Tag: puppy

Uncategorized

Sometimes Fostering is Hard on the Heart

Cara Achterberg

Fostering is often a lot of work, and always rewarding, but sometimes it’s also just plain heartbreaking.

Every time we welcome foster dogs or puppies, they are a mystery. They are most often strays, and lately, most have been pulled from the euthanasia list at an overcrowded shelter.

We don’t know their medical histories before the day of their intake at the shelter, but we do know they have often been subjected to neglect and rarely have had good nutrition, medical attention, or even basic care. They suffer physically, but emotionally as well.

Continue reading “Sometimes Fostering is Hard on the Heart” →
Uncategorized

Have I Gotten Myself in Over My Head?

Cara Achterberg

Have I gotten myself in over my head? This is the question that rolled across my mind early this morning when I couldn’t sleep.

The last time I had this many dogs in the foster cottage, I was overwhelmed.

In fact, it was also four dogs and four puppies. Of course, those were basically feral dogs and worm-riddled puppies, so the physical work was overwhelming. After the seventh or eighth poopified crate, I’d come pretty close to quitting this whole foster gig.

Continue reading “Have I Gotten Myself in Over My Head?” →
adopters, puppies, returned dogs

The Leftover Puppy

Cara Achterberg

Nick keeps referring to Alex as the ‘leftover puppy’.

In my last post, I told you about Becca, who I thought was my ‘last puppy.’ But as is too often the case in puppy adoptions, there was another shuffle, and in the end, I still have one puppy. Just not Becca.

Alex was briefly adopted (for just over 24 hours) but it was not a good fit for the other dogs in the household, so he is back.

To be honest, I’m not a fan of the name Alex, but Leftover Puppy isn’t any better.

Continue reading “The Leftover Puppy” →
Uncategorized

Confessions of a Terrible Foster Mom

Cara Achterberg

Okay, I don’t really think I’m a terrible foster mom.

But I want to share the mishaps/mistakes that I made in this last week fostering. Basically, to show you that we are all learning as we go and that no matter how long you’ve been doing this, you still mess up.

And that’s okay.

My worst day saving dogs is better than someone else’s best day wishing they could save them.

Continue reading “Confessions of a Terrible Foster Mom” →
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.

Continue reading “Last one left is a….wonderful puppy.” →
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.

Continue reading “Christmas Puppy Anyone?” →
Ehrlichia, foster cats, foster dogs, fostering, Humane Society of Shenandoah County, mama dogs, oph, puppies

A Puppy Just for You

Cara Achterberg

It’s been a week with these little mice puppies, and while they have gotten bigger, they’re still tiny.

At seven weeks, the smallest (Chrystanthemum) is 2 pounds, four ounces and the largest (Gus Gus and Norman) are 3 pounds, 13 ounces. Which, if you trust a puppy growth calculator means they will grow to be 16 pounds and 27 pounds.

So, they’ll be small dogs when they grow up, which is why I’m kind of surprised, and not, that they don’t have adopters yet. This is typically a slow time of year for adoptions. But because these puppies will grow to be small dogs, I did think they’d have a better chance than most of finding a family quickly.

Continue reading “A Puppy Just for You” →
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” →
Uncategorized

Little Moments Equal Big Progress

Cara Achterberg

It’s the little moments that feel like big progress with Bonnie and Clyde. Having spent their entire life until now in a small, poop-covered room, they are like giant, bewildered puppies most of the time.

In the early days, we worked on eye contact and impulse control (sit before being let out of crate or out the door or having dinner served). I improved my ability to be patient and learned to respond to the tiniest improvement. Now, over a month later, they’ve both more or less mastered those big asks.

Continue reading “Little Moments Equal Big Progress” →
adopters, Dogs with Issues

Bonnie and Clyde

Cara Achterberg

I’ve been waiting to tell you this story. The puppies were much too distracting, but now that five of six puppies have been adopted (and the sixth will go home on Sunday), I can tell you about Bonnie and Clyde.

The other reason I’ve waited is because I wanted to give them time. Their minds were so completely blown when I first brought them home and I didn’t think it was fair to assess them until they had the opportunity to settle in and be treated like the good dogs they are.

Bonnie and Clyde were born in a house rented by an elderly woman. She kept all of the dogs in a small ten by ten room off her kitchen closed in with a piece of plywood. She had illusions of breeding ‘Scotch Terriers’ to make money. Her story is not unusual. In fact, it’s the reason so many shelters are overwhelmed by the number of puppies coming in.

Continue reading “Bonnie and Clyde” →