Monday, October 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Meet Derby!
There is a bear in our house! Well, at least a bear of a dog:-) Derby is our new foster dog and he is one big boy! He is a 70 pound gorgeous brindle boxer who has a real intimidation factor...until you meet him that is.
Derby comes to us from Louisianna. His owners are moving to Seattle, where they feel that it will be "too cold" for him to live. Because nobody has dogs in Seattle...right? Whatever. Translation...they think it will be a hassle to keep him and are giving him away with the furniture and other household objects that they no longer want. They have never once taken him to the vet. He has never had any vaccinations, any heartworm prevention, nothing. What a miracle that he was negative for everything apon testing!
After getting to know him over the weekend, I absolutely can not believe that anyone would want to give this dog up. Besides being so beautiful, he is extremely well mannered. He is only a year and nine months old, but he is very mellow. He was an outside dog before and I am told that he isn't house trained, but we are yet to have any accidents. He just goes out when the others do. He goes right into the crate when told to, even though he was never crate trained. He also knows how to sit, walks fine on leash, and rides perfectly in the car. Many people would give anything to have a dog this well behaved and they just gave him away. Oh, well. If they didn't consider him a family member, he is better off without them.
Although he doesn't really understand how to play with the other dogs, he enjoys their company and has shown no signs of aggression. His old family had a chihuahua, but he seems a bit weary of the bigger dog's exuberance. This morning, he did actually try to engage in their antics a little. I give it less than a week before he is totally into it. He is also fine with the office cats. There doesn't seem to be a mean bone is his massive body.
He is a bit confused and sad about his big life change, which is to be expected, but is showing constant improvement. When I stopped home at noon, I got my first full boxer-wiggle...the most sincere of all wags:-)
Derby comes to us from Louisianna. His owners are moving to Seattle, where they feel that it will be "too cold" for him to live. Because nobody has dogs in Seattle...right? Whatever. Translation...they think it will be a hassle to keep him and are giving him away with the furniture and other household objects that they no longer want. They have never once taken him to the vet. He has never had any vaccinations, any heartworm prevention, nothing. What a miracle that he was negative for everything apon testing!
After getting to know him over the weekend, I absolutely can not believe that anyone would want to give this dog up. Besides being so beautiful, he is extremely well mannered. He is only a year and nine months old, but he is very mellow. He was an outside dog before and I am told that he isn't house trained, but we are yet to have any accidents. He just goes out when the others do. He goes right into the crate when told to, even though he was never crate trained. He also knows how to sit, walks fine on leash, and rides perfectly in the car. Many people would give anything to have a dog this well behaved and they just gave him away. Oh, well. If they didn't consider him a family member, he is better off without them.
Although he doesn't really understand how to play with the other dogs, he enjoys their company and has shown no signs of aggression. His old family had a chihuahua, but he seems a bit weary of the bigger dog's exuberance. This morning, he did actually try to engage in their antics a little. I give it less than a week before he is totally into it. He is also fine with the office cats. There doesn't seem to be a mean bone is his massive body.
He is a bit confused and sad about his big life change, which is to be expected, but is showing constant improvement. When I stopped home at noon, I got my first full boxer-wiggle...the most sincere of all wags:-)
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
A Hard Goodbye.
First of all, I must stress that I am incredibly thankful for animal transporters. These truck and trailer teams work long, exhausting hours, driving around the clock. Besides picking up and dropping off, they stop only for the dogs to be walked and watered, which can take hours in itself. They work very hard for very little, only for the love of the dogs. Unfortunately, they often go unrecognized because of their behind the scene role in the process.
That being said, last night was one of the hardest moments that I have ever experienced in fostering.
I got a call from the rescue team that they would be in Little Rock at 9:15 p.m. Jonathon and I took Rheagan over to the meeting place, which was a Cracker Barrel parking lot. There were a few other cars with at least 10 dogs already there when we arrived. The generator keeping the trailer air conditioned was so loud. The scene was pretty chaotic. Rheagan was nervous right away. As we sat on the curb, watching the other dogs get loaded one by one, she could tell that something was happening. She was shaking. When the man came to take her from us, she cowered. Right in front of me, all of her newly found confidence drained from her body and a look of fear and sadness took over. She was heart broken. In her eyes, the only people that she had ever trusted were abandoning her. Her new home, that she was so happy in, was being taken away.
