Foster Puppies and Kitties sharing a home

Well things have changed around here again. Foster puppies and a foster kitty are now co-habitating. And all seem to be getting along well.

The first piece of news is that Millie is finally making the trip to the West Coast to live with her new family. Millie was a dog that has been with me since June. She and her sister came to me when a person from my horse world had to go home to Ireland and could not take his dogs due to quarantine issues. My Mom and Dad were out visiting and fell in love with Millie. Since then we have been anticipating her re-location to live with them. This Friday Millie is being picked up at the Calgary airport by my Mom and Dad. Her bags are packed. Especially after the snowfall we got last night.

The next piece of news is two puppies moved in with me on Saturday. Minnie and Terra both came to me from other foster homes. And foster parents that are going on vacation to a sunny and hot destination. So the puppies needed to move.
Both girls have settle in very well and made themselves right at home.

I was not sure how Dion was going to feel about having 2 puppies in his space but he has taken the change in stride.

Terra is a nervous puppy and we are working on building her confidence. She has become Dion's best friend. They sleep in the same bed together and even share a water bowl.

Ill post pictures in the next day or two. Off to go walk all the dogs now.

What's one more Kitty????

Well I have taken a break from fostering puppies for a few months. After two long months of diagnostics and veterinary care one of my special adopted dogs passed away at the end of December. As a result I have takes some time away from fostering puppies and dogs to grieve for Omar and spend some time with my other personal dogs.

But my fostering break was cut short when ARF needed a place for a 8 month old 'Bear' cat to go. And then the thought of adopting a cat crossed my mind. Who doesn't need a cat in the mix???

Bear moved into the house and created some excitement for my 9 month old ARF dog Thelma. Thelma had never lived with a cat before and was unsure how to play with Bear and just wanted to kiss Bear all the time. Bear was a little nervous at first.

About a week after Bear arrived I was in Canmore and got a text from our temporary Cat Coordinator and Board Member Erin. She had received a call regarding a young grey cat that had been rescued from reserve. Erin was in need of a foster home for him before she could take him into the system. Well how do you say no to that???? So this grey kitty moved in the next night. He had a big 2 days of being rescued, staying at Erin's for the night, being vaccinated and transported to a holding area where I picked him up. I expected him to be a little nervous coming into the home. He proved me wrong. He walked into the house, past Bear, past a terrier mix, and a Shepard mix and walked right up to Thelma, my 9 month old lad cross. With no fear he lay down in front of Thelma and the friendship began. Thelma immediately started licking and kissing the grey kitty and the grey kitty appeared to love it.

Two of my dog friends. Thelma (black) and Marvin.

That night I started thinking of names for the grey kitty. I settled on 'Dionysus' which is the Greek God of pleasure, wine, parties, festivities and a good time.

The kitties love bath time.

Watch for updates about Dion and Bear. Both cats available for adoption through http://www.arf.ab.ca/

Cat Website Bios

Bear

Hi everyone! My name is Bear and I am looking for my forever home. I love to play with my foster brother, Dionysus, and in my perfect world my forever home would have a cat friend for me to play with. I am a very inquisitive kitty and love to have a buddy to explore with. My Foster Mom has four dogs, big and small, and I have become very comfortable living, sleeping and playing with all of them. My Foster Mom says that I am the purrfect companion. I love to snuggle and assist around the house when she is doing chores but I am also independent. I use my litter box like an expert and am a perfect gentleman.

Dionysus

Hi!!! I would like to introduce myself. My name is Dionysys and I am the coolest cat. My name means ‘God of wine, party, festivals, pleasure and a good time” and that is me in a nut shell. I am the welcoming committee when the doorbell rings, the cuddle bug when my Foster Mom is reading or watching TV, the administrative assistant when she is on the computer and the entertainment when I try and play with the dogs and dog toys. I am a very confident cat and have become best buds with my foster brother, Bear, and the four dogs that live here. The first day I lived with my Foster Mom she came home to find that I was not in the cat area but had climbed the baby gate like an expert and was curled up with 2 of the dogs in the living room. And from that point on I have had the run of the house. I use my litter box like a pro and have a healthy appetite. I also love kids.

A large Update

So it has been awhile since I have updated the blog. So I have lots to update on so here goes.

Mason was adopted and walked out of my home confident and happy to be going to his new home.

McGarrett was adopted into a family out of town where he will be the center of attention and loved.

Midge was adopted. She went to a fantastic home with another dog and a little girl that is claimed her as her own.

Tyson has found his forever family and is currently waiting for them to come and pick him up. Tyson has been a dude in the few weeks he has been living here. I have struggled with wanting him to join my dog family but realize that 4 dogs is way to much for me to own especially if I plan to continue fostering. Tyson is a dude. Where ever we go we find him making himself at home. At a friends BBQ he curled up in a camping chair and took a nap, at a friends he took a nap on the bed in the kids room. He is just one of those dogs that can go anywhere and be with anyone. His potential forever family is excited to have him join them and I am confident that he will fit in very well. He will have 2 kids to hang out with and a Mom and Dad that will love him, take him camping and running and give him lots of love.

