Critters and Christmas

Please come see us this Saturday at
Wentzville and O'Fallon PetSmart stores.
Help our Heartland animals find a
Home for the Holidays!

Available Heartland Dogs!

Castaways

There are many ways to tell a story, but Bob's way might be my favorite. Here is his latest labor of love, featuring three of my fosters -Patch, Rags and Chooch - and honoring the foster experience. It inspires me to continue doing what I am doing on the days it is difficult and emotionally trying. I hope it inspires you too.

Puzzles & Happy Endings

So many rescue dogs are puzzles -- a composite of traits and behaviors that, sometimes, eventually, form a complete picture and, other times, well . . . not so much.

Some foster parents prefer a quick turn-around with their foster dogs. They like to get them vetted, listed and find them a home as soon as possible. There is no "right" way, but I prefer my fosters to stay a while. Several times I have had a dog who, for the first month, was the perfect houseguest. Then they got comfortable, and showed me tricks like chasing cats they previously ignored, digging holes in carpets or breaking through crates.

The last few days have found me consumed with worry. Chooch, who was only here for three weeks, appears to be one of those foster dogs who did a terrific job at hiding his true colors. More accurately, I just think the dynamics of people and animals in my house worked for Chooch. There was nothing here that "triggered" him and tons of distraction. I knew he was fearful of men, though not why. But exposure therapy here, with teenagers coming and going, seemed to settle that down some. And, he clearly liked his new Daddy when he came to visit.

It is a different story in Chooch's new home. His new parents are really struggling with him. He is damaged - by having been hit by a car; by being caged too much and too long during the months of recovery. I am suspicious there may have been abuse as well. These wonderful people took so much time choosing the right dog and, really, just had to jump on board a fast moving train for a trip they weren't prepared to take. They are doing a beautiful job with him; really going the extra mile, but I feel badly for them. Suddenly their whole lives have changed and this animal who they anticipated would bring joy into their lives also brought major challenges and worry. I know I chose the right people for Chooch because they are approaching these unanticipated difficulties with compassion. They clearly love him. I hope they are able to keep him, but this is one of those time will tell kind of things. If they are unable to keep him, the fault will clearly land on the human beings who, in so many ways, betrayed Chooch in his early life.

Meanwhile, another "puzzle" has joined the foster house here. I was finally able to bring Tasha home. Oh how I wish these critters could just tell us what they are thinking and how they are feeling. If they could, Tasha might explain to me why she refuses to eat anything but boiled chicken. I spend much of my time trying to get calories into this beautiful but frighteningly thin dog.

For the first few days I had Tasha, I couldn't get her to leave her crate. I figured out why one day when I coaxed her to follow me into the kitchen. She stopped right at the entry way and absolutely wouldn't take one more step. Then it hit me. I am certain this girl, wherever she used to live, was not allowed on carpet, furniture or in the kitchen. She is only comfortable in her crate, where she knows she wont get in trouble. If I lock her out of the crate, she looks tortured and it takes lots of coaxing and reassuring to get her to lay down on the carpet for a belly rub.

I bought her a great big dog bed for the living room so she can technically be "off" the carpet, but still be out of her crate. That seems to work, though she rushes from the crate to her bed like her feet are on fire. Our biggest breakthrough so far happened just last night. Tasha slept on my bed all night. She insists on sleeping with her rear at the top of her bed and her head pointed toward the door, in case she has to make a quick run for it. What happened to this girl that makes her so consumed with worry and always looking for an escape route?

I am hoping Tasha remains with me long enough that I can solve her puzzle. In the meantime, I am content with seeing her content as she lays on her big, new dog bed. She's just as sweet as she is beautiful. I so want her to have a worry-free life. I want to see her freely roam the house and yard without any fear of repercussion in her eyes. I want her to look at me and know, from the bottom of her heart, that I would never hurt or scare her. I don't think that is something she's ever known from another human -- and that makes me sad.

When I am consumed with worry about my critters, nothing is more uplifting than an update from someone who adopted a former foster. Just at the depth of my worries this week with recent placements and trying to figure out Tasha, I received an update from the family who adopted Bosley, a sweet little Bichon I fostered several months ago. Bosley was surrendered by an older couple who just didn't have enough energy for the little guy. They were heartbroken letting him go and requested that I try to find him a home where he would have a little boy or girl to play with.

As it happened, a sweet little boy and his mom were looking for the perfect dog. This little boy was really in need of a best friend - and he fell in love with Bosley at an adoption event. I will never forget how excited he was when he tugged on my shirt and told me Bosley was his dog.

