Newest Foster Dog (from Kosovo!)

We have a new foster dog keeping Diamond company these days. Berry traveled a long way to join us here. He’s from Kosovo!

OPH has an international dog program, pulling dogs from countries where they are often treated as ‘pests’ rather than sentient beings. They pull a small number of street dogs from India, Kosovo, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Dogs living in the streets in these countries live in terrible conditions, dying in large numbers from disease, malnutrition, and car accidents.

While there are many who question why a rescue would pull dogs from another country when so many are dying here, OPH’s stance is, “In our eyes, rescue has no borders or boundaries.”

More important than that powerful value, their explanation of ‘the ripple effect’ is compelling:

We in no way think that we are going to change the reality of street dogs in India or elsewhere by bringing a handful to the U.S. to be rehomed. But in bringing over a small number of dogs, we are able to contribute to a larger goal of demonstrating to people in the dogs’ native countries that they are desirable pets with wonderful qualities. We are also able to give hope and encouragement to the people in India and other countries who are trying to help these dogs. Just imagine how much it means to them to see a dog that they have saved from the worst circumstances flourish in a loving home. The point is not just to save a small number of dogs, but to improve the circumstances of the tens of thousands of dogs on the streets in India, Kosovo, and elsewhere by changing the way they are viewed locally. This is the “ripple effect” we hope to have in our international work.

Berry is the second international dog I have fostered. Long-time readers of this blog or my book Another Good Dog probably remember Momma Bear. That was a special experience. Momma Bear is from Iraq, and Berry is from Kosovo, but they both have the same gentle, grateful countenance and attitude. It’s remarkable and a testament to just how aware they are of their one-in-a-million luck.

Berry and his sister, Ruby, came to the US after being rescued on the streets by two children in Kosovo. The kids attempted to care for them, smuggling them food from home, and trying to create a safe place for them using stuff they found in the trash. The puppies were just a few months old when they developed demodex mange (which is caused by stress and different from the contagious version of mange). Someone saw the pups who knew the rescue organization that works with OPH.

Last March, they flew to the US and were fostered by an experienced and dedicated OPH foster. Ruby was adopted, but Berry lingered. His shy nature made all the newness of this country even more of a struggle. Val worked with him, teaching him many things, like crate training, house training, and impeccable leash manners. She and Joe also tried to teach him that people can be trusted.

We agreed to foster Berry to give him a new experience (and us a new experience!). He is such a sweet, sweet boy. Yes, he is still a little shy, but he warms up so quickly and then you get to see his affectionate, silly side. He loves stuffed animals (tossing them and pouncing on them or chasing them if I throw them). He enjoys chew toys, and, much to this writer’s frustration, he enjoys chewing paper! Luckily, despite his height, he has respect for desks (and counters) and has not taken anything off my desk (but why bother when there is so much paper free-for-the-taking in my recycle bin!).

I love taking Berry for walks. It’s refreshing to walk with a dog who doesn’t ever pull. He really enjoys just sniffing all the new smells and our first turn around the pasture is usually very slow as he inspects all the comings and goings of creatures since we last walked there.

Berry weighs 45 pounds. He’s tall and light-boned, with shepherd-like fur. He is neutered, microchipped, utd on shots, and all that. He’s ready for a home of his own.

So far, he has been respectful, even frightened of Hazel, our foster cat. Especially when she hisses at him to give her more space. When she’s on the other side of the baby gate, though, sometimes he’ll bark at her, so he’d likely chase a cat if they ran from him.

Berry and Diamond seem to like each other, at least through the baby gates, but we’ll do real introductions next week. I’m pretty sure they will be fast friends.

Berry is available for adoption through Operation Paws for Homes. You can apply here: https://ophrescue.org/dogs/13537

Most of you know I’m a cofounder of Who Will Let the Dogs Out. We’ll be having our annual online auction this month. We’ve got over 100 items to bid on – lots of dog stuff, of course, but also lots of other great items like gift cards and baskets, tickets to all kinds of events and adventures, plus clothing, jewelry, and lots of books. Please register here and be ready to bid when the auction opens!

We need LOTS of bidders to make this auction a success. The funds raised will enable us to help more struggling shelters. So, please share this link far and wide: https://givebutter.com/c/wwldofall2024auction/auction

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. If you’d like to see dogs I’m connected to who are available for adoption in Shenandoah County, visit Shenandoah County Adoptable Dogs on Facebook.

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. You can support our work by donating items and/or bidding during our fall online auction.

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.