DNE #550

Do Not Euthanize #550.

This is #550.


Terrified, tense, and resigned to his fate, the only buddies he’d ever known – his mother and sister that were dumped there with him – were already in a back bin somewhere waiting to be taken to wherever they take the euthanized dogs.  The dead ones.  The destroyed ones.  Somehow, an angel had been looking over #550 and he was spared the needle and brought into the Vet Tech program, only to be placed back on the Euth List a few days later.  A worker at the shelter, Jenn Arias, had been desperately networking #550, but with only the below information to go on, a picture of a fearful dog, and the label of animal aggression, it became an arduous task:

2-17 returned from vet tech

Euthanasia Date 2/20/2012

46 lb intact male, HW negative, DHPP, animal aggressive(?)
resource guarder
editor's note: came in with other dogs that he got along fine with

2-9 had been scheduled for euth, but was held back 

Remarks: 
Shy

Trey and I had just experienced a tearful goodbye to Bindi earlier that Sunday morning, February 19^th,  and as I lay in bed listening to the soft noises from the TV, I was carefully monitoring the FB comments about this dog.  An adopter gets a 10 day adoption trial to decide if they truly want to make one of our foster dogs a part of their family.  If they decide it’s not a good fit, they are able to give them back in that 10 day period.  But Bindi was in Vermont. 15 hours away in Vermont. Surely, there’s no way that she’s coming back and there were tons of other dogs that were pouring into my inbox that I had the ability to save. Morally, how do you play God and decide who gets to live and who must die? My inbox had a cute brown pup with a hurt lip, a brown and white happy-looking dog that was going kennel crazy from being at the shelter so long, and scared #550.  Although he didn’t win the handsome award, the thoughts of #550 meeting death before he had even experienced life kept creeping into my mind.  The fact that #550 was brought in with other dogs, yet displayed animal aggression got under my skin. The idea that he may not be saved at all because he was deemed a resource guarder made me angry.  But most of all, the fact that #550 was unbelievably dirty in his intake picture hurt my heart.  That was the final straw.  This boy needed a calming, warm bath from a person that wanted to give him nothing but love, comfy bedding and a regular meal each morning and night. This boy needed me.

I emailed Jenn at 11:00pm, only single-digit hours until #550 received the fatal dose into his leg.

 “Ok, I’ll take him.”

11pm is the time that most people are tucked into their beds, ridding themselves of the day’s stress with clean sheets and a peaceful sleep.  But for shelter workers and animal lovers across the world, it is crunch time, networking like crazy to try to save dogs that don’t deserve to die.  Jenn’s email immediately came back with the scary reality: DNE #550. A subject line as pleading as Times New Roman from Gmail will allow - as if they may toss her email away by accident in the bustle of life, absent-mindedly and indirectly killing this dog before we could break him out.  But they didn’t.  They responded and the next morning set up his shots and neuter for the following day.  I was to pick him up after work on February 21, 2012.

The dog that Trey and I assumed he would be, even from being in the shelter and just going through surgery, was a totally incorrect assumption.  We thought we’d still see the light in his eyes, a wag in his tail, recognition that these people were here to help.

There was none of that.

Fearful dogs can become a hazard extremely easily, and as Trey opened the car door, I watched his body language. Stiff, rigid, terrified, helpless.  He wouldn’t even move his head to look at us, just watched with his eyes trained on us, judging us, trying to read us.  As I gently picked him up to ease him in the car, his legs stiff, his body unmoving, I retrieved my stash of extra dog food from the glove box and tried to lure him from the other side. After a few minutes of pleading and prodding, we were able to shut the car door, but not before noticing that he was missing his bottom canine and part of his tongue. What kind of past did this dog have to survive in order to finally make it here?

As we pulled away, I said, “Trey, he needs a name.” I looked at the spot we had picked him up, Hooper’s Tavern. 

“What about Cooper?”

*******************************************

The dog that we had seen that night became a completely different dog over the course of the first day, first week and the total of 33 days.  This dog was happy. Like really happy.  Like makes-you-want-to-laugh-every-second happy.  From wagging his tail constantly and with so much force that it leaves red marks on your calves, or pinning your shoulders with his paws and lathering your face full of kisses or immediately rolling around in the grass every single potty break for at least the first week, Cooper was ecstatic to be alive.  I only wish that I could have bottled up his happiness and carried it around with me, taking frequent sniffs to remind me to stop and smell the roses more often and maybe even take part in a belly roll or two down a big, grassy hill. 

