Tag: foster kittens

adopters, foster dogs, kittens, training

One Out, One In

Cara Achterberg

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” →
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.

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dog rescue, foster dogs, kittens, puppies

Puppies are the Perfect Panacea

Cara Achterberg

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.

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cats, Flannery Oconnor, foster cats, foster dogs, fostering, kittens

Becoming a Cat Person (By Default)

Cara Achterberg

The boys survived their ‘alterations’ this week and hopefully, two of them will be moving on soon. Chett and Poe have an adopter, they’re vaccinated, dewormed (multiple times), microchipped, combo-tested (neg), and now, neutered. They are ready to go!

The Humane Society of Shenandoah County charges $175 for kittens and $150 for cats in adoption fees. I’m pretty new to this cat game, but even I can see that adoption fees don’t begin to cover the cost of saving these kitties.

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cats, foster cats, fostering, Humane Society of Shenandoah County, kittens

Five Little Kitties Jumping on the Desk

Cara Achterberg

It’s pretty quiet here at this foster home. That’s the difference between fostering cats and fostering dogs. Dogs require a lot more attention.

But cats, kittens in this case, also require a little attention. Just like puppies, there is a lot of deworming. Plus, for the first few weeks with us, Harper needed to be bathed almost daily because she had not figured out how to take care of herself. Thankfully, she’s finally doing her own grooming. Neither of us enjoyed her baths.

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cats, Dogs with Issues, Fanny

Dog Park By Reservation Only

Cara Achterberg

Ever since moving here, I’ve been tracking the activity at the local dog park. It’s a great park. Two big areas that have built-in agilty equipment, plus shade and water and benches to sit on.

It’s a busy place.

And that’s the problem.

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foster dogs, foster fail, fostering, hard to adopt, kittens, parvo, puppies

A New Year of Fostering

Cara Achterberg

What will fostering look like for us in 2021?

I honestly don’t know. Maybe one thing 2020 has taught me is that I can’t assume anything about the coming year.

I have many hopes for my ‘dog life’:

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Dixieland, foster cats, fostering, kittens, oph, Oreo, puppies

And Then There Were Kittens….(what?)

Cara Achterberg

The puppies are gone. It’s just us now.

Well, us and four dogs.

And Hermoine.

And the horses.

And a few visiting cousins.

And two foster kittens.

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