My Mariiiiiiiiiia, Maria I love you

This past weekend was a busy one. The Jason Roberts Foundation hosted the first ever Grenada Color Run and Sunday was the annual Med vs. Vet Kickball tournament. Not to mention I had the pleasure of fostering a precious dog named Maria from the local SPCA as part of the shelter medicine club. I went with some friends to pick Maria up Friday after lab. She had a rough start to life as her previous owners overdosed her on medication leaving her toxic and holding on to life. Luckily she made a magic turn around but not without leaving her a little skidish. Shes a petit lil potthound but has the softest fur which is uncharacteristic of the breed, she must be mixed with something else. Friday we spent the day getting her acclimated to the house as well as my roommates dog Bennet. Hes super friendly but is alot of dog coming at ya, so it took some time for him to clm down and her to get comfortable.

 Do you think I took enough pictures??? These aren't even half ;)

Saturday we put on her "Adopt Me" bandana (even though I secretly wanted to hide it) and headed off to the color run. The trail wound us around the neighborhoods near campus and about every mile we were splattered with paint of a different color. By the end both dog and people were one big rainbow. The race ended with a big dance party and some good food. Unfortunately the paint was a bear to get out of dog fur and people hair so my roommate and I spent about an hour hunched over in the shower picking paint out of the dogs fur. It was not how I saw the evening going but the race was a blast none-the-less. Sunday I got suckered in to playing on my terms kickball team. We lost before the finals but there was actually some stiff competition out there. Maria came for the first game but then got to spend the rest of the day with my friends while I finished up kickball. She definitely needs lots more socialization as she gets nervous in crowds are places where lots of things are going on....but she has the potential. Sunday night was a relax and recuperate night. Maria managed to sneak up on bed after giving me the puppy eyes and laying her head on the bed. Plus it was her last night so I gave in, hoisted her up and had a nice lil sleeping buddy. The feeling of waking up with a smiling doggy face and wagging tale next to you is fabulous. Dogs really do think you are the greatest thing since sliced bread. True unconditional unwavering love.

 Monday was obviously sad because I had to return her to the shelter. I told myself if she was still here in August that I would get her. We walked in to the shelter and she was happy as a clam, it was her unofficial home after all. She was put in the pen with the other 5 dogs that are currently available and was so excited to see them. It was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. A few hours later I actually got a message from one of the vets at the SPCA saying the couple I talked to at the race and hyped both Maria and the SPCA up to actually came in and adopted Maria AND a puppy named Winslow. While I was sad that I wouldnt be her forever home, I was ecstatic that both she and Winslow would not have to spend another night in the shelter and had finally been adopted (and together!). I hope I will run into Maria again and I hope I dont see her back at the shelter. This just means I get to open my arms to the next dog in need. All in a days work.   

This ones for Maria <3