Foster Journal

August 2000 Part 2: King update; Shiloh

August 18, 2000

Warren just got a call from C., the other humane society person. I guess G. is on vacation. That explains why she didn't answer my email about Shadow. Anyway, she has a different dog (not Shadow) that she wants us to take. I said okay (of course). I didn't get to talk to her so I don't really know anything about the dog other than it's a male spaniel mix, housetrained, not neutered, and out of time. It's unfortunate that she didn't call until today because I could've OK'ed it, they could've done the surgery, and we could have gotten him settled in over the weekend. Now I guess we have to wait until next week. See, they won't do the neuter until they're sure they have a foster home lined up because... well, you can figure it out. It's incredibly depressing. Especially now that I know that if I ever refuse to take a foster, it's probably not gonna make it. What are they gonna do after we move?

Warren said C. also told him that we really did save King's life. It's weird, I mean, I know that we saved all of them, but the way everybody's talking, King was absolutely out of time. Warren got the impression that if we hadn't agreed to take him right then and there, they would NOT have kept him until he got over his bordatella so they could neuter him. I guess that's why they let me take him unneutered.

You never met him, but he's such a good dog! And all it came down to was a couple of days! J and L were already interested in him before we took him but they didn't go to see him right away. They might have gone to adopt him and he would have already been gone. It really blows my mind.

August 21, 2000

We were supposed to pick up a small male spaniel mix but he was adopted.

August 22, 2000

G. called and she said she was on vacation last week and she was worried because she heard we were supposed to foster that spaniel mix, but he was adopted. So now she wants us to take Shadow. I didn't talk to her, but Warren said she was calling it "him." Before, I swear she said it was a girl. Anyhow, they had the dog at Misty Pines for a while and everybody loved him. But obviously nobody adopted him. He was tied out back for his whole life (don't know how old he is) so it's unlikely that he's housetrained or even remotely trained in any way. So it will be a challenge.

So we're picking him up tonight. And I just realized we'll have him when we go to Park in the Bark. (I mean, reverse that.) I guess he'll have to stay home. We'll see.

"whoa, here you go again! tonite, huh? wow! you're like a professional now. ;)"

I'm a little worried about this one. He's probably never even been in a house. He's scared of storms and it's supposed to rain tonight. Great. But he's really pretty and sweet. So we'll see. Hopefully he won't be able to get out of the crate like King did.

G. called back and said Shadow was adopted today! So, no new dog for me. Now I don't know what to do with my evening.

August 23, 2000

I took off work today, just because. Anyway, G. called this morning and said King was returned. Apparently he has severe separation anxiety. He got out of the crate and destroyed their house. They tried keeping him in the garage and he destroyed more stuff. He had scratches on his muzzle from trying to escape. She said she felt like the people really were trying, but they just didn't know what to do with him. So they took him back. I told her he did get out of a crate here, but he was loose all day every day with no problems. She thought that maybe he was okay when he was here because of the other dogs.

She asked if I wanted to foster him again, or if I wanted to foster Shiloh instead. I told her I'd definitely foster somebody but I didn't know who. I asked what would happen to King if I didn't take him. She said that they could put him up for adoption again and just warn people that he has separation anxiety and needs another dog for company. Warren and I discussed it and decided that there really isn't anything more we could do for King, other than to take him for a while if they were going to put him down, which they aren't (yet). Warren was not too keen on getting King back, especially if he really does have a problem that he didn't seem to have before. He has issues about a German Shepherd he had that chewed on furniture. He was talking about modifying the crate so King couldn't get out, but I would worry that he would hurt himself trying to escape. I am a sucker and I feel sort of obligated to take King back, but I think Warren would really be upset if King ended up chewing stuff and causing problems.

She said we could come and meet Shiloh, so we did. Shiloh is a husky mix female, about 2 years old, stray, and very pretty. She was found by a cop and taken to the shelter. She was sick most of the time she was there (about a month). Apparently she was in a foster home for a while but then she was returned because of her campylobacter infection. Now she's healthy. She is very skinny and super friendly. We decided to take her. Except... oops, she wasn't spayed yet because she had been sick. So we are supposed to go back tomorrow to pick her up.