Cooper was a stellar foster from the get-go - never showed any aggression towards my cats, never chasing, and being extremely patient with both of them.  His only fault was trying to play every now and then when my lazy cat would do a half-ass attempt at a swat.  Cooper was slightly fearful of dogs bigger than himself but very gentle with dogs smaller, and boy, did Cooper LOVE tennis balls.  Forget the flirt pole, forget Frisbees, just get a tennis ball and he would be happy for an hour entertaining himself with it.  This silly boy was a heartbreaker with crowds at Home Depot and Lowe’s, leaning into people for love, leaving his trademark white hair with a touch of black on their shins.  When Cooper met my 11 month old niece, he sniffed her foot and hand delicately before taking an exploratory lick of her chubby hand, causing high-pitched squeals from her.  Everyone loves Cooper.  

And no one showed their love more than his newly adoptive parents, Matt and Jillian.  This engaged couple had a soft spot in their hearts for pitbulls, but wanted to wait until after their wedding in September to adopt.  That was before they saw Cooper and fell head over heels in love with our goofball.

They did everything in their power to make this dog an awesome part of their family, from following the suggestion for the Two Week Shut Down to buying the same crate and food to ease his transition.  As Matt and Jillian drove away with Cooper last Sunday, they also took with them the powerful happy-go-lucky air that Cooper emits. Like a drug that had run it’s course, Trey and I seemed drained of his happiness and drove the hour and a half home, mostly in silence, but content, because knowing that Cooper is going to have a full and wonderful life is the goal of this.  We were simply a stepping stone for him.  An important, no, life-or-death stepping stone that I hope every one of you will have the honor to feel someday.  And as much as we miss his kisses and knowing when he’s getting into something by the rhythmic banging of his tail, we can’t wait to do it again soon.

You made it #550.  We know angels were looking over you that day. And we know you’ll make those 2 look-alike angels from Doggie Heaven proud. Won’t ya buddy? 




Check out Cooper's (now known as Capo's) journey below:

Fate just has a way..

Bindi and Kya (my full-grown 2 year old 8lb kitten) had a routine in which they would both jump on my bed each morning after the morning feeding and walk, and catch an early morning snooze while I got ready for work.  Not even the blow dryer would disturb their slumber.   When I was ready for work, I'd say, “Let’s go potty!” and Bindi would jump up, along with Kya, and race downstairs.  Now for what? I don’t know.  Kya doesn’t get to go out, and chooses instead to sit in the window and play with the blinds, and Bindi hated the swampy, cold grass that she was being asked to pee in.  Regardless, they had this routine down to a science.  
When I first brought Bindi home, I hoped for peace.  I didn’t know that I’d get harmony.

                           

Many people have asked, “How did you do it?” or “My dog still has issues with my cat, what can I do different?”  Bindi was very eager to please and didn’t like to be in trouble so she was fairly easy once she understood what I wanted.  The following process may not work for every dog – i.e. the leash corrections that I did religiously with Bindi for 6 weeks to walk on a leash just did not work for her.  I changed technique and found something that worked for us.  Please, please, take this idea and tweak it to create something that fits your life and your dog.  With enough time and effort, every home can live in peace.
With consistency, you might even find harmony.

NOTE: *Click* refers to clicker training, a way of saying “Great Job!” to your dog.  You can also use a word like “Yes” or “Ok”, which tells your dog that he’s doing something you like.For more information on that, click HERE.

*I used bacon bits, sausage crumbles, goldfish crackers, green beans, bananas, anything that Bindi found utterly amazing, I used it. I wanted the understanding ‘Cats=Awesome treats’.  If you are worried about your dog gaining weight, you can use green beans or the kibble from their next meal. Just measure it out and after training, they get the remaining kibble in their dish.

