Our adventures as a foster dog family
Someone famous wrote–the waiting is the hardest part.
But actually, for some it is and for others, it isn’t.
With Krimpet, it’s not hard at all. I’m hoping to wait at least another week. The longer those puppies stay in Krimpet’s belly, the healthier she and they will be.
Continue reading “The Waiting is the Hardest Part”
So here’s the fun part…..
All of the puppies went home to wonderful adopters. And what lucky adopters they are, as these are some wonderful puppies!
Meanwhile, Argus left on a trial adoption.
Continue reading “And the Fun Goes On and On”
It really came down to the wire on this one. Rainer’s adopter had vanished and adoption day was imminent. Would I be left with one puppy after everyone else went home?
I warned the family that we would all be taking turns carrying Ranier everywhere with us in the puppy sling, and mentally prepared myself for the crying.
Meanwhile, adoption coordinator extraordinaire, Chelsea, got to work hustling and shaking down all the potential adoption applications to see if there was someone out there who deserved this darling pup.
Continue reading “Adoption Swaparoo”
It’s always something when you have as many dogs as we have in the house. Let me catch you up on the latest.
First, the happy news that Darla was adopted. She’ll be living just a few miles up the road from me. She’s doing great and her new family is adjusting to the unique energy level a Catahoula, especially one as young and smart and fun as Darla, brings to a home. She’s enjoyed the ornamental pond in her new mom’s garden and enjoyed a romp with her another family member’s golden retriever. Luckily, her new family has a big piece of property and a plan for managing all that dog. She really hit the jackpot.
The puppies are one by one getting approved adopters. Being houndish puppies (my best guess, although I’m pretty sure there are probably a dozen different breeds in their DNA), they’ve required a few adjustments. Everyone is eating separately now to reduce the competitive eating urge and attempt to slow them down (adopters: you will want to purchase a slow-down or puzzle feeder!). We are also trying to get outside as much as possible, since clean up inside is a challenge as they grow and get more active.
Continue reading “The Latest in this Foster House”
Today is the first day of Stela’s real life. The life in which she will never have puppies again. She will never be thrown away again. Now we can find her a real family—one that will value this special dog.
And I mean it when I say special.
I keep telling people that she’s really special. And they all say, “But you think every dog is really special.”
Which I do.
But Stela?
Continue reading “One Special Dog.”Our life with foster animals is an ever-changing cast of characters. I’ve been reading a lot about character as I dig deep into a rewrite of my latest novel. I love my characters, but the story needs so much work. Story depends on characters though, just like life, I suppose. I know if I get my characters right, the story is much easier.
Nice little metaphor for fostering, right? If I can help these furry characters develop, get to know them well, I can set them up for a great story.
Take Argus, he is the quintessential insecure, nerdy sweet guy who has a heart of gold, only the average person doesn’t see that. Think Michael Cera or Jeff Goldblum.
Continue reading “Cast of Characters”
Current Foster Roll: 7 kittens, 5 puppies, 3 dogs
Yesterday morning, I met the 6am vet transport and delivered my seven kittens to be spayed/neutered at Anicira in Harrisonburg. I waited all day to find out if Addie and I were correct in our designation of who is a boy and who is a girl. I know it should be obvious, but I’m here to tell you, when you’re looking at a tiny, fuzzy, squirming kitten, it isn’t so clear. Thankfully, we were correct!
(Finally, I got something right with these kittens! I’ve managed to screw up the deworming schedule, the vaccine schedule, and the dosage for meds to treat their Upper Respiratory Infection. No real harm was done, except to my belief that I know what I’m doing. The HSSC may never ask me to foster kittens again. Nick doesn’t think that’s a bad thing.)
Continue reading “One Out, One In”
Being surrounded by kittens and puppies while you work is good and bad.
Good…aren’t they adorable? And they’re right here anytime I need some inspiration or snuggle.
And bad…aren’t they adorable? And they’re right here anytime I need a distraction or a snuggle.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Or a picture can launch a love affair. Either way, a good picture can be the key to a dog finding a family.
Often people tell me that when they saw a picture of their current dog, it was love at first sight. Capturing a dog’s personality as well as its physical features in a picture can work magic. It’s why shelters and rescues love when photographers volunteer their time (and why it would be great if more did!). For dogs coming out of shelters in the south, that initial picture is often all a rescue has to go on when deciding which lives to save. Suffice it to say, pictures matter.
Both of my current foster dogs, Argus and Marley, are adorable, but you might not know that from my pictures.
My snaps didn’t do them justice, so I asked my friend Caitlin, who is an incredibly talented photographer, to do a photo shoot.
Caitlin confessed right up front that beyond one lost dog and her own animals, she’s never spent a lot of time photographing dogs. If only we all could do this well out of the gate…
It’s been tricky to get good pictures of Argus, partly because he’s a puppy so he’s always in motion and partly because he’s a little on the insecure side. Just like that friend who always cringes or blinks when you pull out a camera, he often looked awkward in my pictures. Honestly, though, he is awkward. He’s like that gangly teen who is easily embarrassed and always apologizing for bumping into things as he learns to navigate the world with a growing body and mind.
He also sticks out his tongue when anxious, and even the tip of it appears when he’s distracted or thinking hard. He’s also a little shy around new people. So, not an easy dog to photograph.
Luckily, he warmed up quickly to Caitlin because she’s such a gentle, encouraging soul.
Marley, on the other hand, is friendly as an experienced salesman, ready to be your best friend upon introduction. The challenge with her was to make her look not so frantic – it’s mostly the blue eye that makes her pictures look a little manic. She is so much cuter in person than in pictures.
Her gray muzzle and those mismatched eyes do not come across well on camera, but I promise you, she is adorable. She’s also devoted, often she was too close to photograph well. And she has very light brindle stripes in her coat that look like wrinkles or dirt, also limiting her photogenicness. If you’re looking to adopt an Instagram star she’s probably not your dog, on the other hand, maybe her odd look on camera might work for you. She’s definitely got the personality for it.
Thanks so much to Caitlin Garvey (you can find her on Instagram at caitlingarvey_photography – look her up, you’ll be glad you did) for lending your time and your talent (and your patience) to help us find families for these two special dogs.
If you’re interested in adopting Marley, contact the Humane Society of Shenandoah County, and if you’re interested in Argus, contact Operation Paws for Homes. For more information about either of them, feel free to reach out to me.
And while you’re here, please wish a happy birthday to Argus who turned one this month!
Until Each One Has a Home,
Cara
For information on me, 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, 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 its 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 just like that, the foster dog of dogs, is gone.
Having Gina here was such a treat. Both Nick and I agreed that if we didn’t already have three dogs, we would have seriously considered foster-failing.
So, it’s awesome that she got the perfect home, right here in the valley.
Continue reading “Forever Homes”
Another Good Dog™ 