Great news!!! After five long months with us, Calista has found her forever home! I am both overjoyed and broken hearted at the same time. She will definitely take a piece of my heart with her when she goes. She has fought so hard to become the dog that she is today and I couldn't be happier to have been a part of her battle to survive.
She will be moving to her new home on Sunday. Her new family has an acreage about an hour from Little Rock, where she will have plenty of room to run and play with her new doggy siblings. Denise, her future "mom," told me that she did great with her two little dogs. I wasn't surprised, as Callie doesn't seem to have a mean bone in her body. I'm sure she will adjust quickly and be very happy there for the rest of her life.
Until then, I will treasure her last days with us. I know that it will be very hard to say goodbye, but she is ready to move on. I will never forget her.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Two good things...
Calista was spayed last week and is recovering well. It was a very good thing that she had the surgery when she did. As if the poor dog didn't have enough issues, she also had a very icky uterus. According to the doctor, it was close to becoming a pyometra (which is basically an infected uterus). This condition is rarely diagnosed until it is showing symptoms at which point it is extremely serious. It can certainly be fatal if not treated immediately with an emergency hysterectomy. Finally, a lucky break for Callie!
More good news! I found out today that there has been another application put in for her adoption! I have not spoken to the lady myself yet, but she is aware of Callie's hip problem and the heart murmur and is fine with both issues. I am hoping to set up a meet and greet and then hopefully a home trial as soon as her incision is completely healed.
I am so praying that this is Calista's forever home! Lately there are so many dogs listed as "urgent" meaning that they are on death row. If Callie moves on, although I will miss her like crazy, it will open up our home to a dog that might otherwise live it's last hours in a crowded shelter.
More good news! I found out today that there has been another application put in for her adoption! I have not spoken to the lady myself yet, but she is aware of Callie's hip problem and the heart murmur and is fine with both issues. I am hoping to set up a meet and greet and then hopefully a home trial as soon as her incision is completely healed.
I am so praying that this is Calista's forever home! Lately there are so many dogs listed as "urgent" meaning that they are on death row. If Callie moves on, although I will miss her like crazy, it will open up our home to a dog that might otherwise live it's last hours in a crowded shelter.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
My life has gone to the dogs!
This past weekend was my four year anniversary in Arkansas. Time has certainly flown by and I really find it hard to believe. I feel like it was only weeks ago that I struggled to pack up my things and say my goodbyes. After four years, I can say quite confidently that this place I currently call "home" will never really be that. I am definitely a nature lover and Arkansas is a scenic state to be sure, but one I'd be happy only visiting, taking in the beauty of the Mountains and waterfalls, and moving on. Although I now get teased by family and friends for thinking that 40 degrees is cold and some claim to detect a slight "twang" in my voice, I am a northerner at heart and always will be. If given the opportunity, I would be out of this place in the blink of an eye.
I am, however, truly thankful for my experience living here. It has opened my eyes about animal welfare. Although this is something that I have always been extremely passionate about (up until here, my work had revolved around animals for years), I never knew how awful things were in this part of the country (the mid-south). I have seen acts of cruelty that I will never be able to forget. I see heart-breaking neglect almost every day. Literally thousands of dogs and cats roam the streets. With shelters full and little, if any, animal control, they have nowhere to go and no one to help them. They will live short lives and most will die painfully. They will get hit by cars, get sick with disease, or simply starve to death. And they will die alone, never having known what it's like to have a home of their own, or have someone love them.
Although I don't call Arkansas home, I will forever be tied to it, and to the surrounding area. I can't move away and put these forgotten animals and overwhelmed rescuers out of my mind. I plan to continue to give back to the animals from the area long after we are gone, as they have given so much to me.
In the grand scheme of things, my role here has been small. Looking at the statistics, I have made very little difference. But, as anyone in the rescue world will tell you, you can't look at the big picture. It will only conjure up feelings of hopelessness and doubt. You have to look at each animal as an individual. Here are some of the individuals that have come into my life in the last four years. (in order, as best as I can remember)
Having known then what we know now, there probably wouldn't be a Phoebe or a Dixie in our lives. We were new to Arkansas, having only been here six months, when we came across these two strays while we were mini golfing. We were told that they had been hanging around the course, eating garbage and drinking out of the waterfalls for days. It was extremely hot and they were very thin, not to mention we were on the side of a busy 6 lane interstate! I couldn't leave them. I figured we would simply take them to the humane society and either the owners would come for them, or they would be able to find new homes. Looking back, it's no wonder that the attendant seemed to think we were crazy for taking the dogs. He knew what we didn't, and had probably seen dozens of strays come and go from there. It only took a couple of days before we realized that these young dogs had become our responsibility. They needed homes, and were getting no help. As you know, Dixie stayed with us. Asia really took to her and they bonded very quickly. There was no plan in our future for another dog, but Dixie was chosen by Asia to stay. Phoebe went to live in MN! Emily and Patrick, my sister and brother in law, adopted her. They didn't even meet her in person before agreeing to rescue her. She now lives happily with them and her "brother" Jersey, their first rescue dog.
