Heartworm Positive Diagnosis

 My little foster failure was diagnosed with Heartworm. This is Florida where heartworm seems to be everywhere. 

Preventatives People!!!

Yes, Maggie was on preventatives from the time I got her. The Vet said she might have just been bitten before she came to the shelter. So the first test she got when entering the shelter was negative but now as the worm was growing it comes back positive. The fact that she did get her monthly preventatives probably stopped baby worms from developing. Heartworms take about 6 months to sexually mature and begin producing more worms. 

Now to kill that mama worm inside her heart. There were two choices. My vet does not recommend slow kill because as you're waiting for the worm to die, it's still causing damage. Heartworms can live unchecked for years. 

Maggie is barely 2 years old so I didn't want any more damage to her young heart. I opted for the fast kill heartworm treatment. This consists first of a month of Doxycycline to ensure there's not another infection going on. After that the dog gets 3 injections. First injection, then four weeks later 2 more injections 24 hours apart. 

During this time the dog has to be kept calm. No running around, no zoomies, no crazy rough housing with the other dogs in the house. 

Maggie had her first injection a week and a half ago. The vet did the injection in the side of the lower back. Maggie was a champ and stood just fine for it. Afterwards she just kind of wandered around the vet's office while I paid the bill. It was when I got her in the car that the crazies started. 

I always use a seat belt for my dog in the back seat where she can lay down if she wants.  It clips around the headrest then onto her harness. She got in the car without a problem but once we were on the road (20 mins from home) she started pacing on the back seat, whining, sitting down, getting up, pacing. Around and around. I tried soothing music, talking to her, and telling her it was ok. She was panting and appeared to almost be starting to panic. 

Then she tried to jump into the front seat. The seatbelt doesn't reach that far and she was just stuck dangling over the seat in her harness. Of course, this was where there was no place to pull over so I'm driving with one hand and trying to unhook her harness with the other. Luckily there was a traffic light and I was able to get the harness off and she could sit in the front. 

It didn't help. She was still stressing, moving, whining. Finally she jumped into the back seat again. We made it home safe. 

At home she was still panting, pacing and every time she'd lay down she'd be up again. I emailed my vet and he got right back to me. He said to give her time because she's probably stressed and in some pain of the shot. This injection went deep into the muscle so there could be some swelling involved. 

The next day she was much better. She's on Prednisone and I think that helps with inflammation. Still not herself and seemed sore on one side. (I offered her ice packs and lots of treats) The day after that she seemed more like herself. 

This is the hard part now... keeping her from running and playing. She's a crazy zoomie pup and runs laps around the yard every day. Now I take her out on a leash so she can't run. If she starts pulling I have to slow her down. I feel bad she doesn't understand. 

Sorry little Maggie, no fun for a few weeks. 

The meds cause the worm to die and break up. These floating worm pieces can be absorbed by the body. BUT! in the first few weeks they pose a danger for causing blood clots in the heart, lungs and brain. You have to keep that heart rate down and the dog calm. From what I've read, it's 4 to 6 weeks that you have to keep the pup calm. 

It's going to be a long. hot summer.... 

Her next series of 2 injections is on the 31st. I'm going to take someone with me to go to the vet so I can sit with her in the back seat and someone else can drive. I'll let you know how it goes.

More information can be found at The American Heartworm Society  

Soul Mates - Author Talk

From the Author:

Working with Dog Rescue can be rewarding, but it can also break your heart. Anyone who's fostered and given up a dog to another home knows the pain and then they do it again because they know there's another dog out there that needs them. There is always another dog.

The story Soul Mates came from a writing challenge, but it was the love of dogs and experience in dog rescue that moved the story. So many foster dogs come in with emotional baggage, one can only wonder what happened to them. We can patch up the broken bones, give them any medications they need, but their heart takes longer to heal after its been broken by humans.

This story is fiction but I've seen dogs who come into rescue with clouds of fear and uncertainty in their eyes. They pancake to the floor when I reach out to pet them, or bark like crazy at the slightest noise. This is how they learned to protect themselves before they arrived on the rescue's doorstep. It breaks your heart every time. When they start to finally act like a dog again, wagging tail, playing with toys, you feel true joy.