Desensitizing a dog to cats:

1. Leash pressure. If your dog is strong (like Bindi was), I suggest using a gentle leader.  Makes your life much easier!  Otherwise, snap a leash on your dog.  With no cats present, and holding the end of the leash, begin walking.  When your dog gets interested in something and is out at the end of the leash, simply stop, turn to look at your dog, move the leash down so it is even with your dog and parallel to the floor and keep steady, gentle pressure on the leash.  No words, no whistling, no commands.  Just wait.  The split second your dog turns to look at you, *click* *treat* *lots of praise and petting*. Continue walking.  Use the distractions around your house as opportunities to work on leash pressure.  Important: NEVER tug, yank back or give negative attention for pulling.  The idea is for them to associate looking at you and coming towards you with wonderful praise and rewards.  The better you and your dog get at this step, the easier it will be when cats are in the picture.

2. Distance leash pressure with cats.  Create a situation where your cat will be staying still.  I used a tuna juice treat in a container or a baby gate in a doorway when the cat was lying on the bed in view.  The idea of this step is for you to continue the leash pressure; the goal is for your dog to hold focus on you.  Your dog will most likely go to the end of the leash, pulling toward the cat. Again, stop (I used to squat down), and hold steady pressure.  Be patient! The second/minute the attention goes from the cat to you, *click* *treat*.  When your dog begins to understand the relationship between the cats and the treats, they will begin to easily look at the cat, then back to you, expecting a treat (and for good reason!). Continue this for 5 minute sessions a few times a day, and you can move to the next step when you see the attention turn more to you instead of the cat.  You may even stay on this step for a week or so.  Depending on how curious your dog is about the cat, this is a great step to hold steady on until they’ve got it down pat.

3. Walking past the cat. Again, create a situation where the cat is still. I would take advantage of times when the cat would be sleeping on the back of the couch or the mantle of the fireplace.  At this point, the dog is probably realizing that you have wonderfully tasting treats in your pocket, so the attention might already be on you. That’s great!  As you walk, walk backwards facing your dog so your dog is essentially walking towards you for the treat.  If your dog notices the cat, and inevitably darts toward it or even just stares intently, do not yank or get frustrated.  This is part of your dog’s learning and is a fantastic opportunity to intervene and teach an appropriate behavior.  Calmly stop, hold steady pressure and again wait for your dog to focus on you, *click* *treat*.  The more you walk by your cat, the less attention your dog will give it because you, Holy Treat Holder, are way cooler! You may also hold treats in your hand so they can nibble at it as they walk, but not receive the whole thing.  Once past the cat, they may eat the rest of the treat.  You can move to the next step when your dog easily looks at the cat and back to you.

4. Moving Cats. Choose a time in which your cat is not overly active, but is walking and moving about.  Ignoring your cat, turn all attention to your dog.  Ask for his full attention using a “Watch Me” command or reviewing basic commands such as “Sit”, “Down” or “Paw”.  Your dog should be able to look pretty easily at the cat and then back to you.  If at any time the focus on the cat changes from a curious glance to a hardened look, walk in the other direction in a calm, slightly excited “Come on! Follow me!” attitude.  Once the attention is back on you, begin the commands again.  At this point in the process, you should be able to walk pretty freely around the house with your dog on the leash and your cat in the room.  Your dog should be able to look at the cat and back to you while walking without causing much distress or intensity/body position changes. 

Body language positions to avoid/signs of crossing the threshold:
          -stiff, raised tail (curled over their back or wagging above their backbone)
          -tense body, unresponsive to commands or leash pressure
          -hardened stare at the cat
          -ears perked, facing forward
          -jaw closed and tense
          -no use of their nose/no sniffing
          -hackles raised

5. Off Leash.  In this step, you probably won’t start out completely trusting your dog. Pretend you do for his sake though, and be sure to act confidently.  [[Please note: in order to successfully complete this step, you must have a sturdy foundation built from the previous steps as well as a great handle on your dog’s body language.  By this time, you should be able to describe your dog’s calm body language and at-threshold body language.]] I set up 2 escapes for my cats, a baby gate they could jump to leave the room, and then a high place in another room that a dog could not reach.  Keep a constant eye on your dog -- don’t start unloading the dishwasher or putting away toys or bills.  With clicker and treats in hand, catch his good behavior every time.  For example: looking at you instead of the cat, laying down, watching with a calm demeanor as opposed to focused glares, responding to his name or commands, or following you as you move around the room are all great things to treat for.  I did not let Bindi ever approach my cats.  She was able to smell them from afar, or if they walked near her she could smell them, but anything more than a gentle sniff was an immediate “Leave it” (don’t forget to teach this command first!).
***

Time, patience, consistency and knowing the threshold level for your dog are the most important aspect of desensitizing your dog to a cat.  You may have to start with a door closed between your dog and cat in order for your dog to be under threshold.  This is ok! Understand that your vigilance will shorten your desensitization training immensely.  Remember: Consistency is the key! If you only practiced eating with a fork once a week, it would take a pretty long time to master eating a meal.  But small spurts of practice, multiple times a day would have the skill mastered in just a few short days. 

