tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54388619911653339122024-02-18T19:36:51.173-08:00A Lucky Dog's Lucky BlogThis blog is dedicated to showing off the Lucky Dogs I foster, seek adopters for, and adore. Please read about their adventures, share their stories, and help me help them find their forever homes.Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-23841481596617583212013-03-07T20:18:00.001-08:002013-03-07T20:33:10.426-08:00Balton the Brave<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Over the course of the last several months, Balton has earned himself a series of nicknames that marry themselves to appropriate situations, or randomly materialize depending on my mood. These nicknames range (coincidentally, many with an alliterative B sound) range from Beebop, to Bubba, to Butthead. But in the last 6 weeks, our dear foster has earned himself a very special nickname, which, like a knight of the court, has been dubbed through great nobility and accomplishments: Balton the Brave.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Balton the Brave is what I can best identify as Balton's superhero alter ego. He shows up every time time Balton has a big moment, where he absolutely makes me well up with pride for facing the things that scare him and acting with poise and strength. Balton the Brave first arrived on the scene after we had been doing a good deal of practice in seeing new people on leash, not reacting, and getting lots of yummies. We then took our practice to a new level by walking several blocks in the busy streets of Georgetown, DC. Balton was a rock star, and handled himself very well among the commotion. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today, Balton the Brave once again emerged from his superdog <strike>phone booth</strike> crate. Since I switched from working at home to an office job, we've had to help Balton get accustomed to the idea of a mid-day dog walker. As you might imagine, this has been a rather tall building to take on in a single leap. Going from a consistent 5 months of having your foster mama home with you for walks and potty breaks, to having a strange new person come to take you out in the middle of the day, isn't easy. So we found ways to make the stressful event less of an event, and get together for social, fun, after work walks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thanks to a very patient and persistent dog walker, and bringing a little outside help from his dog, Lucky Dog Alum Hank, Balton the Brave triumphantly dared to go where no dog...okay, well, where plenty of other dogs have gone before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know that to some, a mid-day walk with the dog walker may not seem like a huge deal, but for Balton, it's another sign of baby steps leading to big strides, and I couldn't be more proud. </span>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-57819292246908245542013-03-06T09:43:00.001-08:002013-03-06T09:46:55.358-08:00Snow Day (and where the heck have we been)<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've come to realize that it's been an extraordinarily long time since we've checked in here, and time to start writing a lot more regularly. We've definitely been learning and growing lots in the 6 months since Balton has come to our lives and hearts. He's the longest standing foster by a mile here at our house, and he's still looking for a home. He's still learning about the good things in life, and we're still learning how to help him along in his training, and how to show the rest of the world the amazingly sweet, loving, and loyal dog we get to see when he is unafraid and able to trust. And I am happy to say that while no changes happen immediately, we have learned to find joy in all of Balton's successes, great and small. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today, Balton found some joy of his own in his first real snowfall. I've never seen someone love the cold, white, and wet quite as much as this guy. So, if you're looking for someone to take on the arctic tundra with you...he's your guy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's not always easy, but Balton has been learning in this last half a year he's been with us, to trust in us enough that he can trust the people in the world around him. 30 minutes at a Petsmart parking lot, an hour at an adoption event, and since my job has changed so I am no longer working from home, making the acquaintance of the dog walker. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our journey, and our search for the forever home that can celebrate all the same successes that we have with a lifetime of love, continues. So keep checking back for more updates on our friend Beebop, and share his bio <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23497541" target="_blank">RIGHT HERE</a> and all his fun updates from Social Media land <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ALuckyDogsLuckyBlog" target="_blank">R</a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5438861991165333912" target="_blank">IGHT HERE.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thanks to everyone who, though not in this space, has continued following Balton's progress and rooting for him and every baby step and big stride he takes. Our Lucky Dog family has been an incredible support, and we wouldn't be where we are today without you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">With love and puppy kisses, and deeper thoughts to come, our search for happy ever after happily continues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">-Lynn and Balton</span><br />
<br />Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-7595961826804608822012-10-01T19:38:00.000-07:002012-10-02T06:37:09.182-07:00Baby Boy Balton (and a quick update on Cora Beth!)<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not long after the joyful departure of Cora Beth from the Heun Homestead, we brought in our newest temporary house guest. BUT while we're talking about her, a quick update from her adopter :)</span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="il">Cora</span> continues to progress. In the mornings, she greets us, accepts a bit of petting, and wags her tail some. When we come in the door at night, she comes trotting over along with Rosie.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have resolved the barking-in-the-crate at bedtime issue: she just wanted company! So now when we crate her at night, we make sure Rosie stays in the room, too. That has worked out well.</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have started click training her (although the click freaked her out, even in my pocket with my hand over it to muffle the sound - so I am using the click word "yes" instead of the actual click). She quickly caught on to looking into my face in order to earn a treat. It's so cool to see her learn! I still work with her by being on the same level as she is (floor or bed), though sometimes I can sit on a chair. She is still too nervous to accept click training work if I am standing. But given the progress she's made in less than two weeks, I'm confident she will graduate to more advanced work. I am just taking it slowly and working to build her confidence and trust.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hooray happy endings!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, onto new foster Balton. Allowing us to continue our run of Shepherds, Balton arrived to us the Wednesday after Labor Day. He has been with us just a smidge over 3 weeks. So, technically I guess he's more like new-ish foster. He was hanging out at <a href="http://www.wagtimedc.com/" target="_blank">Wagtime</a>, a wonderful Lucky Dog partner who graciously boards foster dogs that don't actually have a foster home to go to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We had been made aware that there were some training issues he needed to work through, and it seemed he had become protective of his last foster. So </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nick, Ollie and I went out there to meet Balton as a family unit, in a neutral setting, to make sure it was a good fit before we brought him home. Obviously, the meeting went fine, since he's still hanging with us. He has earned a few nicknames: B-man, Balthazar, Michael Bolton, Balto-licious, Yoda (for his adorable ears), the list is a work in progress and continues to grow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This poor young lad was found as a stray down in South Carolina, with an embedded collar. So, maybe Balton had a family before he came to Lucky Dog, but until the shelter staff at <a href="http://www.florencehumanesociety.org/" target="_blank">Florence County Humane Society</a> picked him up, nursed him and his neck wound back to health, and sent him along to <a href="http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/" target="_blank">Lucky Dog Animal Rescue</a>, our best guess is he wasn't all that well cared for in his once upon a time life. But that hasn't dampened his spirits and enthusiasm for life. Balton is a goofball, and when he is in his element, you will find him trotting about the house, tail wagging in a circle, seeming to be without a care in the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He loves to play with any toy he can get his hands on, thoroughly a enjoys a good romp, wrestle, or chase with his canine buddies, and when he is all tuckered out, loves to snuggle and be close to his people as he can be. And even though we weren't his first foster family, Balton took to us rather quickly and after an evening of sniffing, exploring, and attempting to mark our couch. He found a way to worm his way into our hearts (while attempting to worm his way onto our laps). You often find him close by, and he likes to find a soft spot on the rug while I work at home. When Nick or I come home from being out and about, he is there at the door with a very enthusiastic "welcome back". We've been working on trying to take the enthusiasm down a notch, since it can involve jumping or mouthing. But he's getting there and starting to mind his manners, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and although sometimes he forgets is size and plays too rough with Ollie (1/5 his size), he respects and loves his older foster brother, and listens quite well when Ollie tells him he's had enough of playtime.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But, like any good diamond, there is sometimes a little rough to muddle through. Balton, wonderfully loving and sweet as he is when he feels safe and secure at home, developed some pretty bad stranger danger somewhere down the road. We don't really know how or when it happened in this young pup's life, but our goal is to help him get past it. And this will need to be the goal of his forever family too. Fear of strangers is nothing new for us, but Balton handles his fear differently than our previous shy dog fosters. Our past fosters would deal with their fear by hiding behind us or a chair, under a car or table. Balton's fear response is one of barking and lunging to tell people to back off. For a dog like Balton, his reactions are based in fear, but can be just as scary for people on the receiving end. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We've been working with a trainer (</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Toni from</span><a href="http://www.anytimecanine.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="_blank"> Anytime K9),</a> <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">who h</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">as been tremendously helpful in giving us tools to</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> learn how to help manage these interactions and improve Balton's impulse control, so he can begin healing and his new family can know what to expect. In the time we've had him, he's coming along nicely as he gets more comfortable at home. He still barks at the cats, but is more easily steered away and distracted from them with some treats and lots of praise. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He has learned "sit", "touch", "focus", ""down", and "wait".</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> He sits and politely (though enthusiastically, and with a little bit of drool) waits for his dinner now. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He is very food motivated, and we are using treats to show him that good things happen when strangers pass by. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because of his stranger danger, and because he is a strong dog, he will take a special family to be prepared to work with him and be a strong, loving leader committed to his continued success. And for now, he's sitting out from adoption events (since for a dog, they tend to be stranger after stranger after stranger approaching, which can be super stressful for a pup like Balton). Our next big goal in helping B get adopted is getting him comfortable enough to go to events to meet his potential forever family. In the mean time, keep following his foster follies here and on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ALuckyDogsLuckyBlog" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and if you or someone you know think you might be the right family for him, check out and share his<a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23497541" target="_blank"> bio.</a></span><br />
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Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-86298747872113853222012-08-29T20:11:00.001-07:002012-08-29T20:32:26.634-07:00CB 'n Me...'n a New Family<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh me, oh my...have we really let it go over a month without an actual foster blog post for Cora Beth? I mean, sure, she's gotten plenty of activity and exposure on the Lucky Blog <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ALuckyDogsLuckyBlog" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a>, but this is Cora Beth's first page to call all her own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Part of this blog's purpose is to talk about what we learn about our fosters, part of it is to help them find their forever homes, part of is it to share valuable life lessons we take in through fostering. I think perhaps it's been a little more challenging this time around to write about Cora Beth because it's taken a little longer for us to figure each other out, but also because all this time, she's had a really great family waiting in the wings, that plans to make her part of theirs this weekend, and a part of me didn't want to jinx her by overselling her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cora Beth arrived to DC July 22, and she waited quite some time to get there. Poor thing arrived at the shelter in Florence County, SC over a year ago, incredibly terrified and I suspect far more wary of people than she is today. After some time in foster care down in South Carolina, Cora Beth began to come out of her shell and start finding her way towards transport. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After we lost Seth, I took a few weeks to take a step back and take some time to heal. Taking on a new foster was, for me, a way of finding my way towards acceptance, and finding a way to move forward. I was kind of banking on an easy foster, so as to get back on the bike with some training wheels. I inquired about a few local fosters, and then with a new transport on its way, I was asked if I would be up for taking a shy dog. If I would be willing to take Cora Beth. I knew how many transports had passed her by, and when called to the task, all I could think to say was "of course I will foster her."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As we prepared for her arrival, I got in touch with CB's last foster mom in South Carolina, who cared for her over the span of three months, until she left on transport. She was very kind in giving me lots of helpful information about her personality, her quirks, and what to expect. I have to say, lots of that information was spot on, and the most helpful advice she gave was "</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She may cringe and shiver and stop eating and make you feel just awful in the beginning. But time is her best friend." And sure enough, having that in the back of my mind kept my feelings from getting hurt when Cora Beth showed up at my home and really wanted nothing to do with me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cora Beth is a beautiful soul, but clearly that beautiful soul was broken by someone along the way. Someone somewhere in her life taught Cora Beth that people are not to be trusted. In her first days, she ran when I would come near her. She flinched when I would reach over to pet her while laying on the far end of the couch, and many times jump off, seeking out a dog bed or spot on the floor so she didn't have to be near me. When I brought her food dish to her, she backed away as if I was feeding her cyanide. Every act of kindness was received with suspicion. And still, some of those acts are still observed a little warily. Though in her defense, I didn't exactly get off to a great start by shoving off-transport meds in her mouth and putting frontline on her back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But for her wariness of humans, Cora Beth finds comfort and guidance in her canine friends. For every time I would pick up the leash and she would keep a safe distance, if Ollie went towards the front door, so did she. On trips to the dog park, she would keep a close eye on her little foster brother, keeping a close eye and counting on him to find comfort amid the things that made her nervous.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGdDTTvG-vc-tW1RvJQtRD00pgrCZNhy-3RPh4QWoh2sjbA7Qm-osgbtohR6EE_Rr9maM4L7M6w3dtnWje2hlpxkQIOPkGK2yBAbgZfI1pytoEjA50L6IJy002fO6Tt86KDz1QKTgNHU/s1600/cbollie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGdDTTvG-vc-tW1RvJQtRD00pgrCZNhy-3RPh4QWoh2sjbA7Qm-osgbtohR6EE_Rr9maM4L7M6w3dtnWje2hlpxkQIOPkGK2yBAbgZfI1pytoEjA50L6IJy002fO6Tt86KDz1QKTgNHU/s320/cbollie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gradually, Cora Beth started to let her guard down. She would allow me to give her a little scratch behind the ears, and no longer flinched when I would lean over to pet her on the couch. On our walks around the lake, her tail would be raised and she would have a casual gait about her. She still backs away from me when I come to her with her dinner, but she rebounds more quickly. She would find new friends at the dog park to play with, and take her laser focus off Ollie. And tonight, as I write this from the loveseat that she would never sit on as long as I was seated here, Cora Beth is cozily curled up within inches. And when I lean over for a pet and rest my arm on her body, she opens her eyes for a moment and then drifts back to a gentle sleep. Maybe she knows that this is our last night together, and is trying in her quiet way to tell me that she's all right with me after all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tomorrow we will be bringing Cora Beth to a weekend foster while we go out of town for a wedding, and it looks like we won't be having her come back to us when we get home. But it's for the best reason possible. After waiting a year to get to DC, Cora Beth ultimately found her family within the first 24 hours. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The day after CB got to town, she came to her first Lucky Dog adoption event in Gaithersburg, MD. When she got there, we assigned her to a handler. Frances is a volunteer who, at the time, was on summer break from college, and on that particular day, was the person on the other end of Cora Beth's leash. Scared and shy as she was at her first event, something about Cora Beth was endearing to Frances, and perhaps reminded her of her own family dog, Rosie. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A couple days later, an application came in from Frances' mother, Kate. And a week later, at the next week's adoption event, Kate spent two hours hanging out at Cora Beth's side. And two weeks later, she was back...having driven from Silver Spring, MD to Falls Church, VA to see her again. It was clear that this woman was smitten with Cora Beth, standoffish-yet-curious adoption event attitude and all. The only hangup - the family was going on vacation at the end of August, and knowing about Cora Beth's shyness, they didn't want to adopt and leave her with a dog sitter. They wanted everyone to be home, and staying put for awhile, so they could get a start together on the right foot. I respected that, but I also cautioned there was a possibility that Cora Beth could be adopted before they get back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nevertheless, Kate's family went through the adoption approval process and completed their home visit the morning before leaving for vacation. We also met the family at the dog park so they could see Cora Beth outside the stressful adoption event setting. And wouldn't you know it, she showed herself as a social butterfly with her canine friends and pranced around like a gazelle, so she could show the family how lovely she is in her element. It was official - the whole family was on board to give Rosie a sister, and they were hoping it could be Cora Beth. And hoping that she wouldn't impress any humans in the two weeks before they got back to town. They will be back on Saturday, and are fully ready to adopt on Sunday at our Labor Day eve adoption event. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Obviously, Cora Beth didn't get adopted (in fact her new mom has so cutely been sure to check in after the last two adoption events to make sure she was still around), and I'm thrilled that this loving, patient new mommy who sees Cora Beth's beautiful soul through the guard she has put up, is going to give her the forever home she deserves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cora Beth and I have spent the last month trying to understand each other, and while it's been challenging at times, time really is her best friend. In a way, I'm sad that we didn't get a little more of it, but this lady's happy ever after has been a long time coming, and I know when I leave her tomorrow, I am effectively sending her to a place where she will get lots and lots of time in the weeks, months, years ahead to be the best, happiest, most loved Cora Beth that she can be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I think a lot of puppy kisses are owed to the wonderful Florence County fosters, especially to Sharon for taking such care to help me know what to expect with Cora Beth, and to our amazing FAHS Lucky Dog ladies Stephanie and Liza, for giving this girl all the love and support she needed to get where she is today as a Lucky Dog. I have a hard time grasping where she started, but I know she has come a long way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I didn't do much in our comparably brief time together, I am grateful that by opening my home at, what turns out to have been exactly the right time, I was able to open a new life for this wonderful, and now truly Lucky Dog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Eagerly awaiting the opportunity to share a post-adoption update,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lynn</span></div>
Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-290752644596729862012-07-20T19:43:00.003-07:002012-07-28T06:45:19.893-07:00Guest Foster Post: A Lucky Pauly In My Life<em><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hello Lucky Bloggers!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A few weeks ago I invited some of my fellow fosters to take advantage of this space and take the opportunity to write about their own furry houseguests looking for their forever homes. <b>I am pleased to introduce our first official guest blogger and guest foster here on the Lucky Blog....PAULY and his foster dad, Rudy! </b>Pauly has been with Lucky Dog looking for his forever home for nearly 4 months now, which is just crazy given how handsome and sweet he is. But here I shall turn it over to Rudy to tell you all about his journey as a Lucky Dog Foster and why Pauly is so great. <b>Enjoy, and THANK YOU Rudy for coming out to tell us a little about Lucky Pauly, whose adoption bio can be read at </b></span></em><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22330662">http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22330662</a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>!</b></span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Duane and I adopted our dog, Luke, from LDAR on July 11th 2009. LDAR was then a few months old and that was my first month as an official Green Card holder. We live in a 2 bedroom apartment of 890 square feet with a roommate, and Inky, Duane's loyal cat for the last 13 years. Since decided to get involved with LDAR, one of the hardest parts has been saying good bye to our fosters. This is why (and call me a coward or call me French) I always made sure that I was not there when it was time to give my farewell. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since 2009, we have probably fostered between 15 to 20 doggies. I could say that Pauly is our latest one, but in the 6 months he has been living with us, we have overnighted a few dogs (3 dogs and a cat in a 2 bedroom apartment--so much fun!). We started fostering him in late March; I picked him up from the list because he looked a lot like one of our previous fosters, the magnificent Charlie (formerly Snoop), whom we fostered for 9 months! He got adopted and was returned a month later and Duane brought him back home a second time. I have to admit: I have fallen in love with every single one of the fosters we have had, and Snoop, because of his breed, his personality, and his background grew on me pretty quickly--so much that after a few weeks, I asked Duane to adopt him, even though I knew while asking that we could not afford to have a second dog. You can imagine how I felt when he left ....and came back....and....left again....I reminded myself that I should not care about my feelings because it is all about the dogs and saving and taking care of them. I am aware I am not the only foster parent falling for one of the rescue dogs, and I immediately feel better when I picture the dogs on their way to an happy home.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZgwc0zAMOG-kgpEmD_5y3CxvLtLLWbtkLR81seIOsWQDbbZI1Yp3UGRtZPXjqtYNMBr_z32U7B0EH_35Yp1fZgfVJ1byKNX7y-wLiFYN_yq7DHCn0iIWoa-sDaJ38isiNadVk5eoArQ/s1600/pauly+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZgwc0zAMOG-kgpEmD_5y3CxvLtLLWbtkLR81seIOsWQDbbZI1Yp3UGRtZPXjqtYNMBr_z32U7B0EH_35Yp1fZgfVJ1byKNX7y-wLiFYN_yq7DHCn0iIWoa-sDaJ38isiNadVk5eoArQ/s1600/pauly+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZgwc0zAMOG-kgpEmD_5y3CxvLtLLWbtkLR81seIOsWQDbbZI1Yp3UGRtZPXjqtYNMBr_z32U7B0EH_35Yp1fZgfVJ1byKNX7y-wLiFYN_yq7DHCn0iIWoa-sDaJ38isiNadVk5eoArQ/s320/pauly+closeup.jpg" width="191" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">However, with Pauly and his resemblance to Snoop, I know that I asked for trouble...and I am in deep trouble. Pauly is a beautiful Labrador/mastiff mix, probably 2 years old and proud of every single one of his 55 pounds! 55 pounds of flesh trembling with happiness, waiting at the door to greet you with kisses all over when you come back home. I was apprehensive when we got him because of the cat (she is not a dog lover; it took several weeks for her to get used to Luke) so I was quite relieved when Pauly sped in the opposite direction when he first saw her, even if he developed quite a fascination mixed with fear toward her. My heart skips a beat when I see him approaching her slowly like a spy and waiting for his daily sucker punch (she does not have claws on her front paws, so at least he never gets hurt).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNdYWD04tjOrOobflNvZfi27x4apg3qGZzHbVWZw2vbfkHqlX0NZ3ILUtGxSN3IehzWTZL_LHzfIJ_0LilxZLjx8LatLhxH_wnqHxmR_cKLzRPXZtQd6Ub70VAidePrYKqIN4YQcLfw4/s1600/pauly+luke.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNdYWD04tjOrOobflNvZfi27x4apg3qGZzHbVWZw2vbfkHqlX0NZ3ILUtGxSN3IehzWTZL_LHzfIJ_0LilxZLjx8LatLhxH_wnqHxmR_cKLzRPXZtQd6Ub70VAidePrYKqIN4YQcLfw4/s320/pauly+luke.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It took him a few days to get used to our routine. We realized he was quite a fast learner--he got used to the crate within a week, but it took him a little longer to be fully house trained (though in his defense, he did show signs of wanting to do his numbers before actually doing them inside the house). He was crate trained within a few weeks. Duane, who is very good at it, taught him how to sit, although he knew how to give you his paw ( weird I know). Today he goes to his little bed in the bedroom when told to. One thing about Pauly: he is a professional jumper, which is one of the reasons we would not recommend him to a family with young children as he is also not aware of his own strength. That does not mean he is not good with kids....Pauly is getting along with everybody and everything! He plays on a daily basis with Luke . He loves his time at the dog park. He is not quite a runner, as he will try to trip you, although I think with a shorter leash, he will do just fine.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTe9xDqR5ZmGQj8qDtWERxZMu3pyEnySNdWU6UVb441VYCxOCa2z-sm9P8eK-2QsWF6s7-uxGDv40dH5cODRQfh_v1Hh-rSuLK6QNECYuUtQL3noGu4Tm4kejmO9QsuRCwspFLNQJawU/s1600/paulyduane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTe9xDqR5ZmGQj8qDtWERxZMu3pyEnySNdWU6UVb441VYCxOCa2z-sm9P8eK-2QsWF6s7-uxGDv40dH5cODRQfh_v1Hh-rSuLK6QNECYuUtQL3noGu4Tm4kejmO9QsuRCwspFLNQJawU/s320/paulyduane.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">His favorite hobbies? Besides following the cat, following Luke, and following us, his favorite thing is to come behind your back, put his legs around your neck and proceeding to lick your face (even your hair!!!!) until you get into the ground or try to escape from him. I am, as an adult (I had to grow up I know), aware that I can not afford to adopt a second dog and I have made peace with it. I know for certain that my life would not have been the same without Duane, Luke and Inky .....the same way my life would not have been the same without all those dogs we have fostered ....the same way it would not have been the same without LDAR ....and now Pauly, my Pauly-Doo ( his nickname).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHzGaXiaBIIC7fNVaoZQdsExwexugKkS9sr_j206s1SWbwsarqJ7XJf2Mt2s5YSeqDftVVIY1WmD7KOH-Q5ycMq2N0lorUU98omg3V63AuD0v5AgUqvyo_XdP_wwZ6U-Qr0eSzHOTz84/s1600/paulyrudy2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHzGaXiaBIIC7fNVaoZQdsExwexugKkS9sr_j206s1SWbwsarqJ7XJf2Mt2s5YSeqDftVVIY1WmD7KOH-Q5ycMq2N0lorUU98omg3V63AuD0v5AgUqvyo_XdP_wwZ6U-Qr0eSzHOTz84/s320/paulyrudy2.JPG" width="191" /></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As I write this message, I can see him in his bed sleeping and snoring, and I am more and more convinced that he helped in the process of rescuing me by bringing so much happiness in my life....sometimes when I am sad, I just have to cuddle with him and I'll feel better. Sometimes I think we need them maybe more than they need us. I am sure after reading (if you do finish reading) his story, you would want to meet the legend in person and fall in love with that cute fella just like we did, I feel happy that I get to be a part LDAR's beautiful mission. Until then, we will keep taking care and loving sweet Pauly until it will be time to say good bye....until it will be time for me to skip another farewell process (maybe the hardest yet) and go cry in the bathroom or in the backyard.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>MEET PAULY THIS SUNDAY, JULY 29 FROM 12-2 PM AT KENTLANDS PETSMART (218 KENTLANDS BLVD<span style="background-color: white;">, MD)</span></b><span style="background-color: white;"><b>,</b> where he will be looking for his forever home! To learn more about how you can adopt Pauly, email Holly at </span><a href="mailto:hollyc@luckydoganimalrescue.org" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">hollyc@luckydoganimalrescue.org </a></span>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-70535645666349787742012-07-17T11:02:00.002-07:002012-07-17T20:07:00.468-07:00Grace, Faith, Healing and Learning<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hello Lucky Bloggers,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I realize that things have been pretty quiet here for the last few weeks. I've come back to this space a few times trying to figure out how to tap into what I've been doing here and how to communicate with the community that has been following along our foster journey with us. The last few weeks have been challenging, and I have debated long and hard whether or not to talk about those challenges publicly. But in creating a public forum to talk about the wonderful fosters that come into our home while they seek their forever homes, I realize there is a responsibility to be transparent and honest with the people that come into this space in hopes that we can learn and grow together. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A few weeks ago I wrote about the line between </span><a href="http://aluckydogsluckyblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/fine-foster-line-between-loving-and.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">loving and letting go</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> of our fosters: loving them as hard as we can to provide them the best home they can get before they move onto their best home, their forever home. Never in my writings did I expect that letting go would come to mean something completely, unexpectedly, and horribly different in the days that followed, when Seth suddenly passed away in our care. When on a trip to the dog park with Ollie (our own dog), Ivy (a Lucky Dog recently adopted by my in-laws who we were dogsitting), and Seth, my husband had Seth securely tethered in the back seat and wearing his martingale collar, the window partially open. This was like every other trip to the dog park we had taken, and we had come to learn Seth liked sticking his head out the window during car trips and smelling everything outside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On this particular day though, while driving down a local county road, something caused Seth to climb out the window. We will never know what it was, or how a series of freak events could happen so quickly and end so terribly. Seth's collar snapped, and though Nick pulled over immediately to get him back in the car, Seth ran into the next lane of traffic and an oncoming car, unable to stop quickly enough, struck him. He rushed him to Crossroads Animal Care Center, our vet 2 miles down the road, who said there was a faint heartbeat and sent us to Woodbridge Animal Hospital, the emergency vet 10 minutes away (very kindly keeping Ollie and Ivy with them in the mean time). They conducted CPR at Woodbridge, but Nick was told air was not going into Seth's lungs because he had suffered trauma to his trachea. They could conduct a tracheotomy, but in all likelihood he would be brain dead. He contacted Mirah, our Executive Director at Lucky Dog, to find out what to do, and given the circumstances, it was determined that the most humane thing would be to let him go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I got the news while in the middle of my Saturday summer session class, and went into immediate shock and hysteria. As Nick recounted the events and told me what happened, I broke down into sobs and started pacing around campus, eventually finding a bench where I sat down and a million thoughts went through my head. The only one I can really remember is "Oh my God, we killed our foster dog". I felt lost and horrible, not knowing what to do or where to go. Feeling as though somehow we had ultimately failed Seth and the second chance he had been given at life, and failed Lucky Dog as volunteers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I talked first to Mirah, then to Pam, who is our South Carolina volunteer who actually brought Seth up to DC. All I could think to do was apologize and take the burden of blame for what had happened. But both of them gave me a reassurance that I didn't expect, saying that they didn't blame me or Nick. Everything that is asked of us to keep our fosters safe was done, as was everything to get Seth immediate vet care after the accident. It was a freak accident, and there's just nothing we can do about those. They told me in his final days and moments on this earth, Seth was a happy dog who got to know love before he left it. He had come from a world where people were awful, where his previous people had moved from their home and left Seth behind in it. It explains so much about why people were so scary to him, and why when we went away for a weekend he was so excited that we came back for him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had seen the progress that Seth had made in the six weeks he was with us, in learning to trust, love, and find out that strangers aren't so bad. It continues to break my heart that his progress was cut short. I've been trying to make sense out of everything, and still find myself grasping for answers as to why this happened. While I think I am going to be searching for answers for awhile, I have found comfort in my Lucky Dog family and the kindness they have offered. We talk about the human side of fostering, but I've seen it in full force with the outpouring of love and support offered. I was worried that people would judge and blame us in the way that I immediately took self blame, the way that Nick has replayed in his head what happened that morning over and over again. But instead I have found empathy, love, and grace. I have been reminded that this bad situation doesn't make us bad fosters. In fact, we received flowers and a card from all of our past fosters telling us they loved us (whichever pup coordinated that effort effectively turned the waterworks on hard for me). I have rediscovered a lot of faith in the human spirit amid what I can only seem to describe as a foster's worst nightmare.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have been told by many of my foster friends that this could have happened to any of us, and as I keep thinking about it, grieving, and letting go little by little, I know they are right. And maybe that's a part of the reason why I am writing here about it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With most things in this life, when I don't know where to turn I google search to point me in the right direction. But when I googled "what to do when your foster dog dies" I was met with articles, blogs, and rescue sites that talk about what happens to dogs when they <em>don't</em> find a foster. How fostering is the thing that helps save well-deserving pups from "doggie death row". They don't talk about the 2-shot puppy whose delicate immune system, despite taking all precautions and working to keep them safe, contracts Parvo virus and doesn't make it. They don't talk about situations like what happens with Seth. Or the dogs that have behavioral issues from their pre-rescue life that, despite all efforts, are too far gone to be saved and present a threat to the world around them, and the kindest thing may be to humanely let them go (an interesting and reasonable article on this is on behaviorist </span><a href="http://canineaggression.blogspot.com/2011/08/dangerous-dog-evaluations.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jim Crosby's blog</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The hard side of rescue is knowing that we can't save them all from the shelter, at least not yet. The longer we keep educating the public about the importance of spay/neuter, why to opt to adopt rather than shop, and how to be responsible pet owners, we will hopefully continue to see progress. But with 9,000 animals dying daily in shelters across the country, we still have a lot of work to do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The last few weeks have come to teach me about another hard, but less visited side of rescue. It involves that tiny population of the dogs saved from the shelter, but for whatever rare and unforeseen circumstance, are unable to be fully saved for a long second life beyond its walls. So you have to make peace with believing and knowing you gave those dogs the best life you possibly could for as long as you could, so that they do leave this earth knowing they were loved. I believe Seth knows that. I believe the other fosters and volunteers out there, who have loved and lost in a similar way, know that the moments spent with those dogs, while maybe too brief, were precious. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And because we still have so much work to do, I owe it to Seth to not lay down in grief when I have been given so much grace. I owe it to him not be too sorry and sad to help any more Lucky Dogs, but instead to do more in his memory. I picked myself up that weekend 3 weeks ago and went out to coordinate our Sunday adoption event, finding strength in those around me to not be a puddle of tears for three hours. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This weekend, I will take on a new foster, who has been waiting to come up from South Carolina for a year but has not been able to because of her shy dog needs and being unable to find an adopter willing to adopt her off transport. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't terrified, but maybe welcoming </span><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/20316278" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cora Beth</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> into our home with that fear will help us understand each other a little more, and together we can move forward into brighter tomorrows. I don't know what's ahead (other than that we'll be driving with the windows shut and child locks on indefinitely), but when I think of the importance of what we're doing, and why foster homes need to step up, I believe it's something I need to do. I'm very grateful to Lucky Dog that they trust in us to keep moving their mission forward, and want to do all that I can to honor that trust the best I know how.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In September, I will lead a team of walkers striving to raise money for Lucky Dog Animal Rescue at </span><a href="http://www.strutyourmutt.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.eventDetails&eventID=515" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Strut Your Mutt Baltimore</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and am personally raising as much money as I can for this organization with Seth in my heart as my honorary strutter (to donate or to see my progress, visit </span><a href="http://www.strutyourmutt.org/participant/lynnheun"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://www.strutyourmutt.org/participant/lynnheun</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">). You can also join our team at </span><a href="http://www.strutyourmutt.org/team/luckydogdc"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://www.strutyourmutt.org/team/luckydogdc</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> to walk with us on September 22. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This whole experience has made me really want to believe there is a heaven more than I ever have before, and that the </span><a href="http://www.legendofrainbowbridge.com/poem.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Rainbow Bridge</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> does in fact exist. I'm grateful to Seth for all he did to help me find the better parts in myself when he came into my life, and I am grateful for the grace, faith, healing and learning that has come through his leaving it. But until that happy reunion in the next life I'm praying for (hopefully my childhood dog Lady is looking after him in the meantime) I intend to make each moment count for each Lucky Dog that comes into this one now.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGHeG0L9U2w4Mdc0ot0kiELDU6eHqwqKGhKz1wF8rsvbGQtsDGH3BQJR9vFE8zLoqqDY3Zfmvzyz5gPxxJ2TNXPDmQH6S_sNcu7p4h-_E5gM_z_ebCrRRiKnOtJO4F_cFH84wnRUD9Yc/s1600/rainbow+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGHeG0L9U2w4Mdc0ot0kiELDU6eHqwqKGhKz1wF8rsvbGQtsDGH3BQJR9vFE8zLoqqDY3Zfmvzyz5gPxxJ2TNXPDmQH6S_sNcu7p4h-_E5gM_z_ebCrRRiKnOtJO4F_cFH84wnRUD9Yc/s400/rainbow+bridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-13715344833413765562012-06-20T19:39:00.001-07:002012-06-20T19:39:15.938-07:00The Fine Foster Line Between Loving and Letting GoNow before you go and jump to conclusions because of the title of this post...no, Seth has not been adopted.<br />
