A Little Rant

If you were hoping for an uplifting and inspiring post, this probably isn't the day to read my blog. But, if you love animals and are sick and tired of what people do to them, you might be glad someone else feels the same way.

It is hard not to get burnt out doing rescue work. There are times you want your naivete back. There are times you are tired of shedding tears and times you worry why the tears don't come as easily as they used to, and wonder if it is because you've just seen too much.

The reality is, one cannot just do the fun part of rescue work. Most foster people are not fortunate enough to have an animal in need delivered to them, find them the perfect home and then sit contentedly back and bask in the happy ending. The work usually sucks one in wholly and completely and then, along with the rewarding experiences, you must also suffer through the unbearable ones. You must walk into animal control facilities and know that any animal that doesn't leave with you will die, alone and scared. You most certainly will have to take an animal you love on his last trip to the vet so that you are there to comfort him as he passes on, because he is just too sick or because neglectful or abusive beginnings damaged him too much. You will have to witness animals lingering too long in their foster or shelter placements and face the resulting conflict of your heart and mind, wondering if he is, indeed, glad to have been saved or sad to still be waiting for a home. You must deal with the reality that not all endings are happy; that sometimes, what you were certain was the right home, was the wrong home, as you add that animal to the list of those you will worry about forever.

Once you begin this job, you become the person your extended circle of acquaintances call upon when an animal needs help. Daily, you listen to the voice mails and read the emails (and picture text messages - damn, you, iphone!) that plea for help for dogs and cats, each with a story that breaks your heart, knowing you cannot help them all and saying "no" more often than "yes", feeling guilty about it even though your house is full, you are exhausted and there is no longer enough of you to go around.

Sadly, those relinquishment stories aren't very varied. It is actually a rare occurrence to hear a reason for giving up an animal that compels you to sympathize with the people involved. And that is when it gets frustrating and you begin to wonder if it will ever change; if you are really making any kind of difference at all. While there isn't an answer to those questions, sometimes it helps to rant and rave a bit and then get back to what you are doing, which is the intent of this post. So on with the rant . . .

-No, your dog did not need to "just experience birth one time before getting spayed." The ten black puppies you "can no longer deal with" will not be easy to find homes for because they will grow to become big, black dogs, the most frequently euthanized dogs in shelters all across the country. Dogs have an innate desire to be part of your family, to be cared for and loved. Giving birth is not on their list of must-haves.


-You can both move and keep your pets. They are not furniture you can simply replace once you get settled, they are part of your family. It isn't easy to move with children, but you aren't "getting rid" of them because it is difficult, or because you can "just get another one later."

-You say, because you've had a baby, you can no longer give your pet "the attention it deserves, so have to find it a new home." Is it really that difficult to find time to pet the dog or cat every day? To pour a bowl of food? To let your pet sit next to you on the couch as you feed the baby or watch Sesame Street? They ask for so very little and it does not take much at all to make them happy. If you are that stressed out, you should probably make an appointment with a therapist.

-Speaking of your new little munchkin, did it not dawn on you that you would eventually have children when you committed to take home a pet that can live almost 20 years?

-Did you ask your dog if he wants to go "live on a farm where he has room to run?" Maybe he would rather stay with the people he loves and go for a walk once in a while. If you needed exercise, your family would probably not leave you at the gym and never return.

-The guy who answered the "Free to a Good Home" ad you posted online may not be providing a good home. Your dog might be sold to a lab to experiment on, be used as a breeder dog to make "bait puppies" for illegal dog fighting, might become a bait dog itself, or could be "flipped" for a profit to someone else with ill intentions.

-Same thing for the person willing to take the whole litter of "free kittens" off your hands. You should ask if they also have a large snake. Some people have no problem using kittens as snake food. Yes, really.

-By the way, this is off subject, but affectionate cats do not "suck the breath from newborns."

-Because your child/husband/great-aunt/canary sneezed, does not mean s/he "suddenly developed allergies" to your pet. And did you know you can buy allergy meds over the counter, breathe easy and keep your pet?

