Our adventures as a foster dog family
Puppies.
What can I write that I haven’t written before?
This bunch is unique only in that they are all boys. I’ve never had a litter of all one sex. I came close with Edith’s litter of eleven girls and one boy.
Continue reading “Puppies!”
Traveling to shelters is hard. But it’s harder for me to sit at home and not do it. The silver lining of this trip was that as I walked through overcrowded shelters in three states, I knew that on our last visit to Huntington-Cabell-Wayne Regional Shelter in West Virginia, I would be taking a mama and five puppies out of that situation and giving them their freedom ride.
Continue reading “Freedom Ride”
Up until recently, I haven’t really worried about Argus finding an adopter. He’s such a great guy, so easy to have around, so sweet, so minus any serious hang-ups, I figured eventually someone would be willing to drive ‘all the way’ out to the Shenandoah Valley to adopt this guy.
But now we’re going on four months together and he’s still here. Still the same sweetheart. Still full-body waggling his happiness at the sight of me. Still obediently trotting into his crate for too many hours at a time.
Continue reading “Adoptable Argus”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”
Fostering is a lot of work.
I won’t lie or paint a warm fuzzy picture of it being all unicorns and happy endings and lovely dogs who don’t poop indoors.
This past week has been one of those weeks. Nothing terrible happened and everyone is fine and on-their-way-to-being-healthy.
They are happy and engaged and exercised and gaining weight. (Pretty much every animal in this cottage except me, needs to gain weight.)
But I am pretty wiped out. It’s been non-stop.
Continue reading “One of Those Weeks”
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.
Nick knows he should brace himself whenever I’m in a tough place emotionally.
It always means more animals.
This past week I pushed my IT band too far and now am paying for it with restricted activity and an aching hip.
Plus, the latest news on my latest manuscript was not good. My agent is once again asking for massive changes and my heart just isn’t in it. So physically and mentally, I’m feeling a little defeated.
Which is always a great time for puppies.
Continue reading “Puppies are the Perfect Panacea”
I don’t know what happened to my puppies before they arrive here with us. They may have come from a place of neglect or overwhelm or been strays with their mamas. Most likely they didn’t have good nutrition or prenatal care.
I can’t control what happened before, but I can have a say in what happens from here, and do my best to make up for lost time.
So I’m very intentional about fostering puppies. Beyond plenty of good food, a solid deworming schedule, and vaccinations, I try to give them daily enrichment in the form of new toys, new puppy room set up, new obstacles, plenty of attention, and lots of new experiences (vacuum cleaner, radio, dropping loud things nearby, etc.).
Continue reading “The Stress Factor in (Foster) Dogs”Puppies.
Ah, now I remember.
And I’m really glad I only have three as I get my puppy-raising legs back underneath me.
After several different set ups, I’ve settled on having a big area (3/4 of the room) for their awake time and a small area (1/4) for bed time, nap time, and get-them-out-of-the-way-so-I-can-clean-without-helpers time.
Continue reading “I Remember Puppies Now…”
Another Good Dog™ 