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However, I have been pondering this general theme: loving and letting go. Quite possibly the two key components to successful fostering. I think I started thinking about it quite a bit last week, when I went to Cape Cod for the weekend to attend my nephew's baptism and left Seth with a temporary foster from Friday-Tuesday. I actually missed the big guy when I was gone, and when I came back our reunion was a bit emotional. Maybe more for me than the dog. But he was excited to see me and upon happily leaping into my car, I got choked up and for awhile was thinking that I never ever ever wanted to leave this dog again. For the next few days I deeply pondered taking that plunge into what the Lucky Doggers call "foster failure".<br />
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When I first started volunteering with Lucky Dog, I first thought Foster Failure was the term coined for fosters that had been blacklisted from volunteering because they did something that was unforgivable to a dog, or something otherwise egregious. Turns out all it means is that a foster fell too hard in love to let anyone else adopt their temporary house guest, thus adopting their foster and "failing" on the letting go piece. It's a term of endearment, but in a number of cases, foster failure is bittersweet. Part of you is happy for the new human/canine pair, and part of you wonders if the foster failure will be able to foster again. Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes it's no. I tend to think that our fosters are responsible people who know their limits, and the number of resident dogs certainly plays a role in a foster's ability to invite another into their home.<br />
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So when I was deeply considering having a begging conversation with my husband to keep Seth, I considered it again. And while I love having his big silly self around, and I am overjoyed to see the progress he has made in his short time with us, I don't know that we are in the right place to have a second dog, and all that comes along with it to be truly responsible pet parents, not just in the short term but in the long term. And I also consider the impact that a second dog would have on our ability to foster in the future...again, I don't know that we could have a second dog and feel confident in being able to help more dogs in the long term.<br />
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I assume this is an internal struggle a number of fosters have, and ultimately, that something clicks with that foster that is the one that didn't get away. I feel like I have had probably that clicky feeling with a number of my fosters (I think of the last 5, I considered adopting 4 of them), but then something sets in that allows me the ability to let go. For now.<br />
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But I do completely understand why some fosters have chosen to adopt the ones they initially set out to get adopted. Seth and Suga are two dogs in particular that I have said "so help me, if their adoption doesn't work out, I won't have the heart to let them be up for adoption again." Thankfully, Suga is still very much loved and in the home of her adopters, and we haven't yet gotten to an adoption with Seth...so we're still good.<br />
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I have read that there is a great likelihood that at some point, you will "fail" as a foster. I have also read about how when someone says "I could never foster, it would be too hard to give a dog up," the author responds that it's not harder than thinking what would happen to that dog (or another dog in the same shelter) if no one steps up to foster. I think of these two things a lot, and then, before I can think about either of them anymore while I still have a particular dog, that pup goes and gets adopted. And I know it's okay to be sad, but I also know that they are on their way to a lifetime of love and happiness with their new forever family.<br />
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So we love, we let go. We love, we let go. We love, we let go. And while I can't help but wonder if it will stop hurting to love with the knowledge that letting go is inevitable, in a way I don't ever want it to. Because with each foster life that touches my heart, I am reminded by these wonderful dogs what it means to be human.<br />
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And frankly, if it's wrong feel as much love as I do for a giant lab head in my lap while we seek out his future forever, I don't want to be right.<br />
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<br />Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-82212274358153389122012-05-31T09:04:00.000-07:002012-05-31T14:08:49.587-07:00Seth Goes to Shirlington & Learns a New Trick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Monday was a hot, hot, humid Memorial Day. Seeing as Seth had been very tolerant and good about heading 50 miles north to Gaithersburg on Sunday to go to a hot, hot, humid adoption event, and then being sent home with a 5 month old terrier puppy so he could spend the rest of the holiday weekend with us before going to doggie daycare for full time fostering, he (and foster brother Ollie) were owed a nice holiday out and an opportunity to cool off.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23021839"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/23021839</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As you might have guessed, a 5 month old terrier puppy made for an active evening, and while Seth was a very good sport, he was sort of giving me a look to say, "We're <i>not</i> keeping the puppy, right?" Ollie even got tired after awhile, though he had a good run of chasing and wrestling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So after our slumber party, we dropped Harry off at Wagtime and headed over to Shirlington Dog Park for some off leash play time and swimming. This was our first time taking Seth down to Four Mile Run, and I was interested to see how he would like the water. The first time we brought Ollie he took a lot of coaxing to dip his feet in, but not Seth. Rolled right in and took to the water like a champ, happily swimming and exploring. Check out the boys!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After our swim, we came back up onto dry land and ran into a man in his little dog, who started playing chase with Ollie. I was intrigued by the fact that this tiny little dog seemed to have a ridge down her back like a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and asked how old his dog was (thinking perhaps it might be a puppy). He told me the dog was about a year, and that she was a Dachsund/Miniature Pinscher Mix. I asked what her name was and he said "Mia". I prodded once more and asked if he had adopted her from Lucky Dog Animal Rescue (after which I think he thought I was a total creepster). But he said yes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Turns out "Mia" was nee "Sweetie", who I was the adoption coordinator for, so I introduced myself as the lady who he had talked to on the phone during screening. Sweetie has a pretty interesting story as to how she ended up a Lucky Dog after wandering into her foster's yard. She also had some unique adventures once she became a Lucky Dog, thanks to her spiritied, curious, and sometimes a little mischievous nature. More on Mia, nee Sweetie can be viewed at Lucky Dog's special blog <a href="http://ldarcriticalcare.blogspot.com/2012/04/sweeties-emergency-vet-visit.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> and <a href="http://ldarcriticalcare.blogspot.com/2012/04/sweetie-update-home-and-recovering.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Mia has been adopted just a little less than 2 weeks, and is settling in beautifully at home. You can already see how quickly she has bonded with her new dad, and how happy she is to be in a forever home where she is so loved. And to see how happy her new dad is was also heartwarming. My camera was too slow to get her actually looking, but even her side profile is incredibly happy. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After time spent in the water and at the park, we went to the Dog Friendly Shirlington Village for some outdoor dining at lunch. Shirlington is great in being super accommodating to dogs. Their outdoor seating welcomes the furry patrons, and water dishes are abundant throughout. And any opportunity to expose Seth to people without him feeling totally overwhelmed is generally one worth taking. He did really great, and mostly casually sniffed at some passers by while we ate. If he did get a little overwhelmed he was able to hide under my chair, but he really didn't feel the need except for once. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He also put on his best "I would like some fish tacos and sweet potato fries" face. I would be lying if I said he didn't get a few sweet potato fries out of the effort. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">All in all it was a great way to spend the holiday weekend, and the boys were pretty well exercised as a result and couldn't keep their eyes open on the ride home:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So the people of the household were actually able to crate the buddies for a nap in the cozy A/C, and head on down to the neighborhood swimming pool to cool ourselves off. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Another new development this week: Seth learned a new trick! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">While this new revelation is pretty impressive, and continually comical for us to watch him keep doing this simply because he sees the little bed as a good sleeping option, this is NOT the new trick. This morning, Seth finally learned how to "sit". Being that he is such a treat motivated dude, I couldn't understand why we were having such trouble with this seemingly basic command. But generally it would involve him looking at the treat, walking away, coming back to the treat, giving me a frustrated look, walking away, me giving up and then giving the treat when he came back the 5th or 6th time, so as not to make him think I was nothing but a mean treat hoarder. All the while continuing to tell him "sit" as if he were to just know what the heck I was saying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Enter Victoria Stilwell, one of my personal heroes, host of </span><a href="http://animal.discovery.com/tv/its-me-or-dog/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's Me or the Dog</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">, and possibly the most well known ambassador for the Positive Reinforcement based training, or the </span><a href="http://positively.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Positively</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> Method, which rewards dogs for carrying out a desired behavior and encourages problem solving, instead of using punishment or force to suppress a behavior. When Lucky Dog is adopting out our dogs, this is the method that we steer our adopters towards, and with so many people out there calling themselves "trainers" or using old school, out dated methods that promote "dominance" or "alpha status" over their dogs, I am a huge personal fan of what Victoria and our own Lucky Dog </span><a href="http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/learn/resources/trainers-behaviorists" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">positive training partners</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> do. Putting your dog in the hands of the wrong trainer can be so, so harmful to your dog, and can hinder or damage the development of a trusting relationship between doggie parents and their pups. Our new milestone with Seth as of this morning is testament to how awesome the Positively Method is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> In a new web video series hosted by Victoria and eHow Pets, Victoria teaches a puppy to sit in the video you see below. I decided to take the problem solving principles taken with puppy and see if we could apply the same methods to "teach an old dog a new trick", so to speak. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It took some patience between last night and this morning, but Seth had a breakthrough this morning and sat, multiple times (both to ensure it wasn't a fluke and as part of the training session below). I'm so excited for him, and so excited as we continue our relationship building while he continues seeking out his furever family. </span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Come out to meet Seth, guest foster Harry, and the other adoptable Lucky Dogs this Sunday, June 2 from <br />12-2 pm at Falls Church Petsmart, 6100 Arlington Boulevard Falls Church, VA 22044!</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happy Tails 'til next time!</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lynn & Seth</span></strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4GzF6lMYcE92Qa-f7yWvppvOey8m4DhTT98RRg1EK4kIBWYdhvdtkWRoeJ1kI2Qeq4QAOf75uA45BkEfOw6ZjHw1iSo9dRn5sxflFXK6iyusBOa2PEa4WAzc-QjzyiDWDa01ykOcYXc/s1600/seth+ollie+swim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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</div>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-48828316399710291682012-05-17T21:11:00.002-07:002012-05-18T04:29:13.145-07:00Our Sesh with Seth<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, our 3rd foster of 2012 (not counting our 2 both-already-adopted weekenders, Spirit and Mia) has arrived at the Homestead. And I've been spending the last 5 days working on getting to know him a little better so I can tell you about him. In those 5 days, I have come to discover that he's pretty fantastic. Seth is a 2 year old lab mix who arrived to Lucky Dog about 2 months ago from his humble beginnings in South Carolina. He is an absolutely beautiful dog, weighing in at about 50 lbs and with a gorgeous reddish coat that color-wise likens him to a golden retriever, but otherwise has the look of a lab with maybe just a smidge of shep and a dash handsome southern gentleman in there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seth is a little on the shy side when you first meet him, but if you'd been reading our blog over the last couple of months, you probably already know that we've gotten accustomed to some of those shy dog quirks from our last foster gal, Suga. Seth has also had the benefit of being in a really good foster home for the last couple of months, so from what I can tell he's come quite a ways from when he arrived. I was asked to take him last Thursday, and brought him home with me after last Sunday's adoption event in Georgetown. After receiving the run-down on him and studying up on his bio, I felt pretty certain that this dog still would barely be looking at me by now, but Seth warmed up surprisingly quickly. He's cautious for sure, but very curious and very food/treat motivated, which has helped a lot in our getting to know each other. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On day 1, Seth sort of hung out in the hallway upstairs for the first few hours, averting Ollie's attempts at play and pacing the hallway. But eventually he worked his way downstairs to the living room, poked around in the toy basket, and settled himself on the dog bed. Each day, he gets a little more fearless in the house, and is fantastic about coming when called. In fact, he follows me around quite loyally to see where I'm going and what I'm doing (or perhaps if I've got a snack for him up my sleeve, I'm not really sure). He and Ollie are also getting more comfortable with each other and Seth's playful side is coming out as that happens. It's an absolute joy to see him in action.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Seth is happily helping himself to squeaky toys and chasing his foster brother through the house. He's also gotten comfortable enough to hop up on the couch or people bed if he feels like there's room for him, but only because we're cool with that here. He's very responsive to verbal guidance, so if that's not your thing, he'll totally respect that and happily find a cozy spot on the floor. He sleeps in his dog bed through the night, and is stationed there, crashed out and cozy as I write this. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hPq1Vy3s3nF43ZeOfsxDgIkd1e_NrZnETc1ATwYaBZEq72jbKBNExgd3kdWtZkT_GTRF74B-om-ByC9ESK_RQ2EUMlquINo8M0W52hxwF7yl3Gg7hZSMVAuqk__5xgXbDwD-MRRX0oU/s1600/20120516222830-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hPq1Vy3s3nF43ZeOfsxDgIkd1e_NrZnETc1ATwYaBZEq72jbKBNExgd3kdWtZkT_GTRF74B-om-ByC9ESK_RQ2EUMlquINo8M0W52hxwF7yl3Gg7hZSMVAuqk__5xgXbDwD-MRRX0oU/s200/20120516222830-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqGA4TxKfTvVy9kH20eOEQ6WOyqbRmaSVYoOHz3J7QEFlG30-GdZ64oCe6yEwr3myj44kpRTozjJC5x4a926nlHU0Wj6636hoCnjIyRREWdheN1qcy-E1SveT9WYyzeLGcTzDQDT3yhs/s1600/seth+sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMqGA4TxKfTvVy9kH20eOEQ6WOyqbRmaSVYoOHz3J7QEFlG30-GdZ64oCe6yEwr3myj44kpRTozjJC5x4a926nlHU0Wj6636hoCnjIyRREWdheN1qcy-E1SveT9WYyzeLGcTzDQDT3yhs/s320/seth+sleep.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I first tried to take Seth and Ollie for a walk so they could be introduced, he got totally spooked by all the people that came his way, most notably because they had kids with them and went into flight mode. And because he's a pretty big guy he is a strong puller when he wants to be. The use of an Easy Walk Harness helped to manage this at first, until my dog walker went and told me he walked very well without it, after which I had to test his study myself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Turns out he was right, and Seth has been walking beautifully without a harness since Tuesday. Yesterday we even went out on a run together and he did awesome, trotting alongside me like a perfect gentleman! He's very responsive to verbal commands and hardly pulls at all, happy to stay right next to me on our jaunts through the neighborhood, and curiously sniffing an occasional tree along the way.