-Just for the record, do you really think the future is bright for the dog or cat you tossed from your car on the rural road? That fantasy you have of someone scooping him or her up and loving your pet forever is just that. A fantasy.

-When your lease says "no pets" it actually means "no pets." It does not mean "buy a $600 designer dog from the mall pet shop on a whim", then call it a bad dog when it barks, as dogs are want to do, and your landlord busts you.

-Your kitten can make babies as early as five months old. Six weeks later, she can make them again. No, the shelter does not have room for the population explosion in your house that you seem so perplexed about.

-Ditto for your puppy.

-By the way, spay or neuter your kitten or puppy before it's sixteenth week.

-Dogs and cat are animals. Animals are covered in fur. Fur covered things shed. Why does this surprise you?

-Yes, your pet probably does miss you while you are away from home because your work schedule changed. Do you really think she'll miss you less while living in a cage at a shelter, wondering why you disappeared and if you are ever returning?

-Different breeds have different needs. Why are you surprised it is difficult to accommodate a Mastiff in your studio apartment or that your Yorkie isn't happy being a "farm dog."?

-Don't fool yourself. Your senior cat or dog is not "highly adoptable." There is no waiting list for older animals with pending medical expenses. It doesn't matter how sweet or cute your critter is. Relinquished senior pets do very poorly in shelters and those very special people willing to adopt them come along infrequently.

-Puppies and kittens grow and you cannot always predict their adult size. A pet getting "bigger than we expected" does not justify "getting rid" of them.

Pets are not commodities one can throw out or recycle when one tires of them. You are the center of your pet's world; your presence is what she breathes for. He would lay down his life for you. They will stay by your side until your last breath, no matter what life has thrown your way. They deserve no less than the same in return. Please. If you don't have 18 years to give, the resources to care for, the tolerance to tough it out when times are hard and the flexibility to accommodate the unexpected, do not add a pet to your life. And, if you do have those things to give, please find your next pet at your local shelter or through a rescue group, because the world is full of animals whose human's have failed them . . . and they need you.

End rant.

Expecting . . .

Her name is Ava and it took three rescue groups and several volunteers to save her. She's a little scrappy looking for a purebred German Shepherd, but with proper nutrition, medication for her ailments and a good bath, she'll soon be a beautiful girl. Ava has lived outdoors all her life. She has never been vaccinated or given flea or heartworm preventative. Of course, she's had puppies before because she hasn't been spayed. Her last litter all died because she had them outdoors, in the winter. Her owners did not want to deal with puppies again, so when she became pregnant this time, they called a rescue group. The rescue, however, was full. They called another rescue that was also full. That rescue called Heartland. Heartland, too, is full, but because I love Shepherds and because her story touched me and because she had nowhere else to go, I said "yes," when asked if I could just make room for one more.

With little notice and a dog on the way who could give birth at any time, the last 24 hours have brought a whirlwind of preparations. Nature designed its creatures to instinctively know what to do when babies arrive. More than likely, I'll need none of the things I stocked up on. I might miss the birth entirely. Then again, emergencies never happen when it is convenient and only very, very expensive veterinarians are available at 3am. So, I wanted my bases covered for the things that might go wrong that I can handle on my own, the things that will make Ava more comfortable and the things that will help her puppies if they need it.

That handled, I headed to Lowes for the materials to build a whelping box. I read many ideas on the internet and ended up sort of hodge-podging those ideas together based on the supplies I could find in the lumber, hardware and plumbing departments. It all looked simple enough until I was staring at this big pile of stuff in the middle of my living room floor. A lot of drilling, sawing and cussing ensued and, sometime around 4:00am, I had a whelping box assembled. It isn't pretty, but I think it'll do its job.

My visiting Grand-Puppy, Blue, models the finished whelping box

Just a little time in rescue can really suck the enthusiasm for cute puppies right out of a person. I look at any litter of whoops puppies now and know the odds each pup will have a wonderful life are abysmal. It is simply a reality that irresponsible breeding directly correlates with the senseless neglect and suffering rescue workers witness daily. It is times like these I sort of miss my naivete.

