dog rescue, euthanasia, fosterdogs, fostering, parvo, puppies

Our War with Parvo

Cara Sue Achterberg

Where to begin? I’m exhausted and wired-awake at the same time. I feel a little like I’m in a war—anxious about the next assault, unable to mourn the current tragedy, and working so hard to prevent another.

My worst fears were realized last Wednesday when Hooch broke with parvovirus. This is the demon all puppy fosters fight against. It’s the reason we go through so much bleach, guard who handles our puppies, and count the days out of the shelter and the ones until we can vaccinate.

I suppose I have been incredibly lucky. I’m closing in on 200 fosters, and I hadn’t encountered parvo yet. So, maybe I was due. But, gosh, I would give anything to back this one up and get a different outcome.

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documentary, dog rescue, foster dogs, puppies, Who Will Let the Dogs Out

Movie Stars

Cara Sue Achterberg

The Movie Mutts are here! I’ve been dying to tell you all about this project and these puppies!

Being a believer in jinxes, I’ve kept it mostly to myself but not anymore! This is happening and it’s terribly exciting and the bonus is it includes adorable puppies!

Where to begin?

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cats, dog rescue, foster dogs, fostering, hard to adopt, kittens, training

Seeing Them To Safety

Cara Sue Achterberg

What’s a girl to do when her puppy room is empty, the same foster dog has been here for months, her foster cats finally left (after more than a year with us!) and she’s itching to save animals?

Why take in a few foster kittens, of course!

Fostering kittens is a new venture. I know nothing about kittens this tiny. Lucky for me OPH has supplied me with everything I need, and their rescuer gave me lots of excellent advice. Ian is doing the bulk of the work—putting drops in their eyes, giving them their daily meds, feeding them, hanging out with them.

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While I’m Away…

Cara Sue Achterberg

It’s Tuesday so that means a post for Another Good Dog. I’ve been writing this blog for over five years. That’s a lot of posts! Today I am in Virginia at our cabin, Chateau Frankie, celebrating twenty-five years being married to Nicholas.

We are hiking and exploring our future hometown and probably eating and drinking too much. Fanny is with us, so maybe today we have driven over to the other side of the Massanutten mountains to the town of Woodstock where there is an excellent dog park that even has a few pieces of agility equipment (in addition to an excellent brew pub!). Or maybe we rented canoes and are floating up the south fork of the Shenandoah River.

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dog products, dog rescue, fosterdogs, fostering, lawn

Looking for a Few Recommendations…

Cara Sue Achterberg

I love a good recommendation, whether it’s for a book, a recipe, a cool place to hike, a great new kitchen gadget, but most especially dog stuff (go figure).

Adopters ask me often for recommendations for dog stuff and I’m always happy to oblige, but recently I had a thought—what if the company whose products I recommend would sponsor me (or technically, Who Will Let the Dogs Out/WALDO)? Or if money is out of the question, what if they gave me ‘dog stuff’ that I could use with the foster dogs or take to the shelters?

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adopters, cats, Dogs with Issues, foster cats

Practicing Self Control

Cara Sue Achterberg

The puppies have all gone home. Sigh. It was only two weeks, but it sure felt like longer.

Ian confessed to me that for the first time ever, he got attached to a puppy. Usually he views the puppies as work, knowing that more often than not, during a litter’s time with us the responsibility of caring for them will fall to him. (His mother being a busy, overcommitted woman and all.)

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adopters, fostering, litters, puppies

Foster Puppies: Quick Before They Escape!

Cara Sue Achterberg

The puppies are thriving and noisy and ever since getting their first taste of freedom in the puppy yard, all they want is “OUT!”

Or at least, that’s what I imagine they are saying as they yip-yip-yap all the live-long day whenever they are left in the puppy room. Thankfully, the weather has been nice and they’ve had plenty of time in the puppy yard. If only I could install my desk out there, we would be all set. As it is, I can’t leave them out there unsupervised.

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Breeds, dog rescue, fostering, litters, oph, poop, puppies

Put a Little More Puppy in Your Day

Cara Sue Achterberg

I think the reason people who foster a litter of puppies agree to do it again is the same reason people have more than one child. You forget.

You forget the mess. You forget the noise. You forget the smell. You forget the laundry and the work and endlessness of it.

All you remember is the joy and the cuteness and the love.

I asked for this. I could have stuck with full-grown dogs. But no, I needed puppies.

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dog rescue, fosterdogs, fostering, hard to adopt, litters, Long Term Dog, puppies, shelters, transport

Coming Soon to a Foster Home Near You: Puppies!

Cara Sue Achterberg

I’m pretty sure Mia will be here indefinitely.

It may take some time for her people to find her. She’s incredibly special and so her people are likely special too. She’s ceaseless entertainment for Fanny (and for us), so we don’t mind waiting.

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Breeds, dog rescue, foster dogs, fostering, Long Term Dog, Pit bull, training

Of Bite Addendums, Smart Dogs, and Transparency

Cara Sue Achterberg

Smart dogs are just harder to deal with—same goes for smart children. Mia still has no applications, but that’s not her fault. She isn’t a simple dog.

She is clever and energetic and totally in the game. She doesn’t miss a thing—my glance her way while working will bring her to her feet, she’ll nudge my hip as if to ask, “How can I help?”

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