Category: Foster

Rockie – Part Two – keeping a dog engaged during recovery

As reported in my earlier blog in January 2016, Rockie is a dog that I first encountered during a Tails of the Trails hike at Williamson County Animal Center. He is a Feist mix that loves walking. The only drawback is that he lifts his rear, right leg off and on during those walks. After a consult at Nashville Vet Specialists (NVS), Rockie underwent surgery to repair a luxating patella (a kneecap that would move in and out of place thus causing the limp to come and go). We are now six weeks into his eight week rehabilitation period and I’m happy to report first and foremost that Rockie is doing AMAZING!

Let me paint the picture of his rehabilitation period: he has been restricted in his movements, not allowed to run, jump, climb stairs, play with other dogs, jump on furniture or any other movements that would deter his healing process.

For the first two weeks, he had to wear an E-collar (also known as an Elizabethan collar) around his neck so he didn’t lick or bite his surgery incision. Though somewhat cumbersome, he did great with the E-collar and more than tolerated it. After a follow-up exam at NVS, his surgical staples were removed because the incision had healed so well and he was no longer required to wear the E-collar—freedom! To keep him confined and away from the other dogs in my house, Rockie got a “man cave” of his own in my bedroom, a portion of the room sectioned off by a crate and plywood walls. He has been allowed to be out of his man cave during bathroom breaks and feeding only.

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My initial concern was that he would be going stir crazy being confined so much. He’s a young, energetic, happy dog who loves people. Yet, he spends most of his days in this confined area with only a 12 foot space to move around. I engage his mind with food puzzles, food-stuffed toys and the like. It’s said that if you engage a dog’s brain in these types of behaviors, you wear the dog out mentally and that can be four times more exhausting than physical activity. Even with that, I was still concerned his desire for activity would far outreach his imposed restrictions.

One of the amazing aspects of Rockie is his ability to stay in the confined area without being hyper, destructive, or other such behaviors. He also doesn’t complain when he has to go back into his area after bathroom and feeding breaks. When he is out, he is the snuggliest, happiest, most affectionate dog you can imagine. He’s my kind of dog. He loves it when I sit on the floor with him. He snuggles in my lap and laps up all the love and petting I give him. He allows me to gently rub his healed incision to stimulate blood flow to the area. In addition, he loves to chew on bones which has the benefit of releasing his energy while keeping him off of his feet.

My fears of an emotionally and physically pent-up dog who needs sedation have not come to fruition. He’s been the easiest foster I’ve ever had and has endured this time with happiness, contentment, and willingness to accept all the restrictions necessary. I’ve learned a lot from his example; to not grumble so much when I go through a tough situation. For that he’s a true champion.

He continues to be a delight and brings such a smile to my face. I look forward to two weeks from now when x-rays show him healed and ready for action!

Stay tuned to this blog for updates on Rockie’s next consult with NVS which will determine if the activity restrictions can be lifted and what the future holds for him.

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Why I Love Being a Foster Brother by Sirius Black Davis

Sirius Black is a German Shepherd, and in this story he sits down with foster mom Jennifer Davis to talk of his experiences being a foster brother

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Hi people! My name’s Sirius and I’m the best foster brother ever, at least, that’s what my mom says. She’s a foster mom for Southeast German Shepherd Rescue. We just started fostering this year, after mom bought me a house with lots and lots of land to run and play on. You see, I just love to play with other dogs and mom thought fostering would be a great way for me to have a playmate without committing to having another dog forever. I mean, what if we got another dog and I didn’t like him? And then we’d be stuck with him forever!

I think fostering is a great thing to do! I was fostered by a very nice lady before my mom adopted me. She taught me lots of stuff so when I met my real mom for the first time, she was super impressed with me!  Mom said that by fostering other dogs we could help them become more adoptable so they could find moms and dads of their own. My mom loves me so much and I really want to help other dogs find that kind of love too!

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My first foster sister was named Ginny. I really loved her! We got to play in the yard every morning and every night. Ginny didn’t know a lot of stuff when she came to live with us, so mom said I had to help teach her how to be a good dog so she could find a family of her own.  I taught her how to sit and not to chase the cats and how to walk nice on the leash. And guess what? She got adopted by an awesome family that adores her almost as much as my mom adores me.

We did have to make some changes to our routine for Ginny. I don’t think she got fed very much before she came to live with us, so she would gobble all of her food down and then come over and eat mine. I’m such a nice guy, I would just back away and let her have my food too, but mom said that I shouldn’t let her take advantage of me (whatever that means). So now I get to eat my meals in the guest bedroom with the door closed. Mom says I’m a slow eater, but really I just like to savor my food and chew it thoroughly, that’s very important you know!

