I’m not sure how it happened.

All I know is that it happened quickly.

One minute I was casually leafing through canine fashion pages, critiquing 2007 winter coats. And the next my head was buried in Rescue websites bursting with photos of hopeful dogs all desperate for a new home.

And I sat there and clicked away for far too long with tears in my eyes.

While Dave and I had given a lot of thought to buying a dog from a breeder, we hadn’t done much about it. I guess our hearts weren’t in it.

I mean Jacque and I had found each other at the RSPCA and he’s just as wonderful as Birman Boy Louie (and in many ways quite a bit savvier). So why get a dog from a breeder when there are probably thousands of surrendered dogs out there, just as loving and just as lovable?

The Rescue Dog websites stirred up a heady mix of heart felt emotion, humanity and longing which in turn created two weeks of furious Rescue Dog research and activity! And this, combined with the passionate efforts of Rescue Dog volunteers resulted in Dave and I meeting a little dog and falling head over heels.

Awwwww.

The idea of the Perfect Pup (PP) will mean so many different things to so many different people. I mean, there’s Miss D’s PP, Jack. He hardly sheds, his history is known, he was loved and cosseted from the moment he landed on this Earth but like any puppy, his future is still really a big question mark.

And then there’s our delightful dog. Because he’s a young adult whose been carefully trained by experienced foster parents, we can see exactly what we’re getting. And we like what we see. And the poor little pooch was found in downtown Marybinong after spending five cold, sad weeks in Melton Pound after a life of god only knows.

Lucky for him (and us), he was one of dogs rescued by what I’ve personally named the “Animal Loving Rescue Angels”.

These angels (looking suspiciously like everyday, hardworking folk) belong to organisations such as Rigby’s Rescue, UK Dog Rescue, Dog Rescue USA and the Sydney Dog’s Home.

They fly in from all parts of the world sprouting tufted wings and collars as halos. Their mission? To swoop in and save as many dogs on death row as is humanly possible before delivering them safely into the arms of loving foster and adopter parents.

They do an amazing job and deserve (and will receive) posts all of their own as do the foster parents who’ve been courting this lovely fella for the last three weeks.

I’ve realised that the perfect dog for me is one with batwing ears that flop up and down, a round wet black nose and warm, brown eyes.

He arrives tomorrow with one of the Rescue Angels.

As Miss D might say “24 hours to go!!”