Confessions of a First Time Foster

Message from Joan:

Charlie is at the vet now… Charlie was getting better about being picked up and was even stopping near me and letting the leash drape on my feet. Working well until I had a smart idea.

I thought that maybe a little massage would help his knees. I picked him up and tried to touch his knee – he went ballistic – cried, squealed, and carried on – I put him down and he went and hid again. So I thought it was time to get it x-rayed. If it doesn’t show anything, then it’s soft tissue damage and I don’t know how to fix that. There should be a solution. I pick him up later this morning and we’ll see what the vet says. But, anyway, I think this is the reason for his erratic behavior.

(later)

Charlie does not need any kind of surgery. All that the x-ray showed was some arthritis. [The vet] put him on Arithrimax and we’ll see if that helps. He had an unscheduled test. The vet tech took him out for a run to that the vet could check his walking – and Charlie slipped his collar and ran at least a mile before one of the techs could catch him. He was running with stiff knees – but very fast and very well – he ended up stopping traffic on a main road before they could catch him. For sure he will get a harness on before I try to walk him. He was more than half way home before they got him.

I asked her what to say before he gets put up for adoption. She suggested saying that ‘he has some arthritis in the back knees and may need treatment in the future’. She said to use the x-pen only when he seems to favor it badly. Of course he went around and marked a few corners when he first came in. I may try the pen out on the porch when I go out for appointments. She seems to think it may improve with more activity since he didn’t get any when it was forming. She said that it is probably genetic. Now I’ll worry that no one will want him. I think that he’ll be adoptable as soon as he will answer to his name.

Message from Joan:

Charlie is being a bit interesting again. I still have him on the leash which is helping. He’ll put up with a short visit to my bed in the morning. His marking is better (written while knocking on a lot of wood) since I’ve been leaving the porch light on at night so he can see the doggie door.

The interesting event is his last pee in the house episode. My friend came over to visit - without a dog. She sat on the floor and Maggie and P.J. made much of her and her petting them. Charlie gave her a wide berth. After she left Maggie and P.J. waited by the door for her to come back (so much disappointment in life!). Charlie sniffed all over the living room and peed right on the spot where she sat. I know it is supposed to be about dominance but was he mad about Maggie and P.J. getting so much attention or was he trying to make sure she doesn’t come back again and sit on his spot. What a kick he is.

He’ll now stand next to my two to wait for a piece of cheese. Maggie is done with her clavamox so I’m afraid that will not happen twice a day anymore. Charlie is calm enough now to sleep in the same room that I’m in during the day– that’s big progress. Regretfully, that means that P.J. will even hump him when he’s asleep. I brought him up onto my bed in the middle of the night once last week since I almost tripped over him on the way to the bathroom. He shook like a leaf. He was better when I turned on the tv – he seems to be scared of the dark. I’m going to look in the garage for a smaller light to leave on at night. If the ceiling light wears out I can’t go up and change it with a ladder.

I think he’s getting more ready to go out in public. He’s still too fearful of humans to go for a walk or to Petsmart. Soon though. The infected sore on his belly is still a scab, but healing nicely. I’m going to wait until it’s cleared up so I can put a harness on him. It doesn’t look like any hair is growing in on his ear. I hope that his other hair will hide it, but it doesn’t look like it. His bark is so high pitched and weird that the vet asked me if he’d been injured. Who knows. Back to ‘fun in the garage’. Ha.

Message from Marilyn:

When Darcy was in the barn, we left the lights on all night. She seemed better when there were lights, but now that she is sleeping in our room, she never makes a sound. We don’t leave the lights on…she has to adjust. Craig came over for the day yesterday with his three dogs…oh, they are so beautiful. His rescue, Barbie, who was a total wreck when he adopted her from us, is just wonderful and they all adore Craig. Darcy took some chicken from his hand and played all day with the pack. Last night when I started my chase to get her into bed, she just sat down and let me pick her up. I almost fell over, when I didn’t have to do the run around the patio to catch her.

She dances for her treats…it’s so cute and now she has picked up Sugar’s bad habit of barking at mealtimes. She is so funny and can’t wait for her meals…she runs in the bedroom with Sugar and they go crazy until I put their bowls down. Craig is in love with her, but can’t manage one more dog right now. Think if he could of, he would have taken her home last night. I think we are making progress, even if it’s small things, but it’s progress.

Message from Kristin:

Einstein is inseparable with Glory. He has come out of his shell so much in the last week… it is as if this ‘dam has let loose’.

On Wednesday, April 16, 2008, BratPack volunteers were called to pick up some Bichons that were rescued from a Missouri Puppy Mill. A large group of dogs was brought from that mill through Georgia and eventually to Marilyn, Fred and Kathy in Florida.

They came away with four dogs: Booger, Cotton, Lester and Precious…filthy, terrified, in need of medical attention, and unsocialized to the point of almost being feral.

Their names and lives would change from that moment forward. All are now in the hands of caring Fosters.

We will feature that story from its beginning on April 16, retroblogging it to the present…I know that will mess up the timeline a little, but please bear with us.

Then we’ll continue beyond…would you believe that in addition to these four, the BratPack has just taken in five more dogs from a Backyard Breeder who closed down…three 4-month-old pups along with their 2-year-old parents!

This is a story of teamwork. We might have to publish a score card to keep this bunch straight!