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  1. #1
    Puppy
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    7
    Thanked: 1

    I'm a failure...foster failure that is!

    Hi there! I can not tell you how happy I was to find this forum! Already have been doing a ton of reading and am so excited, lol. I foster for local rescues from time to time (for sugar gliders, dogs, cats, and rehab flying squirrels when needed), so when I go a call about 4 stray 12 week old pups that were found dump on the side of the interstate, we immediately said yes. I knew fostering all 4 was out of the question because we live in a townhome and already have a blind corgi mix, 3 pet sugar gliders, 4 foster sugar gliders, an almost 6 year old winter hamster, and a flying squirrel who can not be released. I agreed to temp foster all four until another foster could be found and when it was, I said yes to foster the two bonded sisters. I now know what it is like to have quadruplet toddlers running wild in my home, lol. Those were the craziest days of my life but wouldn't have changed it for anything. I must say, we had such a ball. It was during feb that they cam to me and I only had the 4 for a little over a week. The two that stayed here were the worst out of the four as far as socializing goes. Cali (the black one) was by far the more troubled one. She was scared of EVERYTHING. Taking her outside was a small victory everytime we got her to go. She wouldn't potty in the house but was so scared of the noises outside that we battle UTI's a few times from her holding "it" to long. She was hand shy, cowarded if you stood over her, panicked if voices were to loud, and would destroy her face if you tried to close her up in a crate. She loved her crate as long as you did not shut the door on her. Sadie on the other hand....BIG CLOWN! She didn't meet a stranger, was very outgoing, and was your typical puppy, lol. The vet tested them and they were found to be lab, border collie, and coon hound mix. Sadie was able to be adopted fairly early and is living happily with a family member now. I love that I still get to see her and she loves her people dearly! It was clear Cali was going to need alot more work before we could ever think of her being able to find her forever home. It took about 3 months before we could get her to willingly go outside. She was still very shy with humans but we started to see a change in her when it came to our blind old corgi gal (Bella). Bella never paid any attention to the fosters that came through the house. She has always been a loner and would put the pups or kittens in their places on the first day. With Cali however, she played with her, cleaned her, and Cali started "leading" her around. She started letting us know when Bella's blood sugar was off, or when she was going to have a bad day (Bella has diabetes). Fast forward to about 2 months ago, it was time to take Cali to an adoption event with the rescue we were working with. I woke up that day with a very heavy heart. The fur babies seem to feel it as well. Bella seemed more moody and wouldn't leave Cali's side. Cali went back to her shy scared self and wouldn't stop whinning. I do not know how they knew...but they did. When we got to the adoption event she stuck to the side of my leg like glue and whenever someone came by to pet her and ask questions my grip on the leash got a little tighter. After about a hour, I had enough. I looked over at the director and without a word she knew why. She smiled and walked over with Cali's papers. I had mixed feelings of guilt and joy. I knew adopting her meant we wouldn't be able to foster any other babies for a long period of time and the rescue was already having trouble finding approved fosters but I also knew that meant she was mine forever. When we got back home, everyone looked just as relieved as I did, lol. Fast forward to the present. Cali is the most amazing dog we have ever had. She still gets spooked at white trucks (we are thinking maybe the person that dropped them off on the road was driving one) and she still gets a little spooked when airplanes fly over but she is getting better. Her and Bella are as close as ever and she literally leads her around when they are outside (people make jokes all the time about us getting a seeing eye dog for our blind dog, lol). My 14 year old came down with food poisoning a few weeks ago, and Cali refused to leave her side even when that meant sitting by the toilet with her. I swore then we should have named her Nan!. Being from 3 nose driven breeds, our adventures outside always end up on us having a small journey several times a day, lol. But, I do not regret ever making the decision to keep her. She has completed my family in so many ways. I pity the person who abandon those pups. I have kept in contact with all the adopters and they all say the same thing as me. That they have the best dog any one could ever want. I look forward to reading more on the forum and learning new ways of making this smart girl even happier. Sorry for the long read, once I got started, I couldn't stop, lol. Here are a few pics of our journey so far!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails -10906233_10205466147563687_260307878202006924_n-jpg   -10926461_10205525573809306_7828832464063652383_n-jpg   -10906117_10205466944943621_8710590565929437654_n-jpg   -10540640_10205466134083350_1311521519689757413_n-jpg   -10922861_10205467891927295_6037577119345576253_n-jpg  


  2. #2
    Puppy
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    7
    Thanked: 1

    More of Cali

    Just a few more of Cali, lol.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails -11014987_10205849279461745_8330094867673242116_n-jpg   -11034363_10205927972389019_3658491224715979818_o-jpg   -10393171_10205568663486521_9104143972504447841_n-jpg   -10343655_10205664128553088_1031714484299346653_n-jpg  

  3. #3
    Senior Dog Blackboy98's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    St. Louis, Mo.
    Posts
    2,287
    Thanked: 1464
    Thank you for having a large, loving heart for ALL these babies, God has surely blessed you with patience and skill.

    This forum is FULL of knowledgeable people for many different animals, not just labs. Please tell us more stories and we LOVE pictures, puppies are special to us.

    Ask when you need to and share when you can.
    Hidden Content

    CRACKER-My Heart Dog FOREVER 6/10/2005-7/9/2011

    Mike and Gabe--GOTCHA 7/25/2011

  4. #4
    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    2,636
    Thanked: 1369
    Thank you for fostering those sweet babies!! Welcome to the forum!!
    Julie & Jake, Bacon's Humans

    Instagram: @mrbaconthelab


    Born: 9/02/13

    Gotcha: 11/08/13

    Hidden Content

    In memory of Lily 1/1995 - 2/2/2012

    Hidden Content


  5. #5
    Senior Dog zd262's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    1,280
    Thanked: 760
    Cuteness OVERLOAD! Thank you for opening your heart to so many animals in need.

  6. #6
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Carolina in my mind..
    Posts
    6,391
    Thanked: 4178
    The best type of failure! She sounds like a terrific girl. Welcome to you and Cali!
    Sue

    Chase 9/29/2006- 6/30/2017 Always in our hearts
    Lark 12/25/2012- 2/2/22
    Henry 7/14/18
    Joey 5/14/2022

    “Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”

    Mary Oliver, Hidden Content

  7. #7
    Senior Dog MightyThor's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Bend, Oregon
    Posts
    2,024
    Thanked: 3035
    I love her little white mittens! Welcome!
    Mighty Thor, "So Much Dog", born 1/6/2014
    And baby Barley, born 3/9/2018

    Hidden Content

  8. #8
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    SE, PA
    Posts
    4,406
    Thanked: 1992
    What a sweetie! Thank you for opening your heart and home to precious animals in need. A foster failure is the BEST type of failure!!
    Hidden Content

    Tammy
    Maxx and Emma Jean

    Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.

  9. #9
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Illinois
    Posts
    10,985
    Thanked: 6722
    Hello and Welcome!

    Thank you so much for helping those sweet puppies. They are adorable.

    You'll find so much information here and many more than willing to help with any questions.
    Hidden Content
    Kissing Bandit

  10. #10
    Senior Dog Sandra's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Ottawa
    Posts
    983
    Thanked: 518
    Welcome to the forum. Loved your story about how Cali came into your life. Bless you for rescuing.

    P.S. I had never heard of a sugar glider before -- had to use google.

 



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