I'm so grateful for my time with this litter of pups.
Meet my eight little lovies:
Huge thanks to my mom, who has spent countless hours helping me with this sweet group of pups.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Grateful for My Eight-ful
I currently have eight foster puppies living in my home. I also have two "permanant fixture" dogs and a bird. We could qualify as a small zoo.
I'm so grateful for my time with this litter of pups.
Meet my eight little lovies:
Aaron
Abe
Archer
Aubrey
Augie
Austin
Axel - this is the puppy who was attacked by a larger dog at his last home
Arnie - this is the puppy with the sore on his cheek. He is on antibiotics to fix his precious face.
Huge thanks to my mom, who has spent countless hours helping me with this sweet group of pups.
I'm so grateful for my time with this litter of pups.
Meet my eight little lovies:
Huge thanks to my mom, who has spent countless hours helping me with this sweet group of pups.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Bless the Beasts and the Children
I am lucky to add a sweet little litter of eight foster pups to my home today. They have no reason to believe that they are now in a safe place, but I'm going to use my two weeks with them proving that home is indeed where the heart is. It is not a place to be neglected. The pups are skinny and hungry. Some are mangled and need medication for injuries to their faces from larger dog attacks in their old place of residency. The human beings that owned the place of residency didn't feel it necessary to spay their female dog, and certainly didn't feel it necessary to care for her offspring.
Bless the beasts and the childrenfrom The Carpenters "Bless the Beasts and Children"(1971)
for in this world they have no voice
they have no choice
Monday, November 28, 2011
I Am One Seventh of the Foster Parent
All week, I've thought about how lucky I am to have a supportive family that I can count on to help with my puppy fostering adventures. I gave a virtual shout-out to Kevin, my husband, on Facebook:
I'm sure he appreciated my shout-out, but let's face it. Fostering dogs takes work. Work from the dog fosterer, work from any roommates/spouses/kids/other family members, etc.
Kevin wakes up earlier than I do, and with that, he lets the dogs out to potty first thing in the morning. I suppose I could wake up at 4:00 a.m. (before Kevin wakes up for his factory job), but I don't. Kevin starts the day as the puppy foster parent. He talks to the pups as he makes coffee, because often I am not nice enough to have it ready for us to brew the night before (although wouldn't that be organized of me?) He has been known to set a pup on the counter with him while he prepares his morning cup of joe.
During the day, I have others in my life who help me.
As the kids are getting ready for school, it is not entirely uncommon to hear me yell through the house, "Will someone open the door for the pups?" or "Lindsay, check on the puppies!" The kids are a huge part of the equation, walking the pups in the park and playing with them tirelessly. You should hear my daughter's sales pitch when people ask about fostering dogs for Roanoke Valley SPCA or the Franklin County Humane Society.
While I'm at work, my mom often stops by and checks on my foster babies. She lets them out and cuddles them and often feeds them again. Puppies eat a lot. She lays out blankets for them. When my kids get off the bus, my mother is there to greet them. The kids play with the puppies and throw tennis balls and squeaky toys from the patio to the yard.
The permanent dogs in our home, Sammy and Gracie, take part in the foster process. They set the stage for behavior modification. I bet you think I'm crazy. You're right; I am crazy...but in this case, I have a valid point. Sammy and Gracie let the foster pups know what is "allowed." The pups follow their lead. The teeny pups learn quickly to potty outside, not inside. They eat together, but from their own bowls. They cuddle together and sleep close to each other. My dogs "train" the foster dogs. It is truly amazing to witness.
When I come home from work in the evening, I feed them again (generally a feeding frenzy of piranha-like crazy pups) and let them out into the yard for some exercise. I get a lot of credit for fostering dogs, as my name is on the foster contract, and as I manage the online presence of our fostering family. Really though, I am only about one seventh of the "foster parent." My husband, my two kids, my mom, my two dogs, and I are all part of the "foster parent" to these pups.
It is the week after Thanksgiving, but I can be thankful now for the support system I have at home when it comes to fostering these puppies.
Fostering pups is so dear to me, and it is a huge blessing in my life.
If you and your family would like to foster pups, I know of a few great organizations who could use your help. Fostering dogs is a free volunteer opportunity, and it only takes a couple weeks.
Click on either link below for more information about Roanoke and surrounding area fostering opportunities:
Roanoke Valley SPCA
Franklin County Humane Society
You won't regret it.
I'm sure he appreciated my shout-out, but let's face it. Fostering dogs takes work. Work from the dog fosterer, work from any roommates/spouses/kids/other family members, etc.
Kevin wakes up earlier than I do, and with that, he lets the dogs out to potty first thing in the morning. I suppose I could wake up at 4:00 a.m. (before Kevin wakes up for his factory job), but I don't. Kevin starts the day as the puppy foster parent. He talks to the pups as he makes coffee, because often I am not nice enough to have it ready for us to brew the night before (although wouldn't that be organized of me?) He has been known to set a pup on the counter with him while he prepares his morning cup of joe.
During the day, I have others in my life who help me.
As the kids are getting ready for school, it is not entirely uncommon to hear me yell through the house, "Will someone open the door for the pups?" or "Lindsay, check on the puppies!" The kids are a huge part of the equation, walking the pups in the park and playing with them tirelessly. You should hear my daughter's sales pitch when people ask about fostering dogs for Roanoke Valley SPCA or the Franklin County Humane Society.