Today was the big day; I went to pick Ava up at the vet. The news on her condition is mixed. She is due, with 5-6 pups, any time. She also has a uterine infection we await the lab results on. Bad news means the babies wont make it and good news means the antibiotics she's taking will clear the infection and all will be well. The odds are in favor of all being well.

Ava has gone through a lot the last couple days. Three rescue groups were involved in her transport to Heartland. The life she knew disappeared and she's been surrounded by strangers. She doesn't feel well and is very frightened. Ava isn't familiar with the inside of a house. Doorways scare her and stairs terrify her. She is, however, a gentle girl, and obediently followed me into her new room, where she jumped right into her whelping box and snuggled in. I check on her often as she becomes accustomed to the sounds in her new home. She doesn't greet me with enthusiasm yet, though when I crawl into her box, she will put the very tip of her nose on my knee and let out a big sigh. It will take us a couple days, but we'll be fine. And we'll wait together for nature to take its course. Hopefully, I wont miss the big event.

A BIG Thank You to Impact for Animals and SNUGGLE, who went out of their way to find Ava a safe place to have her babies and made sure she reached her destination. And, thanks to each of the volunteers who participated in her transport. You've changed Ava's life for the better!

Back!

What happens when you work at an animal shelter, foster dozens of cats and dogs, spend every moment of your free time running around doing something associated with the above and then, on top of it all, buy a home and move? You can't find the time to update your blog for two months! My apologies. I am trying to get back in gear!

Coming Out of the Animal Closet:

I've moved away from suburbia and the land of close neighbors and three pet limits. My critters now have a roomy home, three acres for leash walking and a large, fenced yard for running. I am no longer in fear of neighbors peering over the fence, counting fuzzy heads and making a call to authorities. I now can take in an emergency foster because I have the space. And, I can openly share the number of animals currently being cared for at my home . . . if I want to, which I don't, for fear of being committed. In a nutshell, me and the critters are loving life where we are. It is a blessed relief to be free of the worry that accompanies fostering where pet numbers are limited. The move was a great decision.

Happenings Since Patch and Rags' Adoption:

Several animals have come and gone since we celebrated the adoption of Patch and Rags (who are doing terrific in their new home!). Dylan, an Aussie mix who stole my heart, found a wonderful home with a couple who spoils him rotten beyond belief. Tess, my puppy-mill Shih-Tzu found a family willing to tolerate all the scars her past left and love her just the same. Wilson, who had his own warts, lucked out like Tess and found a new person who loves him with patience and compassion . . . and he even gets to come visit at my house when he needs dog-sitting so I don't have to miss him so much.

And, since the move, I've brought home and said goodbye to some terrific dogs. Gizmo, a Japanese Chen, was one of my favorite doggy guests ever; a fun little dog with a great personality, would have been easy to keep and was hard to part with, but his new family updates me and he's come to PetSmart to visit during adoption events. Coal, a three-legged Pomeranian, who slept on my pillow every night, went home with his new Mom yesterday. And Murphy, a black lab mix pup who took a long time to find a home, left Petsmart yesterday with his very own boy at his side.

The most recent adoptions couldn't have come soon enough because the house is FULL. Wednesday, I took a drive to pick up a Husky and Husky mix whose future was destined to be the city pound, where their age may have brought upon an unhappy ending for them. Beautiful dogs, they are slowly adjusting to their world turning upside down and, probably, grateful to have each other.

Beautiful Sterling

Adorable PJ

It seems I always have a puppy mill dog to work with and, for now, it is Gretchen. Gretchen appears to be a Shih-Tzu/Cocker mix. She is cute, sweet and complete with some of the usual puppy mill personality glitches, but is slowly learning how to be a house dog. She LOVES toys, which is something we usually don't get to see with breeder dogs from puppy mills, but she is always carrying a toy around in her mouth. It's adorable. Gretchen has been to the vet and is ready for adoption.