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjm6OiK4RW21-QtIqK4DlQsGhJdM2h9B8BQ9SBAlp-sgTmSM7xJ9_TJpSmomeYb5gPHGM0D6SECaTiINVbmiycsF6GONzS3UZRWyCr-s1nh2nzc9Z9LV5670UEoerqyFcrAxVvkTN_dtY/s1600/seth+post+run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjm6OiK4RW21-QtIqK4DlQsGhJdM2h9B8BQ9SBAlp-sgTmSM7xJ9_TJpSmomeYb5gPHGM0D6SECaTiINVbmiycsF6GONzS3UZRWyCr-s1nh2nzc9Z9LV5670UEoerqyFcrAxVvkTN_dtY/s200/seth+post+run.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">After our morning run, such a champ!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unlike our Suga, he doesn't try to hide from every single stranger that passes us by, and even gives quite a few of them a pass by sniff. But he definitely needs to meet people on his terms and needs to take it slow. Yesterday when my neighbors and their young daughter came over to introduce themselves and make small talk while we were out in the side yard for a potty break, he was beside himself even as Ollie was willing to say hello, and attempting to hide wherever he could. So I let him head inside the house to chill out so as not to keep him in an uncomfortable situation, and he rebounded shortly after, ready to take on his evening walk. Tonight we went to the dog park and once he became familiar with his surroundings, he did absolutely wonderfully (and snoozed in the car on the way back home...have I also mentioned he is very well behaved in the car?). Some of the new people made him a wee bit nervous, but he was very polite and playful with the other dogs and even gave a couple people a good sniff to say hello.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Seth will be out and about this Sunday at our Lucky Dog adoption event from 12-2 pm at White Flint Petsmart at </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=rockville+petsmart&fb=1&gl=us&hq=petsmart&hnear=Rockville,+Montgomery,+Maryland&ll=39.1684,-77.140503&spn=0.557904,1.352692&t=m&z=10&vpsrc=0&iwloc=A&cid=7440913968628083373" target="_blank">5154 Nicholson Lane, Kensington MD</a>.</b> Because he gets nervous around new people, Seth would like you to know that he may not necessarily show himself as awesome as he does at home when he's had some time to warm up and get cozy. So he asks that you try not to take it personal if he acts shy. He promises with a little patience and love, he will soon start to show the incredible companion he is. In the mean time, keep checking back for updates and fun foster foibles, both here on the blog and on our Facebook page at </span><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ALuckyDogsLuckyBlog">http://www.facebook.com/ALuckyDogsLuckyBlog</a> </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, please be sure to see and share Seth's bio at <b><a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22318259">http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22318259</a> </b>and help us tell other people how great he is, so we can find him a great home!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With puppy love and a couple of ear scritches,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lynn & Seth</span>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-32882562078095439092012-05-12T20:18:00.005-07:002012-05-12T20:18:49.701-07:00Dela-Where a New Lucky Life Begins.This morning, Nick, Ollie, Vance and I loaded up the car and headed out to <a href="http://www.parksnrec.org/matapeake-beach-a-clubhouse-mainmenu-267.html" target="_blank">Matapeake Beach</a> in Stevensville, MD, just on the eastern side of the Bay Bridge. Our excursion was not simply to take advantage of their dog-friendly beach along the Chesapeake Bay. Nope, we were on a mission and on our way to a meeting point that would ultimately bring our Vancey to his new forever. Vance's new family came all the way from Delaware to bring him home, so our boy traveled about 125 miles to his new home today (add that to the 500+ miles our boy traveled last week to get here...he's quite the little road tripper)!<br />
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Vance's family is so lovely, and it was love immediately. If there was any doubt about the road traveled to bring their new little one home, Vance quickly went to work about erasing them as he stared giving them kisses straight away and loving on them in his oh so snuggly and charming way. Vance's new human parents (and his new canine sister Madison) came upon Lucky Dog more than a year after Madison's canine brother passed away at age 15. Searching out the perfect companion locally after taking their appropriate time to grieve, they had been searching for a long time when Kim, Vance's new mom, got a call from her brother (who lives locally to the DC area). He had seen Lucky Dog at one of our usual out and about events and pointed Kim in our direction. She mostly fell for Vance on his photo alone (I can relate, that's sort of how it went with Ollie for Nick and me. ;)) but after chatting with her Thursday night, I could tell how excited she was and how loved he was going to be.<br />
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Vance will have a half acre totally fenced in yard to romp and play in, and much to everyone's delight, introductions with Madison were as good as anyone could have guessed they could have gone. When they brought him home she wagged her little nub, gave a friendly little sniff, and then the two started playing straight away. Thus effectively calming any additional worry that may have existed as to whether this was a perfect forever after. We've gotten a few photo updates already, and while any new transition into a new home naturally takes time, I think Vance will be okay with a little time and patience.<br />
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Actually, I'm pretty sure he's over us already.<br />
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Back to a party of 3, Ollie, Nick and I followed up the adoption with a trip to the Dog Beach...<br />
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...which Ollie enjoyed until I actually made him go in the water and try his hand at swimming, after which he wanted out of the Chesapeake Bay and chose to roll his wet self in the sand.<br />
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Suffice it to say our day at the beach didn't last long, but was well worth it as we sent another foster sibbie home. Tomorrow we will be welcoming our next houseguest to the Heun Homestead, so check back on the Lucky Blog super soon to meet our newest foster pup...<br />
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<br />Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-8403064671202026872012-05-11T10:57:00.001-07:002012-05-11T13:28:26.126-07:00Vance, Vance, Crazy Pants<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ever since I started fostering for Lucky Dog, conversations involving the introduction of a new foster usually go something like this: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Me - There's a transport coming up and they need fosters so I'll be picking one up this weekend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Nick - Are we going to foster a Jack Russell Terrier?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Me - Doubtful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Nick - (insert noticeable grumble or sigh)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So you can imagine my husband's joy when Sunday came around and I found myself assigned to none other than, you guessed it, a one-year old Jack Russell mix by the name of Vance. I held my breath and hoped that two male JRTs could co-exist peacefully in one house, and all the way home this pint sized little dude, tethered in the back seat, kept finding ways to worm his way up on my shoulder, between me and the drivers side door of the car, and finally with me pulled to the side of the road and re-tethering him in the front seat so as not to crash the car. True to his terrier nature, I could tell already we were going to have a wild card on our hands with this one. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>So badly wanted to ride shotgun, <br />but I put my foot down when he tried to change the station</em></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>And apparently the window wasn't down enough for him, he opened it himself.</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Following the initial craziness on the way home, introductions at home went better than expected. Nick was in love immediately. Ollie was seemingly disappointed that I didn't bring him home a girlfriend, but outside of some resource guarding with toys and treats, they have been getting along quite well. Vance, for his part is incredibly sweet and playful and loves people. He really took no time at all to settle in, and made himself at home. He plays with any and all toys he can find, is quite good about communicating when he needs to go out, and enjoys a good snuggle and belly rub (and is very proficient about asking for those).</span> </div>
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<em>So many toys...so little mouth space</em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's probably especially relevant to write about Vance while we've still got him, because he'll in all likelihood be adopted tomorrow! More on that when it actually happens, since I don't want to jinx anything, but it's been fun while it's lasted with Vancy Pants. And heck, it's been pretty nice to have a foster pup that my dear husband has actually been giddy to have around. Even if only for a flash in the pan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Lynn</span></div>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-6427283144455647882012-05-03T16:04:00.001-07:002012-05-03T16:06:46.264-07:00Another Long Overdue Update, Another Lucky Foster Adopted<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Why oh why does it take me so long to share an adoption update?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Maybe it's</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> because I don't want to get overly excited about the fact that my foster has gone to her forever...so I wait a few days for the other shoe not to drop and know the pup isn't being returned. Maybe it's because I am a little too sad to see them go to fully admit it. Or maybe I just am very untimely in my blog writing. Option 3 seems most plausible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So, yes friends, it's been nearly a week, and I have not heard any bad news since Suga left the building and moved in with her new pack last Friday. I will be following up tomorrow to do the 1-week "how's it goin'?" checkup, but since the adopter hasn't reached out since last Saturday to send me this photo...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">...I have to assume things are going well so far. As you can see, Suga is living with a new version of her foster brother, except he is a JRT/Beagle mix and has aboout 15 or so pounds on Ollie. Nevertheless, we were able to do a switcheroo pretty easily due to their uncanny look-alike status, and Sug (they are keeping the name!) took to him pretty much immediately. After the first day, it was reported that she was skittish but doing well overall. Taking a lot of cues for where to go/what to do from her canine brother Jack (not surprising), eating meals as normal (not surprising), taking treats from her new parents (not surprising), and going potty normally...and outside (this one <em>was</em> maybe a </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">little surprising, since she went a near 2 days before she graced us with her first bathroom break on the upstairs carpet, much to my relief).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sug's new parents, who live in a quiet North Springfield neighborhood, have a huge back yard, and with one parent who works from home, came along on April 22nd when we were hosting a rainy, yucky adoption event out in Annandale VA. They were inspired to meet Suga when they saw her Lucky Dog bio (which sort of warmed my heart, because I agonized over that bio to help speak to Suga's true personality, rather than the drama queen people meet at adoption events).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiK1E3R4iN1o6L9bJG5o36DHY0cwPU24wQCNk1VB2Osgs_LGmRWCYI9dGXRCJ1MBoMNvo6Qt5E5jHhDYNREnwyISazc9kwylz4fqsM7xJJhK2zKAVl03AgWxV7-eALgG6pqcIImGuJsUI/s1600/Suga+drama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiK1E3R4iN1o6L9bJG5o36DHY0cwPU24wQCNk1VB2Osgs_LGmRWCYI9dGXRCJ1MBoMNvo6Qt5E5jHhDYNREnwyISazc9kwylz4fqsM7xJJhK2zKAVl03AgWxV7-eALgG6pqcIImGuJsUI/s320/Suga+drama.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>"Look lady, if you would just stop taking me to these things, I could have my Sundays back and stop having hide under cars and behind legs."</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">For the record, she absolutely did put on her best "sorry, I'm just not that into you show" on April 22nd, but unfortunately for Suga she had her foster daddy Nick with her, who made a point to talk all about her more awesome qualities and how her adoption event antics were nothing more than her way of stomping her feet saying she wanted to go home. Jeff and Noah were undeterred by the tail between her legs, and filled out an application. After a lovely conversation about how their older dog Shorty had passed away, and how they could tell Jack was a little lonely for a new playmate, learning about how many of Jack's personality traits mirrored those of Ollie, and how curious they were about all that Suga had to offer, it became clear to me that after some internal struggle, some light nudging from people and teasing "when are you going to keep her?" questions from my fellow volunteers and family members, and a few would-be adopters before that I didn't feel quite right about (that incidentally also ended up falling through) I was able to let her go and avoid foster failure. Bringing her to her new family was the saddest I had ever been to say good-bye, but oddly, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. We came to do the home visit, and I left with the feeling she was going to a place where after the initial transition, she would be happy and doted on for many, many years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">My time with Suga was 3 months of trust building and earning. She is the first foster that I really had to work for in order to go from this...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU0T5lCsTgFpV3sFztY7jcvRGs2SUNVrDSNvPOnz51d6pAxK7wRSPwOTlGf4I_VprHr7EVpj9A65hEF47jDBiy_CDStJfyRVwB0gVwEw3n8_AEiAA4v76S0ljHaRuusMzQ2DZCdcHY7U/s1600/sugaday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><em><img border="0" height="275" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU0T5lCsTgFpV3sFztY7jcvRGs2SUNVrDSNvPOnz51d6pAxK7wRSPwOTlGf4I_VprHr7EVpj9A65hEF47jDBiy_CDStJfyRVwB0gVwEw3n8_AEiAA4v76S0ljHaRuusMzQ2DZCdcHY7U/s320/sugaday1.jpg" width="320" /></em></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Feb 4th on the car ride home from transport...shaking, soggy and avoiding eye contact</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">...to this:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsdAmKeZEDTGtNlgcp7FnOXZ7l4crpFn-jhIRdU7WKEaBetyzcr7RNQH2Jyt9W_tPcJah3dl62g_g-kkGXjOHjbr9TLHW6jOl-Fo1NnT169Zb2sBqxXhqFNSW7eZgMyU1mP2hYNSsHMk/s1600/suga+lynn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><em><img border="0" height="320" mea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsdAmKeZEDTGtNlgcp7FnOXZ7l4crpFn-jhIRdU7WKEaBetyzcr7RNQH2Jyt9W_tPcJah3dl62g_g-kkGXjOHjbr9TLHW6jOl-Fo1NnT169Zb2sBqxXhqFNSW7eZgMyU1mP2hYNSsHMk/s320/suga+lynn.jpg" width="181" /></em></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>April 14th adoption event: snuggle buggin', butt waggin', tap dancin' love muffin.</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm grateful for every moment we had, and my hope is her real, true life forever continues to help her grow, love, and find adventure,trust and joy in each new day. For my part, I can say with confidence that Sug gave that to me in the 3 months we spent with each other. And, she was able to let go and move on to her next best thing in just enough time to let me recover for Pet Fiesta weekend (she told me to let our foster coordinator Kate know that she owed her one). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So fear not Lucky Bloggers. Come Sunday I will have a new four-legged little someone to write about. And your guess as to who it will be is honestly as good as mine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Stay tuned...</span></div>
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</div>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-68608938119548683962012-04-05T20:13:00.000-07:002012-04-05T20:13:58.949-07:002 Months of Short Legged Steps Forward<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well lucky bloggers, when last I left you it was exactly 1 month and 1 day ago. The month of March was a crazy one with my day job, so my Lucky Dog storytelling took a short sabbatical, except for one liner updates on my Facebook page. Speaking of, the Lucky Blog now has its own page so that maybe I can increase my follow base to people beyond my circle of Facebook friends, and the same people maybe don't have to hear me go on about the cute/funny/weird/challenging things my foster dog has been up to (okay, maybe the second piece of that is a pipe dream, sorry Facebook friends). In any case, to find the Lucky Blog on Facebook, simply visit us at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ALuckyDogsLuckyBlog">http://www.facebook.com/ALuckyDogsLuckyBlog</a>. This is a space where you'll not only find links to the blog, but other snippets of "additional content", fun links, and random updates from life at the Homestead. </span><br />
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</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So. One month later in my once-upon-a-time foster world meant I may have been through 2-3 fosters by now. Suga is a stubborn little lady though, and doesn't seem to want to leave us quite yet. She has had a slight bit of interest from prospective adopters, but since I took over official screening duties I have yet to receive a single official application on the little lady. A couple of "what a nice dog" responses at events and some follow-up questions, but I have't gotten to a screening interview yet. When I come home and Nick finds me on the phone talking to someone about our adoption policies and asking/answering questions (Suga curled up next to me on the floor, couch, or bed) my husband gives me an excited questioning look and points to her. I give my "not this time" look we don't really know if it's disappointment or perhaps a little relief that we feel.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL_SIYUD_XpgRvDCyVMo4nJyGbO6-hUnAizEiRY-jWIFsj5kNTcUU65C4_wUzEpQxlvxeJQ4IMuN_A9yy3Q8fBTVzYjQtHgkHXNbnkRdytAbqzkAJvW_BRpIVmDLp3ffcgotN5yK9R3E/s1600/Suga+White+Fliint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL_SIYUD_XpgRvDCyVMo4nJyGbO6-hUnAizEiRY-jWIFsj5kNTcUU65C4_wUzEpQxlvxeJQ4IMuN_A9yy3Q8fBTVzYjQtHgkHXNbnkRdytAbqzkAJvW_BRpIVmDLp3ffcgotN5yK9R3E/s320/Suga+White+Fliint.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yup, that's the face...<br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Suga had one family that initially seemed a good match about 3 weeks back - they had a second dog and had been pre-screened and approved by another adoption coordinator, and as her bio is pretty straightforward about both her awesome qualities and her shyness (in general and specifically at adoption events) I sort of thought they knew exactly what to expect. I even offered the additional disclaimer, "hey, she's not always awesome at adoption events so we can do a meet and greet at home if you'd like." They seemed eager to meet her and no visit at home seemed necessary. Nick and I had fully prepared ourselves to give her up that week, and as she and I headed up to Kensington, MD I braced myself to come back with an empty car. The adopters came and went while I was working on a contract with another adopter, and before I got a chance to talk with them, they had decided that Suga wasn't the dog for them. But as I came back to her, she had this sort of triumphant look on her face like "HEY MAMA LYNN! I'm sticking with YOUUU!". And i couldn't help but laugh to myself.</span><br />