So this book has some hard parts, that's true. One reviewer told me "I laughed, I cried, I loved this book." Another review said "it's about animal abuse!" I don't think that second reviewer read the whole book. If she did, she would have known that although the pup goes through some rough times, the dog is saved. Because that's the story of too many rescue dogs. They come in scared and wounded and rescue does their best to patch them up physically and emotionally.

That's what rescue and foster people do. They save dogs, help them heal, and then find them a good home.

See you in the pages...

Jeanne Donnelly is a New Jersey native and has been writing all her life. With an English/Creative Writing major, she's honed her skills with help from the New Jersey Romance Writers and Liberty State Fiction Writers. Both are great groups that support writers and their dreams.

Applying For a Rescue Dog - 5 Reasons Why You Didn't Hear Back

 

So, you made the decision. You want to adopt a rescue dog. You found the perfect pup and filled out the rescue's online application. And then....

Radio silence. You never hear back. 

Why? 

Here are 5 of the reasons your application might have failed. 

1.  Your application was incomplete. Did you fill out the whole thing with the correct information? Making a mistake on your phone or email might have made it impossible for them to reach you. Check your entries before hitting submit. 
2. You skipped sections. Other pets? Vet information? Who else lives in the house? 
3. You didn't read the animal's about me section. If the information on the pet says must have a fenced in yard and you don't well everything stops there. Or not good with cats and you have a cat? Rescuers are looking to make a perfect match so the animal gets a perfect furever home. 
4. You don't read the questions. Did it ask for 3 references and you only gave one? Really? If you can't supply at least 3 people who can vouch for your ability to own a pet then why should they trust you? 
5. The pets in your house are not up to date on vaccinations. A good rescue will call your vet to make sure you're taking good care of the pets in your care. Either now or ones you owned in the past. If you didn't keep on on basic pet care, your application will be passed over. 

You ask why they don't call or email and let you know why? 

One single dog or cat can have over 30 applications in a week or even a day.  Processing all these applications takes time and a lot of phone calls to vets and references. This doesn't take into account the time dealing with amount of dogs coming into rescue who need medical care or the fundraising needed to take care of them all.  

If the rescue stopped and answered every ap there would be no time left to process the other applications and find that perfect home for the pets in their care or provide proper attention to the new pets coming in. And there are always more dogs and cats needing to be rescued. Isn't that the goal? Finding a great furever home for every single dog or cat. 

Woof! Good dog!

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! 

I Adopted Out a Dog Today

 I foster dogs. 

No, it's not easy. 

I adopted out a dog today. His name was Carl and he was the sweetest little boy. Carl was joy in every sense of the word. He loved snuggling on the couch, following me around no matter what room I went into (we did have a discussion on the bathroom but he didn't seem to understand my point of view) and chasing squirrels. 

I adopted out a dog today. He took a piece of my heart with him and now I can't seem to find my smile. 

I adopted out a dog today. My couch is empty and there's no reason to open the back door 20 times a day to play let dog in, let dog, out. 

I adopted out a dog today. There are tears in my eyes and a sadness around my shoulders. I miss his little face, his wagging tail and happy eyes. 

I adopted out a dog today. He's going to another home where he'll be loved and have another dog to play with. I'm happy  his furever home is a good one where they'll keep up on his vet visits, shower him with toys and feed him well. 

I adopted out a dog today. And now my home is open to save another life. Because that's what rescue is all about. Saving one more little life. 

Have a good life little one. 

Carl Update

Carl is doing great! He's such a sweetie and loves everyone. He came to me  already house trained and loves to cuddle up and watch TV.  

I bring him to the studio every day to hang out and he greets people slowly, mostly waiting for them to come to him. I haven't tried him with kids, yet. He did meet a few younger teens at the Rescue Halloween party and did great with them.

He went dressed as an artist with a little beret. Adorable. 

So now we have an application for adoption on Sweet Carl and he does his first meet and greet tomorrow.  The family sounds great and they already have another rescue dog. Just a little younger than him but the other pup also has a squirrel chasing habit so they can go on the hunt together.  We'll see how it goes tomorrow.  

Hoping for a great furever home for this special boy. 

💙💙💙

Every time a foster dog leaves my house I cry. 

Then I do it again, knowing when the next one leaves I'll cry again. 

And so it goes....

Problems with Dogs

 Hey! He's a good dog but.... 

