Yes, he's still gone.

Weren't you wishing I'd post about how he came home last night?

I was. I keep looking out the window and the door expecting his happy ass to be there at any minute. I've been joking about what I would do if/when I see him again but in the end, I'll probably just cry some more.

Yeah, I know. He's a dog. But still, a part of my family...my nest - the little place on earth I've created for myself where I'm happy. Now I just think about where he should be and where he's not....waiting for me on the bathroom rug while I'm in the shower, leaping off the porch every morning in the goofy way that only he can do, dropping his ball in my lap, falling asleep on the bed with me but then moving to the floor at some point in the night.

I console myself with "what else can I do?" I've talked to neighbors, I've made posters and will post them at various places tonight/tomorrow. I've notified the Animal Shelter and the vet nearest us. I've driven around. I whistle for him every chance I get, even at 3 a.m.

He's in God's hands. I know He cares too, if not for any other reason then for my benefit.

Despite the hole in my family with Marley being gone, I still have Jada and her six *adorable* babies who follow me everywhere, chewing my socks and jumping on my legs until I pay them attention.

They all greet me on the porch when I get home and our evening/morning routine commences as follows:

1) Fresh food and drink outside while I get dressed in puppy-play clothes.
2) They all come in, play, play, play, and then crash on their dog bed in the living room. Or, if I'm watching TV, a select few will jump on the couch and scratch at my legs (crying the whole time) before I lift onto the couch where they fall asleep on the throw blanket.
3) One wakes up. They all go outside. Even at this age, they all go into one special place in the yard to pee/poop. Then it's back on the porch whining at the door, waiting for me. If I'm lucky, they'll play outside for awhile and then take Nap #2 on their bed on the porch. Otherwise...
4) REPEAT STEP 2
5) We basically do this all evening until bedtime.
6) I let them out one more time to eat/drink and then bring everyone into the laundry room for bed on their blanket.
7) They usually wake me up at 7 and I open the laundry room door and they all follow me outside where they pee/poop and eat breakfast. Then we play. And then I leave.

They're not even 6 weeks old yet but they're smart enough to whine at the door when they're thirsty because they know their water's on the porch. I'm amazed at the intelligence of these dogs every litter I have.

Here's a video I took this morning. It shows their persistence and their absolute adoration of human beings, which is obviously cultivated into loyalty and obedience as they get older:



Bonus on the video is an example of what I mean when I say "crying." Imagine all 6 of them doing that at the same time. Now you know why I give them what they want.

Here are a few pictures that I took this morning too:






Pray for Marley, wherever he is. Pray he comes home.