Sweetest good-bye, rest and revamp...and a couple pup updates

Wanda got adopted a couple weeks ago by an absolutely delightful woman. She is going to be treated like a queen for the rest of her life and might even get to bring some cheer to patients in hospitals. She retained all her tricks, and house training that I gave her which is wonderful. She has lots of dog friends that visit so she will get to play all the time. It really is one of the best forever homes I have ever seen for an adult mutt from the streets, what a lucky gal! Nevertheless saying good bye to her was heart breaking, I don't know if its because we worked out all the kinks and she was so delightful to have around or just because she was so damn cute but it has been a little bit of a rough adjustment.

I decided to take a foster break and I planned on doing so till I get back from New York January 7th. I am going to New York to do an internship for running playgroups for rescue dogs! Very Exciting. So I took the last two weeks off from the foster scene. The first week was a relief, and the second week was some nice bonding time between Nikki and I, but by the third week...I was bored.

Tonight Nikki and I are having a playdate with one of the dogs that is social from the shelter, Dora. She is wonderful and I knew she was friendly, and housetrained so I brought her home so Nik had a playmate. It turned out pretty well.

I have been working now at Chicago Canine Rescue (Yes I got a for real paying job in the dog field!) for 3 weeks now and I love it! I get to help people find their match dogwise and increase the quality of life for the pups. (I'm even getting to do a little dog-to-dog socialization, which will hopefully turn into playgroups: Huzzah!).

 I have also been doing some behavioral work for Alive rescue. Its been very exciting, although sometimes nail biting, to try and brainstorm solutions for dogs with difficult emotional/behavioral problems, but I am surprised at how much I have learned in a year. I guess the millions of books, millions of hours observing and a years worth of running playgroups at Animal Care and Control will do that to you. I'm stuffed with doggie knowledge.

Anyways I will try to be better about updating...but I like to write when the mood strikes me, and of course when I actually have something to say....Happy holidays everyone....

Here's our sleep over buddy....and a couple other puppy updates.
Although the puppies have turned out to be quite large, they are all still at their adopted homes and their parents have nothing but great things to say about them.

                                                  Darling Dora

                                        Henry Jones

                                          Bandita now Bailey

They all go home...updates for some pups!

During the struggle with everyone telling me to keep Wanda and knowing the best thing for me is to stay open to other future foster possibilities I have come to appreciate the aftermath of the rescue process. Once dogs find their way to rescue its as if they each get their own little egg timer. What I mean to say is that even if it takes a year there is a home out there for them and giving them a good quality of life so that they are ready for the opportunity when it comes is some of my best work.

Drum Roll...
Wanda's getting adopted tomorrow. As I sit on the couch wondering how you celebrate the last night with a dog you have shared everyday with for three months, I am worried the potential adopter will decide she doesn't want Wanda.

I don't know if it was harder feeling helpless that Wanda had very little potential adopters or knowing she won't be on the couch next to me in 24hrs. I am proud of the my lack of what they call "foster failure" (keeping your foster pets). It seems to get harder and harder to just say good bye. I can't tell if that is actually true or if its just hard to give away 8 dogs in a month.

This is my first long term foster situation, 3 months isn't insanely long to foster but its definitely about three times longer than my previous longest foster (carter).

Wanda and I raised the puppies together. It took 8 days to teach her sit and two weeks to teach her paw, but she is just a delight and we get each other. My initial hope was someone close to use might scoop her up, but at this point I have to move past it. Thank goodness I have Nikki to stay with me forever and see me through all the sadness. Over all I am so happy for Wanda (who may be renamed Greta) its great to see a 2 year old dog who had puppies find her own forever home during Christmas time. The owner is a wonderful kind lady, just what I thought would be perfect for Wanda.

So here she is her last days. Along with some updated puppy photos, I only managed to weasel my way into 4/7 pups but its better than nothing! Warning puppies have turned out to be bigger than we thought! Samson's family has told me he's 17 pounds!

Diamond now bella look at how beautiful that big healthy girl is!

Captain Linus is Calendar Worthy at any moment.

Terese now Addison is a little princess...

Stanley is a beast but a gentle one!

Wanda hanging out, such a chill canine.