These three pups came to me from a local humane society. They were in the midst of a distemper outbreak at the location and needed short-term homes for healthy puppies. Their litter had originally been found after someone tossed them into a dumpster. All three were adopted locally.
This litter of five came to me when they were only two days old. They had been left outside of a vet's office all night in a box with instructions to "get rid of them." In other words, they wanted them euthanized, but didn't want to pay for it. The pups were nearly frozen to death. Middle of the night feedings for five pups was a daunting task, but they were so adorable! These pups ended up going to participate in a dog/inmate training program at the state prison. That was the last I heard, but I am a big fan of those programs and their adoption rates are high.
These pups have unique and heart-breaking story. Their homeless mother (a Jack Russell) had befriended a homeless man, and they were spending their days together. He didn't know that she was pregnant. When she went into labor, he knew something wasn't right. He eventually found a way to get her to the shelter, as he had no money for any vet care. They did emergency surgery, but the labor had gone on too long. They couldn't save the mother, and only two of the pups were alive inside of her. I picked them up only hours after their "birth." Given the circumstances of the way they entered the world, I knew these pups had little chance of surviving. They lead to many sleepless nights (One night, I remember driving around for an hour at 3 a.m. looking for corn syrup) and there were times I was sure I was losing the smaller one. They stayed with me until they were 9 weeks old and then went on to the northeast part of the country, via the rescue wagon. I was so excited when I found out that they were chosen for the program. It has a 100% adoption rate!
This funny little girl was only with us for a few days. We picked her up after watching her walk in front of a few too many cars. She was in a nice neighborhood, but after asking around, she had been wandering there for a few days. We put up signs, but when the weekend had passed, we began to have doubts that anyone was looking for her. Her owners eventually did call. They had been on vacation and were unaware that she was even gone. (She was filthy and covered in fleas when we found her...obviously a backyard dog and not a family member. She deserved better.)
Then came Jax. What Joy he brings into my life. He inspires me to work with what I have been given and make the best of things. His disability doesn't phase him in the least. Multiple people have told me that he is amazing. I agree. Now that I love him so much, it saddens me even more to remember how his life was before he came to live with us.
I was drawn to "Emily" who is now Laila Beerling, immediately when I saw her picture on the website. I had agreed to hold off on another foster for a couple of weeks, but couldn't get her out of my head. I believe it was meant to be, as she quickly became part of the family too. She is now living it up in Bloomington, MN!
Little miss Calista has probably been the most difficult dog so far. She was a roller coaster ride. It was so hard investing so much effort, and so much hope, and not ever knowing if she was actually going to make it. She is a true survivor and I know that there is a perfect home waiting for her out there somewhere.
Oh, I almost forgot! Among all of the dogs that have come and gone, there was this little guy. A supplier of our business called me at the office begging me to come and pick up a kitten that had wondered into their warehouse during hurricane Gustav. They sounded so excited and truly worried about the little guy. They had even named him -J.D. (for John Deere, the name of their company) so I reluctantly agreed. When I first saw the pathetic animal, my heart sunk. I was pretty sure that he was beyond my help. He was clearly suffering from some head-trauma, along with malnutrition and dehydration. He couldn't stand on his own anymore and his head was so tilted that if I didn't prop him up with a towel, he just rolled over onto his side. I told them that I would do what I could, but not to get their hopes up. I took him home. I decided that if he made it through the night, and didn't get any worse, I would take him to the vet for medications. If he went downhill, I would have him put to sleep in the morning. Throughout the night, I got up to check on him, each time expecting him to have passed. Each time, I was able to force feed him a little warm water or formula and by morning I had even gotten a little canned cat food in him. By noon, he was offering to lick the food from a spoon on his own and I knew he would pull through. Once he was healthy enough, I brought him into our office (Dixie would have made a snack of him given any opportunity) and he never left. Just over 2 years old, he has grown into quite a handsome cat. He still has a remnant head tilt from time to time, but he wouldn't fit into our animal family if he were completely "normal," now would he?
I would be lying if I said that rescuing was easy for me. It's emotionally, and sometimes even physically draining. There are extreme highs and lows. There is poo and pee and slobber and vomit and blood. There are numerous trips to the vet and a pharmacy full of medications on my shelves at all times. There have been plenty of days I have felt overwhelmed and frustrated. That being said, not once have I thought about giving it up, even if I were to get back into an animal-related career. These dogs help me be a better person. They give me a reason to be here in Arkansas that is more important than any job. They keep me going. I believe that this is what I am suppose to be doing and I will continue to do it as long as there is a need for it, which I fear, in my lifetime, there always will be.
