It’s been a big week for moving dogs! Last Saturday’s adoption event was a big success thanks to the marketing prowess and enormous heart of Joy at Traveler’s Treasures. From that one event FOUR puppies found homes!
But let me back up and give you the rundown…
On Saturday morning, Luke returned after two days with his adopter. He was perfect, but his adopter realized the timing was not good to add a puppy to her pack. While he was gone, Luke had a bath and a nail trim, made headway with potty training, met and charmed children, and got to play with some big dogs. He was worn out but bounced right back into our puppy pack without missing a beat.
The event was that afternoon in downtown Woodstock, and we had a steady flow of puppy visitors. We also brought Amelia Bedelia with us. She, as always, was perfect, but alas, no adopter for her. There was one mildly interested person, but she had cats. Up until this week, we have assumed that Amelia would not be good with cats and have turned away multiple potential adopters because of it. Something happened that changed that belief – I’ll get to that in a moment.
Between the people who saw Joy’s signs and social media and innocent people walking down the sidewalk (including the renters at Gracie’s Place!), four families fell in love with a puppy and put in an adoption application.
On Tuesday, Luke went home with his new family. On Wednesday Obi took off with his new dad, and today, Padme is scheduled to go home with her new family (and fur sibling). Leia’s adopter has to juggle some travel commitments, so she is planning to pick up her puppy at the end of the month.
Normally, the idea of a lingering puppy would bother me, but if you’re doing your math, you realize that we still have one puppy left without an adopter.
Han is still waiting for his people. He’s one smart cookie –the first to learn sit, the most focused, and an observant little bugger who notices every little change we make in the pen and is the first to investigate.
He’s also a cuddle muffin and simply gorgeous with his shepherd coloring, one stand up ear (although sometimes they both stand up!), and a partially green eye. Size wise, he’s in the middle of this pack. Attitude-wise, he is easy-going, friendly, and fun. If you’re interested in Han, apply through TeamMemphis.org.
For the nearly four months that Amelia has been with us, Nick and I have held to the line that she wouldn’t be good with cats. This is based on one introduction to Hazel, in which she trotted after her into the kitchen, and the fact that Amelia desperately wants to chase moving objects. On a daily basis, this is evidenced in her obsession with bugs in the pen (and the resultant holes), plus her excitement at the sight of squirrels, deer, cows, and passing cars. My best guess is that there could be a herding dog in there. All of that led us to label her ‘not good with cats’.
And then on Monday, I was working in my office, and the dogs were in the play yard. Hazel came in and jumped on a pile of bedding stacked on top of the empty crate in my office. I was busy, and by lunchtime, I forgot she was there. I let Blarney and Amelia inside for nap time and closed both the top and bottom gates to the kitchen, so Amelia wouldn’t go exploring in the trash can in the kitchen. I went to our house for lunch and took a long walk with one of my dogs before returning to the cottage about an hour or so later.
Here’s the scene (after the fact)…
Blarney was standing inside Amelia’s crate, barking at Hazel, who was studiously ignoring him. Amelia’s crate was the closest he could get to the cat. Amelia, who could have easily jumped up on the crate, was snoozing on the futon. I shooed Blarney out of Amelia’s crate and closed the door. Undeterred (because really there is no deterring Blarney), Blarney scooted between the crates and put his paws up on the top of the crate next to Hazel, resuming his barking. Hazel, incensed at the disruption, hissed loudly and smacked Blarney on his nose. He let out a shriek and ran away. Amelia woke from her nap, saw what happened, and instead of joining the cat harassment, ran from the door. Clearly, she didn’t want to tangle with an angry cat.
Later, when I told Nick about it, he said we were like ‘bad AI’ because we confidently decided Amelia was bad with cats based on all kinds of factors except actually doing a true cat test. We just assumed, because she liked to chase things, that she would be dangerous to cats.
I did one simple cat test with her the next day (Hazel on her perch, Amelia in the kitchen), and Amelia flat-out ignored the cat. I did a more interactive one yesterday, and it was pretty clear she was interested in playing with Hazel (who wasn’t interested and told her), but Hazel didn’t panic or jump up to the counter or her perch, so she obviously didn’t think Amelia was a true threat. I plan to do a few more tests, but I’m pretty confident that Amelia could live happily with a dog-savvy cat who can stand up for herself.
Here is one of the videos:
So, if you are one of the people who asked about Amelia and were told she’s not good with cats, please ask again! This special, sweet girl deserves a real home of her own. Email me at fosterdogcottage@gmail.com
Fostering is always an adventure. I’m always learning something new.
There is one more adoption scheduled to happen this week! Blarney’s adopter will be arriving from Wisconsin to pick him up on Tuesday! Paws crossed for safe travels. I’m so excited for this crazy boy to go start his real life! Meanwhile, he’s beating the heat by lying in one of Amelia’s holes.
It is about to get a whole lot calmer in this foster cottage, which is good. I need to take a short break from fostering to focus on my next book coming out this fall, and helping my parents move out of their apartment into a new living situation at their retirement home. I’m sure the cottage won’t stay completely empty. Amelia, Han, and Hazel are still here, plus I’ll be puppy sitting for one of my recently adopted puppies in August.
If you or someone you know is looking to add a furry family member, please share the dogs and puppies in my foster cottage. I need help spreading the word! You can always find information about the dogs on this blog site (under the tab ‘foster dogs currently available for adoption’) and also on the Facebook page, Adoptable Dogs in Shenandoah County.
Until Each One Has a Home,
Cara
For information on my writing, other blogs 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.
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 teething puppy toys, puppy probiotics, dog vitamins, PAPER TOWELS, small training treats, and (always) laundry detergent.
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.
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 help shelters save lives.
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.
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