When a Foster is Returned

 

There are a lot of reasons a foster dog can be returned. Let's face it, life is unpredictable. Things happen, things change.

 This is Carl's story. 

A great family came along and we did a meet and greet. Introduced the family and their dog to Carl and he was a perfect gentleman. Sweet as pie. After a bit I handed over the leash and his kibble and toys and gave him hugs and kisses goodbye. 

No joke. It was hard. When Carl first came he was shy and would flinch if I moved too quickly in his direction. When I tried to take him for a walk he would pancake to the floor in fear. A few  weeks later he remembered he was a dog and started running after squirrels in the back yard. Watching this transformation is magical. Seeing a scared pup come to life like that is one of the things that makes fostering rewarding. 

Then he came back. 

At the adopters house he started limping. They got him to the vet right away and the vet took x-rays. The x-rays showed his back leg had been previously broken. Maybe over a year ago and now the bone had grown back over the break but still didn't look good. The vet suggested amputation.  I raced to the rescue when I saw that report super scared they wanted to follow this vet's advice. 

I also called a very savvy vet tech I have in my family. She studied the x-ray and sadly said that might be in his future. Either way he was going to have severe arthritis some day due to the way the bone knitted together. 

I sent videos of Carl racing in the yard. This boy can run!  His leg is working. He doesn't seem to be in pain. 

The outcome? Holding pattern. 

Since he doesn't seem to be bothered by it right now, let him be. However is he adoptable at this point? Here's a dog that might cost you thousands in the future. Yikes! 

So right now, Carl remains at my house. Chasing squirrels and taking it day by day. Leg intact and we're praying he'll keep it and not have it rebreak or cause him pain. He does occasionally limp but then runs right back after the squirrel. I wish dogs could tell you what they feel, are they in  pain and how bad it is? 

If you're out there, dear readers, please send Carl some prayers. 

UPDATE! 

Carl has been adopted! The perfect family was found. These people had a daughter who was a vet tech and the woman's best friend was a veterinarian. Perfect. 

Have a happy life Carl! 

Adopting out the Foster Pup.

 Today I let Petey go to his new home. 

No more little fuzzball running around, bringing me his little ball to throw or cuddling up beside me on the couch.  Petey has a new Mama now. 

This woman is a lot like the mama he had before. She's home all the time, likes to take walks and needs a cuddle buddy. 

It's a good match. 

Sweetie Petey deserves a mama who will love him and be home with him all the time. 

I'm going to miss the little fellow a lot. 

New Foster Dog

 This little boy lost his mom & is now our new Foster. 

A Lasa Apso, he's 12 years old and playful. He chases his ball & has a little stuffed toy. I can tell he was well loved during his 12 years. As he was friendly right from the start. 

We're just getting to know each other. He explored the house and the yard. He didn't come when I called but I just put the leash back on him and he came right along. Walks very well on a leash. He's been hanging by the sliding back door, quietly watching the door and I wonder if he's a bit depressed. 

When he first came in he growled a bit at our dog, but that ended quickly. Most dogs work at first to establish boundaries and once that's done they settle in. I don't think this little guy ever lived with another dog, so he needs to set his boundaries. We'll get past it as he gets used to the house. 

He's adorable. :)  We'll get him groomed & soon he'll be available for adoption. 

Adopted! This little boy got a new Home!

Zeek is adopted ! 

 This was one of the fastest fosters I've ever had.  Little Zeek found his forever home with one of the kindest ladies I've ever met. She was looking for a little buddy and wanted one who would get along with other people and dogs. 

At our meet and greet other neighbors came out to meet sweet Zeek and were all excited to have such a gentle little boy in their community. 

I love this match for a few reasons. Zeek is a very shy boy and seeks out love whenever he goes. He's a gentle soul who hasn't had the easiest life so far. I could see the small scars on his body where he might have had a fight. Yet, these things didn't make him mean. He only held love and hope in his heart and wanted to give that to everyone around him. For this reason he needed a calm environment. His new mom is home all the time so he'll get lots of love all day long. She has experience with little dogs so knows the ins and outs of taking care of them. She likes going for walks which is a great thing for dogs. Walking gives a dog a chance to uses all 5 senses and lets them get a taste of what's out there in the world in a safe way.  

Zeeks life will now be filled with lots of hugs and cuddles and walks around the neighborhood. There are friends and neighbors around him that will all show him the love his short life had been missing. 

Yeah, he got a good match & a furever home. Have a happy life little one. 

Doxie-Chiweenie? Feist? Foster Dog!

Lexie, my foster pup has been here about two weeks and she's a sweet little ball of energy!  She's running circles around my 12 year old Shih Tzu, Gracie, who just wants to lay on the couch.


There are some quiet times...



She makes friends easily...






And just today I got an application I really like. Now the work begins to ensure that this family is a perfect fit because this little girl deserves a family that will have patience for an energetic puppy, time to give her the exercise she'll need and enough love to give her that furever home.

