The Foster Dog Chronicles

Raina finds the perfect home, Grace has generated many inquiries, Jake makes his debut!

2010-01-21T21:58:00.000-05:00

Raina found the perfect home with Bea. Bea runs the spay/neuter now program and has done tremendous grass roots work toward preventing thousands of homeless pets! Raina (now called Rainey) lives with two other dogs, a couple cats and Bea! She has been spayed, her foot re x-rayed, is on antibiotics for the Lyme disease and any possible infection that might be left in the foot! She is learning the ins and outs of the dog door. She could not have found a more loving, more secure place to call home!

Grace is interviewing with families this week. Her first appointment is this Saturday! She has been working diligently on her sit and down cues. She has made huge leaps and bounds on her puppy mouthing behaviors. She is learning to pick up her rope on cue and put it in a basket. She loves holding things in her mouth. She has great potential for retrieving items and other chained useful behaviors around the house. Her next task is to learn four on the floor and to try to contain some of her happy, youthful joy into a more appropriate social greeting. She has the potential to be a great dog!

Jake is the new comer on the block. He came happy and joyfully today from the pound. He is very even tempered, tolerant and accepting of new situations. At the moment he is none to happy about his crate after being free to roam the yard all day. He may or may not be housetrained… time will tell. He is a very happy confident dog outside but assumes the low crawl, slinking position when he is walking in the house. When you speak to him or engage him in an activity inside he becomes the happy confident dog again! Stay tuned for updates on Jake. This guy appears to have a lot of aptitude and intelligence!

Maiya, Grace and Emmett learn pull a kick sled and skijor!

2010-01-04T22:59:00.004-05:00

Maiya, Grace and Emmett spent the afternoon learning how to pull a kicksled. Maiya and Grace both prefer to pull the kicksled with Emmett. Emmett is quite the working man and really digs into his harness. He is a natural born kick sledder :) Maiya excels in the skijoring department and was extremely happy pulling her heart out and running through the snow! Grace was bouncy and just happy to be out playing in the snow.

We have come to the realization that Maiya is going to have a hard time finding a permanent home in this area. With the breed ban on post and carrying over to some local housing complexes, Maiya’s chance of finding a home in this area is poor. We have reached out to a number of Doberman rescues hoping that one of them will have room for her. Maiya misses having a human of her own and the one on one interaction that goes along with that. Although she receives attention, training and playtime with other dogs here, she is still unsure of herself, her surroundings and she desperately wants a person to call her own.

Grace has been very bouncy and happy. Tiger would have been an appropriate name for her! While she was waiting for the kick sledding to begin, she occupied herself dragging poor Emmett around by his leash. Emmett who has been ever so patient with Grace and Maiya will be happy for some peace and quiet when his Dad returns from Washington State.

Raina Claire (now called Rainey) has found a home with Bea. Bea has been instrumental in reducing the problem of pet overpopulation in this area. She founded Spay/Neuter Now and at 82 years old still drives the Mobile Clinic. Bea and her dog Tory came over this past weekend and spent some time with Rainey. After a few minutes of getting acquainted, Rainey found Bea’s lap to be just the place for her to hang out. If you have never had the chance to meet Bea, check out her Spay/Neuter Now website! She is an inspiration to anyone who is passionate about animals, their well being and the quality of lives they lead. Thank you to Animal Doctors (Dr. Nina Harff) for introducing us and knowing right where Rainey belonged.

Here is the Video

Trouble is two bored dogs and a bag of stuffed animals

2009-12-29T20:06:00.001-05:00

Single digits, wind and ice under the snow kept us off the trails today. That didn’t stop the two feral kids from coming up with their own idea of a fun afternoon!

Raina visits Animal Doctors

2009-12-29T19:46:00.001-05:00

Raina had her first visit to Animal Doctors today. She weighed in at 15 lbs and was very well behaved! She was heartworm/Lyme tested and did test positive for Lyme disease. She will start her antibiotics treatment tomorrow. Tomorrow we will call to set up her spay appointment. Nina said her leg looked good. She said sometimes when dogs have diminished feeling in a body part or lose sensation they will begin to chew on that part. She did not feel it was likely that she will start that this late in the game but it is something to watch for.

The snow was deep this morning and went past Raina’s belly which did not make her very happy. She is quick to run out and do her business and come straight back in. The donated coat from Barker’s Dozen really helps keep her warm. She is doing outstanding with her housetraining and remains accident free. In a few days if she remains consistent we will start giving her more freedom and see if she can maintain her near perfect record.

She handled the collar and leash well at the vet’s office and is doing great in a plastic crate. Those were the three major fear issues when we pulled her- her fear of collars, leashes and plastic crates. She was very accepting of touch today at the vet’s office and had no qualms about being there. Kudos to Raina Claire for her bravery!

Updates, holiday happiness and great people

2009-12-28T20:50:00.001-05:00

We want to take a moment during this busy holiday season to thank the people who actively support our efforts to help, rehabilitate and change the lives of the dogs who cross our path. This month we were faced with a dog who needed our help but financially was a bigger challenge then we had resources to cover. As in the past, you all pulled together and made it possible for us to say ….. Please welcome Raina Claire! She is a beautiful white poodle mix. She was found by our local Dog Control in Lafargeville New York. Apparently she fell victim to some teenagers who decided that it would be fun to go fishing for a dog. After hooking her with fishhooks and wrapping her in nylon fishing line, they left her hogtied and unable to fend for herself against the freezing temperatures and other hazards. After spending two days in the vet’s office where she was sedated, dehooked and unwound, she started her long road to recovery. The fishing line cut deep into her and left one of her legs badly injured. Although she occasionally will place weight on the foot, she walks for the most part on three legs. She came to us deathly afraid of a collar and leash. She is making progress and does okay with a collar and leash on as long as there is no pressure on either. She now allows us to reach around and over her head without panicking. We will continue to work with her to ease her fears and help her adjust to being a normal dog again. She has a vet visit at the Animal Doctors on Tuesday December 29th. We are hoping for great news on her leg.

Forest continues to make substantial progress on his journey. He continues to be able to walk off leash and recall nicely. With the introduction of snow and ice, he has had some regression on his fears and his ability to trust (he was on the run this time last year and we suspect the snow and ice have triggered some memories of past issues with snow and ice… ) We have had made some progress with him by taking our off leash walk first and then attaching a leash for our fetch session. This has given him a positive association with the leash and he will know willingly approach to be leashed because he knows the fun starts right after the leash goes on. This makes it easier to bring him back into the yard when playtime is over. No more Forest temper tantrums and watching him throw himself on the ground. Because his behavior has improved it gives him more time to play in the woods and snow…which is the highlight of his day!

Maiya continues to wait for a new home. She has been visiting an apartment in the City and spending time with her German Shepherd friend, Kaiser. This has given her exposure to city life as well as an introduction to dog parks. She does well both in the country and in the city. Her main focus in life is being with people. Her recall continues to be good which enables her to be able to enjoy off leash excursions and runs with the four wheeler. This is a beautiful dog, who really deserves a home of her own.

Grace found a wonderful home last week. She holds the record for the shortest stay of any dog that has ever come through TFDC. However that is not surprising as her only crime was acting like a puppy. Being ten months old, being a puppy was her entitlement. She will continue to work on her manners and we are confident she will grow into a great companion for her new family.

Crisp air, changing weather and lots of dogs ready to play!

2009-11-05T16:43:00.001-05:00

Leroy waits patiently by the back door. Kong between his feet, tongue sticking partway out of his closed mouth, eyes focused and intent, waiting for a person to step towards the door, any hint that it is play time. Once out the door he is transformed from border collie to gazelle. His body gracefully flows through the air. Watching him lifts our spirits and makes us laugh. Happy go lucky, always ready, intense and loving life. He has no idea that he doesn’t have a home or a family, no idea that he is in transition and that he is yet another dog whose future is uncertain. He has no idea that he isn’t perfect, no idea he is unwanted, and no idea that the economy has drastically affected his chances of finding a home.

