Category: litters

Humane Society of Shenandoah County, litters, mama dogs, oph, puppies

Summer Puppies: The Literary Mice

Cara Achterberg

I hadn’t planned on taking any puppies this summer. I wanted to be able to do some camping, kayaking, traveling…but then the heat/drought arrived and my youngest got a promotion that has him moving back to the east coast in August (2.5 hours from us).

I don’t think the temperatures will come down anytime soon if the Weather Channel is to be trusted, and Ian will need us (or at least our truck) for his big move. The water levels are so low that kayaking is out of the question, and frankly, I couldn’t justify staying on the sidelines while shelters are completely overwhelmed and the ‘euthanasia’ numbers continue to climb.

Continue reading “Summer Puppies: The Literary Mice” →
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.

Continue reading “Down to the Wire with These Puppies” →
adopters, Destruction, dog books, fostering, litters, mama dogs, puppies

Adoption Swaparoo

Cara Achterberg

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” →
dog rescue, foster dogs, fostering, litters, puppies, Who Will Let the Dogs Out

Freedom Ride

Cara Achterberg

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” →
adopters, foster cats, foster dogs, kittens, litters, puppies

Surrounded by Kittens and Puppies

Cara Achterberg

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.

Continue reading “Surrounded by Kittens and Puppies” →
dog rescue, fosterdogs, fostering, litters, oph, parvo, parvovirus, puppies, Updates

Movie Mutts and Parvo Puppies

Cara Achterberg

This weekend we bleached the puppy fences, the crate, and the baby gate that we used with our ‘parvo pups’ last fall one last time and finally stowed them in the attic of the garage. They’d been wiped down with bleach last fall and then left stacked in the corner of our stone porch all winter. Even though they’d been bleached once, I was still wary of them. So afraid that in a crevice or a hinge, parvo virus still lingered.

Continue reading “Movie Mutts and Parvo Puppies” →
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!” →
Diary, dog rescue, fosterdogs, fostering, litters, puppies

Diary of a Rescue: Week Six

Cara Achterberg

In less than a week these puppies will head to their forever homes! I surely won’t forget this crew—it has been an equally heartbreaking and heartfilling experience being their foster mom. By this time with every litter I am ready for them to go – they have outgrown our little puppy room and the work of caring for them is enormous. Still, I am trying to treasure it and working hard to give them the very best start to the very best lives.

Here are this week’s entries in their entirety. Continue reading “Diary of a Rescue: Week Six” →