And then there is my dear, sweet Olivia. Whoever adds Olivia to their family will be getting such a wonderful, loving dog. I love her to pieces. Totally housetrained, all she wants to do is be with her people, doing whatever they are doing. Livvie is truly happy just to be loved; you just look at her and her tail wags while her eyes light up. She too sleeps in my bed every night. I don't know why I torture myself so. Inviting a foster into your bed makes it all the more difficult to say goodbye when the time comes, but the reality is that she deserves it. Before coming to foster care, Olivia was an outside only dog. Seeing her settled on her dog bed, chewing on a bone, makes that really hard to believe!

And, as soon as I can get him to hold still for a photo, I will introduce you to Grover, a scrappy Boston Terrier who joined the menagerie here a week or so ago. Grover is quite the character and has found a way to make me laugh daily.

More soon . . . promise!

A Home for Patch and Rags!

When Patch came to me, he had little hair. His head and tummy were essentially bald and covered with sores from secondary infections. He'd been brought into a city shelter to be put down. Another Heartland volunteer saved him and he came to me.

A week later, a call from the same shelter came. They had a puppy they thought was Patch's sibling, in even worse shape than Patch. In addition to mange taking hair from all the same places and secondary infections, Rags had a terrible case of kennel cough. A week later, he nearly died from pneumonia. I took him from his temporary foster home and he came to me.

I now had two very sick, tiny puppies on my hands. Rags needed medicine for his pneumonia so dangerous to humans, they cannot touch it with bare hands. Both dogs needed antibiotics twice daily, ointment applied to their whole bodies three times a day and medicated baths every other day. For months.

There were multiple vet appointments. It was a bad case of mange, and not quick to clear, but we were keeping it under control. Patch and Rags were growing beautiful, shiny, coats. As the hair filled in on their heads and faces, two beautiful dogs emerged. Every six weeks, we'd return to the vet for skin tests . . . and every six weeks, we'd go home to continue their treatment. Meanwhile, the tiny puppies grew. And grew. Soon it was no longer possible to bathe them together without flooding the bathroom, so we started separate baths.

Finally, when they were about seven months old, they passed a skin test! No more mange! We had to continue treatment until a second test confirmed they were free and clear. It was time to start looking for a forever home for these boys I'd watch grow up and cared for so many months.

At almost a year old, Patch and Rags still hadn't found a home, maybe because of their breed or because people were afraid of the disease that struck them as youngsters, or perhaps they became victims of big, black, dog syndrome. At any rate, other foster dogs came and went, while Patch and Rags stayed with me. It was difficult not to consider them my dogs. I loved them every bit as much as my dogs . . . and they'd been with me longer than some of the dogs I adopted. I would have been fine with them staying forever, but the reality is, I wanted better for them. I wanted to see each of them in homes where they would be the center of attention because these dogs are special. Both are the most affectionate, loving animals; some of the sweetest dogs I have ever cared for. They deserved to have all the attention they craved. While I loved them and cuddled them and played with them, with all the other dogs I cared for, it just never felt like it was enough for them.

Friday night, I filled the car with crates and supplies, bathed dogs and organized their medical records and other paperwork. Saturday, I loaded four dogs into the car, in hopes they'd find their forever homes at Saturday's adoption event. I rarely bring Patch and Rags to adoptions together. The odds they'd find homes on the same day are astronomical. While I always dreamed they'd find a home together, I just didn't see it happening. So, yesterday was Rags' turn to go to adoptions.

I didn't know it, but a couple had been looking at Patch and Rags on the website. They were also considering one of our shelter dogs, their application for which was already pre-approved. With no children to care for, and a big empty spot left in their home from a beloved pet they'd recently lost to illness, they were the perfect placement. A home in the city, a fenced backyard, and two devoted parents to smother a dog with attention. They spent some time with Rags. I answered questions. I nearly fainted when they said that if they adopted Rags, they couldn't imagine not taking his brother with him.

