Author: Cara Achterberg

I am a writer, blogger, and dog rescuer. I live in the darling town of Woodstock, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley with my husband and three rescue dogs (who rescue me on a daily basis). Find more information about my books, my dogs, and all my writing adventures at CaraWrites.com.
Uncategorized

While I’m Away…

Cara Achterberg

It’s Tuesday so that means a post for Another Good Dog. I’ve been writing this blog for over five years. That’s a lot of posts! Today I am in Virginia at our cabin, Chateau Frankie, celebrating twenty-five years being married to Nicholas.

We are hiking and exploring our future hometown and probably eating and drinking too much. Fanny is with us, so maybe today we have driven over to the other side of the Massanutten mountains to the town of Woodstock where there is an excellent dog park that even has a few pieces of agility equipment (in addition to an excellent brew pub!). Or maybe we rented canoes and are floating up the south fork of the Shenandoah River.

Continue reading “While I’m Away…” →
dog products, dog rescue, fosterdogs, fostering, lawn

Looking for a Few Recommendations…

Cara Achterberg

I love a good recommendation, whether it’s for a book, a recipe, a cool place to hike, a great new kitchen gadget, but most especially dog stuff (go figure).

Adopters ask me often for recommendations for dog stuff and I’m always happy to oblige, but recently I had a thought—what if the company whose products I recommend would sponsor me (or technically, Who Will Let the Dogs Out/WALDO)? Or if money is out of the question, what if they gave me ‘dog stuff’ that I could use with the foster dogs or take to the shelters?

Continue reading “Looking for a Few Recommendations…” →
adopters, cats, Dogs with Issues, foster cats

Practicing Self Control

Cara Achterberg

The puppies have all gone home. Sigh. It was only two weeks, but it sure felt like longer.

Ian confessed to me that for the first time ever, he got attached to a puppy. Usually he views the puppies as work, knowing that more often than not, during a litter’s time with us the responsibility of caring for them will fall to him. (His mother being a busy, overcommitted woman and all.)

Continue reading “Practicing Self Control” →
adopters, fostering, litters, puppies

Foster Puppies: Quick Before They Escape!

Cara Achterberg

The puppies are thriving and noisy and ever since getting their first taste of freedom in the puppy yard, all they want is “OUT!”

Or at least, that’s what I imagine they are saying as they yip-yip-yap all the live-long day whenever they are left in the puppy room. Thankfully, the weather has been nice and they’ve had plenty of time in the puppy yard. If only I could install my desk out there, we would be all set. As it is, I can’t leave them out there unsupervised.

Continue reading “Foster Puppies: Quick Before They Escape!” →
Breeds, dog rescue, fostering, litters, oph, poop, puppies

Put a Little More Puppy in Your Day

Cara Achterberg

I think the reason people who foster a litter of puppies agree to do it again is the same reason people have more than one child. You forget.

You forget the mess. You forget the noise. You forget the smell. You forget the laundry and the work and endlessness of it.

All you remember is the joy and the cuteness and the love.

I asked for this. I could have stuck with full-grown dogs. But no, I needed puppies.

Continue reading “Put a Little More Puppy in Your Day” →
dog rescue, fosterdogs, fostering, hard to adopt, litters, Long Term Dog, puppies, shelters, transport

Coming Soon to a Foster Home Near You: Puppies!

Cara Achterberg

I’m pretty sure Mia will be here indefinitely.

It may take some time for her people to find her. She’s incredibly special and so her people are likely special too. She’s ceaseless entertainment for Fanny (and for us), so we don’t mind waiting.

Continue reading “Coming Soon to a Foster Home Near You: Puppies!” →
Breeds, dog rescue, foster dogs, fostering, Long Term Dog, Pit bull, training

Of Bite Addendums, Smart Dogs, and Transparency

Cara Achterberg

Smart dogs are just harder to deal with—same goes for smart children. Mia still has no applications, but that’s not her fault. She isn’t a simple dog.

She is clever and energetic and totally in the game. She doesn’t miss a thing—my glance her way while working will bring her to her feet, she’ll nudge my hip as if to ask, “How can I help?”

Continue reading “Of Bite Addendums, Smart Dogs, and Transparency” →
dog rescue, foster dogs, fostering, returned dogs, training, Uncategorized

Four-legged Happy

Cara Achterberg

Do you want to know what happy looks like in a 45 pound package with four legs?

That would be Mia. This dog simply never has a bad day, or a dull moment, or an off-switch. Well, that’s not entirely true. She does sleep—in fact, when she does it is much like she lives—loud. The girl can snore.

Mama Mia is back with us and she is an entirely different dog than the dog who arrived here last April with ten puppies still nursing.

Continue reading “Four-legged Happy” →
adopters, Billie Jean, dog rescue, former foster dogs, fosterdogs, returned dogs

A Dog I Once Fostered…

Cara Achterberg

Billie Jean is launched.

Gosh how I hope this time it sticks. I think it is a good match, but we never really know until she goes home.

I’m still awaiting word. I haven’t heard anything since a quick text from her adopter while they were driving home (four hours to northern New Jersey). She said Billie Jean, now Piper, was sleeping in the back seat most of the time, occasionally standing up and putting her head between the seats to give a few kisses.

Continue reading “A Dog I Once Fostered…” →
cats, dog books, dog rescue, foster dogs, fostering, hard to adopt, no-kill, shelters, writing

Dog Parties and Talking Rescue

Cara Achterberg

We had a dog party this weekend.

We often have multiple dogs – but that usually includes a litter of puppies which inflates our numbers. This time, it was all adult dogs, and quite a few personalities.

We had our neighbor’s dog Juno, who is one of Fanny’s best friends.

Continue reading “Dog Parties and Talking Rescue” →