I am, however, truly thankful for my experience living here. It has opened my eyes about animal welfare. Although this is something that I have always been extremely passionate about (up until here, my work had revolved around animals for years), I never knew how awful things were in this part of the country (the mid-south). I have seen acts of cruelty that I will never be able to forget. I see heart-breaking neglect almost every day. Literally thousands of dogs and cats roam the streets. With shelters full and little, if any, animal control, they have nowhere to go and no one to help them. They will live short lives and most will die painfully. They will get hit by cars, get sick with disease, or simply starve to death. And they will die alone, never having known what it's like to have a home of their own, or have someone love them.
Although I don't call Arkansas home, I will forever be tied to it, and to the surrounding area. I can't move away and put these forgotten animals and overwhelmed rescuers out of my mind. I plan to continue to give back to the animals from the area long after we are gone, as they have given so much to me.
In the grand scheme of things, my role here has been small. Looking at the statistics, I have made very little difference. But, as anyone in the rescue world will tell you, you can't look at the big picture. It will only conjure up feelings of hopelessness and doubt. You have to look at each animal as an individual. Here are some of the individuals that have come into my life in the last four years. (in order, as best as I can remember)
 |
| Phoebe! |
 |
| Dixie |
Having known then what we know now, there probably wouldn't be a Phoebe or a Dixie in our lives. We were new to Arkansas, having only been here six months, when we came across these two strays while we were mini golfing. We were told that they had been hanging around the course, eating garbage and drinking out of the waterfalls for days. It was extremely hot and they were very thin, not to mention we were on the side of a busy 6 lane interstate! I couldn't leave them. I figured we would simply take them to the humane society and either the owners would come for them, or they would be able to find new homes. Looking back, it's no wonder that the attendant seemed to think we were crazy for taking the dogs. He knew what we didn't, and had probably seen dozens of strays come and go from there. It only took a couple of days before we realized that these young dogs had become our responsibility. They needed homes, and were getting no help. As you know, Dixie stayed with us. Asia really took to her and they bonded very quickly. There was no plan in our future for another dog, but Dixie was chosen by Asia to stay. Phoebe went to live in MN! Emily and Patrick, my sister and brother in law, adopted her. They didn't even meet her in person before agreeing to rescue her. She now lives happily with them and her "brother" Jersey, their first rescue dog.
 |
| Cattle dog mixes, Jonny, Willie, and Patsy |
 |
This litter of five came to me when they were only two days old. They had been left outside of a vet's office all night in a box with instructions to "get rid of them." In other words, they wanted them euthanized, but didn't want to pay for it. The pups were nearly frozen to death. Middle of the night feedings for five pups was a daunting task, but they were so adorable! These pups ended up going to participate in a dog/inmate training program at the state prison. That was the last I heard, but I am a big fan of those programs and their adoption rates are high.
 |
| Little Willie Nelson |
 |
| Little Johnny Cash |
These pups have unique and heart-breaking story. Their homeless mother (a Jack Russell) had befriended a homeless man, and they were spending their days together. He didn't know that she was pregnant. When she went into labor, he knew something wasn't right. He eventually found a way to get her to the shelter, as he had no money for any vet care. They did emergency surgery, but the labor had gone on too long. They couldn't save the mother, and only two of the pups were alive inside of her. I picked them up only hours after their "birth." Given the circumstances of the way they entered the world, I knew these pups had little chance of surviving. They lead to many sleepless nights (One night, I remember driving around for an hour at 3 a.m. looking for corn syrup) and there were times I was sure I was losing the smaller one. They stayed with me until they were 9 weeks old and then went on to the northeast part of the country, via the rescue wagon. I was so excited when I found out that they were chosen for the program. It has a 100% adoption rate!
 |
 |
| Jax |
 |
| Laila! |
I was drawn to "Emily" who is now Laila Beerling, immediately when I saw her picture on the website. I had agreed to hold off on another foster for a couple of weeks, but couldn't get her out of my head. I believe it was meant to be, as she quickly became part of the family too. She is now living it up in Bloomington, MN!
 |
| Calista! |
Little miss Calista has probably been the most difficult dog so far. She was a roller coaster ride. It was so hard investing so much effort, and so much hope, and not ever knowing if she was actually going to make it. She is a true survivor and I know that there is a perfect home waiting for her out there somewhere.