I always encourage potential adopters to take a step away from PetSmart and the pleading eyes of homeless animals to discuss the decision to bring a new dog into their lives. While my job is to find homes for my animals, I want those placements to last forever. An impulsive decision to adopt often leads to an animal getting returned once the adopter realizes the huge amount of responsibility that accompanies pet ownership.

Though they intended to go out to lunch and discuss the adoption, once this couple made it to the car, they realized they were both on the same page and were both serious about taking my boys home. They came back and asked me to go get Patch. While I was thrilled for my boys, I burst into tears on the spot. After a whole year with my beautiful boys, imagining my home without them was overwhelming.

Two wiggling, active puppies in great big bodies did not deter them. Patch and Rags left, together, with their new parents, a pair of matching crates, bowls, leashes, collars and doggy beds. I said goodbye, sitting on the floor of PetSmart, with both my boys trying to fit into my lap at the same time. I hugged their big heads and kissed their puppy faces and watched them walk away into forever with their new family.

I am so happy for them. It is a dream come true that I didn't have to place them in separate homes, that they will always have each other. I came home to an email update and a photo of my boys in their new home.

Loving Patch and Rags has been a blessing I will always be grateful for. In time, it wont hurt so much to miss them as I do today. There are other dogs who need me that I will now have space for . . . and that is the whole point of going through the heartache of this goodbye.

Have a blessed life, my sweet boys, I will always love you!

Kermit's Village

Perhaps nothing illustrates the saying "It takes a Village" more than Kermit's story. Almost three years ago, a neonate rescue group saved him. A distemper survivor, others would have put him down because neurological injuries resulted in a minor disability; a funny gait and coordination problem. But Kermit's Snuggle foster mom knew he was a smart, happy dog who deserved a chance. She got him through early puppyhood and then called Heartland. One of Heartland's foster moms also saw Kermit's potential and agreed he deserved a chance at a happy life, so she agreed to take him in.

Kermit grew. And grew. And grew. Soon he was a very big, black dog with a shiny coat and happy disposition. Since the beginning, Kermit has been a favorite of shelter staff and volunteers. Volunteers have always gone out of their way to give him extra attention. It was difficult to find a foster home for Kermit because foster homes are, of course, filled with dogs and Kermit was a bit selective about who he'd hang with. We did not imagine this wonderful dog would become a long term resident of Heartland's shelter. But, he did. Potential adopters passed him by for many reasons: they feared his disability would make their life difficult. Being a big, black dog was a knock against him. Being a rescue dog was a knock against him. Being a big, black, disabled rescue dog made it very difficult to find a home for Kermit.

And then a lovely, young couple perused Heartland's website and came upon Kermit's photo and story. They filled out an application. We read it, full of hope, because they sounded wonderful.

This morning, myself and Lori, another Heartland volunteer, loaded Kermit into my car and headed towards what we hoped would be his new home. There was one more test to pass; a home visit to assure Kermit, with his wobbly disposition, could navigate the household. When the front door opened, Kermit let himself right in and happily pranced around the whole house, exploring every nook and cranny. He helped himself to the cats' water. He stood at the back door, waiting for someone to open it so he could explore the huge back deck. He stood on the back deck, surveying the view, all alert and excited, then returned to the house for more exploring, stopping occasionally for attention from one of his new parents. Kermit looked happy and content, like he belonged to this house, to this family.

When the papers were signed and it was time for goodbyes, Kermit escorted us to the door. I got a big, sloppy, wet Kermit kiss. We whispered to him to have a wonderful life. We told him we loved him. And then, we said goodbye.

In the three years of Kermit's life, so many people have loved him. His first foster mom who originally saved him. Each and every volunteer who came to our shelter to walk him, spend time petting him, give him a bath or play in the yard with him. Each volunteer who gave up a Saturday to transport Kermit to adoption events. Shelter staff who always made sure Kermit had the best spot in the place and that it was clean and Kermit was comfortable on the cot where he napped. The morning staff who always added canned food to Kermit's breakfast and brought him rawhide bones. The shelter manager who got him to his vet appointments whenever they were needed. Our webmaster who throughout the years updated his bio and photos, made sure he got coverage on other sites and made him our featured pet in hopes of finding him a home. And, there were so many Heartland supporters who followed Kermit's story. We know everyone who loves Kermit is celebrating with us today.

