So APGIL and I are in the process of adopting another dog, and after a few false starts it looks like we found a new buddy for us. His name is Mackey (this might change) and he's an 8 year old cattle dog. Pretty handsome fella, too.


He was found as a stray in Virginia and brought up to Pennsylvania to be fostered and rehabilitated, and his foster family has had him since November. He was treated for heartworm (hard to find a dog in the shelter system without it, it seems) but should be ready to roll by the end of February. Otherwise he's in good shape (we hope). He's well mannered and quiet, gets along well with people/kids/dogs/cats, housebroken, and he's crate-trained (hallelujah). His biggest issue is that he doesn't seem to like being roughly handled around the collar. His foster mom got a little too rough with him once and he snapped (although didn't actually bite her). She said since then she's had him in a harness and he seems to like that better. This is what his page on the ACD rescue site said about him:
Mackey is an approximately 8 year old, 40 pound ACD with sweet manners. He loves car rides and hanging out with his person. He’s friendly toward everyone but particularly seems to attach easily to men. He gets along well with other dogs and cats. Mackey has shown an interest in kids and would be fine with older children (8+).
Mackey is polite, crate trained, walks nicely on a leash, knows basic obedience, housebroken, quiet and low energy. He enjoys lying at your feet or snoozing on the couch next to you . He likes going on walks to different places and smelling everything. He is very affectionate and insistent about getting his daily quota of belly rubs and ear scratches. With his friendly demeanor he would easily make a good traveling companion or “hang out at work” dog.
He is current on all his vaccinations and neutered. Mackey is currently undergoing treatment for heartworm and needs to be kept calm and quiet until mid February. If you are looking for a companion to just hang out with you please consider this wonderful boy.
Mackey is being fostered in Bethlehem, PA.
I am the tiniest bit unsure about this, in that I hope we're not getting into another situation where we adopt an older dog and he dies three months later, but I'm hoping that was an anomaly. I have to admit that I have a real soft spot for these older guys -- they've been through a lot and they're so happy to have a home and so sweet and awesome that I can't help but want to take a chance. Again.

I just heard back from the foster mom and she said that the vet and one of our references gave us glowing reviews, so unless our other reference gives us a bad review (which I really doubt, our other reference is the woman who was our contact at the shelter where we adopted Chance) it looks like we'll have a new buddy by the end of the month.