Lulu has moved into the home from holding. Lulu came into ARF very skinny. After she was spayed she had to gain some weight before being put up for adoption. She is now available for adoption. She has become a very active and happy little girl. She plays with all the other dogs in the home, sleeps through the night and is doing very well with her house training.

Bryant arrived here last night. He is a 1.5 year old adult dog who came from Eden Valley. He has fit into the house very well and is a sweet natured and gentle man. He slept through the night in the crate and has figured out how to walk on a leash. He is a dude that loves to hang with and cuddle with her foster mom.

Bryant and Thelma have become fast friends and I have been referring to them as Team Trouble. Thelma is showing Bryant the ropes.

An update

Well Missy has been adopted!!! She found her forever home with G after she charmed her way into his heart at Petsmart.

Mason and Mc Garrett are growing like weeds and develop more and more personality every day. Pups are sleeping through the night, can now sit and are working on house training.

Mc Garrett has had a transformation in the past few weeks. He is no longer the geek but now the cool dude. He reminds me of Danny from the movie Grease. He has discovered the toy box and helps himself to whatever toy he feels like playing with at that moment. He loves to play in the sprinkler and can't quite figure out why the residents of the house are allowed on the couch and he has to lay on the floor. He has now learned that if he pulls the old dogs tail the old dog gets off the couch. Mc Garrett believes this is a fun game.

Mason came to my home a little shy and now he is one of the most outgoing pups I have had. He takes a bit to warm up to new people but he is my shadow when I am home. His new trick is to bring me the empty food bowl. He drops it at my feet and then looks up at me with these amazing puppy dog eyes and I feed him. He has me trained.

My personal adopted ARF pup, Thelma, is doing very well and learning lots. She now comes with me to the barn and one car rides much like my other 2. She has decided that she is no longer "one of those puppies" and feels that she must eat with the adult dogs and nap with the adult dogs. But when it is time to play she is in the middle of the fosters and plays hard with them.

Thelma is working on becoming a barn dog. With this comes learning to love carrots as treats as often that is an on hand treat. Well she has taken this a little too seriously and seems to only want carrots as treats. Because of this she got a carrot at home today and immediately Mason and Mc Garrett wanted carrots too. Below are some pictures. My old dog Marvin couldn't believe they were all wrestling over a carrot.

All the pups fighting over a carrot. Marvin can't believe it.

Mason and Mc Garrett knawing away on carrots.

More adoptions and some new additions

McGarrett and Missy taking a nap after a long afternoon of playing.

Well it has been awhile since I updated so here goes.

Morse was adopted into a fantastic new home where he has become the apple of his new mom and dad's eyes. He will be missed around here as his go anywhere and do anything attitude was a pleasure to have around.

Mannix has been adopted into a great family with 2 kids. Mannix was very relaxed at his new home as I and his new Mom completed the adoption paperwork. He was right in there snuggling with his new kids and playing with toys that were specifically for him. He looked right at home and in a little piece of heaven within his new home.

Missy has a day visit lined up and she is really hoping that her new Mom is ready for her and wants to make her a permanent member of her home.

Mason moved in with me tonight. I guess ARF felt I wasn't busy enough so why not add another puppy to the mix. Well so far so good on the transition into the new foster home. He seems to be settling in well and appears excited to be playing with the other dogs and puppies in the house. Mason so far seems to be very shy and a little slow to warm up but I am sure we can crack that shell and draw him out into a wonderful dog that he is. He may just need a family or person willing to put the work in and have some patience.

Thelma and I started puppy classes at Dogma and so far have really enjoyed it. I found it interesting to see some of the very dogs discussed in this blog and who have lived in my foster home at the puppy classes with there new people. They all looked very good, happy and healthy.

Sponsor me in ARF’s Walk n’ Wag

Sponsor me in ARF’s Walk n’ Wag

I will be participating in the first annual Walk ' n 'Wag on September 26th 2010. If you are interested in sponsoring that would be great. My personal ARF adopted dog, Thelma, and I will be walking.

Thanks

Another busy day of Adoptions.

Magnum found his forever home today. It was a fantastic fit and entertaining to watch him settle into the home. His new Mom and Dad also have an 18 month old daughter. Magnum and the little girl became best friends instantly and were showing each other different tricks when I left the house last night. Magnum would follow her around and then she would follow Magnum around. Together they got into the shoes and explored the house. Magnum would not even come and say good bye to me when I left. He was more concerned about his new home and his new little buddy. I had been dismissed. I wish them the best of luck with Mags. He sure is a special puppy.

Thelma also found her forever home yesterday and has become a permanent member of my household. She is no longer a foster and now has an identification tag to prove it. After putting much thought into 'do i really need another dog' the answer was yes. I posted that very question on Facebook to see what friends had to say and most of them already considered Thelma mine. One referred to her as a kling-on to me when I am around. That helped seal the deal. I emailed one of the ARF chiefs and after agreeing to continue fostering Thelma was adopted to me. She spent her first night in a re-located crate in my room and was very good. She was a little unsure as to why the other dogs were on my bed and she was in a crate but she took it all in stride and had a good nights sleep. I explained to her that when she was older she too would be on the bed. As I type she is in the yard with my old dog Marvin playing away.

Marvin and Thelma caught playing the night before the adoption. She loves him sooo much.