 |
| J.D. aka...Mr. Orange |
Oh, I almost forgot! Among all of the dogs that have come and gone, there was this little guy. A supplier of our business called me at the office begging me to come and pick up a kitten that had wondered into their warehouse during hurricane Gustav. They sounded so excited and truly worried about the little guy. They had even named him -J.D. (for John Deere, the name of their company) so I reluctantly agreed. When I first saw the pathetic animal, my heart sunk. I was pretty sure that he was beyond my help. He was clearly suffering from some head-trauma, along with malnutrition and dehydration. He couldn't stand on his own anymore and his head was so tilted that if I didn't prop him up with a towel, he just rolled over onto his side. I told them that I would do what I could, but not to get their hopes up. I took him home. I decided that if he made it through the night, and didn't get any worse, I would take him to the vet for medications. If he went downhill, I would have him put to sleep in the morning. Throughout the night, I got up to check on him, each time expecting him to have passed. Each time, I was able to force feed him a little warm water or formula and by morning I had even gotten a little canned cat food in him. By noon, he was offering to lick the food from a spoon on his own and I knew he would pull through. Once he was healthy enough, I brought him into our office (Dixie would have made a snack of him given any opportunity) and he never left. Just over 2 years old, he has grown into quite a handsome cat. He still has a remnant head tilt from time to time, but he wouldn't fit into our animal family if he were completely "normal," now would he?
I would be lying if I said that rescuing was easy for me. It's emotionally, and sometimes even physically draining. There are extreme highs and lows. There is poo and pee and slobber and vomit and blood. There are numerous trips to the vet and a pharmacy full of medications on my shelves at all times. There have been plenty of days I have felt overwhelmed and frustrated. That being said, not once have I thought about giving it up, even if I were to get back into an animal-related career. These dogs help me be a better person. They give me a reason to be here in Arkansas that is more important than any job. They keep me going. I believe that this is what I am suppose to be doing and I will continue to do it as long as there is a need for it, which I fear, in my lifetime, there always will be.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
And...she's back.
Well, Callie is back. The trial period was nothing short of a disaster.
I got a text only hours after they picked her up on Sunday telling me that Calista had had two episodes of "explosive diarrhea." What?! She had been acting totally normal all day and we have never had any diarrhea issues with her before. I assumed, therefore, that it was caused by stress. She is a very sensitive dog. I had even warned them that she lost three pounds the last time she was away from us and not to be surprised if she didn't eat well. I told them to let me know how she was doing later in the evening and I could call her vet if need be. Jonathon and I instantly had lower expectations of this being a success. A dog that is crapping all over your house is certainly less a desirable companion. It seemed as if Calista was sabotaging her chance of adoption. Sigh.
I heard nothing from them that evening and nothing for the next two days. We were somewhat relieved, assuming that no news was good news. We were actually talking as if it were a done deal. Still, I had a gut feeling that I couldn't shake. I told Jonathon that I felt like something was wrong and that Calista would be coming back to us. When it comes to my dogs, my gut is almost always right.
Sure enough I got a text that same night "Calista is still very sick and I have had a personal emergency. When are you coming home tomorrow?" Being the cynic that I am, I wondered if there really was an emergency, or if three days of an ill dog, spewing god knows what all over their apartment had gotten to be too much for them. I called immediately, as the words "very sick" worried me. I wondered why they hadn't called me or the vet if she was so ill. No answer. She called me back within the hour. I instantly felt guilty for doubting them, as there actually was an emergency. In fact, she had spent the entire day at the emergency room, while her partner stayed home because they couldn't leave Calista alone. The medical issue that she is dealing with (not really my place to post that specifically) has the potential to be life-changing and our thoughts are with them. What a nightmare to have that scare and to have the added stress of a sick dog that isn't even theirs was just overwhelming for them. I could tell they felt bad having to call and tell me that. Of course I told them that they certainly shouldn't feel bad and I completely understand. I told them to just leave Callie and all of her stuff at my vet the next morning and I would pick her up there when we got home. She assured me that they both loved Calista and it was their situation, not Calista's being ill, that changes things.
I didn't really know what to expect with Callie. Everyone's idea of "very sick" is different. I didn't know if she was going to be fine, or hooked up to an IV when I got there! I was very relieved when she ran out into the lobby to greet me and started dancing around as usual. Turns out, thankfully, that she checks out fine. Strangely, she wasn't even dehydrated. I was given some pills to quiet her GI system but that's it. They could find no reason for that symptom, and it was the only one she had. How frustrating for this to happen now of all times, with no explanation whatsoever.
One last surprise came with the last text I received from the potential adopters "We are going to a few Doctor's appointments next week and are letting this soak in, but we are still talking about her coming to live with us. We will let you know soon."
