Incoming!

On my last post, I mentioned that I was going to take time off of fostering to take care of some medical issues unless if something came up. Something came up. Natasha was recently pulled from the Miami area. She has some injuries and is in need of treatment. She also needs a quiet place to stay during that treatment. We have a set up to provide that, so we agreed.

Natasha getting sprung from the pound

It seems she will be spending most of her time in a crate for a bit. We have four, including one rather sizable one. I figured with strategic placements around the house, we can give her a place to rest as well as not feel exiled from everyone in the home. This includes making use of the one in the living room.

Sid was pretty good with Andrea during her recovery, though we did keep them apart as a precaution, so I'm not too worried about if they cross paths. This weekend, my parents got a 4 month old pup, and Sid was also very gentle with him. He is also more gentle with me on bad days. I think he can help provide the environment that she will need.

As far as her injuries, it appears she has an issue with her spine and road rash. I am not aware of the extent of the spinal injury at the moment, however, I am told that she is staying in the crate because of her injuries. She is being well behaved about it and alerting when she needs to be taken out.

Right now, they are trying to raise funds for her treatment, as well as the treatment of another dog who is heart worm positive. If you would like to help, they have a fundraiser set up. If you would like to follow her progress, you can visit their Facebook page, as well as follow updates that will be posted here.

I really hope that when she comes to the area, we can help her get back to a vibrant young dog. I am sure it will take time. But she deserves the chance. I am just glad there have been the handful of angels that have pulled her, fostered her, got her medical care and generally been there for her. I'm sure there will be many more along her journey to recovery.

Happy New Home, Andrea!

Here we are, coming up on the one year mark of entering the fostering experience. It's been a very rewarding experience, for both myself and Sid. Andrea, was by far the most rewarding of all of the fosters though. When she came to us this summer, she looked like she had a pretty rough go of it. When she went to her new home on Dec. 30th, she looked like a happy dog should. Her new home comes complete with a little boy to play with. Andrea loves kids, so I'm expecting this to be a great match.

Grats Andrea and family. Sid will miss you!

It will be another month or so before I take in my next foster. I have a small procedure coming up, and it may be best to wait until I heal to bring a second dog into the home. However, if the need arises or Sid gets too lonely, the hiatus will end early. 

Sid on foster vacation

Sid is both loving and hating the only dog syndrome. He cries at the tv when other dogs are on tv because he wants to play. But he likes the extra attention and treats/toys that I could not bring out with a second dog due to fights. Sid isn't great at sharing all of his toys. Most he is fine with, but there are the select few he doesn't want another dog to play with. So those get put away when the fosters come in. 

When I started out last year, I really was not sure if I could do this. I was not sure if I could handle giving up a dog I cared for. The first few were pretty short stays, so there wasn't a lot of time to get super attached. By the time Andrea, came to us, I thought I was prepared for the long term foster to come my way. The day she got adopted, I was both happy and sad. I had both tears and a smile when I walked away from handing over her leash.

Even with the touch of sadness that comes with saying goodbye, I have no regrets. I would not change any of the experiences. And I am looking forward to my recovery so I can bring the next dog in. If someone who is reading this is debating on fostering, all I can say is give it a try. Fostering has given me so much. A playmate for Sid. Introduced me to some of the nicest people I could hope to meet. A bonding experience with my husband and family. And most importantly, the opportunity to help a breed I love.