 In the beginning, the only goal I set was that I wanted Bindi to be able to be in the same room without it causing over stimulation or stress.  Not only did she learn how to become completely calm around my cats, but she learned how to live harmoniously with them.  Through this process, Bindi taught me patience and she taught my kitties how to trust.  In the 4 months she was with us, she helped our household and I unwittingly did the best service to her than anyone could, because by helping her live in harmony with my kitties, I was preparing her for her forever family more than I would ever know…

((...Stay tuned for her adoption blog…))

Check out Bindi and Kya in action below!

                                                         

The Problem with Perfect Dogs: They're all taken.

Although Bindi’s previous life is mostly unknown, I do know this: I know, without a doubt, that she was unsocialized, untrained and unfairly stripped of her potential to be adopted.  When a person goes to the shelter looking for a dog, they are looking for an easy dog, an obedient dog – basically put, an adoptable dog.  Bindi was not this. She was not even close.  Yes, she could pass a temperament test by not eating the fake hand put in her food and not biting the face off the pretend child that is in the same room, but as far as home life goes, Bindi would have been deemed as unadoptable.  She would have been returned to the shelter time and time again. Failed, time and time again.  Not only had this poor dog been abandoned and then forced to live in a shelter with concrete walls, but now she’s expected to be perfect the second she walks in to a home, expected to magically know and abide by all of the rules and expectations. 

When a person rescues a dog, they have to realize that their background is not all sunshine and flowers.  There is going to be a learning curve for the dog, for you and for your relationship together.  There’s a communication level that is going to take a few days, weeks, months to get right.  Unfortunately, today’s world wants immediate gratification and waiting is unacceptable.  So, that leaves sweet Bindi.  Due to the humans that raised her, or the lack thereof, it now gives her a slim to none chance of being successful in a home life.  Thankfully, there are foster programs full of people that understand that a dog needs some time to unwind, gauge the people around them, and learn to trust and respect the boundaries and limitations placed before them.

  

One big happy, family. None of this would have
happened in the first month of foster care.

Bindi was definitely way too curious and focused about cats when she came to me.This picture was taken 7 weeks after I started fostering her.
Although Bindi used to give my cat reason to distrust her, my kitty
no longer has any fear of her and frequently rubs up on her and doesn't move away when Bindi comes near her. 

Bindi is very, very trainable and can understand what you
want her to do quickly.  She's waiting for the 'ok' to begin
eating dinner here.

Bindi is one of the lucky ones.  She would have never, ever made it out of the shelter alive and lived to see old age.  Because, you see, Bindi couldn’t do anything in an acceptable fashion.  She had no control over her body, her mind, or her energy level.  This created chaos for every single moment of the day. That’s a stressful way to live, no matter how happy she looked on the outside.  She was sleep deprived because for weeks she was unable to actually relax enough to sleep. She was so over excited and stimulated that she would scratch me daily from not being able to control herself.  It took two weeks for her to be able to walk through the house in a somewhat normal fashion (and I say ‘normal’ very, very loosely).  It took over a month for us to go outside and even attempt to take a walk. But regardless, the amount of work I put into Bindi doesn’t bother me. What bothers me is that I had to fix someone else’s doing.  I had to undo two years of unacceptable behavior that she has learned because somebody refused to give her the time of day. Or night. Or ever. 
Bindi can now walk on a leash, knows an insane amount of commands, listens like a dream, gets along with my kitties, knows our routine, does awesome in a car and as I type this, is snoring on my lap, which she will do ALL DAY LONG if given the opportunity.  All of the previous things took 2 months of hard work to get to.  I hope people realize that at the shelter, there is no “house trained, crate trained, mellow, great with dogs, cats, kids, cars, doesn’t shed, etc, etc, etc” because if there was, that dog wouldn’t be there. They’d be at home with the owner that taught them all of those things and put the time and effort in to make sure their dog was a wonderful, confident part of the family.  The dogs in the shelter are broken, defeated and most times, on their last strand of hope.  So if you choose to go to the shelter, which I hope you all do, please don’t turn away from the dog that’s jumping up and down incessantly or barking or spinning in circles.  In each of those cages is a dog that has the potential to be anything you want them to be, they just need to be given the chance to succeed.