Yeah, I hear that all the time.  Mostly because people don't know the basics of dog training or where to turn to for help.  

So you adopted that adorable dog. Cool. Now let's help him unpack. 

    He came with a past. Before this pup got to you he was somewhere else. Either with his mom and siblings or abandoned or maybe with a different adopter or a rescue. When he was there he learned their ways (not your way) and knew what was expected of him there. Now he comes to your house and doesn't even know where the bathroom is or if he'll be fed today.

   So what do you do? First thing on your list should be patience. He may not pick up on your clues the first time, or the second or even the tenth. But he'll get there if you give him time and patience. Be consistent. Use the same command every time. If you say "Go out!" a couple of time then "Go potty!" it could be confusing. Make sure the whole family knows the commands and what they mean. 

   Dogs are usually treat driven. BUT be smart about this. The dog gets the treat for good behavior. Make sure its a healthy treat and don't give too much. 

One of the first things you should teach your pup is to sit on command. That way they should sit when getting a treat. They'll soon know sit gets rewards.  Don't force their butt down but encourage the sit by repeating the command and slowly moving the treat backward over their head so they sit. Once that butt is down give lots of "GOOD BOYS!" and the treat. Repeat, repeat, repeat. 

Off topic I once had a Golden Retriever who went after the mailman. She raced out the door before I could grab her and raced toward him. Terrified the poor mailman jumped up onto the hood of the mail truck. I yelled the one command I knew she understood well, "DUSTY, SIT!" The dog dropped in her tracks, sat down and looked back at me.  This is a good example of how knowing the right command at the right time can help. :) 

    

Now about all that unpacking. Your dog might come with some quirks like they're jumpy when you move your feet or cower when you pull out the broom. This could be a sign that they were abused with that before they got to you. Solution? Go slow with them. Trust is earned and not automatic especially in dogs that have seen rougher times. 

   If your dog jumps every time you get up from the couch and move your feet then give them a warning. Say, "It's okay, good boy." as you get up. This alert them you're going to move and they won't be so startled. 

   If your dog panics at the broom or other item? Take them out of the room so they don't see it. Direct them to their bed or other safe place like the couch. My dog sits on the couch and watches me vacuum. It's all good. 

   Rescue dogs are the best but they just need time to learn what you want from them, where the bathroom is, what time they eat and what to expect from the household. 

Time and patience are the key to a happy dog and a happy family. 

   

Not Fostering Now

I've fostered dogs for about 10 years now. Its been a crazy, wild ride and I wouldn't change one minute of it. Not the sad, sick pups I had to nurse back to health, not the wild, untrained dogs who gnawed on my table legs and not those who made me a foster failure.          ---->


Those days were full of fun and laughter and also some heartbreak. There were dogs I was happy to see move to their forever home and those that took a piece of my heart with them when they left.

Now I'm beginning a new life adventure and can't foster where I'm staying because of these two rambunctious beauties.

They are big, they are young, and they would probably squash any little dog that happened by. Not because they're mean, but big dogs play rough. They can push the couch 5 feet when they rock into it.
I'd hate to see them trample a little guy and due to an old shoulder injury I usually only do small dogs.

I miss fostering so much! I miss those sad little eyes looking up at me when they enter my house for the first time and I miss watching them transform into the happy-go-lucky pups they always should have been.

As soon as our house situation is settled I'm back into fostering. There are too many dogs out there who need me, you, us.

Boxer Mix for Adoption

How to Foster a Dog

Did you always think you wanted to do something to help homeless animals, but weren’t sure what? If adoption is out of the question, you might consider fostering. Although being a foster family for a homeless dog can be very rewarding, you might have some concerns. Stay calm. It’s easier than you think.

The foster family opens their heart and home to a dog from a shelter and agrees to work with the pup on basic house manners. The dog you foster might come with a history of abuse or neglect and will need a lot of patience to assimilate to a home again.  Other dogs might be very easy and quickly become acclimated to your family.  Each dog is different, but don’t worry. Here are a few tips that will improve your fostering experience.

1. Find a good dog rescue organization to team up with. Every area of the country has animal rescue groups. Look online or in your local paper and call a few in your area. This is your chance to interview them to see if they are a responsible group. Ask questions such as: “Will the group pay to have the dog spayed or neutered? What if the dog doesn’t get along with my dog? What if he has a medical problem? Who will take the dog if I go on vacation?” Getting answers to these kinds of questions will give you a good insight into the type of people you will be working with and how much support you will get if a problem arises.

