Oh, you’ve got a great smile.
The paperwork said Ace is nineteen.
Ace was surrendered to the Sonoma Shelter,
and then the fires started.
And he ended up 150 miles away at the SPCA.
I went to see Ace the day after he arrived at the shelter.
- Hey bud!
- I was surprised to see
how he pranced like a much younger dog.
When I asked to foster him, my only intent was to get him out of the shelter.
Because he’s nineteen.
And he’s been through enough.
And he needs to get into a home.
Okay.
Ready to go home?
I just was hoping somebody would adopt him.
Randy and Rula and Kodiak.
Everybody’s waiting to say hi.
Okay Ace, welcome to your foster home.
That would be Randy.
What do you think Ace?
It’s not big but it’s comfy.
Ace, this is your water bowl.
Ace, you thirsty?
You thirsty, darling?
No?
This is where you’re going to eat.
Nothing in there at the moment, but we’ll feed you later.
Randy, you want to be first?
Come here.
Come on, because I can lift you up.
Rula, do you want to come out?
They weren’t too interested in each other.
It took us a few pass-bys just to get them to sniff at each other.
This is a biggie.
Look at him run!
Oh my gosh.
Now there’s a happy boy.
When I first brought Ace home
he was very aloof.
He didn’t solicit attention.
Didn’t seem to care if I pet him or not.
Three weeks, he started feeling more comfortable here.
Playing with Rula.
Oh, he sees the ball. Look at this.
Yay!
All right!
He loves to take long walks.
And he likes to lead the pack on the walk.
Good boy!
This way.
Ace thinks he’s two.
Yeah, it’s like a teenager. Like a much younger dog.
He could play with toys all day long.
He never met a toy he didn’t like.
Ace was featured on The Dodo’s Adopt Me series.
I will feel really sad to see Ace go to his forever home.
I will also be so happy for him.
They got 67 emails from people that wanted to adopt him.
So we were overwhelmed.
And, you know, happily so.
Of course I’m going to miss Ace, but
it’s all about him getting into the right situation.
And then he had twelve dental extractions.
Ace would not be released for adoption
until he was completely healed from his dental surgery.
And it took a month for his mouth to heal.
And he couldn’t play with his toys.
And maybe that was an advantage in a way,
because then he had to seek out attention from me.
And then it was just a few days later I came home from shopping
and he was happy to see me.
And he jumped up.
Now he does it every time I leave the house and come back.
He jumps up.
When he first came up and put his head on my lap and started nuzzling me,
It tugged at my heart.
That is when I decided that I was going to adopt him.
Because I love you so much already.
He’s already a family member.
So this was just like making it official.
- You’re officially adopted!
-You want to look?
My biggest hope for Ace moving forward
is that he continues to be happy.
I got more toys for you Ace, never fear.
And playful.
And doesn’t let his age dictate what he does,
or feels, or where he goes.
And it was so worth it.
Cause now you’re my boy.
Are you going to be my first foster failure?
I think you are. I think you are, my boy.