Surrounded by Kittens and Puppies

Being surrounded by kittens and puppies while you work is good and bad.

Good…aren’t they adorable? And they’re right here anytime I need some inspiration or snuggle.

And bad…aren’t they adorable? And they’re right here anytime I need a distraction or a snuggle.

They are both a glorious distraction and powerful inspiration because if animals as beautiful and loving as these could die without a foster home, then we need more foster homes (and better supported shelters, but you can find out more on Who Will Let the Dogs Out sparkling new website!)

Stella Luna is a beautiful mama dog. She’s listed as a black lab because that’s pretty much what every black dog (or dog with short hair) is listed as at shelters. She’s very much a shepherd or collie of some type with her long pointy nose, pointy ears, and long hair.

Beyond that, she’s crazy coordinated. She can bounce right over a four-foot baby gate, even fully loaded with milk.

Stella is in the process of weaning her little butterballs. She only goes in the puppy’s room for a few minutes at a time and stands there while they nurse looking like any mom tolerating their children’s ramblings when she so clearly has other things she would like to be doing.

She prefers not to be shut in with them though, as when she’s had enough she will shove them away with her long nose or nip at them if they persist. If the gate is closed, she’ll just hop right over. (I try not to let that happen because I personally can’t imagine jumping over something taller than myself when I was still nursing a baby or actually, at all.)

The Cannon Characters (named after the characters in Janell Cannon’s children’s books) are:

Pip (purple collar, fuzziest, fattest female pup)

Flitter (smallest pup, pink collar, mini-me of Stella, female)

Flap (a broader, larger version of Flitter with a bit more white, male)

Verdi (brown/gray shepherd color, male)

Pinduli (black with white spotted sock, female)

If you happen to be someone who missed these incredible books, look them up. They are not just beautifully written and illustrated, they have great messages we all could use.

I’m still getting to know them, but already I can tell you that they are all very people oriented, clamouring for my attention, licking my shoes, wagging their little butts at the sight of me.

They almost six weeks old and will be available for adoption at eight weeks through Operation Paws for Homes. If you’re looking to add a puppy to your family, you can apply now at Operation Paws for Homes. You may not see the puppies listed on the website yet, but they will be adopted out on a first come-first served basis, so you’ll want to get on the puppy waiting list and get approved now.

The kittens are growing like weeds and while I’m still not a ‘cat person’ this little bunch is definitely weakening my defenses. They are friendly and sweet.

Donut (male) has the biggest funniest personality.

Baklava (female) is a smarty pants, and always manages to get away when I’m transferring kitties from crate to play pen.

Crouissant (male) is the friendliest amongst this friendly bunch. I’d almost say he’s aggressively friendly- he insists you love him.

Macaroon (male) is a darling already stealing visitor’s hearts. Both guests who have spent extensive time with the kittens wanted to take him home.

Struedel (female) is simply stunning. And I think she might know it.

Canolli (female) is a little on the shy side but very loving, and very pretty. (don’t mind her cruddy eye, all the kittens went through the eye-cruds (it’s a thing) and she was the last one. I need to have someone wrangle her for me so I can clean up the leftover crud.)

Meringue (male) is a little imp. Always the last one in or out of the playpen.

They are all available for adoption through the Humane Society of Shenandoah County and should be available to go home as soon as they are spayed/neutered. (They have to be two pounds to be spayed/neutered. Donut, Baklava, Croussiant, and Macaroon are there or will be there soon. The other three are probably two weeks away from making weight.) They are already on the site, though, and getting applications, so if you’re interested in one of these darlings, get a move on.

Foster dog updates:

Argus is out on a trial adoption. Everybody cross your paws that the wonderful home he found sticks.

(no picture because that would be jinxing it)

(okay, one picture of me at the adopter’s place with Argus who warmed up surprisingly fast)

Marley is still here and waiting for a family of her own. She is bunking with Stella, and getting some rest from the persistent pestering of Argus. This is her at the moment – napping behind my chair:

If you’re local (or you’re up for a road trip), feel free to reach out to schedule your puppy/kitten therapy. I could use all the help I can get socializing this full house.

Until Each One Has a Home,

Cara

For information on me, my writing, and books, visit CaraWrites.com.

If you’d like regular updates of all our foster dogs past and present, plus occasional dog care/training tips, and occasional foster cat updates (!) be sure to join the Facebook group, Another Good Dog.

And if you’d like to know where all these dogs come from and how you can help solve the crisis of too many unwanted dogs in our shelters, visit WhoWillLetTheDogsOut.org and subscribe to our blog where we share stories of our travels to shelters, rescues, and dog pounds.

If you can’t get enough foster dog stories, check out my book: Another Good Dog: One Family and Fifty Foster Dogs . Or its follow up that takes you to the shelters in the south One Hundred Dogs & Counting: One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey Into the Heart of Shelters and Rescues.

I love to hear from readers and dog-hearted people! Email me at carasueachterberg@gmail.com.

If you’d like to support the work we do (and save the rescue and me some money), shop our Amazon wishlist.