All these months later, Bosley is still his dog. His mom reports that Bosley is constantly by his side, even waiting patiently next to the bathtub when his boy is taking a bath. Every few months, I receive a photo update that just makes my week. These photos are now up on my desk as a reminder of the happy endings I hope for for every one of my fosters . . .

The Not-So-Empty Nest

How can a house full of animals that keep me busy all day, every day, seem empty when two go home?

I don't have the answer to that question and after doing a head-count of my four-legged creatures here, I am starting to question my sanity. I should be THRILLED to have two less critters to care for, but am still adjusting to their absence.

Riley and Chooch found absolutely wonderful homes within days of one another. Poor Riley. This is his fourth placement. I almost didn't have the heart to go through with the adoption, not because of how much I would miss him, but because I worry how so many placements will effect him. He is in a fabulous home and his new mommy and I are in regular contact. I just pray this one sticks; I think it will.


Whereas Riley has been with me off and on since ten-weeks-old, Chooch has only been here a few weeks. Heartland was sponsoring Chooch for a rural vet's office, where he was recovering from a crushed pelvis and broken leg after being hit by a car. He wasn't supposed to be my foster, but after driving out to the country to pick him up and getting acquainted with him, I couldn't bear sending him to his next stop. So, here he stayed. Chooch was the perfect house guest and fast became my little buddy.


Because he has noticeable effects from his accident, I thought he might end up being a long-term foster. He walks a bit funny, although he is not in pain. But knowing his injuries could lead to arthritis in his golden years might, I thought, dissuade adopters. That wasn't the case. The nicest family came to meet him on Sunday and came back to take him home yesterday. I couldn't have asked for better for him!

So, this very full house feels a bit empty. That's okay though because I know two of my babies are finally exactly where they are supposed to be: Home.

Happy Anniversary . . .

I have been with Heartland Humane Society one year, all the while taking photographs of the animals who have crossed my path. It was always my intention to put together an anniversary video to commemorate one year in rescue, but I ran into a problem when the time came . . .

With a home full of foster animals, volunteer hours at a shelter, vet runs, adoption events, rescue missions and the myriad of daily responsibilities that crop up when one is fostering, I couldn't find the time to create the video.

Fortunately, my partner in life and all things furry and fostered does have the time. He also has the equipment, skill, talent and understanding of what fostering is all about to create a quality piece of work capturing exactly how I feel about the animals I am blessed to work with.

I am very fortunate having a partner who supports my passion. He makes many sacrifices so that I can be available for the critters and works hard so that they can live in luxury for the short time they are with me. And, I'm sure you'll agree, he can produce a darn good video.

In commemoration of my first full year of fostering, we bring you Almost Home:

The New Love of My Life!

As my foster friend and I drove into the parking lot of a rural pound, I saw her from a distance in an outdoor pen. From far away, she almost looked like a wolf -- a very, very skinny wolf.

I climbed into the pen with her. She had tags with a phone number and had been recently groomed. She was sweet as could be and even knew a few tricks. Clearly, she belonged to someone, which did not explain why she was so emaciated. We scanned her for a microchip, then called the numbers on her tag, leaving a detailed message about where her owners could find her.

They never called. They never came looking. Five days later, she was bailed out and is currently waiting with another fosterer until I have room here to bring her home. I visit and spoil her a couple times a week and leaving her makes me cry. I cannot explain why she is one of the "special ones," who captured my heart. It just boggles my mind when such a wonderful creature, so full of love and eager to please, is unwanted. It makes me want them all the more.

Be patient, sweet Tasha, I'm bringing you home soon . . .

Funniest. Commerical. Ever.

I needed cheering up Sunday night, and a visit to YouTube did the trick. This never loses it's funny, no matter how many times you watch it.

I bring you Cat Herders . . .

Angel . . .

If you are a regular "Almost Home" reader, you know by now I am a total wimp; that as dedicated as I am to animal rescue and as much as I love my fosters, their adoption days are never really a celebration for me. Although I know it is good in the grand scheme of things, on the day of adoption, I miss my dog. I am sad. I drive home without him or her, sit in my driveway for a while before I have to face the empty crate or dogbed inside, and curse fostering. I need twenty-four hours to be inconsolable. It's just the way it is with me.

Tonight, I am missing Angel, who today found a home. The first night is always the worst. Is she missing me? What if there is a storm tonight and she is scared? Will her new people know how to comfort her? Will they love her as much as I do and laugh at her silliness? Will they tolerate her quirks and accept her stubbornness?