While I'm at work, my mom often stops by and checks on my foster babies. She lets them out and cuddles them and often feeds them again. Puppies eat a lot. She lays out blankets for them. When my kids get off the bus, my mother is there to greet them. The kids play with the puppies and throw tennis balls and squeaky toys from the patio to the yard.
The permanent dogs in our home, Sammy and Gracie, take part in the foster process. They set the stage for behavior modification. I bet you think I'm crazy. You're right; I am crazy...but in this case, I have a valid point. Sammy and Gracie let the foster pups know what is "allowed." The pups follow their lead. The teeny pups learn quickly to potty outside, not inside. They eat together, but from their own bowls. They cuddle together and sleep close to each other. My dogs "train" the foster dogs. It is truly amazing to witness.
When I come home from work in the evening, I feed them again (generally a feeding frenzy of piranha-like crazy pups) and let them out into the yard for some exercise. I get a lot of credit for fostering dogs, as my name is on the foster contract, and as I manage the online presence of our fostering family. Really though, I am only about one seventh of the "foster parent." My husband, my two kids, my mom, my two dogs, and I are all part of the "foster parent" to these pups.
It is the week after Thanksgiving, but I can be thankful now for the support system I have at home when it comes to fostering these puppies.
Fostering pups is so dear to me, and it is a huge blessing in my life.
If you and your family would like to foster pups, I know of a few great organizations who could use your help. Fostering dogs is a free volunteer opportunity, and it only takes a couple weeks.
Click on either link below for more information about Roanoke and surrounding area fostering opportunities:
Roanoke Valley SPCA
Franklin County Humane Society
You won't regret it.
Monday, November 21, 2011
BIG THANKS to Danny Meyers of K92
BIG THANKS to Danny Meyers of K92 for Shout Out to Franklin County Humane Society today! I heard him on the radio this morning bragging on the Purrfect Treasures store at Franklin County Humane Society. He also talked about Columbo, who has been at Franklin County Humane Society waiting for his furever family for WAY too long!
Columbo - LOVES people! Wiggly, mellow goober of a dog!
Contact Info:
Franklin Co. Humane Society/Planned Pethood Clinic & Adoption Center, Rocky Mount, VA
•540-489-3491
Columbo - LOVES people! Wiggly, mellow goober of a dog!
Contact Info:
Franklin Co. Humane Society/Planned Pethood Clinic & Adoption Center, Rocky Mount, VA
•540-489-3491
Comic Relief
Too funny!
Not sure where this photo came from, or I'd credit someone for being HYSTERICAL!
Not sure where this photo came from, or I'd credit someone for being HYSTERICAL!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Cutest Dog EVER
Okay okay, I know I say this every time, but this puppy seriously is the Cutest Dog EVER!
It is Lindsay's turn to name the pup, and she decided to name her "Lillian." Lillian is a sweet 7-week old baby with a precious face. She is so lovey, and she falls asleep right on your lap within seconds of arriving there.
She might be the tiniest pup we have had so far, with the exception of another Franklin County Humane Society pup, Rose, who we kept for two weeks earlier this year.
Of course, leave it to me to get the ruler out and take photos for y'all to see.
Today's lesson for my 7-week old pup was about food. I petted her face, back, and head the entire time she was eating. I want her to know that I will not take her food, and that there is no need to be food-aggressive. I'll keep you posted.
Adopt Lillian at Franklin County Humane Society...for info click here
Lillian playing with my hair on the couch
It is Lindsay's turn to name the pup, and she decided to name her "Lillian." Lillian is a sweet 7-week old baby with a precious face. She is so lovey, and she falls asleep right on your lap within seconds of arriving there.
She might be the tiniest pup we have had so far, with the exception of another Franklin County Humane Society pup, Rose, who we kept for two weeks earlier this year.
Of course, leave it to me to get the ruler out and take photos for y'all to see.
Today's lesson for my 7-week old pup was about food. I petted her face, back, and head the entire time she was eating. I want her to know that I will not take her food, and that there is no need to be food-aggressive. I'll keep you posted.
Adopt Lillian at Franklin County Humane Society...for info click here
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Our newest foster pup, Dumpster Dudley
Our newest foster pup came home with us today. We will only have him for a week, since a wonderful rescue group is stepping up for him. Fostering Dudley opens a den at Planned Pethood Franklin County Humane Society for another dog, which of course, saves at least one dog life.
Dudley is the black pup on the left.
Dudley was found near dumpsters in Franklin County, Virginia. Makes me wonder who "dumped" him there. Instead, perhaps someone let him roam with no food, making him look for trash to eat.
I'm blessed to have this baby in my house this week. Dudley is about four months old, and black with pretty white paws and patterned toenails.
He's good with kids and dogs; I've observed him with both today.
Click here to find info about how to adopt or foster pets from Planned Pethood Franklin County Humane Society:
http://www.plannedpethoodrockymount.com/
Dudley was found near dumpsters in Franklin County, Virginia. Makes me wonder who "dumped" him there. Instead, perhaps someone let him roam with no food, making him look for trash to eat.
I'm blessed to have this baby in my house this week. Dudley is about four months old, and black with pretty white paws and patterned toenails.
He's good with kids and dogs; I've observed him with both today.
Click here to find info about how to adopt or foster pets from Planned Pethood Franklin County Humane Society:
http://www.plannedpethoodrockymount.com/
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