family at the Hellenic Club for a father's day lunch. As anticipated, my sister, K, started telling us about all the puppies at the RSPCA and how gorgeous they were. "Two of them are Schipperke crosses," she said.
Right-o. Off we went to the RSPCA.
One of the two Schipperke crosses, a tan coloured doggy that would give any breeder a heart attack (they are meant to be black), was a three month old boy named, um, Boy. He was in one of the runs they put the dogs in so they can have a bit of exercise, with a male, black and tan terrier pup - the same age, but with no name. The terrier was a sook and took a liking to M immediately.
Unfortunately, some other people had confirmed that they wanted the pup that same day. We could have put our names down on a waiting list, but M decided it would be too heartbreaking if it didn't come through.
One of the ladies in the Adoption Centre told K that one of the other black and tan terrier pups, number 314, had had names on it but they had all fallen through. Little 314 was a personal favourite of both K and my mother, who K had brought in to try (unsuccessfully) and convince her to buy 314. So we went to meet her.
314 is a female, again three months old, but smaller with medium hair. She was in a cage with two little white and tan pups, both male, who seemed a bit skittish. She, on the other hand, is adorable.
So we've put our names down for her.
The way that these things work at the RSPCA these days is that you register your interest. You then have to ring back before midday the next day to confirm (it's a cooling off period). Then you get a call for a phone interview where they ask you things like why you want a puppy and what sort of lifestyle you lead. Finally, they come out and do a yard inspection, looking for hazards or ways to escape. (We're hoping we can skip the last part based on K's word our yard is safe. What's the point of having contacts in an organisation if you don't use them?)
It's all a bit intimidating. But, all things being equal, little 314 will hopefully be coming home with us next weekend! And all my careful plans of getting a puppy at Christmas so I would be at home on leave to look after it at first went right out the window...
PS 314 is going to be the working title. We're going to keep the name a secret till she comes home! :P
PPS Tasha practically flattened me trying to get all the interesting smells on my clothes when we got home. It was funny!
Right-o. Off we went to the RSPCA.
One of the two Schipperke crosses, a tan coloured doggy that would give any breeder a heart attack (they are meant to be black), was a three month old boy named, um, Boy. He was in one of the runs they put the dogs in so they can have a bit of exercise, with a male, black and tan terrier pup - the same age, but with no name. The terrier was a sook and took a liking to M immediately.
Unfortunately, some other people had confirmed that they wanted the pup that same day. We could have put our names down on a waiting list, but M decided it would be too heartbreaking if it didn't come through.
One of the ladies in the Adoption Centre told K that one of the other black and tan terrier pups, number 314, had had names on it but they had all fallen through. Little 314 was a personal favourite of both K and my mother, who K had brought in to try (unsuccessfully) and convince her to buy 314. So we went to meet her.
314 is a female, again three months old, but smaller with medium hair. She was in a cage with two little white and tan pups, both male, who seemed a bit skittish. She, on the other hand, is adorable.
So we've put our names down for her.
The way that these things work at the RSPCA these days is that you register your interest. You then have to ring back before midday the next day to confirm (it's a cooling off period). Then you get a call for a phone interview where they ask you things like why you want a puppy and what sort of lifestyle you lead. Finally, they come out and do a yard inspection, looking for hazards or ways to escape. (We're hoping we can skip the last part based on K's word our yard is safe. What's the point of having contacts in an organisation if you don't use them?)
It's all a bit intimidating. But, all things being equal, little 314 will hopefully be coming home with us next weekend! And all my careful plans of getting a puppy at Christmas so I would be at home on leave to look after it at first went right out the window...
PS 314 is going to be the working title. We're going to keep the name a secret till she comes home! :P
PPS Tasha practically flattened me trying to get all the interesting smells on my clothes when we got home. It was funny!
// posted by Cass @ 11:05 PM 
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I think that "Little 314" is a great name! You should keep it. It reminds me of a couple of things:
- THX1138
- The number Pi
Based on this, you could call the little pooch "Pie"...?
- THX1138
- The number Pi
Based on this, you could call the little pooch "Pie"...?
I don't get the connection with that movie - unless you mean the character LUH 3417? (I've never seen it - just found that on Wiki.)
As for the other nickname, we already call Tasha "Pie" (short for "Sweetie Pie") so that might get confusing!
As for the other nickname, we already call Tasha "Pie" (short for "Sweetie Pie") so that might get confusing!
How about pie to three decimal places (3.143), then shortened to three?
All you could scrunch up all the possible names and chuck them in the yard at random. Whichever one is eaten first is the name !
Except then you have to go through it's poop to confirm it. Or use process of elemination. Either way has its pros and cons.
All you could scrunch up all the possible names and chuck them in the yard at random. Whichever one is eaten first is the name !
Except then you have to go through it's poop to confirm it. Or use process of elemination. Either way has its pros and cons.
Hmm.
Luckily for me, Matt has already pretty much picked a name, so I won't need to sort through poop.
Luckily for me, Matt has already pretty much picked a name, so I won't need to sort through poop.
Hi Cass,
In reference to your first comment - I don't think it was the particular number that made me think of THX1138 (or Paranoia, for that matter), more just the juxtaposition of a name and a number. Could have been Puppy 666 or Canine 99846 and I probably still would have made the connection.
You know my mind works in a slightly different way to most people...
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In reference to your first comment - I don't think it was the particular number that made me think of THX1138 (or Paranoia, for that matter), more just the juxtaposition of a name and a number. Could have been Puppy 666 or Canine 99846 and I probably still would have made the connection.
You know my mind works in a slightly different way to most people...
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