2. Be prepared for a variety of behaviors. Most dogs are good and want to please, but shelter dogs need a little time to come out of their shell. The dog may cower and hide when he first arrives in your home. This usually isn’t a problem. Give him space and let him come to you. The little fellow has probably had a rough few days of arriving at the shelter, being transported to the rescue organization, and finally to your house. He doesn’t understand why he lost his home or why he keeps being moved around. Show him where the acceptable bathroom place is, give him food and water and soon you’ll see a wonderful personality emerge.

3. Know a few accidents are normal any time a dog moves to a new home. If your foster dog has an accident gently correct him with a firm, “no”, and show him the proper place to potty. When he does potty outside praise him so he knows he did it right.

4. One of the best tools to get a dog adopted is photos. All good rescue groups have accounts at places like Petfinder.com and Adopt-a-pet.com. When the dog is in your house take some cute pictures of your foster. Send them your rescue group as soon as possible so they can put the photos up on the website. You could even take a short video of your little guy so everyone searching for a new pet can see how precious he is. You should also let your rescue know if there are any behavioral quirks such as chasing cats, resource guarding or marking.

5. The hardest part is saying goodbye. You’ve given him love and affection and watched him go from a frightened little pup to a wonderful family dog and now it’s time to give him up. You’ve read the adoptive family’s application, checked references and decided they would be a good forever home for your foster dog. When you hand the dog over to the new family your heart may break. You’ve fallen in love with the little guy and now he’s leaving. It can be a very emotional time for the whole family, but remember there’s another dog out there that needs a loving foster family so he can find his way to a good life.
   

With so many animals being dumped in shelters every day, fostering one dog might not seem like much, but remember you’ve saved a life. Now that your first foster is adopted into a good family, you’re ready to save another homeless dog. You are the bridge between a scary shelter and a loving home. Be the bridge that gives these dogs a happily ever after and discover the magic of unconditional love.  

Thinking About Adopting a Puppy Mill Dog?

Thinking of adopting a Puppy Mill dog? 

One piece of advice; Do it! 

But read this first. 

You'll need patience, since this dog has never lived in a home before. It might not understand  the big deal about housebreaking issues and will need some positive reinforcement to learn where to eliminate. It might not understand things a normal dog would seem to know. His life before you was a wire cage. There were no warm beds, rugs, or cuddles. Go slow, have patience.

Your puppy mill dog will probably be older, so give it some time to learn the ropes. For all of it's years there has been a different set of rules. They were probably handled roughly, check for pregnancy, back in cage, take puppies as soon as they were old enough to go (sometimes even before that,) sometimes fed sporadically depending on the mill. They weren't bathed or groomed.

Everything must be learned and old habits need to be realigned. That takes time. Like children, each one is different. Some will learn quickly, some might always have problems. For the tough learners-wee-wee pads will be your friend in the housebreaking process.

I have a Puppy Mill dog and she is an absolute dream. Gracie, a Shih Tzu, adapted slowly. Luckily we had another dog and she kind of followed the lead. Gracie would follow Halston, our Golden, outside and quickly got the "where to go to go" down quickly.  Since she is a small dog, I do leave wee pads down when I leave the house for any length of time. Small dog, small bladder.

And she hates to be groomed. A Shih Tzu needs a groom every 4 to 6 weeks by a professional groomer. Shih Tzus have hair that will continue to grow and needs to be trimmed regularly. (Something to think about BEFORE adopting this type of dog-are you ready to take your new pup to the groomer regularly and can you afford it?) Gracie will twitch and move every time the groomer lines up the scissors which makes for some crooked haircuts.

When Gracie first arrived she was sick. A recent spay and both ears were infected. We had to get her well before anything else. I was her foster mom so she came to me right from the mill. If you're adopting a Puppy Mill, you might get it from a rescue that will take care of any health issues before adopting.

Our Halston has since passed, but she was Gracie's best friend to the end. They would cuddle and go everywhere together. Now Gracie has a new sibling, Cupcake (nee Corona) the damaged dog. She's not as cuddly as Halston, but they've come to an understanding.