Ripley and Riley, two brothers, probably daschund pug mixes born into this world and shuffled through three shelters before they were six months old. Two puppies with distinct personalities. Two puppies filled to the top with love to give. Two puppies who should be nestled in people’s arms or snuggled in front of a fireplace in a place called home. Ripley, who just wants a human to love and hold him. Riley, who wants someone to walk, play and have cool adventures with. Two puppies who cheated death once but have yet to find a home that will offer them the stability and love that a family has to offer.

Casey, a Black Mouth Cur mix, the almost perfect dog. Casey who enjoys short walks, time snuggling on the couch, sleeping under the desk and hanging out with people she loves. Low maintenance, low energy and happy to be warm and safe. She would be in heaven riding around in a car or truck all day, copiloting, and lending an ear. Yet despite all her qualities, despite all her goodness, despite everything she has to offer, she was abandoned and has not been able to find a family that loves her and is willing to care for her. Casey has a heart of gold and would love to find someone that wants to be a part of that.

Maiya, a Doberman mix who is still young and in need of boundaries. She is well behaved, attentive, smart and willing to learn. She loves certain dogs and has no patience for others. She will play with her friends for hours, chasing, running, bowing, ducking, evading and hiding. She makes us laugh with her antics and games. Maiya is calm and is used to being in a calm environment. She does not like to be yelled at, have choke chains on her or to be abused, nor does she deserve that type of home. She is not looking for the perfect home, just a home where there will be boundaries, patience, teaching and love so she can continue to grow and reach her full potential.

Forest, the Outlaw Feral German Shepherd, on the run from the law for over 100 days, nearly dead from starvation and Lyme disease. Unable to walk, climb stairs or balance now able to run and play but left with an intense fear of humans. Forest has a heart filled with love, desires to be around his people but needs patience and love to overcome his past. He is only available to people with extensive backgrounds in positive reinforcement and experience with clicker training. He is time consuming, demanding and worth every minute of every day that is spent with him.

If you know of someone looking for a dog, please try to help these dogs find homes of their own. This is a safe place, a loving place but this is only a transition for them. They need families of their own who can nurture and love them for who they are. Families that want a dog, love dogs and know that dogs will be dogs. Please help these dogs find their families!

Ripley and Riley ready for their new homes

2009-10-30T20:44:00.001-04:00

Ripley and Riley are now actively seeking homes where they will be loved and cherished forever! Riley is adventurous, quick to learn and has been through a shaping class. He is has a number of cues under his belt. He is crate trained, housetrained and is good with dogs and cats. Ripley is a few pounds smaller than Riley and loves to sit in laps and cuddle. He is sweet, loving and quite the charmer. He is just getting started on his cues and knows his sit and down. Both are neutered, microchipped and up to date on rabies, distemper and parvo vaccinations. Riley weighs 19 lbs and Ripley 14lbs. These pups are about six months old and searching for somone who will love and care for them. They can go together or separately.

Reese goes home!

2009-10-27T20:37:00.001-04:00

Reese found a new home this weekend! She seemed perfectly content to ride home with her new people! We are very excited for her!

Maiya loves her training sessions!

2009-10-15T23:27:00.001-04:00

Maiya loves to head down to her training sessions. She is eager to work, learn and play. She worked on a variety of cues today, had some fun playing with the rope toys and then settled down for a nice long nap! Now to find a person that loves to train!

Casey seeks her forever home

2009-10-13T22:37:00.001-04:00

Casey is still looking for the perfect place to call home. She is a low maintenance dog who enjoys quiet time watching tv, short walks, sitting by her people and spending time curled up on a nice pillow. She is great home alone all day and is well behaved. She has been to the workshop at JRC, Wehle park and the Calcium trail. She loves riding in the car. She is looking for a quiet home with a loving individual or couple. She is great with kids but doesn’t want to be climbed on or roughhoused with. She needs a cat free house.

Leroy enjoys his playtime especially if it involves water

2009-10-12T22:01:00.001-04:00

Leroy enjoys a swim on the Calcium trail. He loves playing in water, chasing kongs and playing endless games of fetch. Leroy will initiate hugs but does not like to be cuddled or coddled. He lives to play and fetch. He settles down nicely and is crate trained. Leroy knows sit and down. He is started on clicker training and will work in exchange for play time with his kong. This sweet dog is looking for a home where he can be himself. This boy is both devoted and independent. He would prefer someone who enjoys spending time with him without smothering him. He walks well on a leash but much prefers his exercise with a game of fetch! When he is tired he will lie down and chew on his kong. This boy is fun, playful and provides a lot of laughter and joy.

Ripley and Riley visit the Bon Ton

2009-10-12T21:47:00.001-04:00

Ripley and Riley spent two hours at the Bon Ton last week, selling community day booklets to help cover the cost of their neuter. Although sales of the booklets were slow, both dogs nonetheless had fun meeting, greeting and exploring the new surroundings!

Ripley and Riley narrowly escape euthanasia

2009-10-12T21:40:00.001-04:00

Ripley and Riley missed their death row appointment by a few hours. Tragically, there are so many good dogs that don’t have such luck. We are rejoicing though because these two brothers are full of life and joy. They provide hours of comic relief with their puppy antics. They are scheduled for neuters on 10/26/2009. Ripley is the smaller of the two daschund mixes. He loves to cuddle and sit on his person’s lap. He prefers people to other dogs but will take off for a good play session. Riley is more adventurous and spends his time equally between people and dogs. Both puppies are started on clicker training. Riley is working on sit, over, under, through (tunnel), dance and walking the balance beam. He is in the basic obedience class. Ripley knows his sit and will start his other training shortly. Ripley and Riley will not be posted for adoption until after their surgery but they are actively interviewing for their new family. Both dogs have visited the workshop at JRC and did well. Both dogs are shy at first but do warm up.

Forest after a long day of fun

2009-10-12T21:18:00.001-04:00

Forest enjoys his time with other dogs whether it is playing or sleeping. He is very social with the other dogs and people he knows. He is slow to warm to strangers and has difficulty adjusting to new people.

Sir Forest settles down for a quiet evening

2009-10-12T21:09:00.001-04:00

Forest has made amazing strides in his rehabilitation. His muscles continue to grow stronger and he continues to gain weight. He loves playing Kong, going for runs and snuggling on the couch. He has grown increasingly wary of strangers and prefers to be around people he knows. We are no longer allowing adoption visits for Forest without an interview prior and a home visit to ensure he is going to the right placement.

A Sermon Written for St Francis Day

2009-10-04T21:15:00.001-04:00

As you walk down the aisles of animal shelters across the nation, it is hard to remember that everything happens for a reason. That everything and everyone has a purpose. Cage upon cage filled with sad, questioning eyes. Pets wondering where their families went, scared by the unfamiliar sights, smells and sounds , longing for someone to love and cherish them.

Rows upon rows of discarded pets, lost pets, pets who have lived their whold lives being abused or neglected yet willing to give unconditional love. I was reading an article the other day which calculated the number of dogs in the United States and the number of households. If every dog were given a home, each home would have 24 dogs in it. Looking at the big picture it seems like an impossible situation. It seem easier to walk away than to invest yourself emotionally and have your heart broken as you walk out of the shelter knowing those animals will die without the comfort of a loving family.

Taking the easy way out, is not always the most rewarding. Every one of us has a calling, a purpose for our lives. That calling can stay the same throughout our lives or it can change depending on our circumstances and the paths our lives take.

