I’ve fostered a lot of puppies. But never this long. I look at them sometimes and wonder if they’ll still be here at Christmas.
I know they won’t be. Eventually, they will find homes. I’m certain.
I suppose the best part (from a potential adopter’s point of view) is that out of necessity, they are now crate-trained, more-or-less housebroken (except when I get busy and forget how long it’s been since they went out), and sleeping through the night with no accidents.
They are also cat-proofed (thanks, Hazel), play well with others (thanks, Lima Bean, their mom, who babysits them for much of the day), do well on leashes, and have learned simple commands like ‘sit’ and ‘come’.
They’ve also learned not to jump up (on me, at least. Visitors still encourage it by giving them attention and kisses when they do).
They are fully vaccinated (except for rabies, which I’ll have to sort out if they don’t go home soon, increasing the expense for the rescue).
When we were setting adoption fees for these guys, I wanted them to be affordable in my county (Shenandoah). 80% of kids qualify for free lunch around here (so the district makes it free for everyone), so four and five-hundred-dollar adoption fees are simply not reasonable.
The adoption fee for these puppies is $250, and the adopters are eligible for $100 of that back once they are neutered.
And yet….they have no applications, no interest, just lots of time to find trouble.
We are planning a weekend of outings for them in the hopes that they might find their family on their own. Social media, my only tool, continues to be less and less effective. Last weekend, we took everybody to an adoption event in Woodstock, and then just Green Bean and Lima Bean to a winery, where they were a great hit but didn’t find adopters. Here is a video of Lima Bean wooing a group of women…
Still, I’m going live on Facebook in my Another Good Dog group every day until they are adopted.
My situation isn’t unique. I know dogs are lingering in foster homes and shelters all over the country. And, truth be told, if I had to have a pack of dogs linger here, this one is pretty amazing. All of my six current fosters are the kinds of dogs who would have been adopted in mere days a few years ago.
The biggest one is Lima Bean, weighing in at 47 pounds (she lost two pounds when they amputated her leg). She will have heartworm treatment next week, and then she’ll be available for adoption at the end of the month. One special dog, let me tell you. A heart dog for sure.
The smallest is Buzz, weighing in at 23 pounds full-grown. He’s pint-sized. I haven’t had a foster dog this little since Flannery O’Connor. Remember her? I still miss her.
Buzz is just a year old and will be neutered on the 25th, and will be ready to go home after that. Where are all those people who always asked me for small dogs?? I’ve got a cutie pie for you.
If I had to guess who will be here the longest, I’d go with Bumble. Which is a shame, because after taking him and Buzz to the cabin with me for a couple days, he stole my heart. What a funny guy! He’s six months old, has such a big personality, lots of happy energy, and talk about a lover. That said, he’s going to be an average-sized dog (40ish pounds at most). He’s a dirty brown color, likely has some shepherd in him, so he can occasionally be a loudmouth, and he has an ugly scar running the length of his back from what the vet believes was a chemical burn.
If it’s taking me this long to find homes for two adorable puppies, Bumble just might be here for a while.
And yet, you just never know. The adoption gods might be currently fickle, but they are nothing if not unpredictable. I often don’t understand what makes one person fall in love with a dog and not another.
But if you or anyone you know is looking for a dog to add to your family, come visit the foster cottage. Odds are, one of these amazing pups might just fit the bill. Have questions? Ready to apply? Email me: fosterdogcottage@gmail.com
And thanks to everyone who shopped our Another Good Dog Amazon wishlist recently – we SO appreciate it. We are going through treats, bully sticks, vitamins, and probiotics at a fast pace!
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 it’s a 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 probiotics, bully sticks, size large martingale collars, and tough-chewer toys.
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.
Another Good Dog™ 