Gracie loved to be petted, but not picked up. She'll cuddle by my side, but not so much on the lap. She follows me everywhere and will sit by my side while I'm at my writing desk. I never get a bad critique from her. :)

Adopting a Puppy Mill dog takes patience but the rewards are many. You'll get a best friend who will reward you with unconditional love, warm cuddles, and the knowledge that you gave her a chance at a life she never could have dreamed existed beyond that cold wire cage.

The Throw Away Dog

Got a call today from a friend who works in a shelter. A family was dumping their 7 month old dog off because it bit the father. He said the dog was aggressive toward his daughter and he got in the middle and it bit his hand. As he turns the dog in he says he's had problems with the dog from the beginning. They said they adopted the dog from our rescue. We looked it up and will be picking up the dog tomorrow. He'll be evaluated and we go from there. We'll pay for training and socialize him. The shelter says so far they've seen no aggression and he seems to be a normal exuberant puppy. Hopefully, he'll be adopted. We've done it before, we'll do it again. And probably again and again and again...

Okay, listen up...if you're going to get a dog you have to train it. Training takes time and patience. If you're having problems figuring out how to train a dog, hire a trainer. A good trainer. One who will train all the family members, too. Dogs need to know how to behave, but people need to know (and practice) how to train a dog. Some stranger taking over your dog for a few weeks is not training anyone. Everyone in the family has to be trained right along with the dog. That's how you create a successful relationship with your dog.

Next issue; A dog is a family member. You are his pack so treat him with the same love and affection that you treat the rest of your family/pack members. Learn to work with them, learn from a good "positive" trainer to make a successful relationship with the family and the dog.

You don't give up on family members. You don't dump them in a shelter where they'll be stuck in a cage, confused and scared and away from the only people they ever loved. You wouldn't do it to your children, don't do it to your dog. If you can't promise the dog forever, then you aren't ready for a dog.

Okay, sorry. Vent over.

Fundraising for Dog Rescue

We save the dogs, bring them into our homes, share love, good food, and a warm bed. Then comes the hard part; handing them over to their forever home.

Now for the other pain of Dog Rescue; FUNDRAISING!

Rescuing dogs is more expensive than anyone, but the rescue team, will ever know. Dogs come into rescue with heartworm, parvo, infections, and too many other problems to list. (Newbies please don't get scared! Not all dogs come in with issues. Most are perfectly healthy, wonderful pups) When dogs come in with health issues the $$$ can add up quickly!

That dog that came in thin as sticks with cigarette burns on his back needs a full blood work up to be sure he's healthy and the burn marks are going to heal. (he is, they did). The one that seems to be limping when he came off transport needs x-rays (and more surgery to heal his back leg). A litter of pups where three out of five end up with Parvo need to be treated by the vet for at least a week (yes, they made it and are now in good homes!). This list goes on and on....

Most times adoption fees don't cover it all. Veterinary bills can add up super fast so a Rescue is constantly looking for more fundraising ideas. Here's a few we've used in the past;

• Cans. Cans can be put in local stores with pictures of your cutest pups to ask for donations. This requires some organization as someone has to check the cans on a weekly/monthly basis.
• Paws for the Cause. Purchase paper/cardboard paw print cutouts and get a local store or restaurant to sell them for a small fee. As people buy the paw they put their name on it and it's posted on the wall of the business. This makes the business look community minded while earning money for the dogs. 
• Bowling days or Restaurant Dinners. Get together with a local bowling alley and offer games of bowling where the rescue gets a cut of the profits. Check with a restaurant in your area to host a Rescue night. When anyone mentions the rescue, the restaurant donates part of the profits. This is usually not a very big fundraiser but is a great way for volunteers to get together with friends and family to support the rescue. 
• Gift auctions & Bingo nights. Lots of work to organize this as gifts have to be secured from generous donors to make up the gift/gift basket prizes. Check out local fire departments and schools as places to have your venue.
• Craft shows. Another top earner, but takes a good organizer. Find a venue, sell spaces to crafters and vendors, sell some food and drinks. 

These are basic fundraisers. If you have any other ideas please post them! We'd love to share the ideas to save the pups!

Dog & Puppy Adoption Day!

Easter Bunny Breakfast for Rescue

Dog Adoption in Hazlet

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.

Hard times, Good times...