What an impression little Calista must have made on them. I don't know how this will turn out, but I do know that if these good people are still interested in taking her after all they dealt with in their time with her, I would feel 100 percent confident in that adoption.
I got a text only hours after they picked her up on Sunday telling me that Calista had had two episodes of "explosive diarrhea." What?! She had been acting totally normal all day and we have never had any diarrhea issues with her before. I assumed, therefore, that it was caused by stress. She is a very sensitive dog. I had even warned them that she lost three pounds the last time she was away from us and not to be surprised if she didn't eat well. I told them to let me know how she was doing later in the evening and I could call her vet if need be. Jonathon and I instantly had lower expectations of this being a success. A dog that is crapping all over your house is certainly less a desirable companion. It seemed as if Calista was sabotaging her chance of adoption. Sigh.
I heard nothing from them that evening and nothing for the next two days. We were somewhat relieved, assuming that no news was good news. We were actually talking as if it were a done deal. Still, I had a gut feeling that I couldn't shake. I told Jonathon that I felt like something was wrong and that Calista would be coming back to us. When it comes to my dogs, my gut is almost always right.
Sure enough I got a text that same night "Calista is still very sick and I have had a personal emergency. When are you coming home tomorrow?" Being the cynic that I am, I wondered if there really was an emergency, or if three days of an ill dog, spewing god knows what all over their apartment had gotten to be too much for them. I called immediately, as the words "very sick" worried me. I wondered why they hadn't called me or the vet if she was so ill. No answer. She called me back within the hour. I instantly felt guilty for doubting them, as there actually was an emergency. In fact, she had spent the entire day at the emergency room, while her partner stayed home because they couldn't leave Calista alone. The medical issue that she is dealing with (not really my place to post that specifically) has the potential to be life-changing and our thoughts are with them. What a nightmare to have that scare and to have the added stress of a sick dog that isn't even theirs was just overwhelming for them. I could tell they felt bad having to call and tell me that. Of course I told them that they certainly shouldn't feel bad and I completely understand. I told them to just leave Callie and all of her stuff at my vet the next morning and I would pick her up there when we got home. She assured me that they both loved Calista and it was their situation, not Calista's being ill, that changes things.
I didn't really know what to expect with Callie. Everyone's idea of "very sick" is different. I didn't know if she was going to be fine, or hooked up to an IV when I got there! I was very relieved when she ran out into the lobby to greet me and started dancing around as usual. Turns out, thankfully, that she checks out fine. Strangely, she wasn't even dehydrated. I was given some pills to quiet her GI system but that's it. They could find no reason for that symptom, and it was the only one she had. How frustrating for this to happen now of all times, with no explanation whatsoever.
One last surprise came with the last text I received from the potential adopters "We are going to a few Doctor's appointments next week and are letting this soak in, but we are still talking about her coming to live with us. We will let you know soon."
What an impression little Calista must have made on them. I don't know how this will turn out, but I do know that if these good people are still interested in taking her after all they dealt with in their time with her, I would feel 100 percent confident in that adoption.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Here's hoping...
We are one dog short this afternoon. Calista just left for a trial period with her potential adopters! She will be staying with them while we are up at the cabin for the next four days. I'm kind of shocked at how quickly this is happening. I was honestly assuming it would be months before anyone showed interest in her. Here is how it all went down over the last few days.
(Tuesday night)
To my surprise, (surprise being an understatement) before we had even changed Calista's status from "available for sponsorship" to available for adoption", I got an email from the adoption coordinator at the rescue. Someone was interested in Calista?! They hadn't heard her whole story so they didn't know about her issues. Surely if they had, they would have selected one of the 20-30 other "normal" boxers from the rescue. I emailed them, telling of how sweet and well behaved she is, but not hiding her history or leaving out any of her special needs. I didn't let my hopes get too high.
(Wednesday)
The day went by, me checking my email every hour, and I heard nothing in response. Just as I expected. They must have read my email and went with another dog. I was disappointed, but not surprised.
(Thursday)
I got a phone call from the coordinator in the morning letting me know that the people actually wanted to meet Calista! I called them and arranged for them to stop by later in the day. They had not ever received my email, so they were still a little under-informed when they arrived at our house that afternoon. I had warned them on the phone that she is very shy around new people and I was actually a little afraid that she wouldn't make a very good first impression. She typically just hides when strangers come around. (Since we had to focus on healing her physically for so long, she is far from being well socialized. I have just started to take her to the office since the clean bill of health.) She wasn't nearly as bad as I expected her to be. Although she stayed very close to me, she approached them both and warmed up pretty quickly. They kept saying how gorgeous she is, but were a little apprehensive about how fragile she looks. We assured them that she is much more strong and agile than she appears. They stayed for nearly an hour, getting Calista's whole story and petting her. Of course they were getting mauled by Dixie and Jax the entire time. Their reaction to the over-the-top affection proved that they are indeed "dog people." We agreed that to really get to know her, and see if she would be a good fit for their family, (that includes the two of them and an eight pound chihuahua mix) they should take her home for a few days.