I'm not holding my breath though. There was a lady there walking dogs, and she saw Shiloh and said she wanted to foster her. Apparently she had seen her before but didn't know she was still there because she was in the back. She wanted to foster her because she thought she would get along with her other dog. (?)

Anyway, I think the lady got mad at us because we didn't say, "Oh, okay, you can foster her then." I almost felt like we should do that, but they had called ME and asked ME to take the dog and I said I would. I take whichever dog they say needs a home. I don't go in and TELL them which dog I am willing to foster! So I'm kinda mad at this other volunteer for being so picky. I kinda suspect they might ask me to let this lady foster Shiloh, since they know I'll take whatever dog needs me.

So we'll probably get a new foster tomorrow or Friday, but who knows what dog it will be. I kinda hope it's Shiloh cos she's cool. Spastic, but small enough to be manageable. She reminds me a lot of Bowser, except she's a red-brown color and she has prick ears like a real husky.

I called L. (King's adopter) to try to figure out more of the story, but she said she'd call me back after she called somebody at the shelter and a dog trainer. So there's a chance they might still be willing to work on King's problem. I think maybe he needs medication (Clomicalm) and behavior modification, and in the meantime, a secure outdoor kennel, but hey, what do I know?

I'm hoping we get this little Shiloh dog instead of King again or another huge dog. It's not fair that I always get the big ones. I should let them come see my house. They probably think I live on a big farm with millions of acres.

August 24, 2000

"sorry to hear king was returned."

I really didn't know what to do when she asked if I wanted to foster him again. I kinda feel responsible for him. I don't think he should be put down. He's not incurable, I don't think. He didn't have any trouble when he was with us. But Warren will not tolerate a foster dog that might destroy stuff and I understand that and I don't want to push the issue. He's been amazingly good about all this fostering stuff.

Shiloh was spayed and we can pick her up tonight. I'll be sending pictures! She's adorable.

"and there you are, with your dogs. and keek. can't forget keek. I kinda got lost in the dog fostering story. I can't keep up."

Yep, we have three dogs now, and of course Keek. I kinda got lost in the fostering story too. It's been kinda confusing lately. We could have fostered four different dogs this week. First the spaniel that got adopted, then Shadow, who also got adopted, then King who was returned, and now Shiloh (and we don't even really understand why she's in foster cos she hasn't even been up for adoption yet). We got Shiloh.

They are doing lots of construction downtown and we couldn't go to the shelter the way we usually do, so it took forever. We got there and of course everything was hectic. Several people were adopting some little beagle/collie pups, and the one couple was upset because they found out they couldn't take their pup home until she was spayed. Somebody from Great Pyrenees Rescue was there looking at a dog that was supposed to be a purebred Pyr (I don't think it was). Some lady dropped off a little black cocker that looked absolutely terrified to be there. Warren always tries to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I think that woman had to be evil to take that poor dog to the shelter. It tried to follow her when she left and the staff person had to drag it back to the kennel.

Anyway, it was hectic and people kept asking us why we were there, and we told them, and then supposedly somebody was going to get the dog, but they never did, and we just sat and sat and sat. Finally somebody found the paperwork and gave me the rabies certificate and I filled out the fostering form. Still nobody got the dog. They came out and said they couldn't find the rabies certificate. I said it's right here, someone already gave it to me. Finally they brought Shiloh out and we left.

She peed right away when we took her out, so she seems to be housetrained. She hopped in the car and lay down most of the way home. She peed again when she got out of the car. She just wanted to sleep when we got home so that's what she did. She seems really mellow but I know it's just because of her operation (she was spayed this morning). When we met her yesterday she was kinda spastic, so I'm sure she'll be hyper in a couple days.

I took pictures but they aren't good because she wouldn't stay still. She wouldn't take treats and she doesn't seem to know any commands. She's VERY skinny. But she's so pretty. The pictures don't do her justice.

The dogs are all getting along fine, although of course Echo had to growl and get in her face and harass her. Shiloh has totally ignored Keek so far and Keek hasn't gone into hiding, so I think they'll get along fine.

I think Shiloh picked her new favorite person (and it's not me!). Right now she's on the floor next to Warren. She settled down on a pile of his dirty clothes and hasn't moved in about half an hour.

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