Rescue Rollercoaster

Have I told you recently that rescue is a rollercoaster?

Earlier this week, I was feeling quite panicked. It seemed like none of the five dogs I am currently fostering was ever going to leave. None of them had any interest or applications.

So, I trooped over to Facebook and started bombarding all my pages with photos and info. I created more TikTok videos. I blogged here. I joined local FB groups, just so I could post. And I hit up Next Door again.

Finally, on Wednesday, there was an inquiry about Bumble. Of all the dogs! I’ve been worried he would be the last to go. He’s not a standout in this bunch except for his crazy cute ears.

When he arrived, I said to Nick, ‘He might be here a while.’ He was squirrelly, pacing his crate, skinny, brown (really a taupe color) with a bright pink scar running the length of his back. But in the five weeks he’s been here, he’s gained a few pounds, the scar is nearly completely filled in with brown (and white!) hair, and he’s settled.

Busy and wicked smart, he’s kept me on my toes. But he also melted my heart with his snuggly sweetness and how well he tolerated and tormented the puppies. Thankfully, when a potential adopter met him, she saw that same specialness.

On Saturday, we met up with her and her boys, and their dog, for another meet and greet on neutral territory. It went well, even when the two dogs got their leashes entangled and ended up hog-tied together. The boys took to Bumble right away. He seems like a little-boy type dog—dirt colored, mischievous, and always ready to play.

On Sunday, I got a message from a former adopter of one of my foster puppies (Mr. Mistopheles from the Broadway Babes litter), asking if I might be willing to talk to a neighbor of hers whose family was looking for a puppy. Of course! I texted with the neighbor and set up a meet and greet for Monday afternoon.

The Broadway Babe litter posed for one of my all-time favorite foster dog pictures (Mr Mistopheles is on the far right, upper row):

Monday morning, I woke to a text from a potential Lima Bean adopter. She had a tripod dog (and tripod cat!) and they sounded like a dream-family for any dog, so we arranged for them to bring their dog to come meet Lima Bean later in the day.

The day unfurled in a blur of people and dogs. First, Bumble was adopted and headed off with his excited new family (who named him Scout).

Next, the family interested in Lima Bean arrived. LB loved on all the kids, but when their adorable tripod pup got out of the car, LB exploded in barks and growls. I was shocked because I hadn’t seen that side of her. We tried three different approaches, but the intensity of Lima Bean’s reaction grew with each one. So, sadly she lost her shot at a dream family.

Every meet and greet, whether successful or not, teaches me something more about my fosters. I’ve thought about Lima Bean’s reaction ever since. I don’t know if she acted that way because her puppies are here (they were inside the cottage but were barking and fussing), or if she’s territorial and was protecting her turf. The next potential meet and greet should be on neutral territory. I don’t know if she will react this way to other female dogs; she’s been fine with all the boys here.

Or maybe it’s just that Lima Bean is finally healthy, so maybe this is who she is.

It would be so helpful if dogs could talk.

For now, I’m hopeful that things will work out better for her with another potential adopter who texted about her Monday afternoon, just before the fateful meet and greet. They don’t have a dog, just cats. She’s been and continues to be fine with Hazel.

But wait! There’s more drama!

Not long after LB’s potential adopters left, the potential puppy adopters arrived. Another great family with little, little kids. Their youngest child had been frightened when they’d visited a shelter looking for a dog – the frantic barking was (understandably) too much for his tender soul (it’s often too much for a lot of adult’s souls too).

My hope was that my two gentle, sweet Beanie Babies would win him back to the dog side. He did well, but was still frightened, despite Green Bean’s wooing of everyone. They left with an application and a plan to keep talking. So we shall see where this leads.

I thought my dog day was finished, but then I got a message from a couple who had met Buzz at an adoption event at a local brewery several weeks ago. Bill and Buzz had had an undeniable connection. I thought it was meant to be, but since there was beer involved, you have to take potential adopters’ words very lightly at those kinds of events. I hadn’t heard from them since.

And here they were asking if they could come adopt Buzz! I wasn’t sure if I could make it happen that day, but I said, Sure, come on over. While Bill and Buzz enjoyed a reunion and Cami quick completed the application, I messaged the powers that be at XPort Paws to see if anyone was available to go through the application.

They didn’t have a dog at home currently (their last one was a rescued pointer who lived for 16 years). Buzz was already neutered, so there wasn’t a question about that. They understood about preventatives. They owned their home and had a huge, beautiful yard (Bill showed me a picture of it, no weeds, striped to perfection). They had jobs. Their youngest kid had just left for college. But most importantly, they were in love with this funny little dog.

I texted images of the application and had a quick call with Michelle from XPP. Done.

In no other rescue that I have worked with could we have made that happen. It came down to XPP trusting my judgment. I believed these people were perfect for Buzz. In my opinion, Buzz hit the adoption lottery. He will be the daily companion and ‘only child’ of newly emptied nesters.

There is talk about removing barriers to adoptions so that more people adopt, and dogs get homes more quickly. I am a fan of that idea, but that doesn’t mean you just hand out dogs willy-nilly.

I had met these people a month ago, hung out with them, and some of their family (who live a mile or so from me) that afternoon at the brewery. They’d certainly had plenty of time to think about their decision. They were more than qualified. This was a classic case of why we need to be willing to remove barriers to adoptions responsibly in the name of saving more lives.

Enough said about that.

It was quite the day. And now I am here with just the beans.

It is very quiet. I’ve realized that the last two months with this pack, especially when the puppies were little and Lima Bean was so sick, pushed me to the edge of what I can handle. As I consider next moves, I’m keeping that in mind.

Meanwhile, I’m headed on a shelter tour on Thursday. This time we’re going north! It will be a different experience, and I hope to learn a lot and make new connections. If you want to follow along, find Who Will Let the Dogs Out on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or subscribe to our blog (links for all that are here).

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 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 treats, bully sticks, sizes small and 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.