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJs4_HIMvzflC1bGx7VAPv1VbqAWKBNmdJoYvZKTJXOnLj8-umR4FPAErLg74dB_6MwiWpaNblbU3_ck5hvJDPja76xyYWNGmUF1RCfiwbHrmrMgctb9KJXJoJBJDGICv3QhDmkrfl47c/s0/20120402182538.3gp" height="266" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://v16.nonxt6.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D1387e07d2e85fedf%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1333702701%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D95E42E230FF0A607F708B78C03853C1C7AABEDB4.B4E91C2281B29B7458EB3D9976DFBBDE7F33C23B%26key%3Dlh1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?videoUrl=http://v16.nonxt6.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id%3D1387e07d2e85fedf%26itag%3D5%26source%3Dpicasa%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1333702701%26sparams%3Did,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire%26signature%3D95E42E230FF0A607F708B78C03853C1C7AABEDB4.B4E91C2281B29B7458EB3D9976DFBBDE7F33C23B%26key%3Dlh1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So since then, we've been waiting for that first application and making great progress in the mean time. Last week, she gave the dog walker kisses. And remember that first trip to the dog park? Where she attempted to escape under the fence and then hid under a bench? Well, we're moving forward from that. Check out our most recent trip to the puppy playground (and notice the tail position!). Pretty much she is a giant goofball love bug at home, and gets braver and braver (and by default, sillier and sillier) every day. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In our down time, she spends her time doing typical dog things like sniffing around in the yard....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ6NRbLRGdJUwevh8rnLCQcghvQ2keHheWLVAsQctFkvDAPzQ5AjHdvMbR1r19kdjgRD5h2rbq5m47mlKKQpxulHt_jxrPPlR9tXx8Wf8qdmswzJpKqwRtkXyXObzoMuKHtk77n0nOi0/s1600/20120402181345-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZ6NRbLRGdJUwevh8rnLCQcghvQ2keHheWLVAsQctFkvDAPzQ5AjHdvMbR1r19kdjgRD5h2rbq5m47mlKKQpxulHt_jxrPPlR9tXx8Wf8qdmswzJpKqwRtkXyXObzoMuKHtk77n0nOi0/s1600/20120402181345-1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hanging out with her foster brother...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAf7aV2cdgjL8RHRbv_3cygujRB49xLhljD0EoXjbp0sZNGeGCwRdH9N6WQXzYoG3TPabL45PK1Y4nuqQofX7RZ1MJfbvTzvOsYZFLnFeXPnlURAU1uHYwdhcpI7xlx-pci3nynTtrFRM/s1600/20120402175207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAf7aV2cdgjL8RHRbv_3cygujRB49xLhljD0EoXjbp0sZNGeGCwRdH9N6WQXzYoG3TPabL45PK1Y4nuqQofX7RZ1MJfbvTzvOsYZFLnFeXPnlURAU1uHYwdhcpI7xlx-pci3nynTtrFRM/s320/20120402175207.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And hogging all the pillow.</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkOMoB_tHaIvkE31tgU9DDTUKB1s7m5AEWDvY5wEZ_O_EyMUCJ5iloNbEnZaKxPCMtsyqolrDszc8xwkLKanWHPwAyKoGlrwNxjHBkabaoXnx-vmLac5KgRB6vdF29YzCNqZIRnvg9-Q/s1600/20120405080821-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkOMoB_tHaIvkE31tgU9DDTUKB1s7m5AEWDvY5wEZ_O_EyMUCJ5iloNbEnZaKxPCMtsyqolrDszc8xwkLKanWHPwAyKoGlrwNxjHBkabaoXnx-vmLac5KgRB6vdF29YzCNqZIRnvg9-Q/s320/20120405080821-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To help this sweet gal get adopted, see and share her bio at <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22053055">http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22053055</a>. There have been quite a few folks asking when Suga's going to be here to stay, and we are looking to prove them wrong and find her an even better forever home than the one she's got now. We know it's out there, we just need to find it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hugs and LOTS of puppy kisses (have I mentioned how much she LOVES to give them??),</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lynn & Suga</span>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-11736429228814757502012-03-04T16:49:00.002-08:002012-03-08T12:57:24.054-08:00The Art (and Heart) In Fostering A Shy DogSuga now proudly holds the title of our longest reigning foster, having stayed put at the Heun Homestead for exactly 4 weeks and 1 day. Previously our longest fosters had hung around for no longer than two weeks (I think Loopy was 2 weeks and 3 days, still within the 2 week realm from a technicality standpoint). While thrilled when a foster gets adopted and heads on down the road to their new forever, I do have to say that it's been nice spending a little more time with our most recent house guest. Mostly because when a dog gets adopted that quickly, there is little a foster can say about the progress made in such a short window.<br />
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</div><div>Sure, you see little things as they get comfortable in a home. Like Nina came to us too frightened to walk on a leash, but with the help of a harness and a friend in Ollie, she quickly came around. Loopy didn't want to walk up steps when we first got her home, but thanks to some time and some treats she got over that minor speed bump. </div><div><br />
</div><div>But Suga is different. We've actually been able to see the strides she is making in her time with us. Too scared to take treats or even move on that first night, she found a safe place on the stairs and hung out there quite a bit the first day, then a little less the third and fourth days, then almost not at all. She has gone from nervous curiosity to enthusiastically seeking attention and cuddles. From not going to the bathroom at all, to a daily accident, to going to the door when it's time for a potty break. Running and hiding from Ollie's attempts at play, to chasing, wrestling, and playing with toys with, and in the quiet hours, snuggling with him. They actually oftentimes opt to sleep in the same crate at night, and it's pretty freaking adorable. All of us have had to work to earn her trust to get where we are now, but it's been heartwarming to see her get there, and has made us feel pretty good. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Of course, there is still progress to be made. Yesterday we took Ollie and Suga to the dog park and she made an attempt to escape under the gate (she obviously failed under my watchful eye) and after some time hiding under a bench at my feet, ended up acclimating well enough. But it was a reminder that there are certain things still very much beyond her comfort level, and they may always be, and that's okay. But it doesn't mean we shouldn't work to increase that comfort level. Adoption events are one of those things beyond her comfort level. But we are working to support her with being as comfortable as she can be when outside her comfort zone, all the while making sure she doesn't think we are putting her in danger. Losing that would only set us back, so we must make sure we work to maintain it as we did to earn it. But she does trust Nick and me to keep her safe at this point, so our goal is to do what we can to increase that confidence that she exudes at home outside the home. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Nick was gracious enough to give up his Sunday and handle her today at our adoption event, and while she wasn't exactly having the time of her life, she looked much more calm than she had at previous events when being handled by a stranger. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgim5apItBHSpN0w7ZEmnrtCFh4heZsbPUs2T4BbpPn4shDnaiXzy5rJlweFQU00HZg9V3soj7yL1xqs2Q5BaNoz3qCb5l-nXkShOh_brb8nVSWV2taAloMGZbIBIzJ_4I8oJqFDmBGDdo/s1600/Suga+Nick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgim5apItBHSpN0w7ZEmnrtCFh4heZsbPUs2T4BbpPn4shDnaiXzy5rJlweFQU00HZg9V3soj7yL1xqs2Q5BaNoz3qCb5l-nXkShOh_brb8nVSWV2taAloMGZbIBIzJ_4I8oJqFDmBGDdo/s320/Suga+Nick.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Nick was also able to advocate for her, and while nothing's ever certain until that adoption questionnaire comes in (and still not even truly certain until the screening and home visits are complete and the contract is signed), there was a woman who seemed like a good match who was interested in her after chatting with us, and promised me an email. So paws crossed!</div><div><br />
</div><div>There's a balance, and an art to working with a shy dog, and we tell our adopters this. We know we're supposed to teach a dog not to jump up on you. But when that jump on you is a sign of comfort and confidence, it becomes a little more difficult to say "off" at first. A normal impulse is perhaps to expect love at first sight with a new dog, but shy dogs make you work a little harder for their love. And they have every right to. It's reasonable to want your dog to not run and hide from, or bark at the neighborhood children. But if your dog is scared of the neighborhood children, it's unfair to put them in a situation that makes them uncomfortable (and although a cute 6 year old little girl has her feelings hurt when you politely tell her not to pet an adorable pup you're caring for, she will have forgotten about it by tomorrow). </div><div><br />
</div><div>So while we patiently wait for a forever family willing to toe that line of knowing that Suga's fears are normal, while also allowing her the opportunity to overcome them, we will continue to do that for her. Whether it's one more day, one more week, one more month, or...well....you get the idea. :)</div>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-33404601298244449172012-02-12T21:14:00.000-08:002012-02-13T09:07:54.624-08:002012 Updates and A Spoonful of Suga<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Well goodness, it's been awhile since we've had an update, hasn't it? I guess time flies when you're back in school, switching jobs, helping get a dog park built, and of course, getting some Lucky Dogs Adopted! Shortly following my return to VA after Christmas, Loopy got herself a forever home. I was a little nervous about the family at first, simply because it contained two resident Pomeranian siblings. Those of you who had the pleasure of meeting Loopy knew that she was a big love, but also a dog who didn't know her own size and strength. This worked out fine for Ollie, who was a quintessential Jack Russell, happily chasing, wrestling with , and oftentimes pinning her. Our playful Rottie mix pooch would carefully seek out one square foot of space on the couch and then prance herself up on it, usually sitting on whoever or whatever else was just outside its borders. I was a wee bit concerned as to how her social graces (or lack thereof) would impress upon two small fluffy dogs who had never had to interact, much less live, with a 55 lb lap dog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In our initial introductions to her adoptive home, Loopy tried to play with her new prospective adoptive siblings a la her standard play initiation move: by taking her big ol' paw and bringing it down upon the bodies of her new tiny and fluffy siblings. Suffice it to say the Poms were less than thrilled. I explained that an adjustment period was to be expected, and training and exercise would help ease the transition. But to be sure, I asked if her new parents were sure about bringing her into the mix, as I acknowledged the importance of respecting the needs of the resident pets. Mom and Dad were ready for whatever lie ahead, and we took her to Petco to get a collar and a new bed. Loopy, now Leela, made herself cozy in the middle of the store upon her new bed, but old habits die hard and she is thankfully still a welcome addition to the couch, where miss Loops/Leela happily snoozes in her spare time.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Loopy on the couch in her foster home...</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFUUFaBBu3PrY1Hqm3oCXDZ1rTdF4Iw5oJ5O2lpL0giJ1OzrVujxEnBn4k0Zu-JQqD_XbXtqJalfRsA8UP5SQ_BoxETDrgO7-DYIwksZCttMqeN85FLCiDGYpd1kKeMVej-esNP-lrnI/s1600/20111227194533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFUUFaBBu3PrY1Hqm3oCXDZ1rTdF4Iw5oJ5O2lpL0giJ1OzrVujxEnBn4k0Zu-JQqD_XbXtqJalfRsA8UP5SQ_BoxETDrgO7-DYIwksZCttMqeN85FLCiDGYpd1kKeMVej-esNP-lrnI/s200/20111227194533.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssqSiLljKGtHYOyjJD8tcWGt-ryM-z1xD2hq25V_BCqU4OG32m2iTwNVrC2Zr6mbC4S7r0zFovBIOy1k_FBQKddWNQVlV7vLVnJa1h7V5QU6RdgZq3CzrbtdcuSwyWFOGWwAx0ZKXDt8/s1600/2012-01-139523-25-4695513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssqSiLljKGtHYOyjJD8tcWGt-ryM-z1xD2hq25V_BCqU4OG32m2iTwNVrC2Zr6mbC4S7r0zFovBIOy1k_FBQKddWNQVlV7vLVnJa1h7V5QU6RdgZq3CzrbtdcuSwyWFOGWwAx0ZKXDt8/s200/2012-01-139523-25-4695513.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>...Loopy on the couch in her adoptive home.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I actually just got an update from Loopy's foster tonight, here's how she's holding up: "<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Just wanted to give you an update and some photos. Leela is very loved and spoiled and gets along with Holly very well now. Teddy is just a grouchy old man but she knows to leave him alone :) I recommended your rescue to some clients at my work (vet hospital) so hopefully they can have the great experience I did! Thanks :)"</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQigS6zl6o4ckm0xpPBWYhHNF53XOMwjdDIALOCKGsU55IJRCIiLOF_a1TtoB1PzAdS5E0gKS45npWGfKyzY3xrWzEZLBpd9gDNDgHbGmjJOFr5OtZl28wS9KWe8RMokBAYLv-aE04iM/s1600/Loopy+Holly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQigS6zl6o4ckm0xpPBWYhHNF53XOMwjdDIALOCKGsU55IJRCIiLOF_a1TtoB1PzAdS5E0gKS45npWGfKyzY3xrWzEZLBpd9gDNDgHbGmjJOFr5OtZl28wS9KWe8RMokBAYLv-aE04iM/s320/Loopy+Holly.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Loopy and Holly, her Pom Sister, co-existing peacefully.</b></span></div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We stayed foster-less for pretty much the entire month of January, and brought our first Lucky Dog of 2012 in on January 28th. Mitzie was a super cute, mis-categorized pup who was labelled as a stocky, rugged muscular dog called a <a href="http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/mountaincur.htm">Mountain Cur</a>. When I picked her up from transport, this teeny, 18 lb terrier is the dog that greeted me:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Suffice it to say that while I'm not quite sure what she was, she was definitely not a Mountain Cur. Mitzie was an incredibly easy foster...no accidents in the house, no chewing, got along great with Ollie, snuggled right into her crate at bed time. She was also incredibly affectionate, lovey, and playful. So it's probably no big surprise that she was adopted a mere 24 hours after her arrival. Two families were taken by her charms at an adoption event after she got to town, and one was lucky enough to keep her at home after we stopped by for the home visit. But she didn't need more than a night to get comfy and snuggle into our hearts. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkyozfA7USEmfCgZ8p99_5v8MYgctvAY5qDgaa2JYRp0t2N8WDATckM5_iTNVcG78YE0CUTORTC-AkabcrTxDkJT3HjasqD9K5lwtei_bAkICHKySdiiXhRVRu6m0lwxr-bBvKSq6brA/s1600/20120128213742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkyozfA7USEmfCgZ8p99_5v8MYgctvAY5qDgaa2JYRp0t2N8WDATckM5_iTNVcG78YE0CUTORTC-AkabcrTxDkJT3HjasqD9K5lwtei_bAkICHKySdiiXhRVRu6m0lwxr-bBvKSq6brA/s320/20120128213742.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, fast forward a week, and a transport from our friends at the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/florence.humane.society">Florence Area Humane Society</a>. Many a foster is needed on transport weeks, and so I took a look at Kate's weekly foster needed list to see who I could help out. I saw there were a couple dogs who needed to go to a foster with a second dog (typical for dogs who are noticably shy in the shelter), and offered to take one of them. I ended up getting assigned to take a Dachsund mix named Suga. She arrived last Saturday and came off transport shaking. Likely because it was cold, but also likely because she was terrified. We got her a doggie jacket to keep warm and patiently waited to get a collar and leash while it started to rain. I brought some high value treats with me, but she was just so scared that she wouldn't take any. Leashed and collared up, we finally got her photo snapped and headed down to the parking garage. We got to the car and she attempted to hide under it. I lifted her into the car and she curled up in the back seat. We got home and she ran up onto the steps, where she seemed to feel as safe as she could, given her scary and stressful day...and all of a sudden being in a place that was completely unfamiliar, wondering what was next.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1FOMzDOAExX6bk8xFJYz1mB84CdgF5hYhgqqujx_n1VVQIsk7rCVHmkM_5WzsGPkwP0nwSauecKBGLP4oSAvQeBN-07aM5CWdZkOg22Rr7o3yeSSiAF4T_8cNTtlchrHfup0Bwvg1-0/s1600/20120204173147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1FOMzDOAExX6bk8xFJYz1mB84CdgF5hYhgqqujx_n1VVQIsk7rCVHmkM_5WzsGPkwP0nwSauecKBGLP4oSAvQeBN-07aM5CWdZkOg22Rr7o3yeSSiAF4T_8cNTtlchrHfup0Bwvg1-0/s200/20120204173147.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It probably didn't do much to get in her good graces by giving her a bath next.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvuGL3d4do9EUN0zm1EvgP3gpeEODzXlGbEnxcdgWDxQBL4rB8RpTOoqa4Y1Df4a-nyYebuG_OwxttBPBjvH1_x_cexvLw10FWnL2nXQ7tVndcId0lXMZaxYVgYuEZNxEwLTI3X2FJPE/s1600/suga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvuGL3d4do9EUN0zm1EvgP3gpeEODzXlGbEnxcdgWDxQBL4rB8RpTOoqa4Y1Df4a-nyYebuG_OwxttBPBjvH1_x_cexvLw10FWnL2nXQ7tVndcId0lXMZaxYVgYuEZNxEwLTI3X2FJPE/s200/suga.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then Nick brought home Ollie, who immediately wanted to play and sent her running for her life. Suffice it to say we weren't off to a good start. But we got all the uncomfortable transitional stuff out of the way, and I was </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">forgiven after a warm meal and a comfy snuggle spot on the couch. She was exhausted, and I didn't blame her. But she slept like an angel in her crate and awoke the next morning with her tail half mast and half wagging (a marked improvement from the night before). </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The adoption event that next day frightened her (not surprisingly), but Suga was a good sport and got through it. For the following week she's been able to work on building confidence, her housetraining, and seeing the world through new eyes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't know what Suga's life was before she came to Lucky Dog, but whatever it was, it left her faith in humanity somewhat shaken, and left her not entirely sure how to socialize or play with other pups. But like most dogs, she is resilient and eager to find reason to have that faith restored. While she may be afraid of loud noises, she is curious about the world around her. While she was too afraid to go to the bathroom for our first two days with her, she is following the example of her foster brother to learn what to do. There are mistakes and missteps along the way, but above all else she loves to be loved. I came home from work only two days after welcoming her into our life, and she greeted me with such excitement that her entire body was wagging. We have immediately learned that she is a cuddle bug and loves human affection once she gets comfortable around you. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaX3F5aaSJ7TAzwBIk-ayjFd07CHQd-IZW5fQuMecXglb8YRh7QQ7rVuqjjjByBJj1gm0I1_YhhZlNTrnBTYz43SfycqzEhaqytsxYiL3NBRRrskEnSKEMxlkK5xKWWiUt_o72CfiuzWY/s1600/20120206193808-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaX3F5aaSJ7TAzwBIk-ayjFd07CHQd-IZW5fQuMecXglb8YRh7QQ7rVuqjjjByBJj1gm0I1_YhhZlNTrnBTYz43SfycqzEhaqytsxYiL3NBRRrskEnSKEMxlkK5xKWWiUt_o72CfiuzWY/s1600/20120206193808-1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We have immediately learned that in spite of her shyness, she is a cuddle bug and loves human affection once she gets comfortable. That said, her fear of loud noises leaves her best suited to a family with older kids (12 and up). Small kids just don't really know how not to be loud I'm afraid. Also, because she is still learning how to trust people and work on her socialization, sweet Suga needs to go to a home with a second dog. She also does not like being left alone when her people need to leave, so a buddy to hang with when the humans are out is a big help to her. Outside of that, she's pretty much a perfect companion who loves to play but doesn't need a ton of exercise to keep her from going crazy. We are still perfecting her housetraining, but hey, it's only been a week and she's come a long way in that time. As you can also see, she's very comfortable in her crate and sleeps like an angel through the night, as long as she can be by your side.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBDgpB1rJ2U9Mg2IufeLvi7kL_UfxMGGQ3qBc58kuAUWDIxeqi-ZZWh5PcuTBOmVqVBKCMD0ZxhzxT68kH-xeS_Jhc91ludqKgRQHMldrPt7lYBfPmdxo5nK7PZtv2oDbLJtjGPKXCiM/s1600/20120204232726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBDgpB1rJ2U9Mg2IufeLvi7kL_UfxMGGQ3qBc58kuAUWDIxeqi-ZZWh5PcuTBOmVqVBKCMD0ZxhzxT68kH-xeS_Jhc91ludqKgRQHMldrPt7lYBfPmdxo5nK7PZtv2oDbLJtjGPKXCiM/s320/20120204232726.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you'd like for Suga to be by <i>your </i>side, feel free to check back on the blog for more updates, and check out her bio at <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22053055">http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/22053055</a> to learn how to adopt her! In the mean time, she'll be crashing at my house, and I'm pretty okay with that :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Puppy kisses,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lynn & Suga</span></div>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-23840043998177409222011-12-20T15:11:00.000-08:002011-12-21T08:10:34.052-08:00A Shining Star and a Bowl of Froot Loops<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Last week I took on my final foster of 2011. Loopy, a Rottweiler mix with the disposition of a baby fawn, will help round out the new year (and maybe get adopted before then?). Loopy came up from a shelter in Florence County, South Carolina last Saturday, and her overnight foster fell in love with her pretty much immediately. I had another dog at the time, who I expected to have longer than two days...but she went and got herself adopted. Her name was Star, and she was a shy little Rat Terrier/Chihuahua mix, who needed the company of another dog to help her gain some confidence. We picked her up on Friday, and within a day she had gone from trying to bury herself behind a pillow in a corner of the couch, to running around with Ollie, jumping off and on furniture, batting around tennis balls, squeaking squeaky toys, and tail a-wagging. She tired herself out and was pretty happy and content by the the end of her second night, as you can see below. She was a fast little bugger so the only decent shot I could get of her was when she was sleeping.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-77CaLvNZHawX1jyf8KXLlMZPtaQIfcAf6eBbUDj5yhtUydfJGjtPkJ6Gihm3PtBC2bTRiNBQA5o7_ozyd05XaD7eCgNwYq3icgMGfNMTDlmOEGENWXtj3pwX2rlHAgj1ShMbDgs0Vc/s1600/star.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-77CaLvNZHawX1jyf8KXLlMZPtaQIfcAf6eBbUDj5yhtUydfJGjtPkJ6Gihm3PtBC2bTRiNBQA5o7_ozyd05XaD7eCgNwYq3icgMGfNMTDlmOEGENWXtj3pwX2rlHAgj1ShMbDgs0Vc/s320/star.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Star, renamed Starlet by her new mom, now lives in Alexandria with two Chihuahua sisters, who hopefully will continue to help her blossom and grow into a well-adjusted dog. Her Adoption Coordinator said she was doing well when she checked in with her. Our time together was brief, but it was enjoyable. She was also to date our smallest foster dog. Ollie looked gigantic by comparison. :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, Sunday's adoption event came around and I was foster-less by the time I got there. But the day before a new transport of shelter dogs had arrived, which means of course that there were some dogs who had an overnight foster the night before, but needed a place to go come Sunday. Some of those dogs went to doggie daycare, but there was one dog who they really wanted to send to a home: Loopy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyzz5xBD4Yu4iqxRkPVGwsaagGT5Y3S8ofj9Cxld-9v-pJWzUPbJoTn-c_386cxx0Kg5Hnk2ZWmcQR53ddZF4nAj8mfa5t2DH1ByrS9ZSvdqGyQFCM48ZP0NGH65KBgWM85ZzZQfRy_U/s1600/loopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyzz5xBD4Yu4iqxRkPVGwsaagGT5Y3S8ofj9Cxld-9v-pJWzUPbJoTn-c_386cxx0Kg5Hnk2ZWmcQR53ddZF4nAj8mfa5t2DH1ByrS9ZSvdqGyQFCM48ZP0NGH65KBgWM85ZzZQfRy_U/s1600/loopy.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As you may have noticed, this beautiful young lady only has one eye. She had gone blind in her left eye due to trauma, and her eye was enlarged and causing discomfort to the point that veterinarians determined removing it would give Miss Loopy a better quality of life in the long run. This photo was taken right after she arrived to DC, and relatively recently post-op. Because there are so many dogs in doggie daycare, LDAR wanted to be sure Loopy's healing continued to progress and that too much playtime wouldn't cause her stitches to come undone. She's healing up beautifully now, and the eye area that was shaved is starting to grow in so unless you're really paying attention, you hardly notice she's only got half her vision. Loopy doesn't seem to notice at all, although she can be clumsy sometimes and bump into things, due in part to her limited peripheral vision. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Loopy, like any foster, has not been without her own set of challenges. The first night she was with me, we spent teaching her not to be afraid of stairs with lots of treats and coaxing. She now goes up and down them like a champ. Loopy is also an energetic pup who needs plenty of exercise and playtime, but some long walks through the neighborhood and having Ollie as a wrestling/chase/tug buddy has helped tend to that....she's calmed down lots since last week, and in spite of a few accidents is making strides in housetraining (having a schedule and a little consistency really goes a long way). In the last week she has learned "sit" and "down", and is very motivated by treats and praise. She adores trips to the dog park and has been complimented for her sweet demeanor, and I truly think she has no concept that she is a 54 lb dog. She prefers to think she is a lap dog, and loves to nuzzle up for snuggles and cuddles. I think she'd be brokenhearted to learn otherwise if you won't tell her, I won't. In the mean time, I'm just going to go ahead and keep letting her lay on top of Ollie when she's tired. He also apparently doesn't have the heart to tell her she's 40 lbs heavier than he is. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaQu58au5ECcqrwHU1A7m2RpDF7PDj7-5Vsz38ywR0T2zRo_acr_Fmg1SfgcB6LlKEYkfOD_qEIMSAWEA6ijesmyHJi-YAzxRU7pkPbPk7rFuljAVE-hZl3bmVMz8Xfb1L_-1KfH9ozc/s1600/Loopy+Ollie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaQu58au5ECcqrwHU1A7m2RpDF7PDj7-5Vsz38ywR0T2zRo_acr_Fmg1SfgcB6LlKEYkfOD_qEIMSAWEA6ijesmyHJi-YAzxRU7pkPbPk7rFuljAVE-hZl3bmVMz8Xfb1L_-1KfH9ozc/s320/Loopy+Ollie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She is a little bit like a toddler, and has managed to find random things on the ground she isn't supposed to have/chew, so I've needed to keep an especially close eye, and sadly have had to repair a vacuum and replace a laptop cord from failing to do that (she was just outside peripheral view when the vacuum became a casualty, and it was foolish for me to shower without crating her while leaving her unattended with the laptop plug). Ah well, lesson learned. In spite of my vacuum, she has wormed her way into my affections and those of my dad (she'll be spending Christmas with us in NJ, and is settling in just fine at foster Babchi and foster Poppy's). He's rallying hard for me to adopt her and has affectionately given her the nickname of "Love Pony" because she sort of walks like a pony and has nothing but love to give. I am rallying that there is a much better home for her than the one I can provide, and I owe it to my future fosters not to adopt her. :) In her time with us, she's also donned the nicknames of Loopy Loo, (Hang on) Sloopy, Froot Loop, and Loony Toon, just to name a few.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This most recent fostering experience has also taught me the importance of making sure I clear fosters with my husband before bringing them home. It makes it a lot easier to take in a foster when you know that the other person you live with can live with the decision. Loopy was one foster that I didn't exactly clear through Nick to ensure he was cool with it, and took home because (a) I wrongly assumed he would be, (b) there was a need, and (c)my heart is soft and I have a tough time saying no, as long as I feel I can responsibly care for a dog that needs a place to go. But this past week has taught me it's not 100% responsible when not everyone in the home wants to be part of the fostering experience Lucky Dog only adopts to families where all members are on board for the adoption, and while the fostering period is much shorter than placing a dog in a forever home, the same principle sort of applies. Though it tugs at my heartstrings every single time I get a "Foster Needed" e-mail, I get why I can't take it upon myself to try and save them all, so to speak. One piece of advice I got at foster training was "know your limits". So I think once Loopy gets into her forever home, I'll be taking a short fostering hiatus until at least 90% of the boxes of our new home are unpacked, 60% of the pictures hung on the walls, and my husband is 100% behind me. In the mean time, I'm still committed to event coordinating and application screening for Lucky Dog, and helping with PWC Dog Park Development for the betterment of saving and enriching the lives of local pups, at least for a little while. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On that note, I think my next issue will be a foster lessons learned. There sure have been a few take-aways from this past year with 1 adopted Lucky Dog, 5 full time fosters, 2 overnight fosters, and 7 dogs that I had AC'd having my support in getting adopted (possibly 8 by the end of next week!). So, stay tuned. Without fail though, my biggest take-away is this has been one of the most fulfilling volunteer experiences I've ever had. And playing a small part in getting the 1,319 dogs of 2011 rescued somehow makes me feel a pretty big sense of purpose.</span></div>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-60236564048741914812011-12-06T13:35:00.000-08:002011-12-06T13:37:16.842-08:00Happy Tails Tale (aka post-Thanksgiving Update from Sabrina's new home)Below is a note from Sabrina's new mom, including some pictures of the cutie with her canine sibling, Skittles. Rescue can sometimes have it's stressful moments, or your moments of wondering if you have failed somehow along the way. These are the notes that make fostering and rescue so totally worth it.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>We had family in town for the long weekend. Everyone loved Sabrina, and Sabrina loved everyone right back! </em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthEIfnWXiw76vTSuU8P4TKKzcvds6HXH3oXbzUbLyEf640O3TpGYuMtGGoQ3hai15D36X5Tu_-ZnLM9Ryz5_4SWQ5pa0TPFhaoQA4CM4XzPhuzLgoeMSgRqxl2OoUW66JaCG4bW7nzZo/s1600/Sabrina+adopted+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthEIfnWXiw76vTSuU8P4TKKzcvds6HXH3oXbzUbLyEf640O3TpGYuMtGGoQ3hai15D36X5Tu_-ZnLM9Ryz5_4SWQ5pa0TPFhaoQA4CM4XzPhuzLgoeMSgRqxl2OoUW66JaCG4bW7nzZo/s200/Sabrina+adopted+1.jpg" width="200" /></a><em>We have been working with her while on walks not to "walk" us, and she is improving. She does seem to try to take over new walkers, as family members wanted the opportunity to hold the leash, but she quickly got the hang of each new person. It was quite a pain at first trying to get her to go into her kennel for the day, but since she has realized that she will get a treat if she does it on her own, we haven't had too many issues. She actually likes going into Skittles' kennel with her, even though she has her own! They are very affectionate towards each other, very cuddly and playful. We've also been working on sit and stay while we prepare her meals, and she has started to get the hang of waiting until we say she can eat. She now waits patiently like a little angel. </em></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0O9WaF0ANmqSxzn83-uve6L9AV_n4SawhWIiHkbUn_Q7IAudl_aPmllBQLPpsU8OYVOzllVi3Y6YLiImrJwx6O2PIVFXXg5YeVEzwLgpjeutL4JyFe9hyKjwAUZ9huW9mq7SJKjq_Wg/s1600/Sabrina+adopted+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp0O9WaF0ANmqSxzn83-uve6L9AV_n4SawhWIiHkbUn_Q7IAudl_aPmllBQLPpsU8OYVOzllVi3Y6YLiImrJwx6O2PIVFXXg5YeVEzwLgpjeutL4JyFe9hyKjwAUZ9huW9mq7SJKjq_Wg/s200/Sabrina+adopted+3.jpg" width="200" /></a><em></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Overall our first week and a half has been wonderful. She remains very loving and always wants to be on one of our laps. Luckily, she has been very gentle and patient with the baby, so that is a blessing.</em></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>I've attached some pictures of Sabrina and Skittles cuddling. They are very cute together. I'm pretty bad at remembering to take pictures, but I will try my hardest to periodically update you with any I have taken!</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>I hope you guys had a great Thanksgiving and thank you for the continued support!</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Caitlin</em></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbyfaxzbUvlQxo6-5WepEyNPulmSxupcQO_yOvmv6SLLbY8T2zPnRmbG-flKcZ4ZgLbP46TE6Agq7DX9e2QhsbZDtEYy1cus_KO6xIrgp91kGOfzq14pNNQEiCkuryYg-3T6KDWIof34/s1600/Sabrina+adopted+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbyfaxzbUvlQxo6-5WepEyNPulmSxupcQO_yOvmv6SLLbY8T2zPnRmbG-flKcZ4ZgLbP46TE6Agq7DX9e2QhsbZDtEYy1cus_KO6xIrgp91kGOfzq14pNNQEiCkuryYg-3T6KDWIof34/s200/Sabrina+adopted+2.jpg" width="119" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-21732538778665526962011-11-23T13:34:00.001-08:002011-11-23T13:34:22.487-08:00Sabrina Goes Home<div><p>This update comes a few days after the fact (mostly because I was a little sad about it) but this Sunday Sabrina found her forever family. She and I headed out to Sunday's adoption event at White Flint Petsmart, admittedly a drive I wasn't amped about making because it's on the other side of the DC Metro map. But Beana and I decided to make it worth our while by picking up some of her fellow Lucky Dog pals along the way: Captain, Trina, and Bo Bo. Driving 4 dogs is adventurous but we had a good time. The dogs ate Milkbones and co-existed peacefully, which means it was a good drive for me. My hope was at least 25% of my car load would be adopted (50% of it did), my expectation was not that I would be arriving with Sabrina and leaving without her.</p>
<p>While screening a potential adopter for Bo Bo (an adorable, tiny terrier mix still looking for a home), someone came up to me saying a family was interested in Sabrina. I got super excited, then almost immediately wanted to cry. But when I headed over to meet the family, I knew almost right away that if I could have hand picked them, I would. Nice young couple with a second dog named Skittles, who could have easily been confused as Sabrina's biological sister, and a baby girl about 4.5 months old. Who will soon enough grow into a great playmate. It didn't take long for this family to earn my stamp of approval, and they had passed all the other tests to adopt. And Sabrina had immediately won them over.</p>
<p>After checking in the first night, Sabrina was getting along great playing with her canine sibling, and being very gentle with the baby two-legged sister. Her new mom commented on what an incredible cuddler she is (but I knew that already) and are so happy to have her. And I couldn't be happier that she has a family that is going to love her and look forward to a long life ahead with Sweet Sabrina, starting with this Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for the mark she left on my heart, and that she has a wonderful new family to make a mark on theirs.</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZcj5AHOLBAZPELBfd3KqpjnPSy8J7XhVcIw5VEBMZbmd90n9zUkWOWy8qsaV58WlngurHXjL9HIm0au6OR_2mRRkV7f1HZ_b76y8RoYtVjyu2YKumQD5gbPbB3Cd96rEEFo-l26wIGw/' /></div>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-72877114980268140002011-11-14T13:43:00.000-08:002011-11-14T14:25:14.100-08:00November News: Adoption Announcements and My New Fall Foster Follies<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well friends, November is in full force for </span><a href="http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lucky Dog Animal Rescue</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. Between the last two weekends over 60 dogs were adopted out to new homes, and among them were two that I was AC-ing: Jethro and Rugby! Admittedly I felt less a part of Jethro's adoption because he found his furever family via our </span><a href="http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/adopt/lucky-dog-matchmaking"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lucky Dog Matchmaking Team</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">, who works with adopters who don't quite have one particular dog in mind to place them with a pup they (and the adopter) deem a perfect match. I did, however, get to meet Jethro's adopters the day of his adoption amid my event coordinating responsibilities, and they were really nice and had two teenage boys perfect for helping him get his much needed border collie exercise!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BD7g6QlxX46UBLSEQIyJTykX0FjQPedU4CzQNx3EcnKR0USGFb264o5TCbsH8Bpo4iW8ArEP__4gXGjlfvdlvKGftk484lqK-NEtYlV30qeO6fPKXp8ZjuXeimQAN9p2Nu1MdrVmraA/s1600/Jet+adopted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4BD7g6QlxX46UBLSEQIyJTykX0FjQPedU4CzQNx3EcnKR0USGFb264o5TCbsH8Bpo4iW8ArEP__4gXGjlfvdlvKGftk484lqK-NEtYlV30qeO6fPKXp8ZjuXeimQAN9p2Nu1MdrVmraA/s200/Jet+adopted.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The other happy bit of Jethro's adoption at this event: it introduced me to another pre-approved couple, looking for a smart, active, medium sized dog they could take running 2-6 miles daily. They had stated interest in meeting Jethro just before the event, however they could not attend the adoption event where Jethro went home for good with his adoptive family and missed out on him. Feeling sad that they had missed out on Jethro, I got in touch with their Matchmaking Coordinator and asked if I could help in any way. She happily asked for some recommendations, and I threw some her way.<strong> #1 being my boy Rugby, who inexplicably didn't have any serious applications in on him, and #2 being Pongo, the golden/lab mix that I have secretly admired for his good looks since starting with Lucky Dog (even though he was a little bigger than the 30-50 lb weight range they were looking for).</strong> </span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTMFXzdk-WazN4Gy73j0RLwOZAY0kOjgURJyJlyk5FXLlNhDPAKWchH1Q-FCuWbu77Oz6FfrgI97AA6InOkC8MR_lwhyphenhyphenDV4a9x_KSMu6ehQSYf1JoqyGTqg0dqdmied7ADS3uZks2szQ/s1600/Pongo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTMFXzdk-WazN4Gy73j0RLwOZAY0kOjgURJyJlyk5FXLlNhDPAKWchH1Q-FCuWbu77Oz6FfrgI97AA6InOkC8MR_lwhyphenhyphenDV4a9x_KSMu6ehQSYf1JoqyGTqg0dqdmied7ADS3uZks2szQ/s1600/Pongo.jpg" /></a></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Pongo is one of those dogs who came to Lucky Dog nearly a full year ago, but following the holiday season couldn't seem to get a foster placement. He stayed in doggie daycare for a long time, and I had vowed to take him on as foster once we moved to our new place and get him to be my marathon training buddy. Thankfully for Pongo though, he didn't have to wait that long before he got a full time foster, and found his temporary home with an endurance sports enthusiast who was willing to run many miles with him, and help him grow into a well adjusted young adult. He even posted a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SN2CQtdvP3c&feature=share">video</a> of Pongo's progress, and we Lucky Doggers were just so proud!</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So, back to Jethro's would-be adopters. I got an email from their AC on Thursday night stating they wanted to meet Rugby. Which would be awesome news if not for the fact someone had literally contacted me hours before about setting up a meeting on Saturday with him and his foster mom and those wheels were already in motion (turns out Rugby got popular all of a suddden). I told her that if the meeting didn't go well, I'd contact them immediately about Rugby. The meeting went well, and Rugby's new parents emailed me to tell me they wanted to bring him into their family. I felt so happy for Rugby, but so sad that this couple had missed out on another dog (and that the dog they missed out on was another one of mine). <strong>Speaking of, Rugby is doing AWESOME in his new home and had a great first night, other than the fact that he is now officially a Redskins fan amid a 5-game losing streak. Below is a picture of Rugby and his dad watching the 5th of said losses yesterday. In any case, he looks pretty comfy. :)</strong></span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqR5VJoU3zWAPR3yTHXFAg40A9Yt_Ab7qwKZRoZDgNP-p1tVoHf4X0SF-p_wBz_3LzUDIf2V__ptIMUkhf_zkRTKzGBs4620DhYAsmPVJ7rUUSEs-FtFXeEL8tvxapeexKG8iGaTrXcQ/s1600/rugby+adopted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqR5VJoU3zWAPR3yTHXFAg40A9Yt_Ab7qwKZRoZDgNP-p1tVoHf4X0SF-p_wBz_3LzUDIf2V__ptIMUkhf_zkRTKzGBs4620DhYAsmPVJ7rUUSEs-FtFXeEL8tvxapeexKG8iGaTrXcQ/s320/rugby+adopted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">HOWEVER, imagine my surprise and elation when I was leaving Sunday's adoption event and was informed that Pongo had the second half of a couple coming to meet him, interested in adopting him. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>About an hour later, we volunteers got an email that Pongo got adopted! And, I learned later, by the couple who had come to meet Jethro and then wanted to adopt Rugby!!!!</strong> All the dogs they missed out on, I have to believe, was designed for the very perfect and lucky reason that Pongo was fated to be their lucky dog. And I think I speak for many of the Lucky Doggers who have been around for most or all of the length of time Pongo has when we say our fingers are triple crossed for a long happy furever family life for him and his new puppy parents ready to embrace his active lifestyle!</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong>In other news, I am back to full time fostering for the first time since May. And my goodness, I have fallen in puppy love with her.</strong> Her name is <a href="http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21218324?rvp=1">Sabrina</a>, and she is an absolute doll baby who was abandoned by her owners in South Carolina before coming over to Lucky Dog. Sabrina loves other dogs and kids (loves to give them kisses) and loves to be near her people. She may also enjoy belly rubs more than any other dog I have seen. She sees you coming and flips over to mooch one! She's a total snuggle buddy and love bug, and really enjoys playing with other dogs at the dog park (though sometimes gets a wee bit afraid of the ones who are bigger than her). We're working on the leash, and she does by and large very well. But sometimes, only sometimes, when she doesn't feel like walking in a particular direction, she will flop herself down on the side walk and protest forward locomotion, which always presents a fun challenge in re-motivating her to walk again. She's doing very well with her house training and has already mastered the commands of "sit" and "down". She doesn't really discriminate against any toy, but she does like to take them apart if she can, chew off their tennis ball fuzz, or seek and destroy their squeaker. She and Ollie are getting along well as foster siblings (though there is an occasional disagreement over toy sharing) and I'd be lying if I said moments like this didn't make me want to cave to becoming a failed foster:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9g6GNGKVmwN0KuWXTcOcu2bH_pzi_4C_IJsRhiJYsR0hWT9AQZAMfOrYFeLa8SE9IB6o3BCb_YNgJX5Rt2hy1TimFPE1qzQz9tBNnJ1jdpgJnjZ9r4DsT3pzRivB6RpA5_GOHsWXygE/s1600/sabrina+olliw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9g6GNGKVmwN0KuWXTcOcu2bH_pzi_4C_IJsRhiJYsR0hWT9AQZAMfOrYFeLa8SE9IB6o3BCb_YNgJX5Rt2hy1TimFPE1qzQz9tBNnJ1jdpgJnjZ9r4DsT3pzRivB6RpA5_GOHsWXygE/s320/sabrina+olliw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sabrina received some interest at yesterday's adoption event and with any luck, we may be able to get her adopted soon. But for the first time, I find myself faced with the dilemmia of screening applications for a dog I am fostering. And all of a sudden, I can't help but wonder if even a seemingly great adopter is a great adopter <em>for Sabrina</em>. And in my quest to find her a "perfect" home, am I depriving her of a potentially great life in a great home that may not have been what I imagined as perfect? I love the fact that I am able to know so much more about a dog I am working to get adopted by fostering her as well, but I wonder if it keeps me from being pragmatic (and allows me to be perhaps too emotionally invested) in finding her a furever home. I want so badly for her to get adopted, but I also want so badly to not screw it up. But in the mean time, I guess I'll just have to enjoy the moments I have and believe that like with Pongo and Rugby this weekend, the lucky stars will align to help me lead Sabrina to her perfect permanent puppy family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Puppy kisses and belly rubs,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Lynn and Sabrina</span><br />
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</div>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-20277175676734915702011-10-27T11:47:00.000-07:002011-10-27T15:20:03.316-07:00Update on Rugby: Life is Good<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">...life in a foster home that is!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgxhycKk0eFmIUkaNzhB6NmwV0jJdwhKum2lwOZ8bZuuK21KPU9H7PijYrKUSIBpYLWvgC-Txe3h4BAeP2TUqLd6X3ItIsiUTMIxPVcbLo_PDUOnXoHvdbCXqic7P3h6AnVeqqee_mws/s1600/Rugby2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgxhycKk0eFmIUkaNzhB6NmwV0jJdwhKum2lwOZ8bZuuK21KPU9H7PijYrKUSIBpYLWvgC-Txe3h4BAeP2TUqLd6X3ItIsiUTMIxPVcbLo_PDUOnXoHvdbCXqic7P3h6AnVeqqee_mws/s320/Rugby2.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rugby's foster mom (and fellow Lucky Dog Adoption Coordinator) Iris, has sent an update on how our boy is doing. Iris took Rugby on as a foster on Monday night, after a slightly stressful experience in doggy daycare when he first came to DC. For those of you who may be wondering, Lucky Dog has some <em>excellent</em> cage-free boarding partners that we work with, and who are gracious enough to host our dogs when they don't have a foster who can take them. Many do great and love daycare, but for some dogs it's a wee bit much. Rugby was one such dog, so when we realized this we knew that it was essential to get him into a foster home. <strong>Big thank you</strong> to Iris for swooping in to take Rugby, whose previous foster was adopted the day before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So our scruffy young boy with super soft ears is learning lots (and loving life) during his time out of the shelter and in a real home. He has been learning how to walk like a gentleman on the leash at the side of his foster mom, which she says an easy walk harness has really helped a lot with. We have found that he will need a yard to run around in or an active family to exercise him daily, but his foster mom reports after coming back from a run he is ready to take a snooze on the couch!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rugby still maintains some energetic, playful, goofball puppy tendencies and will need his future parents to help him with his manners, as he does jump when excited (especially when he knows he's going on his walk!) and can be a little mouthy in play. However, he is very food motivated and his foster mom is teaching him what "no/stop" means. She has reported that he is a GREAT dog who will become an AMAZING dog with a little positive training!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rugby is very friendly to new people when he meets them, and loves to be where his foster mom is and will follow her where she goes. That doesn't mean he needs your full attention all the time though, he just wants to stay close by! He also loves squeaky toys (and trying to get the squeaker out of them), and this friendly boy has been trying to make friends with his resident canine foster sibling. Rugby's foster sister is not always interested in playing or snuggling as much as he is, so when she says she's not in the mood to share her chair with him, he will listen and respect her space. We would also like to note that Rugby's foster sibling is 9 lbs, but that doesn't bother him one bit. We feel he would be a great, sweet canine brother to a dog closer to his size of 40 lbs or a smaller dog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Like most shelter dogs, Rugby may need a refresher on housetraining. He is doing well with crate training in his foster home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The adoption fee for this dog is $300, which includes the cost of routine vetting, including vaccinations and spay/neuter. If you are interested in adopting, please download our</span><a href="http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/lucky_dog_animal_rescue_adoption_questionnaire.doc" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Adoption Questionnaire</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and email it to Lynn at <strong>lynnh@luckydoganimalrescue.org</strong>!</span>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-65411407314430513592011-10-25T15:50:00.000-07:002011-10-25T15:54:34.134-07:00There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well, we closed on our new place last night and Nick and I are officially home owners. We celebrated with a visit to the new place (the Greenie that Ollie left on the stairs during the walk through was thankfully still there) and per his mom's suggestion, a bag of M&Ms (which Ollie asked us to share, we told him no for his own good). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So moving date is Saturday for us, and as we settle into our new home sweet home, there are lots of Lucky Dogs coming up to DC and looking for theirs. A few I would like to highlight:</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><em><u>Rugby is here and looking for his home!</u></em></span></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtiXv_QwyeyBV9WF3aP7GPHhBLZEiDQqrgxVmiZ-KJhobUZWF35EOwZrP1IByzffuk1KOEwlNLH9MjbICl9aaixoV8RqEv79gDbSxtDPj3nxsqRe_WwmfVuPo0H55F3h82Q-qf0iV8WU/s1600/Rugby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtiXv_QwyeyBV9WF3aP7GPHhBLZEiDQqrgxVmiZ-KJhobUZWF35EOwZrP1IByzffuk1KOEwlNLH9MjbICl9aaixoV8RqEv79gDbSxtDPj3nxsqRe_WwmfVuPo0H55F3h82Q-qf0iV8WU/s1600/Rugby.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Scruff face cutie pie Rugby arrived to the DC area on Saturday, and according to his overnight foster was absolutely wonderful. This playful pup loves everyone he meets and also loves to snuggle. He also played very nicely with his overnight foster sibling on day one and was very happy to show himself off at Lucky Dog's adoption event the next day. He's currently in foster care and is accepting applications for his new forever family! How could you possibly not want to have this face greeting you when you come home from work?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Rugby will be at Annandale Petco this Sunday from 12-2pm(located at 7434 Little River Turnpike Annandale, VA). So come on by to meet him! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;"><em>And Arriving Next Week: Jethro and Sabrina!</em></span></u></strong> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iSRQQ08UVAPxzsOkeaNaMdicq2DcInwW9DFOrn0yMqAk_L6jNer2vx8igkUkBKdPOr8uACs3j5fWDadWS-Rej7GH-kDUP-hFAQfxaiLQ-LiPx4weCrblRLtgotqjLbQB4WD9FkgBr6k/s1600/Jethro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iSRQQ08UVAPxzsOkeaNaMdicq2DcInwW9DFOrn0yMqAk_L6jNer2vx8igkUkBKdPOr8uACs3j5fWDadWS-Rej7GH-kDUP-hFAQfxaiLQ-LiPx4weCrblRLtgotqjLbQB4WD9FkgBr6k/s320/Jethro.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Um...hello? Just look at those beautiful markings and that happy little face, do I need say any more? Jethro is a beautiful boy who we believe to be a Border Collie mix. We are absolutely in love with his beautiful markings and adorable ears. At 9 months and 45 lbs, he may still have a little growing to do, but we don't think he'll get to be more than 50-55 lbs when full grown. Jethro passed with flying colors when tested with other dogs and children, so he would love to have a canine or human sibling to play with. If you want, we can see how he does with cats too! </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Border Collies are by nature very intelligent and active dogs, so be prepared to keep this guy entertained and well exercised, as bored border collie can very easily get into trouble. With his daily dose of play time, training, and mental stimulation, Jethro will give you a lifetime of happiness. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eG2d_9UnvhEMbYhP1x-cQkb13_KoWsGNZppG80Dn3bTZbAuiStaiCrBACFXLuSOd3oQYAmyR96-h4tkRvrU7Ixo7EPY_iWLc-v65U6LnOaev0Hwj0WhVHTYTrDMIwuVguM_KK48IVS4/s1600/Sabrina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eG2d_9UnvhEMbYhP1x-cQkb13_KoWsGNZppG80Dn3bTZbAuiStaiCrBACFXLuSOd3oQYAmyR96-h4tkRvrU7Ixo7EPY_iWLc-v65U6LnOaev0Hwj0WhVHTYTrDMIwuVguM_KK48IVS4/s320/Sabrina.jpg" width="213px" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sabrina the shepherd mix is 8 months old and has one ear that sticks straight up and the other is "dog-eared" a bit :). As you can see by her picture, she is smiling because she was just told Lucky Dog is springing her from the high-kill shelter she was in, and she's headed north next week! </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Being a young dog, Sabrina will still have some left over puppy energy and need love, positive training and daily exercise (really, ball, tug, a trip to the dog park or a nice run with her human parents will do) to help her grow into a well-adjusted adult. She in turn will impress you with her smarts and steal your </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">heart with snuggles and puppy kisses at the end of the day! Currently weighing in at 40 lbs, this beautiful blonde girl still has a little more room to grow and will probably end up weighing 50-60 lbs when she is full grown. Sabrina gets along great with other dogs and children, so would love to have a canine or human sibling to play with. We don't know how she is with cats, but can find out if you have household members of the feline variety!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Jethro and Sabrina get into town next Friday night, November 4 and will be at <a href="http://www.gooddogz.org/index.php/content/view/112/154/">Home for the Holidays</a> at Reston Town Center on November 5 from 11am-4pm, where I feel confident that their beautiful faces will get adopted. If you would like to get approved to adopt them before the folks at Reston Town Center get to see them, fill out an adoption application on <a href="http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/adopt/adoption-process">this page</a> and email it to me at <a href="mailto:lynnh@luckydoganimalrescue.org">lynnh@luckydoganimalrescue.org</a> so we can get you on your way! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In other happy tails reading, Brownie, our adorable 1-year old pit bull mix, was featured as Dogtipper.com's <a href="http://www.dogtipper.com/dog-of-day/2011/10/adoptable-dog-of-the-day-brownie-in-washington-dc.html">Adoptable Dog of the Day</a> yesterday, and is now currently an internet celebrity getting networked to the masses! We hope this will help him get into a forever home, and we can't thank Dogtipper.com enough for offering the opportunity for rescues all over the country to get their pups featured. Check him out and stay tuned for more featured adoptables. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In the mean time, if there is someone you know interested in adopting Rugby, or fostering/adopting Sabrina and Jethro when they get to town next week, please let me know and pass along their information. Let's find these guys a home, because we all know "for the holidays you can't beat home, sweet home."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Hugs and puppy snuggles,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Lynn, Rugby, Jethro and Sabrina</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-74396867559082798762011-10-14T20:07:00.000-07:002011-10-15T09:57:18.947-07:00Barking About Buddy, Rugby, and Room to Roam!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Busy week on the Lucky Blog front friends! I made it through Adoption Coordinator (AC) Training and now have two awesome dogs to brag about and find their forever homes! Buddy and Rugby are the handsome boys I am proudly AC'ing and accepting applications for.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663553381903270098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGlWfhJUYSgwmPlx4edo1lndUngMi7uC8hPCrR3L2Cz0fhfdwmrU7JbqOsiOcETHztQPyzpprNrEC1PuWpZm0G018kwIWhdF2enGf9Hf9G8fhQjpQU6snIqVwBJEPHzPHLxfRht2AVALQ/s200/Rugby.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 200px; width: 155px;" /> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663553376455322866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3dxf6sWZzB-YH0omZuKSxEHUYi9c0k2ilBA7Pt17tiF3kCREvzO9CF4sFsMCMCgiLf7SeKWuznMgzUFbAB5d2t_bG6lYUAfrZPUkGpeSAvWGOc4HJMCPxOldG3jfWk2OOGNYvnhL9TI/s200/Buddysocute.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 200px; width: 143px;" /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Rugby<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> Buddy</span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Buddy is a super cute Chi/Beagle Mix (with maybe some pug or doxie mixed in), about 2-3 years old, and 18 lbs...out of that crazy puppy phase and the perfect size package for apartment living. He's being pulled from the shelter and arriving in DC this week. Rugby is still down in in a South Carolina Shelter and can't wait to get his new leash on life when he arrives in DC! Their bios can be viewed at <a href="http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/adopt/adoptable-dogs">http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/adopt/adoptable-dogs</a> if you would like to read a little more about them! If you or someone you know is interested in adopting Buddy or Rugby, or any of the awesome Lucky Dogs, go to <a href="http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/adopt/adoption-process">http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/adopt/adoption-process</a> to see what you need to do and to download an adoption questionnaire! </span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Also this week, my community of Prince William County held a public hearing outlining the master plan for our soon to be (we hope!) dog park, the first of its kind in Prince William County. Personally, I'm super excited about being able to drive down the street and not across county lines to exercise little Ollie and my future fosters! While this project will be supported by the Prince William County Park Authority, it will not be paid for by them and our local dog park support group and community members <b>need to raise about $12,050 </b>to get the park built. That's a lot of milkbones, so we need to create lots of awareness and make this a concerted community effort from dog-lovers in our county and elsewhere!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>You can help support the project by going to our Prince William County Dog Blog</b> (<a href="http://princewilliamcountydogs.blogspot.com/">http://princewilliamcountydogs.blogspot.com/</a>) and encouraging everyone you know to do the same. <b>Please also follow us on Twitter</b> at <a href="http://twitter.com/PWCDogs">@PWCDogs</a> and encourage others to follow us in this grassroots initiative as well! Also, if you'd like to get involved in helping us fundraise, definitely let me know!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Thanks!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Lynn</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-47044081035966090282011-10-06T18:32:00.000-07:002011-10-08T07:33:28.949-07:00Recent Updates and Blog Hopping/Home for the Holidays!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Hello Lucky Dogger Bloggers!<br /><div><br /></div><div>I know it's been awhile since my last update...the big things in life involve a wedding, a home purchase, and a whole lot of busy times at work in September. Now that that's all over (minus the home purchase, that's still a work in progress), it's time to start barking about the lucky life again! </div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIq0by3LLO6PH44fazVNYvgC4_Cqio5A4BVn0J7E3HMgBAfNrexOCo0sskV7BL1FrnNXy1IV-1YMsCP67Y7456_iMrHR2m62zpmjIahY83UDzkaO5q8A-OQWWXhH0A4qSLTjKdEWHLOo/s320/Lynn+Ollie+Nick.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660564726615262914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">How cute is the family on our wedding day?</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>In the few events I have been able to attend for Lucky Dog, I am happy to say BJ (of my last post) was adopted, along with many, many more. Yay BJ and all the Lucky Dogs! We also surpassed bringing up our 1,000th dog from our partner shelters, officially saving over 1,000 puppy lives in 2012 so far...and we aren't done yet! </div><div><br /></div><div>It seems bringing a new foster pup in will be better timed when our house isn't in boxes and getting packed up (I can't wait to be moved and invite in our first furry house guest of the new place!), so to help spread the lucky love in the mean time I've taken on a few things:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. Helping Lucky Dog get its social network groove on at Twitter. Hint: you can help with this too by following <a href="http://twitter.com/DCLuckyDog">@DCLuckyDog </a></div><div>2. Going to Adoption Coordinator Training this Sunday! AC's are the OTHER awesome volunteers that help get dogs placed into their furever homes, by screening potential adopters and making sure they are fit to "Get Lucky". Excited to learn about taking this on this weekend!</div><div>3. Helping coordinate one adoption event a month starting in October, and helping coordinate the event details for our Holiday Luck Event, which will be an awesome dinner at <a href="http://www.lincolnrestaurant-dc.com/">Lincoln Restaurant</a> on Monday, December 12. Stay tuned for details!