It does take a village. And, because of it, Kermit is home at last!

Latest Arrivals

Some of the newest arrivals to Heartland's shelter:

ROCKY: Rocky is a young, large
black lab; truly a gentle giant of
a dog with nothing but love to share.

REMINGTON: It is hard to believe this sweet, sweet
boy is living in a shelter. He is a terrific dog! He is
sweet, gentle, housetrained and loves other dogs!

ZOEY: Zoey is a petite border collie mix. She is super
friendly, loves people and other dogs and wants
nothing butto be by your side.

RALLY: Since I am partial to shepherds, Rally
is one of my favorites! The beauty of a German
Shepherd at about half the size. Rally is a young,
sweet boy who will make the perfect companion!

ZIGGY: Ziggy is Rally's brother and is a favorite with
shelter staff. He is just so adorable and loving he
makes you smile!

LEIA: This little hound mix has the sweetest
face you've ever seen, and the personality to match!

BEAU: Our resident Puggle! Just look at that face!

PANDORA: Quiet, attentive, patient and loving, Pandora
is impossible not to fall in love with!

SIMON: Our friendly Bassett Hound. Simon is a love
bug with people and absolutely loves other dogs!

Apply to adopt HERE !

Scenes from the Dog Park

A last minute cancellation of a Heartland meeting today left the afternoon open. We decided to do something we don't normally do . . . take a trip to the dog park! Picking which dogs to take was difficult. We have mostly young dogs here who need to burn energy. But, we also have dogs who need socialization. Finally, I decide to take one of my dogs, Tasha, and one of my fosters, Chooch.

If you read here often, you probably just read both those names and are now scratching your head. You might be saying to yourself, "I thought Chooch got adopted and that Tasha was a foster dog." Chooch did get adopted. And then he was returned. Though he found a wonderful family, the placement just wasn't right for him and he was unhappy there. The adoption helped us discover some of Chooch's needs, as he did very poorly in a home with an adult male. He is terrified of men. We aren't exactly sure why.

And, Tasha? I knew the first time I saw her, skinny and scared at the pound, there was something special about her. I did try to find her a home, really I did. But, in the end, I couldn't bring myself to part with her. She is the best dog ever. She is bossy like a Husky and protective like a German Shepherd, but she is also tolerant of the foster dogs and, best of all, absolutely loves and protects the kitties in my house. I officially adopted her just a couple weeks ago!

So, today was Tasha and Chooch's day at the park. I am hoping to make this a regular event with all the dogs because it is a great way to gauge how they do with other dogs, with kids and adults.

They had an absolute blast. Chooch liked meeting all the other dogs and did his best to avoid any man he saw. They all seemed to be wearing baseball hats, which scares him the most, so all things considered he did very, very well, only barking if one of those baseball hat wearing ogres tried to pet him! Tasha loved having room to run as fast as she could. And, she surprised me by being super friendly with dogs of all sizes!

A day at the dog park: definitely priceless.

Coming Soon . . .

Heartland was fortunate at Christmas time. Several of our longterm foster dogs finally found their forever homes! Unfortunately, as quickly as there is extra space in our foster homes and animal shelter, there are homeless dogs to fill that space. Following are just a few of our newest arrivals.

Holly Berry: Holly came to us just before Christmas; rescued from a rural, outdoor animal shelter. Holly is everything wonderful about the breed.

Billy: Billy's owners surrendered him to Heartland. He's a young Bassett Hound. How could anyone resist that face?!

Trigger: Trigger was a stray brought into a vet's office after being hit by a car, suffering a devastating injury to his leg. Heartland felt this beautiful boy was worth saving and paid for the surgery to remove his leg. Trigger is still healing but is doing great and getting around just fine!

If you are interested in adopting one of these beauties or have it in your heart to contribute towards veterinary care, please visit Heartland's site!

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: