Merlin the dog (and yes, he is a wizard)

About a month a go Jerod and I got a dog from the Wake County Animal Control. And we have fallen in love with this dog. Jerod one day randomly asked me if I wanted a dog for Christmas and I was so excited! The Wake County Animal Control was have a sale on dog so adopting him was only $25.

When you walk into the WCAC I noticed it smelled of wet dog. Then we were buzzed into the back where they have two rooms of dogs and a smaller room with cats. When Jerod and I began to walk around and look at dog I started to cry. I wanted to take ALL of them home with us, to love and care for. A man who worked there asked us what we were looking for and he told him maybe an older dog. He pointed us to two lab mixes and one of them was our future dog! At the time he was named Salsa, but they man who worked there told us he did not respond to it. Once we decided on him and payed the deposit, Jerod and I thought of names on the way home. His mom and my brother both suggested Optimus Prime knowing Jerod loves Optimus more than me, his own wife. But when we went back the next day the dog didn't respond! But when Jerod called him Merlin he did! So... that was his name!

Finally, 4 days later we brought him home! And I love him. As odd as it sounds, if loving an animal is a small glimpse of what it might be like one day to love a baby of our own... then I can't wait! I think having Merlin has really brought us great joy. He is always happy to see us and its funny how he will just follow me around the house when we are home together.

He has gained 6 pounds since we got him, contracted whip worms and a tape worm, which he's being medicated for, destroyed my debit card and, peed on a pile of white clothes. It's always an adventure :o) His favorite places are where it is warm and he loves to lay on his blanket at the end of our bed while I'm getting ready or in the mornings while I'm reading.

dmj