Tag: foster dogs

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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foster dog looking for security out on walk
foster dogs, fostering dogs, heartworms

What a Difference Security Can Make

Cara Achterberg

Wishbone is transforming before my eyes. Security makes all the difference. When he first arrived, he was skeletal and skittish and focused inward, curling up in a ball in his crate whenever he wasn’t eating.

foster dog looking for secuirty

I took him for very short walks, trying to venture further from the cottage each day, but going at his pace. In the foster cottage, we kept things quiet. He and Diamond take turns being loose/crated. After a week, he finally felt secure enough to stretch out and sleep soundly (snoring loudly!).

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adopters, dog rescue, foster dogs, rescue flight, Updates

Flying to Safety

Cara Achterberg

Wishbone, our newest foster, flew in last night.

He makes a nice matching set with Diamond, my other foster. He is the same size as her but weighs about 25 pounds less. He is quite literally a walking skeleton. It’s easy to feel all of his bones.

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fostering, puppies

Christmas Puppy Anyone?

Cara Achterberg

Who is hoping to find a puppy under the Christmas tree?

I’ve got some pretty adorable puppies looking for a home of their own. The ABC pups – Alex, Becca, and Cassie – arrived this past week from Mississippi.

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adopters, canine health, dog rescue

Lingering Foster Dogs

Cara Achterberg

Dogs just aren’t moving. Like everyone else’s, my foster dogs linger as adoptions have slowed down all over the country.

There are lots of theories about why this is happening, and I wrote about that this week on the Who Will Let the Dogs Out Blog.

‘Ann’ had a healthy baby boy and is doing well, but it is still undertermined whether she’ll be able to find work and housing that will allow Diamond to finally go home. This sweet girl is challenged by allergies and we are working through it, but treatment ideas are welcomed. She is red and itchy between her toes, and it’s quite a torment for her. I’ve cut out all chicken and chicken by-products in her diet, and that has helped but not eliminated the issue. She’s not a fan of probiotic wipes, but we’re trying that too.

Nancy was here to join me on the latest shelter tour and took some great pictures of this sweet, wiggle-butt:

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dog rescue, former foster dogs, fostering, fostering dogs, Momma Bear

Newest Foster Dog (from Kosovo!)

Cara Achterberg

We have a new foster dog keeping Diamond company these days. Berry traveled a long way to join us here. He’s from Kosovo!

OPH has an international dog program, pulling dogs from countries where they are often treated as ‘pests’ rather than sentient beings. They pull a small number of street dogs from India, Kosovo, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Dogs living in the streets in these countries live in terrible conditions, dying in large numbers from disease, malnutrition, and car accidents.

While there are many who question why a rescue would pull dogs from another country when so many are dying here, OPH’s stance is, “In our eyes, rescue has no borders or boundaries.”

More important than that powerful value, their explanation of ‘the ripple effect’ is compelling:

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adopters, foster dogs, fostering, Pit bull, puppies

Fostering Has Taken a New Turn

Cara Achterberg

My fostering has taken a new turn. But before I tell you about that, let’s celebrate that all my puppies (and their mama) found wonderful homes!

Not long after the puppies arrived, I spotted a post on Facebook. It was from a local woman who was trying to help a friend with her dog. The friend’s life had (in her words), ‘taken a left turn.’ She was pregnant, and she and her dog were now homeless. She had an opportunity to move into a shelter program, but couldn’t bring her dog.

I’ve seen posts like this before and read all the statistics about how sometimes people will forego entering a shelter program because they would have to give up their dog. Most of the time, I scroll past, feeling that there’s nothing I can do. I’m too busy helping other dogs.

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adopters, dog rescue, foster cats, foster dogs, fostering dogs, mama dogs, oph, puppies

When Foster Puppies Don’t Leave

Cara Achterberg

It seems these foster puppies are not going anywhere, anytime soon. Only one has an approved adopter and is scheduled to leave this afternoon.

Now the challenge for me is to keep these little darlings engaged and happy and, hopefully, learning a few things beyond how to drag their sibling around by the collar or scale the puppy pen fence.

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adopters, dog rescue, foster dogs, fostering, hard to adopt, puppies, returned dogs

Looking for that Adoption Magic

Cara Achterberg

From Marley’s point of view, people just don’t understand. What she’d like is a person (preferably a man) to be devoted to her in the same way that she is devoted to him. She’d like someone she could stick close to when he’s home and a safe, comfy crate to hang out in when he’s gone. Maybe a few long walks to sniff stuff, a few treats after she sits when asked, and a couch to snuggle on during movie marathons.

She’s a pretty simple girl.

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dog rescue, foster dogs, fostering dogs, oph, puppies

Puppies!

Cara Achterberg

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.

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