July 2023 – Another Good Dog™

Adoptable Argus

July 28, 2023 Cara Achterberg

Up until recently, I haven’t really worried about Argus finding an adopter. He’s such a great guy, so easy to have around, so sweet, so minus any serious hang-ups, I figured eventually someone would be willing to drive ‘all the way’ out to the Shenandoah Valley to adopt this guy.

But now we’re going on four months together and he’s still here. Still the same sweetheart. Still full-body waggling his happiness at the sight of me. Still obediently trotting into his crate for too many hours at a time.

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adopters, foster dogs

Cast of Characters

July 21, 2023 Cara Achterberg

Our life with foster animals is an ever-changing cast of characters. I’ve been reading a lot about character as I dig deep into a rewrite of my latest novel. I love my characters, but the story needs so much work. Story depends on characters though, just like life, I suppose. I know if I get my characters right, the story is much easier.

Nice little metaphor for fostering, right? If I can help these furry characters develop, get to know them well, I can set them up for a great story.

Take Argus, he is the quintessential insecure, nerdy sweet guy who has a heart of gold, only the average person doesn’t see that. Think Michael Cera or Jeff Goldblum.

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adopters, foster dogs, kittens, training

One Out, One In

July 14, 2023 Cara Achterberg

Current Foster Roll: 7 kittens, 5 puppies, 3 dogs

Yesterday morning, I met the 6am vet transport and delivered my seven kittens to be spayed/neutered at Anicira in Harrisonburg. I waited all day to find out if Addie and I were correct in our designation of who is a boy and who is a girl. I know it should be obvious, but I’m here to tell you, when you’re looking at a tiny, fuzzy, squirming kitten, it isn’t so clear. Thankfully, we were correct!

(Finally, I got something right with these kittens! I’ve managed to screw up the deworming schedule, the vaccine schedule, and the dosage for meds to treat their Upper Respiratory Infection. No real harm was done, except to my belief that I know what I’m doing. The HSSC may never ask me to foster kittens again. Nick doesn’t think that’s a bad thing.)

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