The cast of foster dogs in this cottage is always changing. Here is a cheat sheet of who’s adoptable, who got adopted, and who is just passing through.
LOKI
STATUS: ADOPTABLE!
This uber puppy has been with us since I brought him home as a stowaway on our shelter tour two weeks ago. He is A-Mazing! (I know you’re already saying, “but Cara, you say that about every puppy!”)
This time I’m definitely not exaggerating. He couldn’t be easier to have around. Quiet, sweet, spunky, friendly, house-trained, crate-trained, good on a leash, and always in a great mood. Plus, he’s not going to be a big dog. At 16 pounds and nearly five months, he will probably be a medium-sized dog.
Why, then, you ask, hasn’t he been adopted? Because he’s a little black dog. Really. That’s the only reason I can come up with. Ask any shelter worker, and they’ll tell you that black dogs (and pit bulls) are the most often euthanized because of space or length of stay.
And, while I think Loki is crazy-cute, he is just a little black dog. I’ve fostered at least six who looked just like him this year. If he had more splashy white, it would help. Although he does have four feet that look like he tip-toed through a pan of white paint.
Loki has zero idea that he isn’t wanted. He is such an easy-going guy who seems to assume the best of the other dogs in the cottage and of Hazel (despite the fact that she repeatedly hisses at him when he greets her), and especially of people. He LOVES everyone he meets. There could not be a sunnier pup.
Loki is available for adoption through X-Port Paws (application)
NEMO
Status: ADOPTABLE!
Nemo just arrived in the cottage this week from Memphis, where he has been sitting in foster care for over a year. He came to the shelter with a congenital defect – a super short, twisted front leg. The leg was amputated, most likely to give him a better chance at being adopted, but he still ended up on the euthanasia list. He was saved by Team Memphis, placed in foster care, and then spent this past year testing positive and then negative and then positive again for heartworm. He’s been treated using the slow-kill method, and compared to his HW+ roommate Rose, he is the picture of health.
Nemo is a medium sized dog, about 40 pounds of happy, fluffiness. His DNA was done at some point this past year, and it was discovered that he is mostly Husky. That explains his curious, exuberant personality, but certainly not his small size. (he looks MUCH bigger in pictures!)
So far, he seems like a super friendly guy who has zero idea that he is three-legged. He zips in/out of the dog door, uses his good paw to hold his bully chew stick, and gets the zoomies regularly. In fact, if you don’t look at him closely, you probably wouldn’t notice he only has three legs because of all the fluff and activity.
Nemo is available for adoption through X-Port Paws (application)
SURI
Status: ADOPTED!
Suri, whose name is now Maple, was adopted this past week. Thanks to Mackenzie my pet sitter, for handling the adoption in my absence. Maple has a darling new family who only live 15 minutes from me. Reports are that she is absolutely adored and they couldn’t be happier. No surprise here. I knew she wouldn’t be here long!
ROSE
Status: JUST VISITING/adoptable via Pink Dog Rescue (Hanover, PA)
Rose is my little porker-pie. She’s a chunk of busy, snuffling, smoosh-faced chocolate who is staying with us through her heartworm treatment. (She is at Compassion Vet in Fredericksburg at this very moment receiving her treatment.) HW has not taken her energy, but she pays for it with the tell-tale heartworm cough each time she bounces around the yard. She is an absolutely love with everyone she meets – all about the kisses and convinced she is a lap dog. While we haven’t been able to allow her to play with the other dogs (trying to keep her from over-excirting herself), reports are that she did great with other dogs at the shelter and in the foster home. She is another Memphis dog who escaped death at the shelter thanks to Team Memphis, X-Port Paws, and Pink Dog Rescue.
Hazel would like me to let you know that Rose is NOT approved for cats. If you’ve fallen in love with this adorable girl, you can reach out to Pink Dog Rescue in PA for information on adopting her. She’ll be transferring up that way once she recovers a little form her HW treatment.
SPENCER
Status: JUST VISITING (already has adopter)
Spencer is here for the week while his regular foster is away. He already has an adopter approved to adopt him through Fierce Love Rescue, in Stephens City, VA. Please don’t blow up my email asking since he is spoken for — but he’s just too unique not to share. My guess is Dauchsaund and pitbull.
Foster babysitting is a good gig – you get to hang out with a dog, but also know exactly when they are leaving. If you’d like to foster babysit for me, please let me know!
COMING SOON:
CHERRY
Status: AWAITING TRANSPORT (currently fostered in Memphis)
Cherry was saved from the euthanasia list at Memphis Animal Services and needed surgery for a badly broken rear leg. After the pins/plates from her first surgery failed, she had to have the leg amputated. She has recovered and almost ready to finally come north to find her family. Cherry is only about 40 pounds, young, super sweet, and beautiful. She has captured so many hearts. Her rescue was not a cheap one, and she still needs spay surgery, so please consider donating to X-Port Paws.
As always, things are busy in the foster cottage. HUGE shout out to Mary, my volunteer, who handled the transport pick up for Nemo, and also to Mckenzie, my pet sitter who handled Suri’s adoption in my absence.
If you have questions or are interested in adopting any of these precious pups, email me fosterdogcottage@gmail.com.
All of these pups deserve families of their own – please help me spread the word by sharing this post with anyone you know who is looking for a new furry family member.
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 crate covers(!), dog vitamins and probiotics (we have puppy), size large martingale collars, and Denta-life chews.
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™ 