Our calling changed ever so gradually starting with one single day. That calling now encompasses our life. This one day started with the decision that our son’s dog had become older and could no longer endure the long walks, runs and playtime that a 10 year old boy requires. We decided that his golden retriever Roxy would become a family dog. She had earned the right to sun herself, play in streams and not have to chase butterflies and frogs hour after hour. That decision led us to the County dog pound in search of a dog with endless energy. This day changed our lives, our path and our calling. Our eyes were opened, our hearts saddened and our brains demanded that we take action. Any action, as long as it meant something was being done to help these dogs.

Healthy young abandoned, sad hopeful dogs peered out from inside wire kennels with concrete floors. Dogs who either found a home or they would be euthanized. One at a time we began pulling dogs, working through any issues they had, attending to their medical needs, spaying, neutering and microchipping them all in an effort to prepare them for a new home. Once outside of the confines of their cages, these dogs personalities blossomed, they gave love, received love, they learned manners and best of all they found families who would love and cherish them.

After trying traditional training methods, we opted to head down the road of positive reinforcement. We were introduced to clicker training, which seemed really funny to use a child’s toy to train dogs. The results we saw, changed our minds and training methods permanently. With clicker training we could train these once discarded dogs to be useful members of society. They could learn to turn lights on, close doors, retrieve items, pick up toys and laundry all using positive reinforcement.

While rescuing dogs was very rewarding, we found the lessons we learned through the dogs to be even more rewarding. Each dog we rescued taught us valuable life lessons.

· Jack the yellow lab who couldn’t be adopted out to any house with a man in it learned over time to trust men and in turn he found a great home. His fear of one man had be generalized over time to include all men. He taught us that sometimes our own fears become generalized and that with love and patience we can all learn to trust again.

· Minnie, the white german shepherd with ears way too big for her head spent three hours outside our house the first night in below zero temperatures. Her fear of new surroundings and new people made her choose to endure conditions that weren’t comfortable. Patience and love brought her inside, but her ability to unconditionally love and accept gave her a new home. How many of us endure conditions that aren’t right for us because of our own fears?

· Eric, the Shepherd, Rottweiler mix was on the table twice to be euthanized but each time the staff member couldn’t follow through. Eric didn’t know that he was big and that his teeth that had once been small and puppy like had grown. He was never taught manners or to keep his teeth off of people’s skin. He learned that manners, a closed mouth and sitting quietly in front of a ten year old with a plate of cake payed well in crumbs and frosting. Good things come to those who wait.

· Bella the plot hound lay quietly in a room for two months. She had to be woken up to eat and use the bathroom. She had lost all interest in life and was apathetic and unresponsive. No amount of play, affection, attention or love seemed to reach her. Or so we thought. Weeks went by, a month turned into two months and then at 2am one morning hope and life returned to Bella in the form of one loud, straight from the belly howl. We got up and there sitting on the couch was one dog ready to live again. Now at 2am we were ready to be sleeping again, so we turned on the cartoon channel and Bella sat happy and content to watch cartoons until late the next morning. Today she is loved and cherished by a family with two children and yes she still loves her cartoons!

· It is easy to blame the county pound, its workers and the fact that it is a kill facility However, we all have jobs to do, and sometimes the job requirements conflict with our hearts desires. The people who work at the county pound love and cherish these dogs. Unfortunately, they sometimes are forced to end the very lives of the dogs they love and cherish. Their compassion was more than evident with Sir Forest The Duke of Hycliff. Forest was a young german shepherd who was abandoned in the Hycliff housing. Forest was chased off of porches, out of garbage bags and was unwelcome anywhere he went. He developed a fear of humans which made all efforts to catch him unsuccessful. After 100 days on the run in the dead of winter, Forest could no longer walk, he lost all his muscle tone and he cried whenever he moved his head. Dog control nursed him for over sixty days. The employees spent their own time and money to try and help him. Realizing his rehabilitation would take longer than time would allow, they called and asked us to consider taking Forest. He came to us able to walk three steps before falling down, his back legs were bloody from dragging them behind him and he still cried when he moved his head. After receiving a diagnosis of lyme disease and the appropriate medication, Forest began the long road to recovery. He took an interest in chasing a dog toy called a Kong. After months of love, good food and plenty of time chasing his kong, Forest could walk, move his head without crying and express affection towards people. He still walks with a sway in his back end, falls down occasionally and is afraid of new people but he has taught us that nothing is impossible to overcome with love, determination and support.

· Yesterday, Roxy was buried. Roxy inadvertently led us to the path that would be our calling. She gave us so much more than we could ever give her. She taught us grace when she accepted a new puppy playing with her boy. She showed us tolerance when the new dog bumped and bounced off of her. Roxy showed us unconditional tail wagging love even when she was tired and sick. We buried a friend yesterday but the lessons she taught will forever be part of our lives.

· Our calling is to rescue dogs, one paw at a time but those dogs in turn have taught us, reminded us and counseled us on being human, loving those around us, having compassion, patience and grace even when we don’t feel like it. It is those qualities that make life worth living and make the world the kind of place that we all want to live in. Everyone has a purpose and a calling, it is each person’s decision to have the courage and faith to decide to pursue it.

Alyson Rice

Basic Foundation Class

2009-09-14T10:31:00.001-04:00

Basic Foundation Class - starts 09/23/2009

This class introduces basic foundation behaviors that

teach the dog to pay attention to the handler, exhibit

self control, as well as offer behavior and respond to

cues. Handlers learn the mechanics of the clicker,

cueing techniques, and how to replace correction with

reinforcement. This is a five week course with the

first week being handler only. Cost is $100. Class size

is limited to four students.

Isaac Newton finds a home in the heart of two wonderful people!

2009-07-16T23:09:00.001-04:00

Isaac’s search for a new home ended today when his prospective adoptive parents decided he was the perfect dog for them! He has two wonderful, loving people, a cat and a lifetime of happiness in front of him! It always continues to amaze us how such great people find their way here and weave themselves into the hearts of the dogs we love and care for so deeply! Isaac is starting his new life with a new name… Remy! We even got our first update tonight! Remy too, has found the home that fits him just right! It is another great day here at TFDC!

Visitors to TFDC!

2009-07-16T22:58:00.001-04:00

We wanted to take the time to thank Shannon for giving up her day off and coming over to get Isaac Newton ready for his new home! Very much appreciated! And we had the added bonus of being able to meet her son Sawyer! Thanks so much for volunteering your time!

The dogs appreciated the gifts Stephen brought today! It is not often they have visitors bearing gifts!

And on the same note…. Zachary spoiled the dogs rotten last week by stopping at Barker’s Dozen before picking up Emmett. Eclairs, cupcakes, brownies and bisquits galore… many hugs to you and Emmett!

Kritter Kronicles also sent a donation from Pawsfest which helped to sponsor Isaac Newton! Thanks Stephen and Jean… your time and effort were very much appreciated!

And all of the others that make the day to day operations here so much easier… Michelle, Molly, Liz, Janet, Roger and Shane… to name a few!

News from our little church buddy – Felix aka Harry

2009-07-16T22:44:00.001-04:00

Felix had a busy day today…getting his teeth cleaned and having his fatty tumor removed! He pulled through like a champ! He has a new name to go with his new look… Harry! Harry attends morning worship, goes everywhere with Anne and Jerry, and has been entertaining everyone he comes in contact with! He loves to race around his new home chasing after a ball or just putting smiles and laughter in everyone’s heart! He is one little guy with one huge purpose in life! We are happy we were part of that purpose! You go Harry!

Rusty gets a second chance and a home dogs dream about!

2009-07-16T22:34:00.001-04:00

Rusty went home last week to the fairy tale home dogs dream about! He is the apple of Zachary’s eye and could not be more loved and cherished! He has a lab that lives nearby to play with, takes many walks, hikes and has a lot of play time! Zachary sends frequent updates and keeps us laughing. Rusty’s new name is Emmett. He made the transition smoothly and effortlessly! We couldn’t have asked for a better forever home for Emmett!