That brings us to today. They picked her and her stuff up about an hour ago with the arrangement that they would keep her until we return from the cabin on Wed night. If, at that time, they have decided that she is not a good fit for their family, she will come back to us. There will be no hard feelings. If, however, they have fallen in love with her, she will not come back here. Since she is extremely attached to us, the dogs, and the house, bringing her back for only a few days would be selfish. We don't want to make the transition any harder on her than it has to be. Instead, I will go to their house to collect my stuff and the adoption donation. At that time, I will say a proper goodbye to my little friend.
I am trying hard not to get my hopes up. They have made no commitment and anything could happen. In all honesty, though, I am praying that it works out. They are the right amount of nervous and asked all the right questions both times they were here. I think they would be great parents for her!
I will hopefully have an update on Thursday! In the mean time, keep your fingers crossed for Callie to have a forever home for the New Year!
(Tuesday night)
To my surprise, (surprise being an understatement) before we had even changed Calista's status from "available for sponsorship" to available for adoption", I got an email from the adoption coordinator at the rescue. Someone was interested in Calista?! They hadn't heard her whole story so they didn't know about her issues. Surely if they had, they would have selected one of the 20-30 other "normal" boxers from the rescue. I emailed them, telling of how sweet and well behaved she is, but not hiding her history or leaving out any of her special needs. I didn't let my hopes get too high.
(Wednesday)
The day went by, me checking my email every hour, and I heard nothing in response. Just as I expected. They must have read my email and went with another dog. I was disappointed, but not surprised.
(Thursday)
I got a phone call from the coordinator in the morning letting me know that the people actually wanted to meet Calista! I called them and arranged for them to stop by later in the day. They had not ever received my email, so they were still a little under-informed when they arrived at our house that afternoon. I had warned them on the phone that she is very shy around new people and I was actually a little afraid that she wouldn't make a very good first impression. She typically just hides when strangers come around. (Since we had to focus on healing her physically for so long, she is far from being well socialized. I have just started to take her to the office since the clean bill of health.) She wasn't nearly as bad as I expected her to be. Although she stayed very close to me, she approached them both and warmed up pretty quickly. They kept saying how gorgeous she is, but were a little apprehensive about how fragile she looks. We assured them that she is much more strong and agile than she appears. They stayed for nearly an hour, getting Calista's whole story and petting her. Of course they were getting mauled by Dixie and Jax the entire time. Their reaction to the over-the-top affection proved that they are indeed "dog people." We agreed that to really get to know her, and see if she would be a good fit for their family, (that includes the two of them and an eight pound chihuahua mix) they should take her home for a few days.
That brings us to today. They picked her and her stuff up about an hour ago with the arrangement that they would keep her until we return from the cabin on Wed night. If, at that time, they have decided that she is not a good fit for their family, she will come back to us. There will be no hard feelings. If, however, they have fallen in love with her, she will not come back here. Since she is extremely attached to us, the dogs, and the house, bringing her back for only a few days would be selfish. We don't want to make the transition any harder on her than it has to be. Instead, I will go to their house to collect my stuff and the adoption donation. At that time, I will say a proper goodbye to my little friend.
I am trying hard not to get my hopes up. They have made no commitment and anything could happen. In all honesty, though, I am praying that it works out. They are the right amount of nervous and asked all the right questions both times they were here. I think they would be great parents for her!
I will hopefully have an update on Thursday! In the mean time, keep your fingers crossed for Callie to have a forever home for the New Year!
Monday, December 13, 2010
I'm ready!
Callie easily gained back the three pounds that she lost while we were gone in a matter of days and is doing well. So well, in fact, that I decided that it was time to proceed with further diagnostics. With her hip and spinal trauma, we didn't want to waste time and money on tests that wouldn't be necessary if she couldn't live a good quality life anyway. With the help of one tiny steroid pill, every other day, it turns out that she most certainly can! She may never be the most graceful of canines, but nevertheless, she can run around the yard and happily play with the others. So, to the vet we go...again.