I could barely stand to watch as she flailed and struggled as they tried to get her loaded. It killed me to see her go through that. I know that she will be fine. She will arrive at her new home (a suburb of Washington DC) at 2:30 am tonight. After some adjustment time, she will bounce back. I understand that. Dogs, however, live in the moment. It's one of the many reasons that they are so wonderful and how they can overcome so much. But, it's also why she has no idea that things will ever be okay again. I wish I could tell her that they would be. I wish I could tell her that I was sorry.
Giving up a foster dog is never easy. In the past, however, our adopters have been close enough that we have met them. They usually come to our house to pick up their dog. The dogs are always a bit nervous, but they can feel the excitement in their new family and have always gone happily with little hesitation. Seeing the joy in the new owners face is so rewarding. It balances out the sadness. There was no reward here. It was just plain painful.
I guess I am being selfish, worrying that after all she experienced in our home, this is how she will remember me, but I can't help it. It breaks my heart.
That being said, last night was one of the hardest moments that I have ever experienced in fostering.
I got a call from the rescue team that they would be in Little Rock at 9:15 p.m. Jonathon and I took Rheagan over to the meeting place, which was a Cracker Barrel parking lot. There were a few other cars with at least 10 dogs already there when we arrived. The generator keeping the trailer air conditioned was so loud. The scene was pretty chaotic. Rheagan was nervous right away. As we sat on the curb, watching the other dogs get loaded one by one, she could tell that something was happening. She was shaking. When the man came to take her from us, she cowered. Right in front of me, all of her newly found confidence drained from her body and a look of fear and sadness took over. She was heart broken. In her eyes, the only people that she had ever trusted were abandoning her. Her new home, that she was so happy in, was being taken away.
I could barely stand to watch as she flailed and struggled as they tried to get her loaded. It killed me to see her go through that. I know that she will be fine. She will arrive at her new home (a suburb of Washington DC) at 2:30 am tonight. After some adjustment time, she will bounce back. I understand that. Dogs, however, live in the moment. It's one of the many reasons that they are so wonderful and how they can overcome so much. But, it's also why she has no idea that things will ever be okay again. I wish I could tell her that they would be. I wish I could tell her that I was sorry.
Giving up a foster dog is never easy. In the past, however, our adopters have been close enough that we have met them. They usually come to our house to pick up their dog. The dogs are always a bit nervous, but they can feel the excitement in their new family and have always gone happily with little hesitation. Seeing the joy in the new owners face is so rewarding. It balances out the sadness. There was no reward here. It was just plain painful.
I guess I am being selfish, worrying that after all she experienced in our home, this is how she will remember me, but I can't help it. It breaks my heart.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Not So Wordless Wednesday!
On this particular Wednesday, I just have too much to share to go "wordless."
My sister, brother in law, and 8 and a half month old niece (Emily, Patrick, and Olivia) came to stay with us for a week. Although super excited about them coming, I was also very nervous about how the dogs would do around Olivia. None of them had ever been around a baby, to my knowledge. I had conjured up all these possible scenarios in my head, trying to come up with potential solutions to the potential problems. Knowing my dogs like I do, it never even crossed my mind that they wouldn't "like" the baby, or that they would be in any way malicious toward her. I was more concerned about the energy level in the house. I thought they would be too rambunctious, too loud, and too careless. I was also concerned that Rheagan could be very nervous around her.
My worries were put at ease very shortly after their arrival. The dogs were all wonderful with Olivia from the start. They were enamored, especially Dixie, who rarely left her side. Olivia is an animal lover just like the rest of us, so she really enjoyed all of the doggy attention that she received, slobbery kisses included!
On Friday morning, we all piled in the car (4 adults, a baby, and 3 dogs!) and headed up to Petit Jean Mountain State Park for a hike. It was a beautiful day. This was both Olivia and Rheagan's first hike and they handled it like troopers! At one of our longer breaks, Rheagan literally fell asleep standing up! We were in no hurry, taking our time to stop several times for water, snacks, and geocaching (nerdy, yes, but surprisingly entertaining!). A good time was definitely had by all!
