Keaton and his adoptive parents found each other at the TAS-South adopt-a-thon last Saturday. We all sat around talking while Stephen hung onto Keaton's leash and after about two hours of conversing, I realized they would be the best choice.

I would have brought Keaton over to them on Sunday but he started getting diarrhea and when it got worse on Monday, I talked to a vet tech at TAS-South and Panacure was prescribed. Tuesday wasn't much better so another dose of Panacure in the evening. Wednesday morning and it was still kind of yucky. I dropped him off at TAS in the morning fully expecting to pick him up after work but when I showed up in the afternoon, he was gone. He had already been released to his new owners. His condition wasn't critical and they were more than willing to bring him to a vet to get the issue resolved themselves.

I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Keaton but I think it was probably better that way. Less confusion for him. I'm sure he was overjoyed to be taken out of his kennel and overjoyed to go for a walk and overjoyed on the car ride and overjoyed at being able to investigate his new home and before you know it, he'll be overjoyed with his new life.

My first foster done.

This must be kinda like how it feels when one's child moves out of the house. Happy and sad all at the same time. The house is more quiet than it's been for three weeks now with no more mad dashes and no more wrestling. Even though Smitten had a lot of fun with Keaton, I think she appreciates the break from his antics. Tonight she was finally able to carry her favorite squeaky plush toy to bed with her without having Keaton snatch it away from her to instigate a pre-bedtime tussle.

We can finally get the furniture clean again. I can sleep in again. I don't have to rush home from work anymore to release Keaton from the evil crate. My weekends are free again. No canine responsibilities again.

The trade-off, of course, is not having Keaton around to put a smile on everyone's face.

Having Keaton and then not having Keaton reminds me of what I'm missing but also tells me I'm not ready to own another dog yet (we've got Smitten but Elizabeth looks after Smitten mostly), at least not until this especially busy summer is over. Not enough time and too many weekends out of town. And, I have to admit, as much as I liked Keaton, I felt within me a small sense of detachment. That was partially because I knew he wasn't going to be with me for long but also because the memory of losing Stella and Rocky is still too close.

I'm glad Keaton was my first foster. Except for that bout of the poops at the end, it was pretty much an ideal fostering experience. Now Keaton's on to bigger and better things and, as a bonus, he's still in the neighbourhood so I can always look forward to seeing him in more wrestling matches with Smitten.