The Newest Member of the Family

So we've been a bit hush hush about it, but everything is pretty much official and we would like to introduce everyone to our newest addition.

Welcome Bijou!!



Bijou is a Plott hound, the only breed to originate from North Carolina. She is a true Tar Heel!



Her Story:
She was raised by a family in Eastern Carolina, who wanted a true hound. She is a bit of a runt, and her favorite thing is snuggling, instead of "treeing" squirrels. So she was turned into a shelter. Where she was immediately scooped up by the NC Hound Rescue group. Concurrently, our friends Buddy and Jenny, who are the adoring parents of Anja, a Red Bone Coon hound (like from "Where the Red Fern Grows"), were looking to expand their family. Although they really wanted a puppy of the same breed, one look at Bijou and they had to take her in. She lived with them in a foster situation for nearly a year, where they did an excellent job of teaching her good manners. However, the whole "not really a hound" thing was not quite what they were looking for. We pet-sat a few times and fell in love. But our little cottage is not dog friendly. So it wasn't meant to be.



Until we got the house!!



We went back and forth, were they willing to part with her, was she the dog for us? But during this time, we had plenty of chances to hang out with her, taking her on long runs where she absolutely destroyed us, but happily came trotting back wondering what was taking us so long, to long hours of snuggling on the sofa (her favorite). Recently, it has become final..

She is ours!



We don't have her full time, but once we close on the house (hopefully) and get moved in, she will be ours completely. I think the open adoption thing has been a great chance for us to meet her, and for her previous owners to see that we are bonkers for her. She is 1 and a half, so still needs some puppy class, but is starting from a good place. And occasionally she is still a hound, she has a bay that is pretty amazing, but I think she has found her perfect fit with a couple of crazy kids who love running through the forest.. as well as snuggling.



Wish us luck!

And yes.. she is wearing a coat. It is awesome. I got it at Old Navy. She is pretty much hairless, especially on her belly, and it snowed this week, so she was plenty happy to have it on. An added benefit is that you can clearly see her tearing around the forest, as compared to her coat that is pretty much the color of leaf litter.