Sometimes fostering a dog can bring great joy. You take a scared pup into your home, work through the issues, and help them learn what its like to live with love. Then they find a good home and you miss them but you know in your heart they're off to a happy life. That's the reward, the heartbreak and the reason you do it again.

Then there's Trouble. This little brown and white Chihuahua came from a southern shelter. They said he had one deformed leg. Okay, we can deal. Send him up on the next transport. We get dogs with issues all the time. Heartworm is rampant in the south and treating it can be expensive, but we have great volunteers and good vets who help us muddle through the treatment. Parvo? It happens. Sometimes seemingly healthy pups come up and WHAM! Parvo! It sucks, but it's treatable. The volunteer is on 24/7 alert in helping the dog survive but it can be done. We've had to do it a million times and the dogs go on to live healthy lives.
But when Trouble arrived and we placed the little guy on the ground we discovered he had more than a deformed front leg. Both back legs wobbled like he couldn't balance on them at all. Off we go to the vet to discover this little guy was in a lot of pain. Both back knee caps were dislocated and that deformed front leg were all the results of severe abuse. Surgery to fix this little guy will cost over $6000. Yes, Trouble has real trouble.
So we deal. Fundraising goes viral and movies are made and flyers go out. Six grand is a lot of money and bottom line is---we have to raise it because Trouble will be fixed. Castle of Dreams Animal Rescue doesn't give up on any dog.
So we move on and then comes a little Shih Tzu up from the south. She's cute and happy but, after we shave her down so we can see this little girl under all the matting, her face looks funny, lopsided. Something we couldn't see under all the matting. A trip to the vet and we find out her jaw is dislocated. The vet said she must have been kicked in the face at some point.
That's two injured, abused pups in one month. SHEESH! What kind of people abuse animals and then just dump them in shelters? My first reaction is hate. Pure ugly hate. I hate these people and think they should be locked away where they can't ever hurt another living thing. They are not fit to be called humans.
I hate this hate. It's useless. It wastes energy and brings me down.
Instead of focusing on the hate I push it aside and focus on what we can change. We can get Trouble fixed. We can get that little Shih Tzu's jaw fixed. We can move on and keep going and not let the ugly people in this world stop us.
To donate to help either of these pups go to Castle of Dreams Animal Rescue

SOUL MATES

My novella, Soul Mates (A different kind of love story) is now available from Amazon on Kindle!

After a tragic death on mean city streets, a woman meets God and begs him to let her reincarnate to bring the heavenly message of unconditional love to the world. Follow the adventure when she is tossed back to earth as one of the smallest dogs on the planet.

The Dangerous Foster Dog

Some foster dogs are dangerous.
They’re sneaky and steal things.
Like your heart.
They sneak up on you with wistful brown eyes, reach into your soul, and you want to keep them forever.
This is called a foster failure. The foster families who want to keep their foster dog.
I was never a foster failure. I would never do that because I know how important it is for the next dog coming up to stay with me until he has a family.
But some do.
Some, scratch that, most foster moms I know have several foster failures and I can see why.
Scooby.
He’s why.
Scooby came into my home on a breath of fresh air. Although transport said he was cranky and fought with the other dogs he hasn’t shown a bit of aggression to anyone. Not my fourteen year old golden, Halston, not my cantankerous old calico cat, Gizzmo, not anyone who ever stepped foot into our home.
His transport people were gentle and did their best but he must have been so scared. Once he had a home. Then life happened and he was dumped, lost, scared, picked up, put in a cage, shipped on a truck with lots of big, noisy, scared dogs. The truck stopped and he was taken out of one cage and shoved in another with more scared, strange dogs.
I’d probably snap at someone too. . .
Scooby is love wrapped in fur. All he wants out of life is to play and to love.
When he first came into our home he gave Halston a sniff and ran to Gizzmo to play. I guess since Gizz is about the same size, Scooby thought she was another playmate. Gizzmo was not amused. To this day, three weeks later, she’s still not amused with Scooby.
I work full time.
Scooby is young.
When I’m gone I crate him because he seems to think everything is a chew toy. I’m afraid he’d electrocute himself or something when I’m gone.
He leaps the gate so I can’t even leave him in the kitchen.
And I want to keep him.
My heart breaks at the thought of giving him away.
>sniff<