Category: fosterdogs

adopters, fosterdogs, puppies

Pretty Perfect Puppies Still Here!

Cara Achterberg

I’ve fostered a lot of puppies. But never this long. I look at them sometimes and wonder if they’ll still be here at Christmas.

puppies

I know they won’t be. Eventually, they will find homes. I’m certain.

I suppose the best part (from a potential adopter’s point of view) is that out of necessity, they are now crate-trained, more-or-less housebroken (except when I get busy and forget how long it’s been since they went out), and sleeping through the night with no accidents.

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adopters, fosterdogs, puppies

Time to Find Homes for these Puppies!

Cara Achterberg

It is time to find homes for these puppies! They are more than ready for forever families.

The Beanie Babies are now eight weeks old, age-appropriately vaccinated, and microchipped. And I need your help finding those homes!

Please share this blog post (or any of the Facebook posts I’ve put up on Another Good Dog) with anyone and everyone.

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adopters, fosterdogs

Diamond is a Diamond

Cara Achterberg

Many of you remember when Diamond came to stay with us last summer after a few traumatic months while her mom was homeless. She was in rough shape, and we agreed to house her while her mom accepted a spot in a homeless shelter for pregnant women.

We had Diamond spayed and addressed all her health and skin issues. It took me a few months to figure out the right diet to keep her allergies in check, but she’s been doing great for the last six months since we eliminated all chicken products from her diet.

The plan was for Diamond to go back with her mom once she got on her feet. That plan has been delayed repeatedly while her mom faced set back after set back. And now, finding affordable housing with a toddler and infant and 50 pound bulldog has proved elusive.

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adopters, dog rescue, fosterdogs, heartworms, puppies

Rescue is a Roller Coaster

Cara Achterberg

Rescue is always a roller coaster. But I tend to go with the most death-defying coasters (at least when it comes to rescuing, definitely not on real coasters!).

Lately, there have been too many situations that have made me angry, sad, and/or heart-broken because I am powerless to do anything about them. I wallow briefly, but then rally and look for situations where I can have an impact.

So, as weeks have gone by in which the news in my world and the larger world has kept me awake, twisting my insides, or leaving me emotionally spent, I started casting around for a dog to save. Maybe I can’t fix the world, but I can rescue a dog! (or maybe six…)

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adopters, euthanasia, fosterdogs, fostering, fostering dogs, Husky, oph, puppies, shelters

Last one left is a….wonderful puppy.

Cara Achterberg

Last one left is a….wonderful puppy.

I never really know why a person picks one puppy instead of another. I suppose it’s kismet or karma or whim. What I tend to believe is that there is almost always adoption magic afoot. People tend to find the dog they need (and vice versa).

I have only one foster puppy left looking for her forever family. And she is a gem. Becca is crazy smart but eager to please and VERY food motivated, so training this baby will be fun. The sky’s the limit. With her long legs and athletic body, I’d bet she’d be an ace at agility.

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adopters, fosterdogs, fostering

Team Bonnie

Cara Achterberg

Bonnie and I have had a quiet week.

I was tempted not to write at all, but didn’t want to miss the opportunity to put out more Bonnie propaganda. Not that it’s propaganda, but any/all exposure is good because you just never know when the right person will catch of glimpse of her and think – ‘Yes! That looks like a great dog for me!”

I looked up propaganda to be sure I was correct in my assumed definition…

Propaganda is the dissemination of information—facts, arguments, rumors, half-truths, or lies—to influence public opinion. Deliberateness and a relatively heavy emphasis on manipulation distinguish propaganda from casual conversation or the free and easy exchange of ideas.

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fosterdogs, Humane Society of Shenandoah County, Long Term Dog, mama dogs, puppies

Small Dog Puppies and Big Dog Puppies

Cara Achterberg

Oh my gosh, small dog puppies are SO much easier than big dog puppies. At least in large quantities.

Clean up takes a fraction of the time and the correlating stink is also much lighter!

Maybe the best part is that I can hold three of four of them on my lap at a time (which still leaves two yelling for my attentions).

And talk about cuteness – why are small things so much cuter than large things?

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dog rescue, Dogs with Issues, fosterdogs

My Husband is Pretty Great

Cara Achterberg

My husband is pretty great. If you’ve read my book, Another Good Dog, you probably already know that (and wonder why he’s still married to me).

He likes dogs. But not like I like dogs. Or at least not like I like fostering dogs. Right now we have two foster dogs (the puppies all went home-finally!!) living with us (plus Gracie Lou who is currently fostering in Maryland).

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adopters, dog rescue, fosterdogs, hound dogs, litters, mama dogs, puppies, worms

Down to the Wire with These Puppies

Cara Achterberg

We are getting down to the wire with these puppies, matching them with adopters, microchipping (tomorrow!), and I just slogged through the multi-day Safeguard deworming protocol (none of us enjoyed it). They’ll get their second set of vaccines and be ready to go home as early as December 30th.

Every day I grow more convinced that they are hound dogs. As a foster, I try very hard to dodge fostering hound dog puppies. Not because they aren’t cute, oh my gosh, they are. And not because they aren’t fun or sweet or snuggly – they’ve got that in spades. But because they are messy.

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cats, former foster dogs, fosterdogs, pregnant dog, puppies

The Gangs All Here

Cara Achterberg

Assimilating three dogs takes patience.

Once upon a time, in my early days of fostering, I would rush it. No, actually, I just wouldn’t think about it. Foster dog arrived and we let it loose in the house. I look back on that now and am amazed it didn’t result in anything worse than ruined carpets.

I have three canine guests in the cottage with me. Two are fosters and one is a previous foster puppy who is hanging out with us while his family is traveling. I rarely get to see my puppy fosters all grown up, so this is a treat.

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