2 Dogs Adopted in 9 Days!

At the beginning of 2010 we had only fostered Sprout for three weeks when she was adopted by an awesome family in the Northland. At her adopted family's request, we immediately took in a new foster dog, Marietta. They had considered adopting her, but thought Sprout (Named Abby now) would be a better fit for them, but they didn't want to leave Marietta at the pound.

So we brought home Marietta the day after Sprout left. Our pack is so funny. They pout when new pups come and they pout when they leave. We remind each of our dogs (rescues all of them) "Don't you remember when you had no home? No People? No Pack?"

But we only had a week with Marietta before she was also adopted, by a nice lady that lives in Columbia, Mo. She drove to KC yesterday to meet Marietta and fell completely in love. So YAY for Marietta!

We already have our next foster picked out and this time we expect to have her awhile longer. Her name is LadyBird, she's a brindle pitty that at seven years old is older than we usually foster. Her story is heartbreaking, Animal Control confiscated her after she spent her life on a chain, with little food or shelter, being bred over and over. She has heartworms and you can see her skeleton because she is so skinny. Even after all the evil humans have done to her, she still loves people and is so eager to please. We took her for a walk at the shelter and she did great, following commands and loving the attention. As I said, we expect her to be with us in foster care longer than the last few, but that's okay.

I struggle with this question all the time-Do I foster and save only the cute, highly adoptable dogs or do we want to foster and save less adorable dogs that deserve another chance because they have been mistreated by humans? With Sprout and Marietta (and Sweets and Flower) we went the adorable, easily adopted route. But with LadyBird we're going to go the other direction and we'll see how it goes. We pick her up Thursday after getting spayed and heartworm treatment, I'll keep you all posted :)

Bike Show 1.09.10

Photos from the Bike Show we went to at my job today, good times!

Snow Daze

So I got off work today due to the insane snow and freezing temps.

Here's a few pics from my yard.




I really like this one, I know it's wrong to have the Flag touch the ground, but what about if it wants to make beautiful art in the snow on my car hood?

Off to a Good Start

I have a good feeling about 2010, because it's only January 3rd, and we already found a home for Sprout, our most recent foster. A great family in the Northland came along looking for a buddy for Trooper, their male pincher/bully mix. We took Sprout to meet the entire family (three generations!) New Years Eve night and it was a perfect match. Sprout loved everyone and everyone loved her, including Trooper. She's truly a rags to riches story, going from a lonely pound thru our foster home to a family full of love and safety in less than a month. I feel really positive about this placement because the family already has a bully in their lives and fully realizes the challenges bullies and their bosses have.

Sprout's furever family said they will send along pictures, I'll post when they do, until then, Best Wishes for 2010 everybody!

Another Year is GONE!

Wow, another year is gone. How did that happen? I'm still not even used to writing 2009 (except at work, where its been budget year 2010 since July)

At the same time, when I think of all the things I've done this year, teaching my first college class, going to Washington DC, Boston&Maine, Florida and returning to my childhood holiday destination of way out Western Kansas, having my opinions published in INK, the local weekly newspaper at least 15 times, helping FOUR dogs find wonderful furever homes, working at an animal hospital and learning all kinds of cool interesting stuff, I think- how did I fit all THAT in one short year?

I also can't help but think of the ones I've lost this year, including my favorite Aunt, my Aunt Linda, who I learned how to be an independent animal loving gal from and my favorite Uncle, my Uncle Lindon, who taught me that positive energy always accomplishes more than negativity.

They are both gone from this reality now, but I will carry a piece of them in my heart forever, and know our energies will be reunited someday. And I really know they would both not want me to think of them with any sadness. So I will not. Today, I think of them both with all the joy and happiness my heart can hold, knowing that now they are with me always, cheering me on, through all the stress and tragedy life can dish out. I try to share both of their wonderful life teachings with others through my actions everyday.


I'm pretty excited about 2010. I'm teaching my class again and still on the INK Panel. Joe and I are getting more involved in local doggie issues, we continue to foster and find homes for dogs at the KC pound and I recently started a Google Group for all the foster families. We don't have any travel planned yet, but a Flogging Molly show in March and an Ani DiFranco show in April will give us plenty to look forward to. I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful holidaze season, and I send you all BEST WISHES FOR 2010!!!

Sprout!

So after our most recent foster dog Sweets found her furever home last month Joe and I decided to take the rest of 2009 off from fostering doggies.

Wellllllll We can all see how long that lasted, here's our newest foster, Sprout, a tiny (25lbs!) pitty. She's about a year old.

She came to us from the pound with kennel cough and hookworms. She's undergoing treatment for both issues, plus eating an entire can of fancy puppy food daily.

She's sweet and super smart and already knows sit and stay and how to walk great on a leash. She hasn't had a single accident in the house. She's not to hip on going to her kennel, but hopefully will get used to it with practice.


She (and Taco and Layla) send everyone reading kisses!

Western KS 12.6.2009

Photos from our recent trip to visit my Aunt Diane in way out Western KS.