This time, it was chest x-rays. We were looking for an enlarged heart, a mass, or any other abnormalities (different types of cancers will often metastasize to the lungs.) that may point to the elusive "underlying condition." What did we find? We found a perfectly normal looking thoracic cavity. That's right. Her heart is regular-size. Her lungs are clear. Nothing is out of the ordinary. I was as thrilled as I was surprised. Add that to the negative heart worm tests and the superb blood work and you have a dog who is, on paper, perfectly healthy. We have done our very best to screen and test her for anything that could be wrong, covered all of our bases. Finally, Callie has been cleared for adoption! I honestly didn't know if we would ever get to this point with her. There were so many times that I have felt helpless caring for Callie, but we (and when I say we, I mean not only Jonathon and I, but the doctor and staff that treated her, her sponsors who helped with vet bills, and everyone who had encouraging words for me on the pages of this blog) never gave up on her.
I went back and read the first few blog posts I ever wrote about her. It was hard to believe, as she has become such a different dog in the past two and a half months. Here, I have copied the first paragraph that I ever wrote about Callie. At this time, she was likely within 48 hours of death.
"When I first saw Callie, (as I have decided to nickname her) I was a little shocked. The pictures that I posted yesterday were actually quite flattering. She looked worse in person. The shelter definitely down-played the severity of her condition. As I sat in the parking lot of McDonald's where I met the shelter director, picking the dying fleas off of her recently insecticide-coated body, I actually wondered what I had gotten us into. She stood in front of me, wobbling back and forth on her weak, decrepit legs. She was a mess. Her left rear paw was swollen and red and obviously painful. She tried not to put weight on it, but the other rear leg was too weak to hold her up on it's own. So, she swayed. She spread her legs out as far as she could to try to keep her balance and not fold to the ground. Her head had two oddly shaped scars, one on top, and one between her eyes. One of her eyes had a clouded glaze over it, resembling a cataract. And she seemed completely indifferent to everything that was going on around her. These were my initial observations." (Sept 30, 2010)
To have her come from near death to adoption ready is certainly a wonderful thing, but she is not a total success story yet. Of course, she will be welcome in our home for as long as it takes, but she deserves a forever home of her own. This may take quite a while. Not everyone is willing to adopt a special-needs dog. I know there are people out there with room in their homes and hearts for a friend who, through no fault of her own, is less-than-perfect. I am asking for help in finding the right home for this brave little dog. She is a fighter. She has overcome much of her past, but the physical scars remain, telling the story of the neglect and pain that she once endured. Please, share Calista's story with dog-lovers that you know and spread the word about this special girl needing a home.
This time, it was chest x-rays. We were looking for an enlarged heart, a mass, or any other abnormalities (different types of cancers will often metastasize to the lungs.) that may point to the elusive "underlying condition." What did we find? We found a perfectly normal looking thoracic cavity. That's right. Her heart is regular-size. Her lungs are clear. Nothing is out of the ordinary. I was as thrilled as I was surprised. Add that to the negative heart worm tests and the superb blood work and you have a dog who is, on paper, perfectly healthy. We have done our very best to screen and test her for anything that could be wrong, covered all of our bases. Finally, Callie has been cleared for adoption! I honestly didn't know if we would ever get to this point with her. There were so many times that I have felt helpless caring for Callie, but we (and when I say we, I mean not only Jonathon and I, but the doctor and staff that treated her, her sponsors who helped with vet bills, and everyone who had encouraging words for me on the pages of this blog) never gave up on her.
I went back and read the first few blog posts I ever wrote about her. It was hard to believe, as she has become such a different dog in the past two and a half months. Here, I have copied the first paragraph that I ever wrote about Callie. At this time, she was likely within 48 hours of death.
"When I first saw Callie, (as I have decided to nickname her) I was a little shocked. The pictures that I posted yesterday were actually quite flattering. She looked worse in person. The shelter definitely down-played the severity of her condition. As I sat in the parking lot of McDonald's where I met the shelter director, picking the dying fleas off of her recently insecticide-coated body, I actually wondered what I had gotten us into. She stood in front of me, wobbling back and forth on her weak, decrepit legs. She was a mess. Her left rear paw was swollen and red and obviously painful. She tried not to put weight on it, but the other rear leg was too weak to hold her up on it's own. So, she swayed. She spread her legs out as far as she could to try to keep her balance and not fold to the ground. Her head had two oddly shaped scars, one on top, and one between her eyes. One of her eyes had a clouded glaze over it, resembling a cataract. And she seemed completely indifferent to everything that was going on around her. These were my initial observations." (Sept 30, 2010)
To have her come from near death to adoption ready is certainly a wonderful thing, but she is not a total success story yet. Of course, she will be welcome in our home for as long as it takes, but she deserves a forever home of her own. This may take quite a while. Not everyone is willing to adopt a special-needs dog. I know there are people out there with room in their homes and hearts for a friend who, through no fault of her own, is less-than-perfect. I am asking for help in finding the right home for this brave little dog. She is a fighter. She has overcome much of her past, but the physical scars remain, telling the story of the neglect and pain that she once endured. Please, share Calista's story with dog-lovers that you know and spread the word about this special girl needing a home.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Home is where your dogs are.