Our newest arrivals… a little on the sweet, a little on adventurous, a little on the playful and each needing a home of their own to love and cherish them!

2009-07-07T22:56:00.001-04:00

Casey is a sweet and lovable Mountain Cur mix. She is approximately 6-7 years old and very docile. She would do well in a quiet home. She would love to spend time with a human doing inside activities. She enjoys short walks and being around people. She does well with other dogs but does not enjoy rough housing or playing with other dogs. She does not like cats. She would be a great RV dog or for an older person who would prefer a quieter more refined dog. She has a great personality. She is housebroken, crate trained and has been left alone in the house with no incidents. She weighs 41 lbs.

Sasha is an Australian Cattle dog mix. She is a bundle of energy, very adventurous and a quick learner. This dog is very agile and would make a great agility dog, trick dog or Frisbee dog. She is smart, playful and picks up new cues easily. She needs an active person who has the time and energy to continue her training so she can reach her true potential. Sasha plays well with other dogs who play nice with her. She has a strong, confident personality and does not allow herself to be pushed around or bullied. Sasha is housebroken, crate trained and has been left alone in the house with no incident. She does need to have toys to interact with to occupy her mind and energy while you are away. She is good with cats. Sasha weighs 28 lbs.

Isaac Newton is shepherd mix. He is a tall slim young man. He enjoys playing with his ball and chasing Kongs. He is very fast and very playful. He is an extremely intelligent dog who responds well to positive interactions. He appears to have had a rough start in life and can be unsure and untrusting of people he first meets. However, once he establishes a bond he lets his guard down and becomes best friends. This is one awesome dog for the right person. He is loving and kind and enjoys his people time. Isaac would do well in a chaos free home where he has a good mix of quiet time, active ball playing time and time to interact with his person. Isaac is working on his crate training. He is housebroken and good alone in the house. He gets along well with other dogs and shows little interest in the cats. Isaac weighs 60 lbs.

Want cool, calm and collected dogs?…. try clicker training!

2009-06-19T23:51:00.000-04:00

It is amazing what a few minutes of clicker training does to create calm, cool, collected and peaceful dogs! The picture speaks for itself! No begging, no stealing, just happy peaceful pups! And yes there are five of them… waiting patiently!

Felix finds his calling in life!

2009-06-19T23:41:00.000-04:00

Felix spent his first day in his new home and got right to work! He oversaw a wedding rehearsal sitting in the Bishop’s chair with his blanket! This awesome dog is going to bring a lot of sunshine to his new congregation! Another outstanding home! Sorry no pics from the chair… the humans were a little busy.

Dodger checks in!

2009-06-19T23:33:00.000-04:00

Alicia sent word from Dodger today! He is happy and very much enjoying life! Seems like luck finally found Dodger and gave him the home he was looking for! He is very loved and very wanted now and that makes us very happy!

Sir Forest the Duke of Hycliff is searching for a fairy tale home!

2009-06-19T09:15:00.000-04:00

Sir Forest the Duke of Hycliff was on the run for over 100 days. He foraged out of garbage cans, eluded capture and even managed to cause someone to fall into the river during that time. This boy is the stuff legends were made out of. Forest is almost two years old and has lived most of his life feral. In his younger days he was fast, agile and extremely cunning. The culprit that took this bad boy down and eventually led to his capture was smaller than a dime. Forest was bit by a tick somewhere along the way setting in motion a disease that for dogs is easy to diagnose, easy to cure but deadly if left untreated. Over time Forest lost his muscle tone, his ability to walk and run and became one very sick dog. Jefferson County Dog Control located him in an abandoned barn and brought him into their facility. No one quite understood how Forest could go from a high energy sprinter to almost paralyzed. Lack of quality food, frigid temperatures and possible hip dysplasia seemed to be the answer. Weighing in at approximately 50 lbs, Forest was gaining weight and health slowly. Having exhausted all of their resources, Forest came to TFDC to finish his rehabilitation.

A visit to Animal Doctors and a routine Lyme/Heartworm test revealed a hidden secret. Forest had Lyme disease and it was taking a huge toll on him. Dr. Nina Harff prescribed medication and within a few days, Forest was acting like a young pup again. He continued his treatment for thirty days and made huge gains in strength and mobility. He continued to gain weight and was healthy enough to undergo his neuter operation last week. Forest weighs in at 80 lbs and has another twenty or so to gain. He is diagnosed with hip dysplasia and will need continued medical care to stay on top of this issue.

Forest takes a while to warm up to a new person but when he establishes a trust and bond with a human it is deep and lasting. He loves being around his people, playing chase with his Kong and going for walks. He is great off leash (with a trusted human) and reliably recalls. He is intensely curious and wants to have his nose in and on everything. This dog has an effervescent personality and will bring a ton of love, hope and happiness into someone’s life. He is good with cats, although given the opportunity loves to instigate trouble and then make it appear like he is minding his own business.

He is very particular with what dogs he likes and does not like. He does not appear to like unneutered male dogs.

Forest has a very good sense of right and wrong and works hard to police any injustice in his environment. Because of this he needs to be in a household that has experience with dogs and positive based training methods. He has no food or toy possessiveness but will resource guard people that he has bonded with. He is easily redirected but would need someone willing to pay attention to the signs and signals present.

We do not recommend Forest to any family with children as Forest will need one on one attention to help him overcome the issues that come along with feral dogs as well as his medical and social needs. He needs a human who is laced with patience, love, understanding, discipline and time. He will require a person with the financial resources to be able to afford his medical care, a person who is willing to put time into continuing his rehabilitation and training, and someone willing to love him for who he is.

Felix and Peanut visit the bank!

2009-06-18T19:12:00.001-04:00

Felix and Peanut visited the bank today while we finalized the loan. Peanut pranced around with Beth as if she had been there her whole life! Felix was the serious one and sat quietly to help make sure the loan was processed accordingly. Then it was off to Animal Doctors to check the microchip. Everything is in working order!

Felix leaves for his new home!

2009-06-18T19:12:00.000-04:00

Anne and Jerry came out today and took Felix home! They left here to go to A Barker’s Dozen to outfit Felix with a new harness and other essentials! We are very excited for Felix, Anne and Jerry! We cannot wait to hear about the all the adventures! This match had a little divine intervention… of that we are sure!

How could we forget to post Relay for Life?

2009-06-18T18:15:00.000-04:00

Rusty and Felix attended Relay for life last Friday night! Rusty was right at home soaking up all the attention and being an absolute angel! Felix was content to sit on laps and play the role of lap warmer. These dogs are perfect examples of how clicker training improves relationships, calms dogs and gives them the confidence to enter different situations and behave accordingly.

Rusty, Peanut and Felix stay current on their immunizations

2009-06-17T22:52:00.000-04:00

Shannon donated her time today to update Rusty, Peanut and Felix on their distemper/parvo shots. Felix braved the big needle for his microchipping and all without protest. This was followed by heartworm preventative and advantix for all. Thanks to Shannon for coming out on such short notice! Rusty has his neuter next week and will be microchipped at that time. Peanut has completed all of her medical and is waiting for a loving family to find her! Felix will be spending the day with us tomorrow running errands and then will be going to his new home. He will be missed but we couldn’t ask for a better, more loving place for him to go!

Rusty takes a long walk with his new person!

2009-06-17T22:37:00.001-04:00

Rusty spent the morning with his new person! After a peaceful walk through the woods and pastures and a short training session, Rusty decided it was nap time! Zachary, his new person, will be picking him up after all his medical is completed in July. Rusty’s run of bad luck has just turned into a four leaf clover! This is one deserving dog!

Felix and Peanut do the Maze!

2009-06-17T22:11:00.000-04:00

Felix and Peanut attended the 2nd Yappy hour. This one was held at Mazeland in Alexandria Bay! Peanut had a blast working her way through the maze while Felix gave up about halfway through and opted to be carried. Both had a great time socializing with the other dogs and eating the extra hot dogs and hamburgers afterward!

