There are so many reasons why I don’t foster dogs. For one, I have three of my own dogs. That is three dogs with very different personalities and tolerance levels. Another reason I don’t foster is because I don’t own my own home. . .and I have a (slightly intolerant) roommate. I’m also too busy to foster most of the time. Between dog training, dog events, and friends and family, it doesn’t leave me a lot of extra time to work with a foster dog. Having a foster dog can be very disruptive to your lifestyle, your dogs, and your home.
But with all those reasons (excuses) why I don’t foster, I still had 5 foster dogs in my home this past year. I had some very young, and some not so young. I had some very small, and some not so small. I had some very calm and some not so calm. Even with all those differences there was one thing that all those dogs had in common: they needed a place to go.
One of my jobs is to visit local animal shelters and access the dogs for intake into the HAR program. Of all the things I do, this is one of the hardest. Not only do I see the abused, sick, starving, and aggressive dogs at the shelter, I also see what these dogs could become if given a second chance. With a warm place to sleep, some good food, and a little training, many of these dogs could make great family pets. And knowing that, it is difficult to leave one of them behind just because we don’t have an open foster home.
So when I go into the shelter and I encounter one of these dogs that I just can’t leave behind, I scoop them up, give them a kiss and say “you’re coming home with me, kid.” And even though they don’t understand my words, I know by their wiggles and kisses that they understand the meaning behind them. And that makes all the “disruptions” worth it. Because, in the end, you can replace your furniture, your carpets, and your dogs (and roommates) will eventually forgive you, but you can’t replace LIFE.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Follow Us on Twitter!
The times they are a changing! Remember when we used to comunicate with hand written letters? Now we email, blog, text, and . . .TWEET!!!!!!
Twitter is a quick and easy way to find out who has been adopted and who needs a foster. If you already have a twitter account, search for us as HopalongRescue If you don't already have an account, create one! You can see updates easily on your phone or computer. But don't let your boss catch you tweeting at work!
Twitter is a quick and easy way to find out who has been adopted and who needs a foster. If you already have a twitter account, search for us as HopalongRescue If you don't already have an account, create one! You can see updates easily on your phone or computer. But don't let your boss catch you tweeting at work!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
What Can You Do With A Rescue Dog?
Dog sports have become all the rage lately. People are joining sporting groups in higher numbers then ever before. There is dock diving, for those that love the water and to fetch. Fly ball for those that love to fetch but prefer to stay on the ground. Frisbee, doggie dancing, Rally-O, agility, etc. The list goes on and on. And with so many options, it’s easier then ever to find something that both you and your dog like to do.
One of the best things about these sports is that you don’t have to have a pure bred dog to do them – or to compete. In fact, some of the best dogs for these sports are found in your local animal shelter/rescue. They are the “throw-away” dogs. The dogs that are too energetic for the family. The dogs that are “ball obsessed”. The ones that jump the fence and bother the neighbors with their barking. These are the dogs that excel at sports because they are the ones that need them most – the ones that need a job to do.
But if a drive-y Border collie mix isn’t your idea of a great companion, have no fear – you can do these sports with the couch potato types too. All you really need is good relationship with your pet and some extra time. Don’t believe me?
Meet mole: Mole is an 11 year old Chihuahua mix who started agility training earlier this year. Yes, an 11 year old Chihuahua. I had been looking for a sport to do with one of my younger dogs, and while searching, I found out that my little old man had an interest in agility obstacles. Who would have thought that I would be doing tunnels, dog walks, and teeters, with this dog? But he loves it, so we do it. But due to his age, we have to make some adjustments in order to ensure that we continue our working relationship for years to come.
Meet Mac: Mac is a 7 year old pit bull mix who enjoys dancing – but not late into the evening. Mac is a true couch potato and bed hog. He would rather be sleeping then fetching, and eating then swimming. But Mac has just the right amount of energy for the one hour class each week and 15 minutes of training most nights. And Fred Astaire has nothing on this sweetie when he is doing his thing to the music on the dance floor.
Meet Q-Tip: Q is a 2 ½ year old poodle/lab mix wonder dog! She enjoys agility and obedience but her favorite sport is Rally-O. Rally obedience is very similar to the stricter obedience that most of us have seen at dog shows, but rally-o has a bit of a twist – you and your dog follow signs directing you around the ring by doing different behaviors (sit, down, turn), and the best part, is that you get to talk to your dog while you do it! This is why Q loves this sport best! Her mom can encourage her throughout the mix breed dog club trials they attend making them even more fun. And when they aren’t training together, Q is pretty easy going and shares her mom with two other dog siblings.
One of the best things about these sports is that you don’t have to have a pure bred dog to do them – or to compete. In fact, some of the best dogs for these sports are found in your local animal shelter/rescue. They are the “throw-away” dogs. The dogs that are too energetic for the family. The dogs that are “ball obsessed”. The ones that jump the fence and bother the neighbors with their barking. These are the dogs that excel at sports because they are the ones that need them most – the ones that need a job to do.
But if a drive-y Border collie mix isn’t your idea of a great companion, have no fear – you can do these sports with the couch potato types too. All you really need is good relationship with your pet and some extra time. Don’t believe me?
Meet mole: Mole is an 11 year old Chihuahua mix who started agility training earlier this year. Yes, an 11 year old Chihuahua. I had been looking for a sport to do with one of my younger dogs, and while searching, I found out that my little old man had an interest in agility obstacles. Who would have thought that I would be doing tunnels, dog walks, and teeters, with this dog? But he loves it, so we do it. But due to his age, we have to make some adjustments in order to ensure that we continue our working relationship for years to come.
Meet Mac: Mac is a 7 year old pit bull mix who enjoys dancing – but not late into the evening. Mac is a true couch potato and bed hog. He would rather be sleeping then fetching, and eating then swimming. But Mac has just the right amount of energy for the one hour class each week and 15 minutes of training most nights. And Fred Astaire has nothing on this sweetie when he is doing his thing to the music on the dance floor.
Meet Q-Tip: Q is a 2 ½ year old poodle/lab mix wonder dog! She enjoys agility and obedience but her favorite sport is Rally-O. Rally obedience is very similar to the stricter obedience that most of us have seen at dog shows, but rally-o has a bit of a twist – you and your dog follow signs directing you around the ring by doing different behaviors (sit, down, turn), and the best part, is that you get to talk to your dog while you do it! This is why Q loves this sport best! Her mom can encourage her throughout the mix breed dog club trials they attend making them even more fun. And when they aren’t training together, Q is pretty easy going and shares her mom with two other dog siblings.
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