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also supporting Iams in their goal to bring 1.5 million dogs home for the holidays, which Lucky Dog will obviously be a part of locally! Iams will be helping to promote dog adoptions with this campaign, but also donating lots of food to participating animal rescue organizations! Here's what we bloggers are doing to help:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span"><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; "><strong>How Bloggers Can Help</strong></p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; ">As we mentioned, we’re cohosting a blog hop along with our pet blogging buddies, <a href="http://conservationcubclub.com/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-decoration: none; ">The Tiniest Tiger’s Conservation Cub Club</a>, <a href="http://www.prestonspeaks.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-decoration: none; ">Preston Speaks</a>, <a href="http://petblogsunited.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-decoration: none; ">Pet Blogs United</a>, <a href="http://www.fidoseofreality.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-decoration: none; ">Fidose of Reality</a>, <a href="http://petnewsandviews.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-decoration: none; ">Pet News and Views</a>, and<a href="http://petsweekly.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-decoration: none; ">PetsWeekly</a>.</p><p style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; ">You can show your support by joining the Iams Home 4 the Holidays Blogging 4 Bowls Blog Hop…and for every blog that joins the hop through October 10, another 100 bowls of food will be donated! Here’s how to join:</p><ul style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; list-style-type: square; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; "><li style="list-style-type: square; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 20px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Write a post on your blog to show your added support for the Blogging 4 Bowls Blog Hop and link up your blog name and URL using the Linky Tool below (where it says “Click Here To Enter”). You only need to add your link once to be seen on all the Blogging 4 Bowls Blog Hop Linky Tools.</li></ul><ul style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; list-style-type: square; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; "><li style="list-style-type: square; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 20px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Grab the linky code and add it to your post so everyone can hop around and make new friends. (Just click the “Get the Code Here” link to obtain the code.)</li></ul><ul style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; list-style-type: square; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; "><li style="list-style-type: square; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 20px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Stop by the other blog hop co-hosts–<a href="http://conservationcubclub.com/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-decoration: none; ">The Tiniest Tiger’s Conservation Cub Club</a>, <a href="http://www.prestonspeaks.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-decoration: none; ">Preston Speaks</a>, <a href="http://petblogsunited.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-decoration: none; ">Pet Blogs United</a>, <a href="http://www.fidoseofreality.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-decoration: none; ">Fidose of Reality</a>, <a href="http://petnewsandviews.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-decoration: none; ">Pet News and Views</a>, and <a href="http://petsweekly.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-decoration: none; ">PetsWeekly</a>–to say hello.</li></ul><ul style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; font-style: italic; list-style-type: square; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; padding-left: 0px; "><li style="list-style-type: square; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 20px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">Visit other blogs that are supporting the Blogging 4 Bowls Blog Hop. Make new friends and/or reconnect with old friends!</li></ul><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; ">For more information about this cool campaign, blog hop over to <a href="http://www.dogtipper.com/blog/2011/10/iams-home-4-the-holidays-hopes-to-adopt-1-5-million-pets.html">Dog Tipper</a> and get the scoop, and blog hop over to some of the other cool animal blogs out there as well.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; "></div></span></span></div></div>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-24769432278675492642011-07-15T12:18:00.000-07:002011-07-15T15:05:42.837-07:00Wedding Bells and Puppy Plugs<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Well friends, it's been awhile since I have blogged about a dog because I have not had a full time foster since Lily got adopted in late May. Things have been pretty quiet in this foster mom's house, because I promised my soon to be husband no more foster pups until after our wedding, which is officially a mere 4 weeks away. I had hoped to be more diligent about posting information about some of the dogs that are in boarding but sadly have been a bad blogger. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Well no more! I am hoping to highlight some of these amazing pups and tell you all about them.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">These dogs are in unique situations, because they do not have a foster home, so while they have been pulled from a high kill shelter, they are in Doggie Day Care with one of Lucky Dog's boarding partners. Day Care is fun and all, but having a house to go to at the end of the day would be way better. So we are not only trying to find them a forever home, but someone to keep them in foster care so they can grow and develop in a home setting! So, in learning about them, maybe <em>you</em> would want to consider fostering them or know of someone who can give them a temporary place to hang out, or even better, a forever home! So without further ado, meet BJ!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;"><strong><u>B.J. the Big Goofy Furry Ball of Love!</u></strong></span><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">I'm BJ, and I would LOVE to ride home with YOU!</span></em><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 239px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629696797147777410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcrpiAiGwCYaI0fNPhe1TbmZNUJIMX5hnJF8d9pTl3yDAq3DDAjlgtWsRRttTFGwQIRXVsngTQWqfxe-ijn6a5zgOIAJ6QdGKbCHTjRVq-L5d8udEQsmqgBvOOdwHMmOsooUS6RlqLps/s320/BJ.jpg" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><br />Two weeks ago at an adoption event, I got to hang out a little with BJ, who is a Bulldog/Lab mix and a totally sweet, funny, goofy dog. BJ definitely has been through a bit, having been pulled from a shelter and going through treatment for heartworm, but you wouldn't know it by his happy disposition. BJ is the type of dog I would readily take in as a foster and go for long runs with, although he is a little picky about his canine friends so Lucky Dog recommends he be an only 4-legged child. However, he LOVES two-legged children, so if you have any of those BJ would get along great with them.</span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">Also, the trainer who has been working with BJ loves him so much, that she is offering his adopter a FREE professional obedience course. Anyone who knows about doggie school knows that training is NOT cheap, so knowing you'll be able to get BJ some great schooling is just an added bonus to the love and hugs and puppy kisses he will give you even without the obedience training!</span><br /></p><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;">To learn more about BJ, go to <a href="http://www.adoptapet.com/pet5243936.html">www.adoptapet.com/pet5243936.html</a> or see his blog posting (yep, he wrote it himself) at <a href="http://luckydogsbarkout.blogspot.com/2011/06/im-frat-boy-bj.html">http://luckydogsbarkout.blogspot.com/2011/06/im-frat-boy-bj.html</a>. And if you'd like to give him a foster home and are in the DC Area, he sure would love one! Go to <a href="http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/volunteer/foster">http://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/volunteer/foster</a> to tell the nice volunteers from LDAR that you hears what an awesome dog BJ was from my blog and you would LOVE to have him crash at your place, and they will help you get started! </span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629699666848578514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNZUsHBKCWr5hV_-J0fyj7Xrpi8GfvBckHGw3yV-cfNhSgX6DtlB2_7WfhmuZkeqCloz-iSVmUTonRYW4ubNF3YCjHkAcXLp2rz_mwiPlce9q8L93zDqWNu9tkAImfIsn8gvuN3VB598/s320/BJ2.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Puppy Kisses, Paw Shakes, Snuffles and Snuggles,<br />Lynn & BJ</span> </p>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5438861991165333912.post-31607055989270108492011-05-11T21:11:00.001-07:002011-05-16T09:57:15.994-07:00Nina, Wiley, Lily, and my 2 Week Streak.<span style="font-family: arial;">So becoming a foster mom was something I had pondered for some time, but seemed to be held back by. I was interested, curious, and thought it would do my little JRT bundle of energy some good to socialize with other dogs and perhaps have an every so often puppy playmate to burn off energy with. But I wouldn't even say I had 100% committed in my head to being a foster mom when I ended up with Nina, our first foster dog. While my head wasn't 100% committed, my heart made up for it when I saw this little black and white beagle at a Lucky Dog adoption event in Georgetown, who had just come up a day earlier from the same shelter Ollie hailed from. I was casually inquiring as to whether another dog had a foster, which, to make a long story short, ended with Mirah, the director of LDAR, asking if I could take Nina, who desperately needed a foster to keep her from being in boarding with a case of kennel cough. "No" just wasn't an answer I could find justifiable cause to utter.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAu5BRLf_yiAWl9RyRKd6pFB8I-3CUu1MaAXKiHrz-m4PXw3JU6hBU_f8jTVkQ72rkSk_xqWWci_8kwQ2z6bfV_kGrcFhyBIR7AkZlb6Ir8GmhXtOF6kZzXWHCPeKssbJsEt4xZJlv2w/s1600/Nina+off+transport.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAu5BRLf_yiAWl9RyRKd6pFB8I-3CUu1MaAXKiHrz-m4PXw3JU6hBU_f8jTVkQ72rkSk_xqWWci_8kwQ2z6bfV_kGrcFhyBIR7AkZlb6Ir8GmhXtOF6kZzXWHCPeKssbJsEt4xZJlv2w/s320/Nina+off+transport.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607086055985650930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Nina's arrival to DC</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Next thing I knew I was signing a foster contract and being awarded a crate and a small dog who was so weak that she couldn't walk on a leash and needed to be carried. And a part of me was wondering what I had gotten myself into (and how much trouble I was going to be in with Nick, who my impulse control neglected to confer with), but a bigger part of me seemed to know this was something that needed to be done. There was really no question about it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Nina was pretty much terrified and wouldn't move from my lap when we first arrived home and I sat on the back deck with her. Tired and seeming so incredibly sad, it broke my heart. Oh, and as a side note, Nick was pretty annoyed but eventually forgave me. Then Ollie, apparently just about every dog's best friend, came out into the back yard to see what was going on. Immediately, almost magically, Nina perked up and immediately began walking and sniffing with a new sense of inquisitive excitement. A weight was lifted off my shoulders and I thought this wasn't going to be so bad.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IhNJFHUfuU7NsezKNT1nZQRjgrGXGchiL5aoFGtiiiDcp-O_RO3EZCabTYpI0pTVIMR2TCma5DpUYVlztv6TP7iM2eL_JhWajtL-AhsyG9eP302nASQqUbgkl9AHtxYcMh382JsV7Vo/s1600/Nina+Ollie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IhNJFHUfuU7NsezKNT1nZQRjgrGXGchiL5aoFGtiiiDcp-O_RO3EZCabTYpI0pTVIMR2TCma5DpUYVlztv6TP7iM2eL_JhWajtL-AhsyG9eP302nASQqUbgkl9AHtxYcMh382JsV7Vo/s320/Nina+Ollie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607086649850480018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Nina meets Ollie</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Having Ollie around really helped Nina build her confidence, and it wasn't long before she started developing a fun little personality. Other than one sleepless night (this ended up being the night when we resolved her crate needed to be moved from the office to the bedroom) and some challenges in potty-training (also not completely abnormal) she was a lovable little ball of fur, and after only one week Nick and I started having talks of missing her when she was gone, and after only one dog seemed headed toward the road of failed fosterhood. This is what Lucky Dog calls their fosters who end up adopting their temporary house guests.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunD7-9pOExvzmoD5SeMUq0PPXkQ3x1SW_hxfQULcYq1gZw9mtbRKhK2JUV8Y_F6mgymm4Bcjvf_PWeeSK3yTrayRgIRn-_zt1I0rftFd831ZO3ceGxKc4mgAudb7vSQZW3YbWZoegue4/s1600/Nina.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunD7-9pOExvzmoD5SeMUq0PPXkQ3x1SW_hxfQULcYq1gZw9mtbRKhK2JUV8Y_F6mgymm4Bcjvf_PWeeSK3yTrayRgIRn-_zt1I0rftFd831ZO3ceGxKc4mgAudb7vSQZW3YbWZoegue4/s320/Nina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607090627897787778" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Nina at an adoption event after her first week with us.</span><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Fortunately, another young couple prevented us from becoming failed fosters when they got approved to adopt her. We only had Nina for about 10 days when we sent her to a sleepover with her AC, Vernisha before going to NJ for the weekend. I pretty much knew she would be going to her new home before we got back and that would be my last time seeing her. I didn't expect to get attached, but found myself sobbing in the car after I dropped her off. I was going to miss the little drama queen, who howled at me every day I came home from work and opened her crate. I think it was because she was our first. And while challenging, it was remarkably rewarding. To help get her healthy, happy, and into her new home was absolutely awesome. This was definitely a volunteer experience I wanted to have again.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3f5m1C0OSPec6xwz4DAI-zo-fWIQFGQ6-fqThkmax7tBWcAW6BY43Ai0OiJaIPvvbVcfdJVf2mNp7uj_gwdCiNVHaHhSHMk2ItcE7fI-P0ci-8CDpHRQDiYAZCEjkc2WOCpMlAA0hlM/s1600/Wiley+Transport.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3f5m1C0OSPec6xwz4DAI-zo-fWIQFGQ6-fqThkmax7tBWcAW6BY43Ai0OiJaIPvvbVcfdJVf2mNp7uj_gwdCiNVHaHhSHMk2ItcE7fI-P0ci-8CDpHRQDiYAZCEjkc2WOCpMlAA0hlM/s320/Wiley+Transport.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607348025633478706" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Wiley, right off transport, finds a happy home in my lap.</span></span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Two weeks later we picked up Wiley, who had an even shorter shelf life. I picked him up off transport on a Saturday, and brought him to an adoption event in Georgetown the next day. Here, he made a lot of fans and got an adoption application, which was screened and approved by Wednesday...and on Friday I was bringing Wiley, renamed Winston by his adopters, to a beautiful new house in Northwest DC.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I joked to Vernisha, the AC for both Wiley and Nina, that my fosters must not want to hang out with me and feigned hurt feelings, but in reality I couldn't be happier when these dogs find their forever homes. While we can't save them all, every dog that makes it out of foster care or boarding and into a permanent home means one more dog from the shelters LDAR rescues from has a shot. Just in 2011, when my life got lucky with Ollie, they have rescued over 500 dogs from euthanasia in a shelter, which in my mind is a pretty big deal.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj446l3O36uo_CVrB9owwKnwrIG9QUgPYQwMD3Z9uYwaIl-ovrcfIFLDsuhqLBPe-tyHqlSQ_SOIAbsCMkPosmlui2mg5BEq-ojOOY0BKWpIKjVqfwQXkEvUk1_hIu1b8aqNEsBoq58EyE/s1600/Lily.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj446l3O36uo_CVrB9owwKnwrIG9QUgPYQwMD3Z9uYwaIl-ovrcfIFLDsuhqLBPe-tyHqlSQ_SOIAbsCMkPosmlui2mg5BEq-ojOOY0BKWpIKjVqfwQXkEvUk1_hIu1b8aqNEsBoq58EyE/s320/Lily.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607355107732563202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Lily makes foster #3<br /><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">After taking a few weeks off full time fostering because of weekend travel prohibiting me from attending adoption events, Lucky Dog had a massive transport for their Pet Fiesta weekend, which had Lily on it. Lily is an 8 month old, 46 lb Shepherd mix. Truth be told, I thought she would be a smaller 25 lb dog when I picked her up, but her Petfinder bio was a little off. Nevertheless, I found myself wondering how she didn't get adopted immediately at the weekend's events, she was awfully cute and clearly very sweet. Bringing her home, I also learned that she was great with dogs...even if she had 30 lbs on them. As I write this entry, she and Ollie are sleeping together in her crate. Cats...well, after a few days I thought it relevant to note that she would probably be better off in a cat free environment. Meeko terrified her and she wanted to chase him away.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I know that bigger dogs tend to have a harder time finding homes in a metropolitan area full of condos, apartments and townhomes, so initially I was concerned about Lily's prospects. Until I realized how she not only had looks (I mean, come on, look at that face) and personality, but brains. She was smart. Very smart. It only took her a night to learn sit, and by the week's end she could also give paw and lay down on command. While I will never say a dog is housetrained, she knew what to do immediately when we took her outside, and has not had an accident in the house yet. She loves her crate and loves her people, and as of yesterday had 3 interested adopters, one of whom is a family in Sterling with a big house and two boys ages 11 and 14. Lily and I went there after yesterday's adoption event, and she and I both approved of the house and family. So now we're firming things up with her Adoption Coordinator, and expect she will be in her forever home within the week.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: arial;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx44gJTojGLf9UF6WqQyXGSKTlKcpI78yoc0EqJvpkfSAip2TPSi6up4aISv2aAX4cJsZA0Q72xDNSqt8u0Mdw8E8iKJWam4SiwFzkfHJOOSNTSC4YlzcTQsloifkJ5n1GVPD6KG8dB1A/s1600/Lily+White+Flint.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx44gJTojGLf9UF6WqQyXGSKTlKcpI78yoc0EqJvpkfSAip2TPSi6up4aISv2aAX4cJsZA0Q72xDNSqt8u0Mdw8E8iKJWam4SiwFzkfHJOOSNTSC4YlzcTQsloifkJ5n1GVPD6KG8dB1A/s320/Lily+White+Flint.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607355104513669666" border="0" /> </a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So I expect Lily will go into the collection of dogs that spends no more than 2 weeks with me before moving onto greener pastures, and since I have promised Nick no new fosters until after our August wedding, I'll have to redirect my attention to highlighting some longer term dogs, or those who have been in boarding with one of LDAR's doggie daycare partners.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">For those of you interested in helping a dog find a home and having a furry companion in your life, but who are maybe not ready for a long term commitment, consider becoming a foster. Or if you have a dog, like me, and want to help expand his social circle, fostering is awesome. Lucky Dog always has a need locally, but if you're out of the DC Area there are many reputable animal rescues that could use help from fosters to save more pups. Or even volunteers to help showcase the dogs at weekly adoption events. There are many opportunities to support finding some great pups their fur-ever homes, and you'll feel as warm and fuzzy as the pups you save if you take advantage of them. :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Hugs and puppy kisses,</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Lynn, Ollie and Lily</span><br /></span></span></span>Lynn Bartkowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06517353677047881711noreply@blogger.com0