Felix meets his new family

2009-06-17T21:48:00.000-04:00

Felix had a chance to meet with his new family today! It was obvious that Felix approved of Jerry and Anne! We had a great visit and Felix made himself right at home snuggled up to Jerry! As soon as Felix’s medical is complete he will be moving on to his new family! We are very excited for him!

Felix, Peanut and Rusty go to Pawfest!

2009-06-17T20:52:00.000-04:00

Felix, Peanut and Rusty were on their best behavior today showing off their manners, intelligence and irresistibility! Rusty and Peanut did two clicker demonstrations and despite having only having a few ten minute training sessions under their belt both performed like superstars. Rusty and Felix found potential adopters! We will be following up this week to see how that works out. Overall an outstanding day with a ton of great dog people! Yippee for dog friendly events!

Please welcome our newest arrivals! Felix, Sophie and Rusty

2009-06-07T19:18:00.000-04:00

Felix is quite the snuggly old man. He is a fox terrier mix. His age is unknown but is estimated to be around 7 or 8. He is looking for a chaos free home. He would like someone who has an available lap to cuddle on. He would be content to snuggle someone while they read a book, watch TV or simply sitting outside watching the world. Although he does fine alone in the house or in his crate, he prefers to have companionship. He likes to have his stuffed Kong or bone to chew on. Felix does fine with cats. He does well with other dogs but does try to police their activities. He gets cold easily and enjoys snuggling in blankets with a person. A home without small children is preferred. Felix is housetrained and neutered. He is almost ready for a new home and is awaiting a microchip. Felix is sponsored by Beth Augustus.

Sophie aka Peanut is a daschund, basset hound, jack russell type mix. She is believed to be a year old. She is spayed, micro chipped and almost ready for a new home. She has a vet appointment on Friday the 12th of June. She is a sweet and loving dog. She is wary around strangers. She loves to play and can play rough. She is not recommended for a home with small children. Sophie is a victim of animal cruelty and needs a home that is understanding of that. She gets along with both dogs and cats. Sophie likes to chase toys, interact with people she knows and snuggle. She is very generous with kisses once she gets to know you. Sophie needs to be introduced to new people and situations gradually so she can regain her trust of people and unfamiliar situations. Sophie is housetrained and crate trained. Sophie is sponsored by Molly Outwater.

Rusty aka the Moose Krosky lost his home due to violent crime. He is a mellow, loving dog who enjoys being around people and other dogs. He is good with cats. He has spent the last six months in a kennel so he is adjusting to being in a home again. Rusty is possibly a lab/Chesapeake/ something mix. Rusty appears to be good with kids. He has a vet appointment on Friday, the 12th of June. He will be ready to go after he is neutered and micro chipped. Rusty is sponsored by Colleen O’Neill.

Dodger finds a place to help him realize his full potential!

2009-06-07T18:47:00.000-04:00

Dodger really lucked out this time! Dodger found a home where he will be able to continue to grow and learn. The fairy tale ending where Dodger goes on and becomes a therapy dog, assisting people in need is finally coming true for him. His search for the perfect human to love him, challenge him intellectually and keep his mind active and stimulated has been successful! Stay tuned for future updates on his story!

Cocoa finds two high energy kids to love!

2009-06-07T18:37:00.000-04:00

Cocoa found two kids filled with energy, laughter and fun to play with. She plans on spending nights snuggled and days playing ball in the yard. Cocoa has a camp to swim at and another dog to play with! Life is treating Cocoa pretty good!

Scarlet gets another chance

2009-05-17T20:47:00.000-04:00

Scarlet has luck and good fortune running on her side. After having an opportunity at a great home last week but not being able to respect Maggie’s (the resident dog’s) position in the house and wanting all the attention herself, she came back. Scarlet once again found herself being blessed with an awesome family. She is the only dog in her new home and her new people are as sweet, kind and nice as Martha. She bonded well and made herself right at home. Scarlet’s new parents are awesome at reading dog emotion and interpreting situations. They can accurately read situations and understand the interactions occurring between dogs. They are flexible yet establish great boundaries. It is a great day for us when these dogs who once had no chance find these wonderful, loving homes. On a day like that there is no greater happiness!

Maiya finds happiness

2009-05-17T20:11:00.000-04:00

Maiya went to her new home last week. Maiya will be surrounded by love, patience and a very sweet Mom. She has a dog friend, Maggie to play with and a fenced in yard. Finally, Maiya will have cuddle time and snuggle time, two things she loves and craves. Her home is filled with toys, warmth and happiness! What more could a dog ask for!

Dogs being rehabilitated but not available for adoption at this time

2009-05-17T19:57:00.000-04:00

Forest is a young German Shepherd. He ran feral from November of 2008 until February of 2009. He was finally captured when he became too weak to run. It is believed that Forest suffers from hip dysplasia, possible neurological problems and severe malnutrition. He is scared of people and has been working on his socialization skills. Forest was recently diagnosed with Lyme disease and has made substantial gains in health and mobility since being placed on medication. Once Forest becomes attached to a person he is very loyal and needy. He is a very loving dog who deserves a better life than he has had. He continues to make leaps and bounds in his healing progress. Currently Forest has learned to walk again, climb stairs with effort, and chase his Kong without falling over. He still has issues on rough terrain and slippery surfaces. Forest is a long term rehabilitation resident at this time. If he were to be adopted to a home it would be with the understanding that this is a special needs dog who will have special medical, social and nutritional needs for the remainder of his life. Forest is high maintenance dog both financially and time wise.

Dogs currently available for adoption

2009-05-17T19:34:00.000-04:00

Dodger is between one and two years of age. He is still very puppy like and loves playing with toys, dogs and kids. Dodger is smart and quick to catch on. He is food oriented and toy oriented. He enjoys walking and playing games with his family. He is very active and busy during the day. He settles down nicely in the evening and is a pleasure to hang around with. Dodger would make a great agility dog, hiking dog or simply best friend. He is crate trained and is comfortable being left in his crate when he is alone. Dodger plays well with the other dogs in the pack. Dodger will chase a running cat but lives peacefully in the house with the resident cats. He loves Kongs and tennis balls. He would do well in a home with an active lifestyle. Dodger has a reliable sit, down and he recalls nicely. He has not been given the chance to prove his reliability off leash as of yet.

Cocoa is a little over a year old. She is more mature than Dodger. Cocoa loves people and playing with her toys. She loves chasing Kongs and balls. She is reliable off leash and has a great recall. Cocoa has a reliable sit and is working on her loose leash walking. She loves running on the beach and playing in the water. She is a snuggler and loves her quiet time in the evening with her family. Cocoa is reliable in the house. She is also crate trained and enjoys spending time in her crate with her toys. Cocoa is an active dog. She is easy to exercise as she will endlessly chase her ball and her Kong. She gets along well with other dogs and is good with the resident cats. She has a personality of gold.

Maiya finds her sibling Scarlet!

2009-05-07T18:47:00.001-04:00

We received a call one afternoon from Animal Doctors in Watertown. They had a stray there that looked like Scarlet but Scarlet was indeed here. The person who found Scarlet’s twin was taking the dog to the county pound. We waited the ten days for the owner to show up but no one came to claim the dog. We were pretty sure the two dogs were related so we decided to bail her out. We took Ms. Maiya home. It was obvious that her and Scarlet were familiar and had missed each other. Martha, Scarlet’s adoptive mom, saw the pictures of the girls together and decided that she couldn’t split them up again. Scarlet is finer boned and a lot more assertive than Maiya who prefers a nice quiet corner to chew her bones and toys. Both love and crave attention and are two of the sweetest dogs you could encounter. Maiya and Scarlet leave for their new home on Saturday. We are very excited for them as well as Martha and Maggie! We are really fortunate that Martha found these girls!