No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth. Three different trips, a mix of business and pleasure, have kept me extremely busy in the last couple of weeks. In fact, I have been away from home for 13 of the last 16 days. The days in between, when I was home, were filled with unpacking, laundry, and repacking. I kept meaning to post, but I just never got around to it.
The most recent trip was to Las Vegas, for a work conference. This was my very first time leaving Jax at a boarding facility. I was a nervous wreck to say the least. We have worked so hard on him and he has come so far that my biggest fear is him having a set back. I actually wrote an entire sheet entitled "About Jax," describing his special needs, for them to post on his suite door. I know that it seems a little over board, but I have every reason to be paranoid. I had an awful experience with a kennel a few years back that ended in a life-saving emergency surgery for Asia. Dixie and Jax stayed at Arkansas Pet Resort, which is only a couple of blocks from my office. I got them a 10x16 suite with a doggy door and outside run, a couch, and even a TV. So what if my dogs' boarding costs more than a hotel room? It gives me peace of mind to know that I have done my best for them while I'm away.
Callie stayed at the vet because but we don't think she is quite ready for regular boarding yet. Even though she loves the other two, and would likely be more happy with them, we were nervous about leaving her alone with them. They are such rowdy players and she would have no where to lay low. We were afraid she might get hurt. It just seemed like the best thing for her.
We got back yesterday afternoon and went to collect everyone as soon as we left the airport. Callie was first and she was out-of-her-mind happy to see us! She was literally shaking with excitement. Sadly, six days in that environment proved too stressful for her and she lost over 3lbs. I was a little nervous that she may not eat as well for them, but I didn't think she would do that badly. They could barely get her to eat canned food. She looks pretty bad again. I feel awful and am now questioning if she may have been better off at the kennel. Does the benefit of her being able to stay with her foster siblings outweigh the risk of her getting hurt? It's a hard call to make. Thankfully, she ate a ton when we got home, but those 3.5 lbs are a really big loss, considering how long it took her to gain them. Poor skinny little thing.
We then went up to get the others. I already knew they were doing fine, because of course I had called the kennel a few times while we were away. Still, I couldn't wait to get there. I was missing them like crazy. They handled it pretty well overall and even made a new friend, a German Shepherd that goes there for daycare. I was relieved that everything went well with Jax and happy to see my note posted clearly on the door of their suite;-)
We spent the evening relaxing on the couch and catching up on our shows, surrounded by three very happy pooches. We were all glad to be home.
The most recent trip was to Las Vegas, for a work conference. This was my very first time leaving Jax at a boarding facility. I was a nervous wreck to say the least. We have worked so hard on him and he has come so far that my biggest fear is him having a set back. I actually wrote an entire sheet entitled "About Jax," describing his special needs, for them to post on his suite door. I know that it seems a little over board, but I have every reason to be paranoid. I had an awful experience with a kennel a few years back that ended in a life-saving emergency surgery for Asia. Dixie and Jax stayed at Arkansas Pet Resort, which is only a couple of blocks from my office. I got them a 10x16 suite with a doggy door and outside run, a couch, and even a TV. So what if my dogs' boarding costs more than a hotel room? It gives me peace of mind to know that I have done my best for them while I'm away.
Callie stayed at the vet because but we don't think she is quite ready for regular boarding yet. Even though she loves the other two, and would likely be more happy with them, we were nervous about leaving her alone with them. They are such rowdy players and she would have no where to lay low. We were afraid she might get hurt. It just seemed like the best thing for her.
We got back yesterday afternoon and went to collect everyone as soon as we left the airport. Callie was first and she was out-of-her-mind happy to see us! She was literally shaking with excitement. Sadly, six days in that environment proved too stressful for her and she lost over 3lbs. I was a little nervous that she may not eat as well for them, but I didn't think she would do that badly. They could barely get her to eat canned food. She looks pretty bad again. I feel awful and am now questioning if she may have been better off at the kennel. Does the benefit of her being able to stay with her foster siblings outweigh the risk of her getting hurt? It's a hard call to make. Thankfully, she ate a ton when we got home, but those 3.5 lbs are a really big loss, considering how long it took her to gain them. Poor skinny little thing.
We then went up to get the others. I already knew they were doing fine, because of course I had called the kennel a few times while we were away. Still, I couldn't wait to get there. I was missing them like crazy. They handled it pretty well overall and even made a new friend, a German Shepherd that goes there for daycare. I was relieved that everything went well with Jax and happy to see my note posted clearly on the door of their suite;-)
We spent the evening relaxing on the couch and catching up on our shows, surrounded by three very happy pooches. We were all glad to be home.
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