Our house guests have gone home to Minnesota. The house is feeling empty and the dogs are a little down. They sure love having visitors. We all do. Thanks again for coming guys!
My sister, brother in law, and 8 and a half month old niece (Emily, Patrick, and Olivia) came to stay with us for a week. Although super excited about them coming, I was also very nervous about how the dogs would do around Olivia. None of them had ever been around a baby, to my knowledge. I had conjured up all these possible scenarios in my head, trying to come up with potential solutions to the potential problems. Knowing my dogs like I do, it never even crossed my mind that they wouldn't "like" the baby, or that they would be in any way malicious toward her. I was more concerned about the energy level in the house. I thought they would be too rambunctious, too loud, and too careless. I was also concerned that Rheagan could be very nervous around her.
My worries were put at ease very shortly after their arrival. The dogs were all wonderful with Olivia from the start. They were enamored, especially Dixie, who rarely left her side. Olivia is an animal lover just like the rest of us, so she really enjoyed all of the doggy attention that she received, slobbery kisses included!
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| Since Dixie hates the pool so much, she was very concerned while Livi was in the water. |
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| Kiss from Rheagan! |
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| Giddy up Jaxy! |
On Friday morning, we all piled in the car (4 adults, a baby, and 3 dogs!) and headed up to Petit Jean Mountain State Park for a hike. It was a beautiful day. This was both Olivia and Rheagan's first hike and they handled it like troopers! At one of our longer breaks, Rheagan literally fell asleep standing up! We were in no hurry, taking our time to stop several times for water, snacks, and geocaching (nerdy, yes, but surprisingly entertaining!). A good time was definitely had by all!
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| Pre-hike. Anxiously awaiting. |
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| Hanging out in the Grotto (big cave type thing) |
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| Pat enjoying the view. |
Our house guests have gone home to Minnesota. The house is feeling empty and the dogs are a little down. They sure love having visitors. We all do. Thanks again for coming guys!
Off to Virginia!
Great news!!! Rheagan has found her forever home!
We will miss her so much. She has come out of her shell so quickly and is a really fun dog. Her issues were easy to work out. She is totally comfortable with the crate training, and hasn't had an "accident" in over a week now. She certainly isn't fearful of people anymore, quite the opposite actually. Leaving the house is no longer a battle. She now runs toward the leash instead of running away from it, and hops eagerly into the car. If only they were all as easy to rehabilitate as Rheagan was.
She will be moving out to Virginia. Her future "mom" and I have been emailing regularly since Rheagan first peaked her interest. Over the past week, she has purchased a crate, a bed, blankets, food, and a collection of treats and toys. She has apologized to me for "asking so many questions" and for being "too excited." I explained to her that nothing means more to me, as a foster mom, than to know that my dogs are going to be well taken care of. She has followed all of my suggestions and I know she truly wants the best for Rheagan. She has a bright future waiting for her across the country!
There is a transport going out east this Saturday. Hopefully they will have an open spot for us. If not, she will get on the one next weekend.
We will miss her so much. She has come out of her shell so quickly and is a really fun dog. Her issues were easy to work out. She is totally comfortable with the crate training, and hasn't had an "accident" in over a week now. She certainly isn't fearful of people anymore, quite the opposite actually. Leaving the house is no longer a battle. She now runs toward the leash instead of running away from it, and hops eagerly into the car. If only they were all as easy to rehabilitate as Rheagan was.
She will be moving out to Virginia. Her future "mom" and I have been emailing regularly since Rheagan first peaked her interest. Over the past week, she has purchased a crate, a bed, blankets, food, and a collection of treats and toys. She has apologized to me for "asking so many questions" and for being "too excited." I explained to her that nothing means more to me, as a foster mom, than to know that my dogs are going to be well taken care of. She has followed all of my suggestions and I know she truly wants the best for Rheagan. She has a bright future waiting for her across the country!
There is a transport going out east this Saturday. Hopefully they will have an open spot for us. If not, she will get on the one next weekend.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Here in this house...
This poem was recently posted on the site of an area rescue. It wonderfully expresses what I hope that each and every dog experiences when they come into my house.
Here in this house......
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