And I Thought They Were All Adopted…

I really thought my foster cottage would be emptying out this week. But clearly, I was (as always) overly optimistic.

The last puppy Han found a wonderful adopter I’ve known for years. Amelia had a Meet & Greet schedule, and Leia’s adopter requested her records so she could set up Doggie Daycare for her in preparation for picking her up on Sunday.

Fostering is nothing if not unpredictable. For weeks I have been communicating with Leia’s adopter. She’d applied and been approved to adopt three weeks ago, but asked if it was possible for me to hang on to Leia until after an important planned trip. She would come for her on August 2.

Because I still had Han hanging around, it seemed like a good way to keep Han from being alone in the cottage and help out this very nice person at the same time. She loved Leia and was convinced Leia was meant to be her puppy. I sent regular updates, she called to check on Leia, we provided vet records for her doggie daycare, I was sure that Leia had found the home of her dreams.

And then on August 1, I got a text from the adopter: It’s not a good time. I’m not ready to add a puppy to my household.

Mic drop.

I didn’t respond. Which isn’t like me. I’m unfailingly nice to all adopters, even the ones who return dogs. I never want people to have a bad experience with choosing to adopt and save a life.

But this time I just haven’t had the energy to say anything. (full disclosure: I’m operating on fragile emotional bandwidth as I navigate my parents reluctant move to memory care/skilled nursing care.)

So, I just switched Leia back to adoptable and went back to my company line of: Well, obviously this isn’t the family she was meant to have and her real family is still out there.

The ironic thing about all of this is that when the puppies were born, I was certain Leia would be the first adopted. She’s a girl (WAY more adopters want girl puppies than boy puppies). She’s got blue eyes (everyone wants a puppy with blue eyes). She’s maybe the most loving puppy in the bunch (everyone who met the litter gravitated to her – she is quite the belly-rub-demanding soul).

But here she is.

So, if you know anyone looking for a puppy to add to their family, please tell them about Leia.

STATS:

Amelia Bedelia

Also, still available to adopt is Amelia Bedelia. While she did beautifully with the family she met at her Meet & Greet, she could not resist the siren-call of their horses in the pasture beside the house. Clearly, she is a herding dog. Life there would have been one of frustration, so I thanked them for the opportunity to learn more about Amelia’s perfect home and took her back to the foster cottage.

Amelia is a dreamboat foster dog whose company I enjoy, and she is doing an amazing job babysitting Han, Leia, and Obi (now Leo) who we are babysitting this week for his dad. But gosh, I wish we could find her the home she deserves.

Here is the lowdown on Amelia (courtesy of Gemini rewriting my overused bio about her):

Amelia Bedelia is the ultimate independent-yet-devoted partner who is ready to conquer the world by your side, or just nap politely while you earn the kibble money.

Meet Amelia: The Great American Shelter Dog

Are you looking for a best friend who has the brains of a CEO, the manners of royalty, and the adventurous spirit of Indiana Jones? Look no further. Amelia is a certified custom-blend masterpiece—part Cattle Dog, part Carolina Dog, maybe a dash of Black Mouth Cur, but 100% pure companion.

Her Daily Planner

• 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Lead Introvert & Office Supervisor. Amelia is a strong, independent girl. She knows how to entertain herself and won’t mind at all if you leave for work. No separation anxiety here; just vibes, naps, and peaceful waiting.
• 5:01 PM: The Adventure Athlete. The second you step through the door, it’s time to pay the “adventure tax.” She is high-energy and lives for a long walk, a scenic hike, or a fast run.
• 8:00 PM: Gentle Cuddle Bug. Despite her athletic stamina, she flips a switch at home. She is incredibly gentle, sweet, and has a flawless track record with humans of all sizes, including kids.

The Social Contract

Amelia is an excellent diplomat in the animal kingdom. She gets along great with other dogs. When it comes to cats, she follows a strict policy of mutual respect: she will mind her business if the resident feline stands up for themselves and establishes boundaries.

No Farms, Please!

Because of her brilliant herding instincts, Amelia takes her “jobs” a bit too seriously. Put her on a farm, and she will absolutely try to manage the livestock without a permit. She prefers the city life, patio dining, and outdoor trails over agricultural management.

Are you ready to add this confident, polite, and adventurous girl to your family? Apply to adopt Amelia today email FosterDogCottage@gmail.com and secure your new permanent weekend hiking partner!

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 probiotics, dog vitamins, PAPER TOWELS, small training treats, and always, bully sticks and/or benebones.

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.