I was a little bit sad after Ginny left, but about a month later JP came to live with us. He was only 10 months old and full of energy. Boy, did I have a lot of work to do with him! But we had lots of fun running around and chasing each other in the yard. And after only a month, he got adopted too! Now I have a new brother named Remus. He is only 7 months old, but mom says he reminds her of me and that’s a big compliment because I’m the best dog ever! Mom says we might foster-fail and keep him forever. I really hope so, because I love him a lot. Mom says he loves me too, even more than he loves her because whenever she calls his name he runs to me instead of her.

I think that more people (and dogs) should consider being foster families. It is hard to say goodbye to your foster brothers and sisters, but there are always new fosters to meet!

Sometimes it’s hard having to share my mom’s attention with other dogs. She’s only one person so she can’t love on all of us at the same time and sometimes she needs to spend extra time with my foster siblings to work on training or take them to the vet. But I feel so sad for all the dogs that have to live in shelters without moms and dads of their own. So I don’t mind sharing my mom with other dogs for a little while until they find families of their own.

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Why I Foster Dogs (and maybe you should too)

Growing up with the joys of a Labrador Retriever/Great Dane mix, I knew I’d have a dog in my life as an adult. I just didn’t realize how many!

In 2007, I moved out of a no-pets-allowed home into my current home and adopted my baby, an Australian Shepherd. He became my world. He taught me true, unconditional love. He was my companion on journeys that would have otherwise been solo. He was my snuggle bug when I watched TV. He was a constant source of trust and hope. To this day, I’m grateful I moved when I did or I would have missed out on this incredible love in my life.

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Having such a great dog encouraged me to give rescue dogs a temporary home until their permanent homes opened up. I began fostering in my home in 2009. These foster dogs crossed the spectrum from a 25 pound Lhasa Apso mix who was separated from the only life he knew, to an American Staffordshire Terrier who spent 6 weeks confined to a crate to allow a broken leg to heal, to a pregnant hound momma who gave birth to six beautiful puppies.

People consistently ask me, “How can you give the fosters up? I’d get so attached.”

I tell people several reasons. First, because I do this, lives are saved. Space in shelters is freed up. There’s a home for each of these fosters. Like me, they just need more time to find them.

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Jenny, a 9-year-old Shepherd mix
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Second, I can help with making the dogs more adoptable and better able to stay in a home. Some dogs come without knowledge of living in a home—the scary noises a dishwasher makes, proper places to do their “business,” how to live with other dogs in the house, etc. Third, and most important, I’d miss out on having them in my life. I’d miss out on their uniqueness, their fun way of doing things, their blossoming into a loving family pet. I fostered Jenny, a 9 year old Shepherd mix, who spent her life tied up in the backyard. She never knew life with toys. She watched the other dogs in the house play and didn’t interact. Eventually, she learned. Eventually, she developed a love for one particular toy—and I got to see it all! I witnessed her blossoming and enjoying life filled with toys, bones and the like. If I didn’t foster, I would have missed out on that and many more experiences. I’d also miss out on the extended family I’ve developed through fellow foster parents and adopted families. My social circle has grown from these people and they are a great part of my life. I get Christmas cards, Facebook updates, and pictures texted to me from the adopted families! I get to hear stories about their fun times. Think of everything I would be missing!

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Loverboy, Danielle, and Laney
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I have raised my home, for a year at a time, four black Labrador Retriever puppies for Southeastern Guide Dogs. This organization trains service dogs for visually impaired people and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Again, when people learn this about me, they ask, “I’d get so attached. How can you give them up?” As in rescue dogs, I gain so many benefits. I get to have the fun liveliness of a puppy in my life. I receive the benefits of seeing a puppy grow from a gangly, goofy puppy into a well-rounded, mature dog that knows service dog-specific tasks that will help a disabled person. Most importantly, I know this is making a difference in people’s lives. I’ve seen what a difference my dog makes in my life. I am a different person today for the love I’ve given to and received from him. Now I can help people with disabilities have a more well-rounded life. They feel freedom to venture out of their homes more. They get more engaged in life because of the support they receive from these service dogs. They are different people for having known these dogs.

And the bottom line is I do get attached. But I also know that my home can only support so many dogs. And I know if I go through that one moment in time when I have to say goodbye, then I can do more to save dogs and make people’s lives better.

Danielle Robinson is a seasoned event leader for Tails of the Trail and recently spent four months dog training at Best Friends Animal Society in Utah. She has fostered and trained 18 dogs over the years.

 

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