Our adventures as a foster dog family
I’ve tried. Hard. For the sake of my family and our new home and the holidays and my husband’s patience.
I’ve tried not to foster.
The plan we made (and I agreed on) was once we were settled in our new house, put up a dog fence, and renovated the cottage, then I would start fostering again.
So, we’re here. Mostly settled.
And the dog fence went in last week.
Continue reading “Moose Moves In”
Abby is still here. And it’s just not fair.
She’s no longer living on a chain (yay), but she is confined to one room much of her day. She can see the other dogs, hang out with our foster cat, and watch the activity out her window, but she’d much prefer to be with a person.
Abby is a people-dog. She loves people – all kinds, all sizes, all attitudes. She isn’t discouraged by her predicament, but I am.
Continue reading “Looking for Your Next Best Friend?”
Haven’t you always dreamed of a dog you can take with you everywhere? I’ve got one for you!
Abby is the most portable foster I’ve had in recent memory. She simply loves a good outing.
It’s all coming back to me now.
Fostering is unpredictable, rewarding, frustrating, entertaining, and so worth it, but nearly always stresses my marriage.
It’s been nearly two years since we were fostering regularly, and somehow, like the rosy memory of childbirth, I’d forgotten.
As we jump back into this passion of ours mine, I was reminded of how unpredictable fostering is….
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.
Continue reading “Becoming a Cat Person (By Default)”
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.
I don’t know what to tell you about Bippity Bop. Her health situation is a mystery. As we back off (very slowly) from the anti-seizure medications, she is still not herself. It’s like the little dog who arrived here a month ago, is gone, vanished.
In her place, is a timid pup who startles easily, is unsteady on her feet, and seems confused most of the time. X-Port Paws and I are reaching out to different doctors and rescue organizations for advice and plan to do all we can to get to the bottom of this, but my heart is heavy as she is deteriorating quickly. I just want my spunky little girl back.
Continue reading “Heartbreak and Happiness Exist Side By Side in Rescue”
It has been quite a rollercoaster ride with Miss Bippity Bop this past week.
The good news is that we’ve been able to get her seizures under control.
The bad news is that we still don’t know what brought them, and the medication she is taking to prevent them is having a strong effect on her.
She is docile, dopey, and a wobbly. Gone is her fiery little personality that claimed her space at this house. Now, she seems to be sleep-walking through her days, and sleep-walking unsteadily at that. She naps all day long and is happiest if she can nap in a lap.
I put off writing this post because I wasn’t sure what was really happening to my little foster dog, Bippity. I still don’t know, but I’ve decided to write anyway.
The not knowing? That is a big part of rescue.
Continue reading “Rescue Comes With A Lot of Unkowns”
My next foster, Bippity-Bop, is making her way eastward as you read this! Yesterday, she traveled from the Rio Grande Valley to San Antonio, where she was boarded overnight and this morning was placed on an east-bound transport.
She’ll arrive in Stephens City, about a half-hour north of us on Friday evening. That’s if all goes according to plan. Anyone in rescue knows that according to plan is often simply a fantasy.
Continue reading “Dog Marketing and Distribution”
Another Good Dog™ 