Angel and I had this thing we'd do; I'd turn on the radio and she'd jump up on me, with her paws on my hips and we'd dance around the living room together. I swear, she'd smile all the while.

Tonight, I am missing my Angel. I hope she has a wonderful life and gets to dance again.

Fostering Life

A year ago, I was sort of a Heartland "groupie." I'd adopted three kitties from Heartland and, despite intentions to the contrary, when I was out and about Saturdays my car would somehow steer itself into the PetSmart parking lot because I knew the dogs would be there. There were lots of calls home about this or that dog, but because my other-half is as big a sucker as me, he was smart enough to stay clear. We sponsored a German Shepherd Dog via Heartland for a while (he was taken off the adoptable list due to terminal cancer), and that sort of satiated the need to become more involved. For a while.

I was like many of the customers I now talk with on Saturdays. I said I could never be a foster parent because I couldn't handle fostering a dog or cat and then watching him or her leave. I just knew I'd keep them all or quit because the heartbreak of losing them would be too much.

My first foster dogs were totally accidental and, I swore, only temporary. And my heart did break letting them go, just as I knew it would. But the minute they were gone, all I could see were the endless amount of homeless animals without a foster home and all I could imagine were the dogs and cats at the local pounds who would be euthanized without a rescue group having space to save them. So, I took in more dogs and began fostering cats and kittens as well.

For me, it doesn't get easier. My heart breaks regularly. The goodbyes suck and I cry a lot. But I went in knowing that and accepted it was the price one must pay for creatures who have already paid a horrendous price just for existing -- and for being brought into this world mostly by people who don't cry for them.

And there is a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment knowing that in almost a year I have placed somewhere around forty animals in forever homes. I am not saying that to toot my own horn, please understand that I could care less if anyone but my foster animals is aware of what I do. But, I am saying that in the hopes of appealing to someone out there who is saying "I couldn't handle being a foster, I'm too soft."

The animals need that softness; need someone to cry for them. And if you are, like I once was, wanting to help but afraid being "in the trenches" of animal rescue might just be too emotionally difficult, rethink what those feelings mean. Perhaps, it is simply the finger of fate pointing at you and choosing you for the job.

(Me, saying goodbye to my foster kitty, Ace)

The Virtues Litter at PetSmart Today!

Valor - Adopted!

Honor Adopted!

Faith Adopted!

Justice Adopted!

Victor Adopted!

Patch & Rags

About a week after taking in Patch, my little shepherd mix who was so sick with demodex mange, another puppy arrived at the same animal control facility. He looked remarkably similar to Patch, but the giveaway that they are littermates was that his hair was missing in all the same places. Waiting the required days until he could be released was agony. We knew he was miserable and getting more and more sick each day without treatment.

We finally got to bail Rags out of the pound and he spent the next ten days in quaratine at another foster-house. Our vet put him on the same care regimen as his brother: oral ivermectin, medicated shampoos, benadryl, antibiotics and soothing spray.

Finally, Patch and Rags were reunited. I am thrilled to have them both together, despite all the extra work nursing them through mange requires. There is something so satisfying about watching a sick animal return to health and knowing you had a little something to do with it. Really though, I think the best medicine for both of them is being together again!

Here are their current "Before & After" photos. They are halfway through treatment and, hopefully, will be ready for adoption in about six weeks. Rags is on the top and Patch is on the bottom. They are looking better every day . . .

These two sweethearts could really use sponsors. Treating mange is expensive and their continued care will far exceed their adoption fees. We knew going in this would be the case, but sometimes you just cannot walk away from those sad eyes staring at you from behind the bars at Animal Control. Both Patch and Rags were scheduled to be euthanized and we weren't about to let that happen. If you would like to help, you can donate through paypal by clicking the "donate" button below. Or, you can mail a donation to:

Heartland Humane Society
P.O. Box 113
O'Fallon, MO 63366.

The Weekend in Pictures . . .

Last weekend we joined several other rescue groups for an adoption event at Petropolis in Chesterfield. Part of the hoopla included "Howling Muttrimony," where a Guinness Record was set for most dogs married at once. Following are some of the day's snapshots . . .

Coming Soon . . .

. . . to PetSmart, this weekend! Kismet and MoJo, the first babies born to one of our cats from the house with too many, are ready for adoption at 9-weeks-old.

MoJo is a little boy, a beautiful orange tabby with blue eyes. His sister Kismet is a darker orange tabby. Their mom is a petite little thing so it's likely her babies will follow suit when they are full grown.

