we have very specific needs

Then getting a specific breed makes a lot of sense, IMO. I'm normally very in favor of adopting from shelters vs. getting from a breeder, but if you need to know what you're getting in terms of characteristics and socialization, then going to a responsible breeder is the way to go.

I met Jeeves at an adoption show, and fell in love when he wanted to cuddle and didn't want me to let him go.

Finn was probably the eighth or ninth cat I met at the shelter when I went looking for another cat, and he won me over by constantly twining around my legs and otherwise indicating to all and sundry that I was HIS human.

I do think I need to get Finn a companion, though.

I was warned that he was pretty shy around people, but when they brought him in, he ran right over to me and put his feet on my knees.

That's what happened when I went to meet Percy. His owners warned me that he was timid and shy and we might not be able to get him out from under the bed. I arrived and introduced myself, and as soon as he heard my voice, he came trotting out of the bedroom and came and laid down on my feet to be petted. His owners were gobsmacked; he'd never done that before. So he was mine and that was that. I don't know why he acted like he recognized my voice, maybe he's a reincarnation of some being I loved before.

My friend has told me not to worry about her and her kid, that everything will be all right. So I am not going to worry. (mm-hmm) At least I won't talk about it anymore.

Kat you might be able to train the puppy as a working dog for Grace.

I had a couple in the store a few weeks ago with a really cute little service dog. While talking to them I found out the husband had mysteriously lost his hearing in both ears, he woke up one morning and couldn't hear. They already had a small dog so they worked on training him to be a service dog. He wasn't a big dog but the wife said that 1) they hadn't wanted to get a new dog and 2) they couldn't get a big dog anyway because they need a dog they could carry if necessary and they both had back/hip issues that prevented them from doing that.

he woke up one morning and couldn't hear

Wait, what? Christ, here's another thing for me to add to my Hypochondriac's List of Things to Worry About.

those puppies are crazy cute! Franny will squeal when I show them to her

Choice: Work through the desperate need for sleep to finish rewriting these awful award nominations for work, OR, set alarm for 4am, in work by 6am, and do them in the relative peace and quiet of the office before people begin crawling up my ass all day.

Allyson, when I face those kinds of choices, I ask myself which I'm more likely to actually do.

I'd probably stay up late to do the awards, because otherwise I'd just fret about them anyway. But I'm a champion level fretter.

I am for sleeping when you need to sleep, although that isn't always possible. I hope whichever way you went works out ok, Allyson.

I woke up early in a panic about a work thing I should have dealt with yesterday, left home a little early (because of course I also puttered around the house for extra time), and had a perfect commute! The bus was right there when I got to the stop, and then it was too full to let anyone else on, so we made record time. I was door-to-door in as little time as it ever takes, even in good weather. Sweet.

Of course, then no one I needed was here yet, but still! I am TCB.