Vote for The Foster Dog Chronicles

2009-04-09T12:00:00.001-04:00

Help The Foster Dog Chronicles win a $20,000 grant!
Hello Animal Lovers!
Vote for us at www.theanimalrescuesite.com and we could win $20,000 to help pets in need.
The Animal Rescue Site is hosting a special challenge for eligible Petfinder.com member shelter and rescue groups. The grand prize is a $20,000 grant, and they will be awarding many other grants to rescue groups with the most votes — a total of $100,000 in grants for animal welfare organizations.
Think how many animals we could help for $20,000!
Help us win! All you have to do is click to help rescued animals, and then vote in The Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter⁺ Challenge. Both of these actions are absolutely free! You can vote once a day, every day, from April 13 through July 26,2009. Every time you vote, or tell a friend to vote, you are making a huge difference for us.
Vote today!
Visit: www.theanimalrescuesite.com

Scarlet soaking up some much needed attention

2009-03-25T22:45:00.001-04:00

Scarlet has been hamming it up and soaking up some much needed attention. She is an all around sweet dog. She has her sit cue well on its way to stimulus control. She is currently working on her down cue and her loose leash walking. She is wonderful on recall and an all around bundle of joy!

Hailey got her wish

2009-03-21T18:24:00.001-04:00

From Adopted Dogs

A wonderful family open up their home to her! She went home with 4 children to keep her happy.

Dodger charming the ladies!

2009-03-19T19:31:00.001-04:00

Dodger is one heck of a find! His personality is as fun loving and as colorful as his coat! He spent the day running and playing with Skyy and Sage. He always comes when he is called and is a ham for attention. Lovable, sweet and cuddly summarize this boy. Weighing in at 48 lbs, Dodger is content to run and play with dogs or sit with his humans.

Scarlet goes for her vet visit!

2009-03-19T19:25:00.001-04:00

Scarlet visited Animal Doctors today and received a clean bill of health. She tested negative for heartworm and lyme. She weighed in at 46.7 lbs and behaved like a dream. She is scheduled for her spay at the end of April. She stopped by for a brief play session at Barker’s Dozen before heading home. Scarlet interacts well with cats as well as the other dogs. She is smart and sweet! Scarlet will start her crate training in the morning.

TFDC welcomes our newest arrivals!

2009-03-17T21:52:00.001-04:00

We have two new arrivals, courtesy of our sponsors and the Jefferson County Dog Shelter. While the staff there are devoted and loving, kennel life is hard! Please welcome Scarlet and Dodger!

Scarlet is a Doberman mix. She is one of the sweetest dogs you will ever meet. She is calm, submissive, housebroken and loves people. She would be a welcome addition to any family. Scarlet will not be available for adoption until after her spay surgery in April. In the meantime, if you think she is the perfect match for you, now is the time to get to know this beauty. This girl has the charm and the charisma to make anyone’s heart flutter! Thanks go out to Barker’s Dozen for sponsoring this gem!

Dodger has been in county lock up twice this year. He is a colorful mix of patches and bouncy fun. This dog is all heart. He knows when it is time to go and when it is time to stop. Dodger is smart and people oriented. He will not be available until after his neuter surgery in April. Dodger had his vet visit today and was a low positive for Lyme disease. He was prescribed the appropriate course of antibiotics and will be back to perfection upon completion of his meds. His heartworm test was negative. Thanks to Matt and Brooke Flynn as well as Barker’s Dozen for sponsorship of this handsome fellow.

Hailey is still waiting for her forever home. She has had a lot of inquiries but we are waiting for a home that will fit her like a glove. Hailey loves people and being around people. She would do well in a home where a companion dog is needed. This is one sweet and caring dog who is waiting patiently for a place to call her own.All of the rescues we currently have are great on or off leash. They are started on their basic cues.

Roscoe finds his forever person!

2009-03-17T21:20:00.001-04:00

Roscoe’s wait for the perfect person has come to a screeching halt. After two years of searching he has found a place to call home. Roscoe is looking forward to a lifetime of hiking, camping and hanging out with his new person! It seems like a match made in heaven!

Miss Hailey is back in town!

2009-02-23T22:17:00.001-05:00

While we always hope for successful adoptions, things don’t always work out the way everyone wants them to! What is most important is that when things aren’t working out, that people do what is best for the animal. While Hailey was loved at her new home, her new family realized that she needed more companionship than they could offer with their busy schedules. When they came to this realization, they brought Hailey back and asked for a few days to rethink the decision so that they were doing what was right for the family and Hailey. After much thought and some heartache, they decided that Hailey would be better off in another situation. So we are sad as we know how hard emotionally it is, we are also happy that they were responsible and mature in making such a difficult decision. And of course we welcome her back with open arms! As you can see from the above picture, Molly and Hailey enjoy spending time hanging out with one another. Sharing apparently is not an issue for them!

Bella finds her perfect home and gets two loving kids in the deal!

2009-02-23T22:03:00.001-05:00

Bella has finally found heaven on earth! She has a couch to sleep on by day, complete with a loving little girl to give her hugs, kisses and TV snuggle time. By night she moonlights as sentry to a loving young boy. She sleeps on his bed and lets out an occasional warning to all the boogey monsters and scary things that go bump in the night know that she is on guard. When she is not busy on the couch or working the night shift, she is begging honey nut cheerios off of her new Mom. She also has a bouncy, playful Murphy dog to scold and remind to behave. Bella has waited a long time for a place to call her own and the wait was definitely worth it!

Update on Reese!

2009-02-23T21:55:00.001-05:00

Reese is fitting in wonderfully in her new home and is loved very much! She has been playing, sleeping and eating well! She is truly home!

Harley blossoming in his new home… takes up basketball!

2009-02-23T21:50:00.001-05:00

Harley is very much loved and cherished in his new home. He continues to be a big ham and has taken up basketball as a way to entertain his fans as well as burn off extra energy. He is truly beaming with all the love and happiness that surrounds him!

Reese finds a new husky friend and an awesome family!

2009-02-16T22:02:00.001-05:00

Reese found the best of both worlds today! She found a home with a very loving and caring family and she has a new husky friend to hang with. She has the undivided attention of her new Dad for the remainder of the month! This family is devoted to their animals and Reese is going to have a hard time choosing a favorite among them! We love happy endings and responsible pet owners! We are fortunate to have had some really great families come our way and make the choice to adopt dogs that we have loved and cherished and make them part of their family. After getting to know and love these dogs, it is hard to imagine anyone abandoning them in the first place, but then for them to get another chance with the people who are committed to loving and cherishing their dogs… well we couldn’t ask for more. For all of this we are very thankful!

Harley Update!

2009-02-16T21:48:00.001-05:00

Harley is doing great in his new home! He has been going out with the four wheeler, keeping a watchful eye on the deer population, cuddling, and being an all around awesome dog! He is still working on his recall in high distraction areas but he has found his forever home!

Hailey finds home sweet home!

2009-02-08T19:42:00.001-05:00

Hailey’s dream of finding the perfect home came true this week. She meet her potential family earlier in the week and then they took the time to prepare for entry into her new home. Hailey has two wonderful kids to play with and a new family who love and adore her. Hailey knew without a doubt that this was her family!

Hailey waiting patiently

Hailey going home!

The pack goes for a run in the snow!

2009-02-08T19:34:00.001-05:00

With the warmer weather and sun shining it was a great day to take everyone out for a run in the snow. Run, play and have fun summed up the day!

