Keira

Beau spent his first year on a farm with his mom and aunt. All were breeder dogs for a farmer. Although he lived mostly in an outdoor pen and had free roam of the farm, his world was limited to the farmer, his family, and a small barn.

Once evaluated and approved to come into foster care, Beau’s life dramatically changed. As a farm dog with little socialization, Beau needed to learn what it was like to be a family dog living in a home. Beau’s foster family described him as a dog who loved being outside, but a dog that may have missed out on typical Lab puppy activities such as swimming and playing fetch. They also said that Beau was a fast learner, and they enjoyed experiencing his new world through his curious eyes. All of this was so true!

When adopted by us, there were still many new things for Beau to discover. He did not know how to climb steps, and he’d side-eye the washer, dishwasher, and vacuum cleaner. Beau’s lack of socialization at a young age initially led him to be somewhat dog selective, requiring slow introductions to dogs he did not know. Dog training helped us learn to not only be in sync while leash walking but also to be attuned to reading his signals and situations. Training (and time) helped Beau become a calmer and more confident dog. We went through a lot of cheese and cheerios that year!

But as good as life was off the farm, there was something missing in Beau’s life. We felt that Beau missed his family and foster family’s dogs. It was clear that he needed a dog-friend, and so we adopted Keira from Brookline.

Keira was also a farm dog – an older puppy that couldn’t be sold despite expressive eyes and a loving demeanor. Keira was pulled from the farm by Brookline and fostered by Lesley, an amazing Brookline volunteer who did a wonderful job getting her ready for a forever home.

Keira quickly settled into life off the farm. As a typical 8-month-old puppy, she was running, jumping, and doing full flights of stairs on her own. She was described by her foster mom as a “super cute sweetheart with the most adorable wiggle butt swagger.” How could we resist?

So, we applied for Keira and, fortunately, she was matched with us. Keira found her forever home with Beau and it was just what he needed. The two of them are inseparable.