In the dim recesses of my memory I am pulling up bits of this story — I must have read a synopsis from the thread where you originally posted some of this story.
This is a beautifully written thread, and I felt like I was there spying on your adventure. What a treat! Did you get another dog from them?
Thank you for the link and for sharing your adventure.
No...I haven't obtained another New Skete dog...indeed, as you noted, there's a multi-year waiting list. Timber was still alive in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina rolled through, and that's when I rescued/adopted Ranger who's a Belgian Tervuren. I had the two of them for a couple years before Timber passed on, but now I just have Ranger. My work routine at present kind of precludes me from being fair to a new pup at this time, but perhaps someday :-)
In the meantime, Ranger keeps my hands full...