Today's the Day!

Will be picking up my new foster, Lexie, this afternoon! Yay!

She was put on a transport in NC yesterday and road all night with a lot of other dogs. One of our rescue team met the transport on the turnpike this morning and is bringing her and a bunch of lab-mix puppies here to find their furever homes!

Can't wait to meet this little girl. Will post pictures sooon!

Dog Pound Wish

Craft Show for Puppies!

Calling all vendors!

Castle of Dreams Animal Rescue is hosting a Spring Craft show on April 26, 2014 at St. Joseph's Church in Keyport, NJ.

Tables cost $30 each. If you are interested in joining us for this event please email: fundraising@castle-of-dreams.com

www.castle-of-dreams.com

Come out and help save dogs and puppies!!!!
They live because you give. Yes, it really is that simple.

Foster Dogs: Can you give them up?

Rescue Dogs and Heartache...Their's and Your's

Most foster dogs have been through a lot. They may have been passed around, lost an owner they loved, or been abused either mentally or physically. Either way, any of this emotional or physical trauma would be enough to drive a human crazy. Yet, dogs endure. They can go through unspeakable things and yet still look at the next human that comes into their life as a possible friend. Dogs are unconditional, be nice to me and I'll be nice to you. If you ever meet a bad dog, it's just his reaction to the last bad human he met. He wants to trust and love. Its his nature. But sometimes, when trust is lost, the next human in line has to give a little to rebuilt it.

Corona came to my house last January as a foster. She was afraid of everything, the household humans, the cat, the other dog, company, going outside, and ...well, everything. She sat in her crate for about a week, door open, and watched us. One day she came out to explore but ran right back to the crate when anyone made the slightest move. It was hard work getting her to take a treat. Mostly I ignored her and let her find her way over to me. She did so in her own time, slowly, fearfully.

Corona came from a hoarding situation and never in her 9 years had she seen the outside. She was kept in a barn having puppies. Her whole life was a fight for food, space, and survival. Hoarders bred her over and over again for 9 years and took her puppies too soon. When they did have contact with her, it wasn't in a good way. Most of the others that came up in her rescue transport were just like her; too thin, infected mouths/spay incisions, and afraid of everything. Some in the transport reacted by cowering and trembling. Corona went from retreating and shaking to charging and shaking. She was, what I'd call; un-adoptable. I knew her type of fear would escalate so I called in a professional trainer who worked in the "Positively" type of training.

It was slow, but over the months Corona came around. When I used to put the harness on her she'd run and hide. Take her out on a leash and she'd freeze and refuse to move. It was like standing on the front lawn with a little Chihuahua statue. Now, after lots of patient practice, when I pull out the leash she jumps up and down and runs to the front door. She loves walks! She's cuddly and sweet and loves belly rubs. She's a new dog from the one who had to be carried into my home a year ago. Now I'd call her adoptable.

A year. Corona has been by  my side for a year. She lost her fear here, learned to love here, and ...somewhere along the line, she stole the heart of this seasoned foster mama.

Introducing the newest addition to our household; Gambit! (formerly Corona) She found her furever home in our hearts.
If you want to know where the name "Gambit" came from look here.

12 Months a Foster Dog?

What do you call a dog whose been in foster care for 12 months?
Corona

She's a 9...wait...10 year old, Chihuahua rescued from a hoarding situation in Tennessee. Castle of Dreams Animal Rescue brought her up last August with 4 other dogs. All were adopted except Corona.
This little dog had BIG fear issues. Mostly of people, outside, cars, noise, other dogs, and well, everything.

In hoarding situations the dogs rarely have human contact so a simple thing like a rub behind the ears can send the dog into panic mode. She's never been touched by humans so why should she trust you?
She's never been outside in all her 9 years and it really is a big, scary world out there. Cars? Never imagined such things. Other dogs? In a hoarding situation she had to fight for food, to protect her puppies, and even for the small spot of bare floor she called a bed. Her whole life was a fight.

In August 2012 she went to another foster home. She was emaciated, shaking, and so fearful she'd explode in barking fits at the slightest movement in the room. Although she was starting to come out of her shell in that home, things happened and she was moved to my home.

I recognized the fear right away. I could see it in her wide eyes as she tracked my movements, her growling as my own dog or cat went anywhere near her, and her tightly curled body. I set up a crate with a soft bed and blanket. Put a dish of water near by and fed her just outside the crate. She barely left the crate for over a week. One day I looked up and she was exploring the perimeter of the room with slow, hesitant steps. A day later she came up to me as I sat on the couch, gave me a sniff and ran back to the crate. Each day brought a little more daring on the part of this little Chihuahua, everyday she relaxed a little more.