Rescues in every state for every breed have many, many dogs available for adoption and a countless number of dogs needing a foster home.  If you have space in your heart and home for a dog, please consider fostering or adopting one of the dogs on their waiting list. If you can’t adopt or foster for whatever reason, please volunteer, advocate and educate. 

For a list of rescues or adoptable dogs in your area, visit PetFinder.com.

Hurts So Good

I am a Craigslist troller.  I scroll up and down, city after city, for free things I don’t need and ‘for sale’ things I do, but still can’t afford to buy.  However, I almost ALWAYS end up in the “lost and found” or pets section.  Not because it’s fun. It’s not.  Not because it makes me feel good. It doesn’t. My boyfriend, Trey, has walked in and caught me countless times, depressed and saddened from something I’m reading or watching, and always says, “Why do you do this to yourself?” My answer is always this - because it reminds me of the atrocities that are out there in Charlotte, Houston, Sacramento, the world.  Because it makes me feel the hurt that is necessary if I want to make it in the animal rescue world.   Folks, keep this in mind: It is necessary for your heart to hurt in this business.  It’s what drives the passion.

Generic picture of a chained pitbull - the sadness and misery
in their face and body language speak volumes.

November 23, 2011 - Greensboro, NC (but could be Anywhere, USA): Female Pit Bull: 14 years old , has had 11 litters , she produces well. most likely has a few more litters in her . a real money maker . she still looks good overall , has one eye and a sagging stomach . you could get her a tummy tuck and she will be good to go .her fee is 500.00 . Thanks

One eye? Tummy tuck? This baby belongs cuddled up in a warm house on a Temperpedic dog bed to alleviate the pressure on her sore and arthritic joints, offered regular warm meals for her deteriorating teeth and even some yummy table scraps from the kids that use her as a pillow for their living room sleepovers.  

 I’m not sadistic, but I force myself to read, look at, and watch things like this frequently.  If I don’t know the things that occur and are happening right here in my backyard, how can I be any help?  No one got anywhere in life by keeping their head in the sand.  Does ignorance lead to change? No.  I am not stupid enough to believe that stricter laws will bring dog fighting or backyard breeding to an end.  Criminals fight dogs. Criminals also break laws. They don’t give a shit about statute 3950042, section 2929405.  No.  Regular, law-abiding citizens like myself will bring change. Maybe not in my lifetime, but dammit, I will be a part of it.  I will help to end this abuse and prejudice.  I will foster, I will advocate, I will stand at rallies at town hall to support the banning of gas chambers in animal shelters, I will call the dog fighting tip line when I see shady activity, I will educate people that I come across that have preconceived notions about the dog on the end of my leash before even meeting them for 2 minutes, I will tell people that I have a PIT BULL, not a lab mix and I will not shy away from the negativity. I will stand up, embrace it and intelligently prove them wrong.  Things won’t change unless the outcry is loud enough to drown out everyone else.  Stand with us.  If you’d like to help in any way, please email me at shana@carebullies.org.  We need each and every one of you.

To quote a fantastic article I read earlier, “In a hundred years, the pit bull has gone from national hero to unpredictable monster, and the dogs are still the same. We’re the ones who have changed.”  There will always be bad people, cruel individuals and terrifying stories of abuse at the hands of humans.  With the tenacity and passion that we dog owners love and embrace, we can turn this thing around.  Good outlasts evil; slow and steady wins the race.

Who Lives In A Pineapple Under the Sea?

When I think of Sponge Bob, I can't help but think of Little Fievel (you know, that 80's cartoon movie with the cute little mouse with the big ears?) singing his song to the moon and stars looking for his family.  

“Somewhere out there,

beneath the pale moonlight,

someone's thinking of me 

and loving me tonight.

Somewhere out there,

someone's saying a prayer,

that we'll find one another in that big somewhere out there.

