free at last!

We finally got our fence built, and Toby is ecstatic! Ok so I don't think he really knows the difference. Maybe I am ecstatic. :-) Here are some pics of him enjoying his newfound freedom:

Toby admiring the fence

If you're wondering if Toby can fit through that gap under the fence, the answer is YES. But we've had that problem fixed since the "great escape". :-)

where's my napkin?

Does anyone reading this think that it will be a problem that Toby ate a napkin tonight? It was soaked in vienna sausage juice, so I guess he thought it would taste good. I am interested to see how this comes out. {So to speak :-)}

milestone in the goins household...

People who have children post about milestones in their kids' lives: first word, first steps, first tooth, etc. Well, we don't have kids yet, so I will post about a HUGE milestone in my dog's life. Are y'all ready for this?

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TOBY POOPED IN OUR YARD!!!!!

I know, I know. This does not sound like a huge accomplishment. You're probably thinking, "Yeah, so? My dog poops in the yard all the time. Big woop." {Yes, I just said "big woop", and no, it's not 1995.} Well, y'all don't understand the quirkiness that is Toby. We got him from the shelter back in July, and he has not ONCE pooped in the yard. Since we got him, he has only pooped when we walk him. Or in the house, which is obviously not preferred. He knows not to poop in the house, but if we don't have time to walk him when he needs to poop, he goes in the house. (Side note: we don't have a fenced yard, so we have to take him out on a leash.) One time I even stayed with him in the backyard for like 4 hours just to try to get him to poop & got NOTHING. So anyway, back to tonight's event. I finally got him to poop in the yard, and y'all have NO idea how excited I was! I lavishly praised him for a good 5 minutes. We ran around the yard & celebrated. I hope this is the beginning of a lifelong habit of pooping in the yard instead of waiting until the walk down the street. TO TOBY! WHO FINALLY POOPED IN THE YARD!!

seriously...

...Vote for Toby. You have till Friday at 5:00. You know you want to vote for this precious face...

vote for Toby!!

If you’re at Eastdale Mall any time this week or next week, please stop by the Montgomery Humane Society’s pet photo contest & cast a vote (or two, or three…) for our dog, Toby! It’s just $1 to vote, & you can vote as many times as you want. The winners will be featured in the Humane Society’s calendar next year. Be sure to vote for #107 because there is more than one “Toby” in the contest (the photo has our name underneath it also).

Vote for Toby!!

newest member of the goins family!

Say hello to Danny!! Isn't he the cutest? We got him today from the Montgomery Humane Shelter. I love him already!!

P.S. We may change his name...let me know what you think...

how much is that doggie in the window?

Baron & I are going doggie shopping tomorrow! We're going to visit the Montgomery & Prattville humane shelters to see a few dogs that we've already picked out from their websites. I've wanted a dog for years, and now it's looking like an actual possibility. :-)

Here are the candidates. What do y'all think? Let me know who gets your vote!

Dave:

China (although we would SO change her name...I won't have a dog with the same name as a female wrestler):

Chichi:

Mudd:

Scruffy:

I heart dogs.

I want a doggie. I've posted about this before, but I just heard a sad story that has further renewed my desire to own a pet dog.

One of the producers in our office is on the board for the Montgomery Humane Society. He was at a meeting this morning, where someone presented one of the dogs up for adoption. This particular dog was taken in when his owner was arrested for severe pet abuse. The dog had been chained up with a heavy duty chain for so long that the chain was starting to grow into his neck. He was so beaten & bloody. The shelter is required to keep the dog as long as the court case is unresolved. Apparently, they expect to resolve the case by tomorrow, at which point the shelter will probably have to put the dog down because they just don't have room for him. The shelter has to put down so many pets because there just isn't room for all of them. How sad is that!! This may sound like a commercial for pet adoption, but please - if you are considering getting a pet - PLEASE go to your local humane shelter and adopt one! It is so sad that these animals don't have homes.

And now, here are a few pictures of some of the dogs up for adoption at some of our local humane shelters. And if you are touched by this post and these pictures, feel free to respond by donating to the "Help Baron & Laura Build A Fence So They Can Adopt A Dog" Fund.

Ghost

Kacie

Sawyer

Reba

Visit the websites for our local Humane Societies:

Montgomery County Humane Society
Prattville/Autauga Humane Society
Elmore County Humane Society
Chilton County Humane Society