We got a trainer for her. This trainer used positive training and things got a little better. She's more relaxed now, will walk on a leash (actually runs to the door now when the leash comes out instead of hiding). She's a great companion dog now with one exception; she barks at company.
Constantly.
I feel this is her last issue. Other than that she's a great dog. As I write this she's curled up by my side on the couch taking a nap. We're working on the barking. She's still up for adoption, but she is one year in my house this month so its going to hurt so much if she gets adopted.
Do I let her go so I can save another?

Housebreaking a Chihuahua?

I have a foster Chihuahua. Anyone know if it's possible to totally house train a Chihuahua?  She's 9 years old and came from a hoarder so she's never been trained. 

I fostered a puppy (the Chihuahua's been with me since January) and once the puppy started using the wee pads, Corona, the Chi, decided it was beneath her to use the same wee pad as the intruder. After the puppy was adopted, I babysat two cats for my daughter. Corona still didn't want to get back to the wee pads. Now the house is back to normal. . . or as close to normal as we ever get...and she's still missing the wee pad. So do Chihuahua's ever get totally house trained? 

Adoption Day in Hazlet, New Jersey!

Seniors & Big Dogs are Harder to Adopt

Rescue Dogs Rock Adoption Day!

Adoption day can be stressful for some rescue dogs. Homeless dogs come from various situations and abused, hoarded, or puppy mill dogs usually aren't well socialized. So when you put them in a crowd they don't handle it well. The shaking, hiding and nippiness you see at adoption day might not be a true  example of their personality.

Corona shook like a leaf the entire time. If anyone came near her she would freeze, growl and show her little teeth. That's not the dog cuddled next to me on the couch right now. Corona does not show well on Adoption Days.

There are two ways to handle this situation. Stay and hope she eventually relaxes, gets used to the crowd? Or take her home and let her hide in her bed for the rest of her life? We compromised. I kept Corona in my arms, stood in the back behind the table and away from the crowd.

But some great things happened today too! Big crowds showed up at Pet Supplies Plus and lots of adoptions are underway. Applications were filled out, puppies and dogs chosen by those who came by and as long as all the reference and home visits go well, there will be some new homes for these precious pups!

Rescue Dogs

Adopting a Hoarder Dog

Adopting a dog is usually a joyous event for a family. They can't wait to bring the pup into their home, show the dog his new bed, toys and treats and cuddle it. They want to pet him, stroke his fur and tell him all about the great life he has ahead of him.
This would strike terror in the heart of a of hoarder dog.

Most dogs that come from hoarding situations have had very little human contact. They've spent their days huddled with the other dogs and often had to fight for food. To have a human, who can seem like a giant to a smaller dog, approach with arms out, reaching toward him can scare the heck out of him. Imagine if you're in a foreign land where you don't speak the language and all these really big people suddenly have their hands all over you. You don't know where the bathroom is, you don't know where your other dog friends are, and you don't even know how to ask for a drink of water.  You've barely seen people, let alone have any want to touch you. Most hoarders do it because they love dogs and are trying to save the world. Unfortunately, the dogs are often unsocialized and neglected as their numbers mount.

Hoarder dogs can make the best pets. They are sweet, loyal and usually fairly calm. Their one flaw. Hoarder dogs are very shy. The one thing they need from their adoptive family isn't the toys and treats (although treats always help!) is time.

When you first bring your hoarder dog home show it the bed, where the water and food is and then just stand back. Leave the dog to explore on its own. Some will come out fairly quickly and others might hide in their crate for a day or so. Don't worry. If he's hungry he'll come to the food. Just make sure you show him where it is. Depending on how your home is set up you might want to offer the food closer to his crate for a day or two and gradually move it to the spot you prefer.

I'm not always a proponent of crate training but for a hoarder dog it can be his safety spot. A place with walls to protect him while he figures out the dynamics of the family. When he goes into his crate let that be his quiet time. The crate should be big enough for the dog to fully stand and turn around in. If he's going to be crated for hours at a time, it would have to be even bigger. Crating for hours is not recommended.

The major thing with a hoarder dog is to let them come to you. After a few days offer treats. If they don't want to come to you for the treat, toss it on the floor and walk away. Eventually, the dog will realize treats are good and come closer for them. Always keep your movements slow and gentle. Sharp movements or sudden noise can scare your hoarder dog.

Slowly your dog will start coming to you. Scratch behind his ears. If he likes that stroke his head and back. Your dog might run back to his crate but this is a milestone for your foster dog. He reached out for just a bit and opened his heart. Its going to happen again and again and sooner or later he'll be in your lap and giving kisses.

The magic word here is "Time". Hoarder dogs need time to get used to humans and the love they can share. Give them time, love and affection and soon you'll have a great dog who will be romping in the yard and cuddling on the couch. 

This is Corona. She came from a hoarding situation in South Carolina. She's about 8 years old and didn't come out of her crate for two days. The first day I put her food dish next to the crate and she's stretch her neck out to eat. Two weeks later she's on my lap getting belly rubs, eating in the kitchen and wandering around the whole house. When she's not on my lap she's on the dog bed next to her crate. Big step. She just needed time.