If you are interested in these two, please visit Heartland's site and fill out an
adoption application!

Introducing Patch

Oftentimes, we take in animals we know from the get-go will cost much more to care for than their adoption fee will cover. Patch is one of those animals. Just eight-weeks-old, patch was at a city pound, suffering a very bad case of demodex (non-contagious) mange. It is likely that, without rescue stepping in, he would have been euthanized. Fortunately, our volunteers weren't going to let that happen.

Patch is now living with me. He is a shepherd mix and just as sweet as they come. He is also miserably itchy, needs medications and special baths and is just generally not feeling well. His prognosis is good. Puppy mange usually clears up and doesn't cause problems later in life, but he will need lots of TLC in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, I am falling in love with the little guy and really looking forward to being able to post his "after" photo when we get him all healthy!

The Blueberry Patch Litter

These gorgeous babies will be ready for new homes in about three weeks! There are four boys (Spartan, Chandler, Duke & Elliot) and two girls (Brigitta & Jersey).

Introducing . . .

. . . the newest addition to the foster house! Renny is a Great Pyrenees / Golden Retriever mix, certain to break my heart when his adoption day arrives. He is a great dog. Renny is mellow, loving and totally housetrained. He has no problems with other dogs or cats and loves people of all sizes. And, he's quickly become my big shadow. He follows me everywhere and I always have a big head to pet when sitting at my desk. Renny loves to snuggle and will "jump" up on you for hugs, but despite his size, he does it so gently, you just can't help but hug him right back. I suspect it will not take long for Renny to find his forever home . . .

Whoo Hooo !!!

GINGER FOUND A HOME!!!!

Last weekend, during our weekly adoption event at PetSmart, I was looking at poor Ginger in her PetSmart cage and feeling sorry for her -- and myself.

Ginger is one of my very first fosters. And, so far, she is the foster animal I've had the longest. She's a beautiful kitty, but not easy to find a placement for. She is older. She has lots of what we call "Torti-tude." She hisses and nips and smacks with her paw. She HATES other cats and thinks dogs are beneath her -- humans too, for that matter. She is a true Diva.

She also loves attention, purrs like crazy and will lay on your lap, rub up against you and soak up affection as long as you are willing to give it.

For several months, I've secretly wished a sweet older lady would fall in love with Ginger and take her home to be her couch companion.

And, today, that is exactly what happened!

Tonight, Ginger has a whole house to roam and a new "Mom" who intends to spoil her rotten for the rest of her life. Who knows, with such a great new life ahead of her, she may even lose some of that torti-tude!

Bosley Finds a Home ; Strange Houseguests

I miss the little guy terribly, but he found a GREAT home with people who fell in love with him at first sight. They were kind enough to call with an update the first night, and Bosley had come out of his shell and was having great fun running around the house with his new little boy. I love hearing an update the first night. Without it, I have a hard time sleeping wondering how my foster dog or cat is doing in his/her new environment while I get used to them not being here with me. Here's to a great life, Bosley!

I had some interesting house guests this week; a litter of fuzzy little newborns, but not the kind I am used to. While I am used to people bringing me critters, these were a first for me: a litter of possum babies! I'll be honest here and tell you that possums really creep me out. I have rehabbed rabbit babies, squirrels, turtles, birds and even raccoons, so I could have done this too, but the thought of them getting big? Ack! With several litters of kittens currently here, I had a good excuse not to take on the possums. Still, at their little size, they were sort of cute in a helpless sort of way. And I felt badly for them. Their mother had been hit by a car and they were saved when someone saw them crawling from her pouch. So, I inspected them, made a makeshift pouch out of an old knitted cap and placed them in a cat crate on a heated disk to keep them warm. And then we headed to The Wildlife Center of Missouri, where experienced and licensed wildlife rehabbers will care for them until they can be released.

With Bosley in a new home, I do have room for another foster dog. So, last night, Bella joined our pack here. She's an adorable little thing - a beagle mix. My best guess is that she is mixed with husky -- she inherited a darling curly tail. She'd been here a whole 12 hours, when I got a call from the volunteer who brought her to Heartland telling me she already has a meeting with potential adopters! So, it's quite possible Bella will be my quickest turn-around ever!

I'll keep you posted!

Postscript: Bella did find a new home tonight, with wonderful people who will spoil her rotten. I am happy for Bella, but a little disappointed her time with me was so incredibly short!

Finally, An Update . . .

