Writing -- Where do you start?

They say when you are writing and don't know where to start that you should start in the middle of the action or a conversation -- start in the middle.

Well, that is exactly where I am -- I am in the middle of a story. I have adopted a dog with a friend -- joint custody. We are on week 4 of Obedience training. Yesterday Rex Learned to do a High 5 -- this was akin to watching a baby take its first steps. I was amazed!

This story began two months ago when I got an email....

February 12, 2010, my friend Jodi emailed me a posting for a rescue dog. "How about this one," she said. "Isn't he cute?!"

I looked at the photo. I had been saying I wanted a yellow lab for months and here was one staring me in the face. He looked tough with his Popeye arms firmly planted on the snow.

But I had questions: Why was the photo taken with him standing so far away from those pickups in the background? Why did his former owners keep him outside all the time?

He squinted. Was the wind blowing in his face? Maybe he was lonely and cold, like the ad said.

I was told he was at the tribal police on a South Dakota Indian reservation and they were going to SHOOT him if a foster home wasn't found right away!

Maybe this was the dog I had been waiting to save.

The ad said: Biscuit -- Urgent!! Foster Needed!!!!
Won't You Consider Helping him get a new start?

The facts: Labrador Retriever
Age: 2 years, 5 months (Best Guess)
Good with People: Yes
Good with Dogs: Yes

Description:
Biscuit is Lonely and Cold!!!

Biscuit is coming to us from an Indian reservation. He was picked up by the tribal police as the owner does not want him back. This poor boy is stuck at the "tribal pound" which means he spends his days and nights chained up outside at the police station. It is way too cold!!! The police dispatcher says he appears very submissive, he goes belly up when you approach him. Biscuit was found with other dogs so we are assuming he is good with them. Won't you please give a new home?

I decided I could foster him and then figure out later if I wanted to keep him -- if it was a good fit. Plus, if it was a good fit, I figured I would have him with me through my forties, since he was just over two years old. The previous owners were moving and decided not to take the dog with them. I immediately jumped to the conclusion that they were lazy and how awful it was that they would just give up their family pet.

"Never judge a man until you walk a mile in his shoes."

Soon I would have a taste of what the former owners went through. But those people gave up on Biscuit. I would not. At least I haven't yet....

Just before picking the dog up, I found out he was actually closer to 100 pounds. Probably 7 years old--not 2 1/2). And he had issues. (to be continued...)