Come on in and share our fostering experience. We can't save them all, but we can tell you about the ones we did save. One by one...until there are none.
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.
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.
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.
He's adorable. :) We'll get him groomed & soon he'll be available for adoption.
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.
When I picked him up from rescue he was trembling. On the car ride back he wanted to be in my lap. I made him comfortable on a blanket beside me and he settled down.
When he met our dog, a basset/boxer mix, they did the butt sniff and then just ignored each other. Mostly because our 8 year old dog doesn't want to be bothered with other dogs.
So, no this little guy needs a name. Hopefully there will be a decision by tomorrow. I've got a list of names and read them off to him but get no reaction.
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.
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.
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.
What do you think, LoveBug? Need a little sister?
