dog rescue – Page 9 – Another Good Dog™

adopters, Carla, Daisy Duke, dog rescue, Flannery Oconnor, Foo Foo, former foster dogs, foster dogs, fostering, owner responsibility, returned dogs

Returned Dogs Are Inevitable

July 28, 2020July 28, 2020 Cara Achterberg

There have been so many adoptions this spring and summer. It’s a wonderful thing, but with lots and lots of adoptions come the inevitable returns.

Making a decision as momentous as adopting a dog for the rest of its life based on pictures, maybe a few videos, a foster’s notes, an adoption coordinator’s questions, and usually only a single meeting, is definitely a gamble, albeit an educated one (the same kind my brother claims he uses to win money in Vegas).

We shouldn’t be surprised or dismayed when a dog is returned. It doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with the dog or the adopter.

What’s really remarkable, I think, is Continue reading “Returned Dogs Are Inevitable” →

dog books, dog rescue, Estelle, Flannery Oconnor, foster dogs, fostering, Fruitcake, Gala, Giving Tuesday Pups, Highway Puppies, Hops, Hula Hoop, Miss Fanny Wiggles, Nelson, Oberyn, Oreo, Pepper Puppers, writing

My Hope and My Thanks

July 7, 2020July 7, 2020 Cara Achterberg

Today is the RELEASE DAY for 100 Dogs & Counting.

With all the hoopla and hope, I almost didn’t post to this blog. Continue reading “My Hope and My Thanks” →

dog rescue, fosterdogs, fostering

Sheep Fostering

June 23, 2020June 23, 2020 Cara Achterberg

I have now fostered 177 dogs, 7 cats, and 1 sheep.

No, really.

Last night, as I was putting the final touches on a pizza and the grill was heating up on the deck, my oldest son yelled, “Hey, there’s a sheep or goat or something outside.” Continue reading “Sheep Fostering” →

adopters, dog books, dog rescue, foster dogs, foster fail, fostering, oph, shelters, transport

We CAN Rescue These Dogs

June 16, 2020June 16, 2020 Cara Achterberg

Our foster world is pretty quiet these days. And that’s a good thing.

I’m busy getting ready for the release of my new book, 100 Dogs & Counting: One Woman, Ten Thousand Miles, and a Journey Into the Heart of Shelter and Rescue. It’s a strange time for all of us, dogs included.

OPH has been saving dogs in record numbers with Continue reading “We CAN Rescue These Dogs” →

dog rescue, fostering, heartworms, shelters, writing

A Little Help from My Friends

June 9, 2020June 9, 2020 Cara Achterberg

Hey friends, today’s post is a little different.

I am in serious crunchtime trying to get word out about my book, 100 Dogs & Counting, which releases on July 7. I received word that the actual books made it to the Simon&Schuster warehouse for distribution this week, so I can finally let out the breath I’ve been holding, and work like crazy to get review copies out.

This means every spare second (besides this one) I have is being spent writing articles, pitching reviewers, and preparing launch events (alas, all online).

There isn’t time for fostering, although the foster who should have been adopted by us or out the door by now, has had his stay with us extended because he tested positive for Heartworm. (Readers of this blog are familiar with my record on best-laid-plans.)

This morning, I drove Tito Continue reading “A Little Help from My Friends” →

adopters, dog rescue, Fanny, foster dogs, foster fail, fostering, Gracie

The Adoption Decision

June 2, 2020 Cara Achterberg

Adopting a dog is not something anyone should do on a whim. Yes, there are many times when you get that ‘feeling’ or ‘connection’ or ‘moment’ that tells you that this is the one.

But when you are a part of a family—human and canine (and feline)—adopting a dog has to be a family decision.

In this family, the opinions of the kids are important, but as far as the adoption decision, Continue reading “The Adoption Decision” →

dog rescue, Dogs with Issues, foster fail, fosterdogs, fostering, heartworms

A Sick Foster Dog Changes Everything

May 28, 2020May 28, 2020 Cara Achterberg

You know what they say about plans?

Okay, I think that is actually assumptions.

And maybe I was naively assuming our plan would work.

When our newest foster dog, Tito (OPH Lieutenant Howl) arrived last week, two things became instantly clear: Continue reading “A Sick Foster Dog Changes Everything” →

dog rescue, Fanny, foster dogs, foster fail, fostering, Gracie

Tito or Not to Tito

May 24, 2020May 24, 2020 Cara Achterberg

Here is the post I thought I’d put up earlier this week before I left for the cabin to celebrate my birthday:

[Note: much has changed since then I will update you later this week!]

All of the puppies are now in their forever homes. So, it was time to pick up the really special dog I’ve been anxiously awaiting! Continue reading “Tito or Not to Tito” →

Diary, dog rescue, fosterdogs, fostering, puppies

Diary of a Rescue Week Seven

May 19, 2020May 19, 2020 Cara Achterberg

And that was that. Hard to believe all the puppies are now in their forever homes. Mia has been spayed and is waiting for the right adopter to find her. She’s happy and healthy in her new home. Hard to believe it was 50 days ago that I picked up the little family on a gray, rainy day in Winchester.

I don’t know if I’ll chronicle another rescue, but while this pandemic has gone on, it has provided an excellent distraction for all of us, so you never know. We move to ‘yellow’ at the end of this week, but from where I sit, that doesn’t change much.

We’ve just picked up a new foster dog who is a special guy I met while traveling in Tennessee for Who Will Let the Dogs Out in March. I’m excited to share his story and to get to know him better.

This is the end of this rescue (for me), but you will likely still catch updates from the adopters, plus the adoption of Mia, on the Another Good Dog Facebook group. Thanks for following along! Below are the last entries for the rescue of Mama Mia and the Broadway Babes. Continue reading “Diary of a Rescue Week Seven” →