Pack interactions

2009-02-01T22:15:00.001-05:00

We have been working with Wil’s huskies on their social interaction skills the last few weeks. The huskies had started a few months back quibbling and fighting amongst themselves and even though they were coexisting together without incident well to put it simply… their relationship with each other sucked. We tried to integrate them with one of our packs as a group but it caused more bickering amongst them and they continued to isolate themselves from the other dogs. So we decided in order for them to become a pack again they first had to work on their skills individually. Niko who had decided it was far better to sleep outside than to have to listen to his sisters bicker all night long went with the older more mature dogs. We had some concerns about this as Cody spends most of his time with this pack. Cody is used to being a leader amongst the dogs and we weren’t sure how that would go over with Niko. As it turns out Niko, seemed relieved to have another dog take the lead. He even started playing, rough housing and acting like a puppy again. Niko, alone got along with all of the dogs upstairs. We then separated Skyy out and put her with Roscoe. Roscoe, although he is a pit bull, is very mild mannered and so far has gotten along well with all of our pack members. We had some concerns about these two together but more so because Skyy can be very rough and demanding with the other dogs. As it turns out, while Roscoe doesn’t want to have any disagreements he is very good at vocalizing to another dog when they aren’t treating him well. So after a day with Roscoe, Skyy and him were best buddies. Skyy was also happier as she could finally play with a dog without starting a fight. We decided to immerse Sage into the backyard pack. These are the younger, rowdy, dogs who like to play all day. Sage didn’t really think this was a good idea and she hung out at the gate to go back in to Skyy’s yard for the better part of a day. And as she was hanging out, she was bickering with Skyy. After a while Sage figured out that it was better to run and play than to stay and argue with her sister.

After the dogs had integrated into their new packs for a while and their social skills began to improve we decided that we would try to introduce them all into the backyard pack. Niko adapted well and acted like they had been his friends forever. Skyy was a little less sure of herself and clung to Roscoe’s side. Sage at first started to go over and try to separate Skyy away from the other dogs but gave up on it after the first few minutes. At one point Niko started to pick a fight with Roscoe. Roscoe kept trying to walk away and ignore him. Niko was persistent in his attempts to agitate Roscoe. Just before we were going to step in and separate them, Skyy stepped between Roscoe and Niko. She said what she had to say in a way that only a husky could. Niko turned and walked away. Skyy who has been the immature, strict, rule with an iron paw pack leader stepped in this time and handled the situation with the expertise of a seasoned pack leader.

We were very happy with the outcome not only for the huskies but also for the rescue dogs as it gives them more exposure to other dogs and makes them more adaptable. Appropriate social interactions among dogs is important in every day life. Bella, Hailey and Roscoe proved today that they have those skills. The huskies proved that they are still a pack but like people sometimes need a mentor to bring us back to the right place. After playing for four solid hours, nine very tired huskies, pitbull, feral, plott hound, border collie, rottweiler mix, shepherd mix came in and fell sound asleep. Some people go to the dog park to play. We live and play all day at our own dog park and that is as close to heaven as one could get on earth.

Well rounded Roscoe

2009-01-30T21:03:00.001-05:00

Roscoe doesn’t seem to care which yard he plays in as long as there is another dog to play with. He is such a well behaved dog, even when the other dogs with him misbehave. He is a sweet dog who would make a great companion for the right person!

Harley’s progress from arrival to departure

2009-01-27T19:23:00.001-05:00

Harley’s condition when he arrived upset us greatly. Love, patience and healthy food changed everything.

The results speak louder than words!

Harley upon at arrival 42 pounds!

Harley leaving at 65 lbs!

Harley finds home sweet home!

2009-01-27T19:11:00.001-05:00

Harley went to an amazing family today! Harley has so many opportunities and adventures in store for him. We are excited for him to have the opportunity to learn and grow with two wonderful and loving people. Harley bonded almost instantly and seemed to know that these were his people. He may have gotten a rough start in life but he is about to learn just how wonderful having a place to call home sweet home truly is!

Hailey and Bella await their turn to go for a walk with Patrick

2009-01-25T19:47:00.001-05:00

Hailey and Bella wait for the opportunity to go on an adventure with Patrick!

Harley and Hailey practice their recalls

2009-01-25T19:40:00.001-05:00

Harley is getting ready to go to his new home some time this week. He has been working hard on his recalls. Hailey has been tagging along and doing some practicing as well. Hailey rarely leaves our side and recalls instantly. Harley is more independent and takes the time to explore and sniff but has been excellent about coming back when he is called. Both are great dogs and will be loyal and faithful companions. They both went with us on a wood run with the four wheeler and were well behaved and obedient. These are awesome dogs who deserve great homes!

Cold days and lots of fun make for tired pups!

2009-01-21T22:06:00.001-05:00

Harley meets an awesome family!

2009-01-21T21:54:00.001-05:00

Harley met two people today looking for dog to share their lives with. He was very excited and did his best to contain himself and be the good dog that he truly is! Harley checked them out and very clearly decided he could be their dog. The family liked him a lot too. They drove a long distance to see him and wanted to take the time to make sure they were making the right decision. Harley said he has all the patience in the world if it means he is going to finally have a home of his own!

TV time with Harley, Hailey and Patrick

2009-01-14T21:24:00.001-05:00

Winding down before bed with a little TV time…. Harley and Hailey relax and enjoy people time!

Harley goofing around

2009-01-14T18:27:00.001-05:00

Harley or as he is affectionately known here… Bat Dog…. Goofing around, having fun, and making everyone laugh. Harley is a comedian and a clown. He can brighten days with his antics and light heart. He is just plain fun to have around. He craves attention and love and is never far from the action. He is gentle and kind and is just the right mixture of loyal, independent and all around good guy.

Hailey, the picture of sweetness and so much more….

2009-01-14T18:19:00.001-05:00

Hailey is a little princess. She is loving, loyal and constantly at your side. She is overflowing with love to give, mild mannered and such a sweet dog. She is a cuddler and a follower. She is a very people oriented and wants nothing more than to spend quality time with her people. Hailey will be a great lifetime companion and is looking for a home that will cherish her and love her. She is the definition of man’s best friend.

Hailey and Reese get microchips!

2009-01-14T18:04:00.001-05:00

Hailey and Reese were microchipped bright and early this morning! They were both outstanding and took it all in stride. These chips are a lifeline for dogs as if they were ever lost, abandoned or in a shelter again, the chips will be their voice. We are firm believers in taking the time and money to microchip dogs. It is traumatic enough to be abandoned once in a lifetime. Twice would be unthinkable. Please microchip your pets if you haven’t already done so!

Hailey’s back!

2009-01-12T19:27:00.001-05:00

Sometimes when you lose a pet, it takes longer to grieve and find a way to deal with the tremendous loss this brings then we allow. Hailey’s exuberance and happy go lucky nature intended to bring smiles and happiness to hearts served as a sad reminder of the wonderful dog they had lost. So Hailey came back to share her happiness and love with us! We are overjoyed to see her again and have time to spend with her before she finds her forever home.

Roscoe meets some new friends

2009-01-12T19:05:00.001-05:00

We introduced Roscoe to Bella and Molly today. Roscoe was bouncing through snow banks having the time of his life. Bella was more interested in hunting for a good bone and finding a quiet spot to chew on it and Molly was busy bouncing after Roscoe. He is pretty low key with the other dogs. Zach has introduced him to the ferrets and with supervision he does well. He tends to want to play too rough with them and needs to be reminded to slow down. Cats though seem to be out of his realm of comprehension and the first thought that comes to his mind is chase. He really loves people and being included in social activities. He is a sweet boy who will keep searching until he finds the perfect forever home.

Quiet, peaceful day with tons of loving dogs

2009-01-10T19:40:00.001-05:00

The cold kept everyone inside today. So it was a quiet day snuggling on couches with sweet, loving warm dogs. Harley and Roscoe worked on their cues and had some fun. Reese started learning her sit cue today. She is more interested in quiet time hanging out with her people than learning silly people cues. Reese’s ambitions are to find a quiet, chaos free home with plenty of one on one people time. She loves to sit nearby and keep you company. Bella would like a chaos free home with a tv and a yard to chase cool scents around in. Roscoe wants people to play with and have fun adventures with. He loves adventure and activity. Harley wants the best of both worlds. He wants a fun and active household during the day and someone to snuggle up to at night. One thing is sure these dogs deserve good loving homes and will wait patiently until the perfect home is found.

