I'm in love.

I never thought I could love this way again.  Until today.

I was working at the rental house this morning.  I heard a dog barking.  I assumed the dogs next door.  But it seemed closer than that.

When I looked out the back door, I was surprised to see a dog running around in the yard.  Which was completely, hermetically fenced and sealed.  What made it weirder is that this dog looked exactly like a Lucy/Sally combo.

But as cute as she was, I tried to avoid getting attached.  The fact that she was covered in cockle-burrs, which looked like a colony of parasitic trilobites, kept my emotions in check.

The trilobites turned out to be cockle-burrs.  Because this sweet dog had been lost in the wild for seven months.  She had a tattoo and a chip, and a Nancy Drew of a foster mom (that would be me.)  I solved the mystery with a visit to the vet. 

So she's set to reunite with her owner in the morning.  I have half a mind to snatch her, though.  Because I'm so in love.  The Daddler was crazy about her, too.  I hate to say it, but I wish I could trade Sally in for Sassy (that's what that negligent bitch-excuse for a mistress named her.)  Sassy's a year old, and about Lucy's size, and the same sweet temperament.  And, as The D observed, she has the same light brown eyes as Mother had.  Like Lucy's. 

I'm gonna go to bed.  Because I need to get up early, so I can go to the vet's office, and say my farewell to this sweet, sweet girl.  With any luck, her lazy excuse for a mistress will forget about coming to pick her up, or will have a family emergency which prevents her from showing up, and I'll swoop in and gather this adorable baby to my bosom.

I should sleep.  Because this is sounding kinda crazy.  Still.  She is soooo, soooo cute.  And sweet.