I know, I know, I've been neglecting my blog. It's not for lack of rescue news. It is because of rescue! I told a foster friend recently that rescue has a way of sucking your entire life into its vortex. That really isn't much of an exaggeration; it's quite true. Oh, how I wish all I was doing was playing with and caring for cute little critters, but there is so much more involved.

I love every minute of it though. I just wish I had more time for writing.

So, to catch everyone up to speed on the happenings here, a recap of the last couple weeks:

POGO

My sweet, funny pocket-sized affenpinscher mix was returned. His new mommy faced some unexpected medical issues and knew she was dealing with too much to take on a new puppy. Bringing Pogo back was the last thing she wanted to do, so it was a very sad experience for both of us -- and Pogo too, I imagine.

Pogo came right back into the fold of our routine here though, happy to see his old friends. I have discovered my biggest weakness seems to be returns. I get more attached when they come back and it becomes easy to imagine them staying forever. Pogo found a new home in no time at all and it was tough saying goodbye a second time.

MARLEY

Marley found himself a terrific home. His new Mommy works in a retirement home and Marley will be going to school to learn how to be a therapy dog!

MORE FOO-FOO!

I've taken in another Bichon Frise. Bosley is a little doll, all full of mischief. Although I've sworn I wasn't a "little dog" person, I do love the personality of this breed. They just exude happiness. I swear they smile at you, and their whole bodies wiggle when they see you. Bosley was a gift to an elderly couple and, as often happens when animals are gifted to people not necessarily expecting them, he was too much to handle. It took Bosley a couple days to brave all the dogs here and join our routine. The poor guy was so scared and confused, my heart just broke for him.


Finally though, he had his big breakthrough and joined everyone in a romp through the house. Since all the dogs here right now are young, we endure lots of puppy activity on a daily basis. This includes what I call "thundering." That means five dogs, all wrestling each other while moving about the house. They sort of look like one blurry dog in a swirl of hair and tails and paws, bouncing off walls and furniture. It's total chaos while it happens, but it makes me belly laugh! I guess it is sort of like a hazing ritual to them because, once Bosley decided to join the fun, the other dogs decided he belongs here and now they are all buddies.

AHHH-CHOOO!

Riley, my darling lab/border collie puppy, has been on hiatus from adoption events. He had a case of the sniffles and needed a course of antibiotics. Of course, I haven't minded spending more time with him; he is darling and growing into such a good dog. He is growing fast though and I so want him to find a home before he becomes a hard-to-place Big Black Dog.

CATS, CATS and MORE CATS

Actually, it's kittens, kittens and more kittens!

Nala's babies are much bigger and have just entered the playful stage. They can now escape their little nursing area and run about the room, wrestling with each other and generally driving Nala crazy as they get into mischief. Kismet (a little boy) and Mojo (a little girl) got their names because I am not sure they would have survived had Heartland not stepped in before they were born.



And, Zira finally had her babies, which became a very traumatic experience for all involved, especially her. She showed no pre-labor signs at all. When I went in to randomly check on her one morning, she was curled up with Nala and her babies. As I lifted one of Nala's babies out, I found a tiny kitten underneath, who did not survive the birthing process. A frantic check of the area produced two live kittens, just born and still wet.


No matter what I did, Zira showed no interest in mothering her new babies. In fact, she would intentionally lay on her stomach to prevent them from nursing. Eventually, she left the nest entirely. Fortunately, Nala stepped in as nursemaid right away. I checked and re-checked Zira to make sure she wasn't still laboring and saw no signs of distress -- until the next morning.

I found her straining in the litterbox and knew right away there'd just been a long lapse between kittens and she was now in trouble. We were at the vet's before they opened. X-Rays confirmed she had a baby stuck in the birth canal and another baby still to come. A C-section saved one of those babies. So, we have three brand new babies in what has now become a maternity room of sorts. It took Zira a few days to recover from the shock and pain of the surgery, but when she did, she went straight to her babies and began caring for them -- much to Nala's relief!

AND the CUTEST KITTENS AWARD GOES TO . . .

Days old and in freezing temperatures, they were found in a dumpster behind a Wal-Mart store. Fortunately, the woman who found them knew exactly how to care for neonates and managed to nurse the surviving kittens through the first night. For six weeks, she cared for them, and then they got to come to my house. And, I am so happy about that! They are the most darling things I've ever seen -- and sweet beyond compare. My favorite part of the day is going downstairs late in the evening for some quality kitten time and letting these three little fluffballs crawl all over me.

More Soon!