And even though I know how very far apart we are,

it helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star.

And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby,

it helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky…”

Sponge Bob has been in boarding since May. Let me repeat that – since May. In the last 6+ months, we’ve had a large handful of dogs that have been in need of foster homes, and the public has rose to the challenge for every dog … except Spongey.  Let’s talk for a minute here – Sponge Bob is deaf. But please, don’t let that four letter word turn you away.  Deaf dogs are a rare treat. They have no thunderstorm anxieties. They don’t react to the neighborhood barking dog at 6am in the morning.  They give you awesome eye contact.  They feel your emotions and read you better than any dog or person in your life.  They have a happy go-lucky existence to them, because they live in a blissfully happy world.  Dogs that are deaf since birth, like Spongey, know no different.  They are incredibly adept at picking up visual cues such as body language, light changes, shadows or peripheral vision changes. They feel changes in their environment much more easily than hearing dogs, picking up on different vibrations in the floor when a guest walks in as opposed to a family member, a slight change in the air pressure when a window is cracked in another room or just knowing when a car pulls in the driveway.  

Being deaf is not a downfall.  It is an amazing attribute to an already awesome canine.  The problem with Spongey is not his hearing.  His hearing is just another quirk for an adoptive family to love, much like families love family pets that chew shoes, lick their faces incessantly or give their best "puppy dog" look for just one more treat.  The problem with Spongey isn’t really his problem at all.  It’s every person that has looked at his pictures, read his bio and said, “Oh, I hope somebody falls in love with him” or “I know someone will adopt him soon”.  Well, that someone hasn’t stepped up yet.  Could that someone be you?

Living in boarding can be stressful, consuming and even traumatic for some dogs.  Luckily, Sponge Bob is resilient and is still his happy-go-lucky self, but he needs our help. He deserves a comfy bed at the foot of his Mom and Dad’s bed.  He deserves a house to call his own.  He deserves his own food bowl, his own toys, his own family.

Please don’t let Sponge Bob’s deafness deter you from fostering or adopting him. He would never let your needs deter him from joining your family.  For more resources on how to welcome a deaf dog into your home, check out the sites below.  

**A great FAQ site as well as training tips: http://catatonic.freeservers.com/penny/deafdogs.html

 **A great training site for hearing-impaired dogs: http://www.positivedogtraining.org/article/training-a-deaf-dog/

“Somewhere out there,

if love can see us through,

then we'll be together, somewhere out there,

out where dreams come true.”

If you are interested in fostering or adopting Sponge Bob, have questions, or if you would just like some more information before making a final decision, please email Shana@carebullies.com.  If you can't adopt or foster, please help by posting this on your wall or the wall of an organization you affiliate with.  New eyes mean new homes ... and if Fievel can find his family, I think it's about time Sponge finds his. <3



UPDATE: Sponge Bob was foster-adopted in January 2012 and is excelling in his new home and learning how to live a happy and fulfilled life full of love.  We wish him and his family all the best!! Thanks so much Sheri - you mean the world to CCB and Sponge Bob!

Let us imagine.

Adoptable: Lacey

Let us imagine. 

Let us imagine being a small child in which your home has always been temporary; maybe a neighbor’s house, maybe a car, maybe a shelter.  Whichever way, you have had no permanent home, no consistent rules or boundaries, and certainly no people around long enough to even attempt learning respect of others.  You have been let down by everyone and everything in life, so your outlook is bleak. You know no different though, you just know that such is life.  You learn what you can from your surroundings - you learn how to get food when you’re hungry, even if that means acting immorally, which you may or may not know is wrong. You learn how to manipulate people to get your way, because, let’s face it, chances are you’ll never see them again.  To a stable and responsible person, this is deeply saddening; but for the child who lives it, they just learn to live the only way they know how … surviving each day as they come.

Now imagine: this child walks into your house tomorrow. They don’t know that this is a good home.  They don’t know that their meals will come on a regular basis.  They don’t know that they will feel warmth, love and affection here.  They only know what the world has taught them – to live each day in survival mode.  How long do you think it would take them to relax? To release the tension and anxiety in their muscles? To overcome their struggles and begin to open up their hearts? 

