Rescue is a Roller Coaster

Rescue is always a roller coaster. But I tend to go with the most death-defying coasters (at least when it comes to rescuing, definitely not on real coasters!).

Lately, there have been too many situations that have made me angry, sad, and/or heart-broken because I am powerless to do anything about them. I wallow briefly, but then rally and look for situations where I can have an impact.

So, as weeks have gone by in which the news in my world and the larger world has kept me awake, twisting my insides, or leaving me emotionally spent, I started casting around for a dog to save. Maybe I can’t fix the world, but I can rescue a dog! (or maybe six…)

Save #1 Dani

It started with Dani, who was out of time at Memphis Animal Services. Young, beautiful, dog-friendly, people-loving, playful – it was crazy that such a great dog would die because of space (and heartworm status).

I reached out to Team Memphis (an AMAZING group of CRAZY people in Memphis who work day/night trying to save dogs on the euthanasia list at MAS) and spoke up for Dani. I could foster if they could find a rescue to sponsor her. Once again, X-Port Paws stepped up, despite the fact that Dani is Heartworm Positive and they are already scrambling to find a way to pay Wishbone’s bills.

Bonus that Dani is continuing my current canine color scheme in my cottage.

Team Memphis worked out the details for Dani and moved her out of the shelter into a local foster (Thanks Fonda!!).

Saves #2-6 Lima Bean and the Beanie Babies

The next day, a mama dog and her four puppies ended up on the Euth List. I immediately reached out again. NO WAY was I going to let an entire family be killed, if I had the ability to help.

As it turns out, Lima Bean is a puppy herself (barely a year old) and has a severely injured leg that needs to be amputated.

The Beanie Babies (Pinto Bean, Green Bean, Soy Bean, and Kidney Bean) are only days old. But thanks to X-Port Paws and Team Memphis, they are safe. We are waiting on the distemper anti-bodies test results (the shelter has been wrestling with an outbreak), and then they will head north with Dani and move into the foster cottage.

Meanwhile, they are out of the shelter and in a foster home (Thanks, Tiffany!), while we wait for the test results and for transport to be arranged.

(Lima Bean is breaking my color scheme, but isn’t she a doll?)

Life is about to get crazy busy in this little cottage. But saving six lives is absolutely worth it. Dogs and puppies are still being euthanized at MAS, but our little pack is safe. I wish the situation were different, and I know that change is coming for the shelter, but meanwhile, I’m just incredibly grateful for Team Memphis, X-Port Paws, and my patient husband for making this rescue possible.

I would love your support. Please consider making a donation to X-Port Paws to help pay for Lima Bean’s spay, amputation, and heartworm treatment (because, of course, she’s heartworm positive too), plus all the vaccines, dewormers, microchips, and costs of getting puppies from birth to adoption. They are a tiny rescue operation saving lives first and figuring out how to pay for it later. Let’s help them pay for this one.

I’ll share updates on my Facebook writer page and the Another Good Dog Facebook group. We’re hoping to find pilots to fly the pack north this weekend. Also, praying hard for a good test result for Lima Bean.

Wishbone Update!

Meanwhile, Wishbone is doing great. He’s 59 pounds now – so he’s gained 20 pounds since arriving! He is really the sweetest boy, winning every heart he meets with his gentle way. He’s also doing great on a leash, solidly housebroken and crate-trained, and just a tiny bit quirky! He likes to eviscerate chew toys, and when he’s out of the crate, he moves his blankets out too. Maybe he’s expecting housecleaning?

Newly Adoptable Diamond

And Diamond is officially looking for a home of her own. She is almost 8 years old, but definitely young-at-heart. She loves people, is also housebroken and crate-trained, and maybe a lot quirky. She continues to entertain us. Her latest activity is trying to bring a five-gallon bucket (that I use to collect her toys before mowing the grass) in through the dog door. She is relentlessly optimistic about the possibility and spends at least twenty or thirty minutes a day in the effort.

The foster cottage is officially full-up, and so is my heart. Caring for these dogs, seeing them through surgeries and heartworm treatment, and then finding forever homes will keep me plenty distracted from everything else. Which will be good for my soul.

If you or anyone you know is looking for a new furry family member, reach out. I’d love to introduce you to my pack. To make it simple, I’ll be posting all of them on the Facebook page, Adoptable Dogs of Shenandoah County.

Until Each One Has a Home,

Cara

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

My newest book, Who Will Let the Dogs Out: Stories and Solutions for Shelters and Rescues is a primer for those new to the cause, an invitation to get involved, and a source of inspiration for those already working tirelessly to save lives. With stories of successful shelters, innovative strategies, and the key ingredients for success—strong leadership, veterinary access, and community engagement—it’s a celebration of what’s working and a call to scale those solutions nationwide. Learn more and get your copy and/or send one to a shelter or rescue on our website. Also available in paperback and e-book on Amazon.

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. We are currently in need of

• chicken-free and chicken-byproduct-free, high-quality food & treats (for Diamond)
  • large dog beds (or cover replacements any size – we can cut the memory foam pieces I have to fit)
  • probiotics and salmon oil
  • Martingale collars in size Large
  • Dyne (for putting on weight)

If you’d like to take a vacation with your whole pack, consider visiting one of our two dog-WELCOMING vacation rentals. Visit BringDogs.com to learn more.