Papi

Papi has had quite the blogging journey. He's our darling chocolate lab (mix) that we rescued three years ago and he has definitely seen some dark days, but we have crazy fun memories with this pup! Full of energy and life, "playing" was his favorite. He was the dog (we have 3) that was always the best with the babies when we first brought them home; the one who played well with other dogs (he was our mediator), and our big-time cuddler. From the start, he was most comfortable when snuggled as close as possible to your side or right up to your chin.
He did have a few vices - never leave shoes out cause he'd chew them up quicker than you could imagine, and he loved to run. This was a trait he learned form his older brother Benny. Benny was always the digger and the runner (but when he went missing for 4 months and then came back, he has never done this since). When Benny was gone, Papi stopped running. His vices subsided and life was good. However, since we have moved to Centerton, something weird has happened with Papi. He always was a TERRIFIED dog - skiddish of lawn mowers, vacuums, etc...
But since living here, he's seemed to have a hard time transitioning and just seems scared. Then 4th of July happened. Our neighborhood was relentless with fireworks and it felt and sounded as if we were being bombed for three straight days through even the wee hours of the morning.
Papi, you can imagine, was on the verge of a heart attack for these three days and literally had frayed nerves. We felt terrible because we didn't know how to help him stay calm through it all, but he did what he used to do when he was scared - he ran.
Only this time, he ran in a different city - one where they are apparently ON TOP of animal control. He ran, and he got caught.
It cost us $60 to bail him out the first time.
We blocked his holes, but he moved the bricks two nights later in the midst of a fireworks spray, and before we could find him, they caught him again. This time he made his way to City Hall and the mayor called the pound.
When I went to pick him up, the lady was seemingly irritated with me and coldly told me it would be $100 to take him home this time and that if they caught any of our dogs one more time, we would be fined a small fortune and have to go to court, possibly risking losing all of our dogs!
I cried. Instantly.
No holding back (and I never do this)...but i let the tears flow. So uncontrollably that I could not even make sentences to communicate with her.
First, we didn't have the money. Second, I knew this meant we might not get to keep our beloved dog anymore.
I asked her if there was any way to give us another chance or show some kind of mercy, explaining that this is not typical and we think he's having a hard time with the move.
Nothing.
In fact, she got her supervisor on the phone to tell me the same thing, and he further told me if must leave a copy of my license with her before I go. I asked why and he said "because when people get over-emotional, they sometimes do things out of the ordinary and we need as much information on you as possible".
Double embarrassing, and double blow. That one hurt.

I left with Papi, still crying uncontrollably, and proceeded to literally cry the entire day. I had no phone because my new one had not arrived, so I couldn't talk to Jason about this. I just cried and posted adds on craigs list, called some shelters, and tried to consider our options.

Jason came home later and saw what a mess I was and instantly prayed with me about what to do with Papi. Both of us know he is now a financial burden and there is no way we can guarantee the city he will never get out again. It's a 3 strikes, you're out system, and we used our first two in a matter of 3 days.

I think I cried so much because I know that no one is going to want him being that he has a dislocated knee and digs out...not to mention he's 3 years old and not a full-blooded lab. When I posted on Craig's List, there were a dime/dozen "free labs"...

But then last night, a girl named "Melissa" in prairie grove called completely interested in Papi as a playmate for their 5 year old boxer. I pretty much tried to talk her out of it - even exaggerating some of his vices and going into more detail about his knee..."We want him! Can we meet tonight?"
We had plans already so last night wasn't an option, but we tentatively said next week. I got off the phone NERVOUS about it. Second guessing their reasons...are they good people...why would they want OUR dog? Then I realized, God's trying to answer our prayer and I'm second guessing Him. We've been praying that a home would come and that we wouldn't have to take him to a shelter...and here I am second guessing.
Jason had tears come to his eyes when I told him cause Papi's been a big part of our family, but both of us agree that God's trying to answer this prayer for us and we need to let him.

We haven't finalized any of it and there's even another family where Jason grew up that may be interested. But that's the story with Papi. For now, he doesn't get to stay in the backyard, but rather in the house ALL THE TIME (I think he's loving it). It's going to be hard, but I think we have to do this or we risk losing all of them.
We love our Papi!!!!!!!