A foster dog comes to you in this exact situation.  The dog you get on Day 1 is only a rough, outer shell of the dog you will have on Day 14, Day 28, and Day 100.  Maybe this is why fostering is so rewarding – because you see the rock bottom of a dog and you get to help them, you get to rise them up to become the dog they were always meant to be.  

That’s pretty powerful.  It’s also pretty inspiring.  

This thing called the two week shutdown is a fancy way of saying “adjustment period”.   It is an acclimation to a new life that is so absurdly different from the one that they’ve known all their life, one in which the learning curve is not the bunny slope, it’s the Black Diamond’s steep, treacherous hill.  Essentially, they are learning how to do everything in their life in a completely different way, all at the same time.  Not only do they need to learn who the hell you are and what language you’re speaking, but they need to figure out what you want from them, figure out how to navigate the house, the boundaries of the yard, what’s acceptable of the new pets, kids, furniture, and then to top it all off, suddenly there are rules and a thing around their neck stopping them from doing what they want. 

The first two weeks is in no way an acceptable form of judgment of a dog’s temperament and personality.  It would not be expected of a person, so it should never be expected of another species that can’t even understand our language.  Their initial behavior may be reserved and depressed. Their initial behavior may be bordering unmanageable from their acting out.  Either way, giving a dog a few weeks to acclimate to their new house, smells, routines, humans and pets will allow them to slowly become the dog they actually are.  As humans, we are quick to rush into things and we want to show everyone our new dog and take them everywhere and do everything with them, but that will only overwhelm and stress out your new friend in a way that could be very detrimental to him, your bond or others around him.  

If you are committed to the well-being of your new dog, family and existing pets, please consider following the structure of the Two Week Shut Down.  It is not written in stone and can be modified for your dog’s individual needs.  It is a guide in order to help your new dog experience his surroundings and learn to trust the people around him.  

If it were you, you’d wish the same.

Adoptable: Winnie

Please consider becoming a foster parent today.  You have the tools to do it; now you just need the final part – the courage.  Take a deep breath and jump in with both feet.  

The rescue world will be waiting with open arms.

1 Dog, 2 Dog, Red Dog, Blue Dog

Everyone knows that puppies are quite possibly the most sunshiny, wonderful thing on the planet.  Puppy breath in your face and a squirmy ball of fur in your lap should be a regular form of therapy.  I love puppies. I love to look at puppies and hold them, squish them and play with them.
And then I gladly give them back.

Puppies are pint-sized troublemakers.  They need to explore everything, and the way they do that is by sniffing and chewing with their razor sharp teeth.  Unless you are okay with a puppy chewing on anything near or on the floor, constant supervision is a must. Also, puppies don’t sleep through the night. They are vocal and high-pitched when they wake up, and Lord help you if you need to wake up early for work.  Puppies need very, very frequent potty breaks, and then they will inevitably piddle on the floor a few minutes after coming back in anyway.  Puppies demand an enormous amount of time, especially if you want them to be properly socialized.  They need to go everywhere, do everything and experience it all.  Puppy classes are a must and they don’t come cheap.  Puppies are balls of energy that wear out quickly and are easily removed from situations, but then they grow and become stronger and still don’t have the maturity to consistently follow directions.  Nipping, jumping, house training accidents and chewing are all very common in puppies under a year.  So yes, I will gladly get my fill of puppy love but then I hand them right back to where they came from. 

The reason is this: With adult dogs, you know what you’re getting.  There are no hidden secrets behind their looks, shedding level, personality, temperament, likes/dislikes or energy level.  Foster homes are the best thing ever invented because when you are ready to adopt, the parent can tell you everything you need to know about that particular dog to minimize any mismatches.  Adult dogs commonly will be referred to as “used” by people unfamiliar with the animal rescue world.  The animal world is working hard to change this perception.  We are extremely proud of our adult dogs and excited about the potential they each have.  Adult dogs, especially ones in foster care, are house trained, crate trained, know basic commands, and are working toward individualized goals of polite leash walking or appropriate behavior with guests in the home.     

We have wonderful (and I say wonderful not because I want them to be adopted, but because they really will melt your hearts, heal your soul, and care for your kids and family) adult dogs that are waiting for you. Or your brother. Or mother. Or sister, cousin, stepdad, friend, coworker or boss, etc, etc, etc.... 
Consider helping Izzy - she needs you!