Meet Our Adorable Foster Dogs Ready for Adoption

After two months of no foster dogs….we are nearly full! Amelia Bedelia, Blarney Stone, and Zarko the Magnificent have landed.

It speaks to our shelter crisis that dogs of this quality were even in need of saving. Honestly, they are all friendly, cute, young, and small(ish), and not a single one is heartworm positive. And all had been scheduled to be euthanized on March 11, but were saved on the evening of March 10 by X-Port Paws and Team Memphis Rescue and Support.

After cooling their heels in boarding or foster care, they arrived here via the Team Memphis transport on Sunday night. Even though I had seen their weights on the paperwork, I was still surprised at how small they are when we unloaded them – everything looks bigger in pictures!

Blarney is a year old and only 27 pounds. Zarko is about the same weight and about six months old. He’ll get bigger, but not that big. And Amelia is three years old and only 40 pounds.

I told the confuluted story of their rescue in a video for social media. You can find it there if you want the whole tale. So much of rescue comes down to timing, luck, and people who are willing to go above and beyond the capabilities of average humans to make it possible. In shelters, they talk about ‘capacity of care’ when referring to how many animals they can save, but I would say when it comes to XPP and TMRS, their capacity TO care is vast.

Let me tell you about my adorable pack of littles…

Amelia recently had puppies. All were adopted, and she was left to die in the shelter. She has that “mom-ness” that I love about mama dogs. She is wise and patient, gentle and loving. But she is also a little fireplug. The best word for her is ‘curious’. She is always watching intently. She would very much love to chase Hazel, but in the one instance when she had the chance, I swear I saw her slow down at the last minute to let Hazel get away (up and over the fence). She is endlessly fascinated by the cows in the pasture behind our field.

More than anything, Amelia is affectionate and sweet. She walks beautifully on a leash, which is a rarity with a new foster. She seems to be housebroken, and while she is not a fan of her crate, she goes in and settles. Refreshingly, she is not a chewer or a barker (so far). At the moment, she is miserable because she was spayed this week and is forced to wear the awful cone.

Blarney is a hoot. Just looking at him makes me smile. He is Mr. Personality. He is always ready to play, and his little mind always seems to be busy. He is very clever and athletic, and while he’s just a little guy, I bet he’d be a ringer at agility with his smarts and speed and eagerness to please. He is confident and happy and loves everyone he meets. So far, he hasn’t shown any inclination to chase Hazel.

This boy would be super fun and he’s such a portable size. But if you want to bring Blarney into your life, you better be ready for adventure and plenty of activity.

Zarko is in a word – gorgeous. This handsome boy is all legs and gangly sweetness. When he gets the zoomies he almost always has a wipe out, his hind legs and his front legs just not quite coordinating. He loves chew toys and unloads the entire toy basket trying out every toy. He’s recently discovered stuffed Kongs and is quite the fan.

Zarko is quite smart, but he is still learning about the world. Walking on a leash is quite a new concept, but we’re working on it. Every new sight – cows! Cars! Men hammering next door! Rattling roofs! Startles him. He will need someone who is patient and will slowly expand his world.

He is hesitant with new people when on his own, but in the company of Blarney is much braver. I think he’d do well with a fursibling to show him the ropes. Plus he loves to play and romp and tug with Blarney. He does seem to really love people, though, once he’s met them. He’s a first-rate cuddlebug and I’ve been told that his Memphis foster fell hard for him and would have kept him if she’d had the space. I get that. He’s quite the heart throb.

So…..who is looking for a new furry family member? I’ve got three wonderful possibilities. All are what I call ‘portable dogs’ –the perfect size for taking everywhere, good with other dogs and people, and up for adventures. All are sweethearts ready to fall in love with a family all their own. These little gems deserve the best life. If you’d like to give that to them, reach out:

fosterdogcottage@gmail.com for more information and the adoption application.

Until Each One Has a Home,

Cara

For information on 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, be sure to join the Facebook group, Another Good Dog. And if you’re on TikTok, you can find regular videos of my current fosters, dog news/tips, and more if you follow me there.

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.

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, plus ideas, solutions, and resources to hep shelters save lives.

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, size large martingale collars, soft treats, bully sticks, 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.