Hailey checks in

2009-01-07T21:37:00.001-05:00

Hailey gaining weight and enjoying her toy in her foster home. She is loving and beautiful!

Reese goes for her spay

2009-01-07T21:35:00.001-05:00

Reese made her way to the Animal Doctors today for her spay. After some tests and investigation by the great vets there it was determined that she was already spayed. We had suspected that but we needed confirmation in order to adopt her to a loving home. She has some weight to gain and a lot of love to give. She is a medium energy dog who prefers quiet walks and a chaos free environment. She is stunning and has the personality to match!

Dogs available for adoption

2009-01-02T21:31:00.001-05:00

Here is a brief up date on the dogs that are currently available for adoption.

Bella is a plott hound mix. She is spayed, micro chipped, utd on Rabies, distemper and parvo. She is heartworm and Lyme tested negative. She is dewormed and on Advantix. She is a great dog to have around with younger dogs. She is a natural born mother hen and keeps the peace in the younger more rowdy dogs. She was adopted out but was then returned. She loves to go for walks. She was used briefly for hunting and we are told she did well. She loves sleeping on the couch as well as hanging out in her crate. She is low maintenance and would make a great companion. Bella does well with children. No cats for Bella.

Roscoe is a pit bull. He is sweet, loving, and chockfull of personality. He has charmed his way out of a gassing shelter and was fostered in a loving home until he was forced to move because of a breed ban. He is neutered, micro chipped, utd on Rabies, distemper and parvo. He is heartworm tested negative. Roscoe is dewormed and on Advantix. He is currently working on his sit and down cues. He is doing very well and is a very good student. He is good with children but is still very playful and energetic. Roscoe is good around caged animals but likes to chase running cats. He has been introduced to three members of the pack here and gets along well with them. He is appropriate in his play with the dogs he has been introduced to here. Both homes he has been in have had teenage boys and he does well hanging with them.

Harley is a lab/shepherd mix. He came to us extremely underweight after being rescued from a kill shelter. He is neutered, utd on rabies, distemper and parvo, micro chipped, heartworm tested negative, dewormed, and on Advantix. He is one of the most loving, kind, and people oriented dogs you will meet. He is happy to hang out with people and socialize. He is learning his sit and down cues and is a quick learner. He gets along with all of the dogs in our pack and is appropriate. He has filled out nicely and is a very handsome young man. Harley, Bella and Reese are roommates and get along well.

Reese is a husky mix. She is quiet and reserved. She is due to be spayed on Monday, January 5th. She will be available after she has had time to heal. Reese is very regal and has the appearance of an arctic wolf. She loves to be in the vicinity of people and will sit or lie down near by. She does not like to hang out outside or to be left outside alone. Reese is up to date on shots, heartworm/Lyme tested negative, dewormed and on Advantix. She will be micro chipped before she is adopted. This is one beautiful dog.

Hailey is in a preadoptive home and is not currently available.

Our adoption fees generally run $150 for each dog. The adoption fees cover vet costs,spaying or neutering, bail, micro chipping, medication and food. The dogs are socialized, housebroken and trained in our home. The costs associated with the dogs generally exceeds the adoption fee and those costs are picked up by donations made by caring individuals. These dogs are worth every penny that is invested in them. We are looking for adopters who will continue to provide the same quality care and love in their new homes. For every dog we adopt out, another dog is pulled from a kill shelter. We also provide additional support and training to adopters.

If you are interested in any of these dogs please contact us.

Roscoe and Harley perfect their sit and down cues

2009-01-02T20:48:00.001-05:00

Roscoe and Harley have been working hard to perfect their sit and down cues. They are progressing wonderfully and have a great foundation in clicker training for whoever the lucky souls are that adopt these two gems. Both are eager to please and happy to work. They will spend another day or two working on these cues and then will be moving forward in their education.

Roscoe starts clicker training

2008-12-30T23:29:00.001-05:00

Roscoe had his first clicker training session tonight. He did remarkably well and picked up the sit cue rather easily. He connected the click and treat in the first few minutes of the session and then successfully moved on to connecting his sitting with a click and treat. His first training session was a huge success. Roscoe shared his room with Daisy overnight and spent the whole day with her. They seem to enjoy each others company and attention. He spent the rest of the evening playing with his teenage friend Zach. He should sleep well tonight and be ready to play again in the morning.

Introducing Roscoe to Daisy

2008-12-29T19:43:00.001-05:00

Roscoe hasn’t had any opportunity to interact with the other dogs. He behaves himself around the caged animals, he chases cats but we hadn’t given him the chance yet to meet any of the other dogs. Today he was given the opportunity to meet and hang with Daisy. They spent the afternoon together and Daisy decided to continue to hang with him tonight. We wanted Roscoe to have some dog social time. He seems quite interested in meeting Bella. Roscoe, Reese and Daisy went on a walk to the stream. Roscoe on a long line and Reese being walked. Roscoe was very excited and had a good time trying to absorb all the new smells. Reese had a ton of energy walking out but walked very sweet and dainty on the way back. This boy is one sweet bundle of energy and joy.

Bella, Roscoe, Reese and Harley define the word fun

2008-12-27T21:38:00.001-05:00

This is one of the best group of dogs we have had. They are so good natured and fun loving. They are happy doing just about anything! Roscoe loves to play, run and spend time with people. He is very cat like and will pounce good naturedly on feet and is always on the lookout of someone to snuggle with and spend time with. Harley is such a good sport that he will play with each and every dog for as long as they want to play. If no one is needing playtime he will settle in for some people time. He loves attention and is quick to learn. Reese is quiet and reserved but if you are gentle with her you can catch her playing a game of hide and seek. She craves people time and will sit statue like near you while you work. Bella is very low maintenance and is content lying in her crate chewing on a bone or chew toy. She likes to go outside for short jaunts. She is great for alerting us when we have fox or coyote heading towards the barn to feast on chicken.

Reese Gallery

2008-12-23T14:24:00.000-05:00

Welcome Reese!

2008-12-22T19:52:00.001-05:00

Reese is a beautiful white husky mix who looks like she is straight out of the arctic tundra. She has been in county lockup for almost three months. She has charisma and charm. Stay tuned for more on this gal!

Gypsy Heads off to her new home

2008-12-22T18:13:00.000-05:00

We wish Gypsy and her new family many years of happiness.

The Foster Dog Chronicles

Fattening the new kids up

2008-12-18T09:39:00.005-05:00

In this day in age we are used to slimming people and animals down but rarely do we have to fatten them up. Harley and Hailey weighed in at 42 lbs a piece. We started their weight gain program yesterday with our monthly deworming. Every day we will gradually increase the amount of food they receive until we see some significant weight gain. Not having a starting point to gauge how much food (or more accurately how little food) they were receiving every day we wanted to start them at a point that wouldn’t tax their system. And best of all they are happy with the program and cannot seem to stop wagging their tails!

Gypsy prances into surgery

2008-12-16T20:17:00.001-05:00

Gypsy, with her free spirit and happy go lucky ways pranced her way into the vet’s office today. She was excited and happy and ready for the next adventure. Her spay surgery was successful and she was recovering well. Tomorrow we will have the honor of picking her up and spending some time with her before she moves on to her next phase in life. She is being adopted by a wonderful family with two beautiful girls. She has been searching for those girls since she came back. Gypsy has no idea how great a life she will have. Gypsy’s two concerns are “Where are my girls?” and “When is dinnertime?”. The simple things in life that make all the difference.

New additions

2008-12-16T20:07:00.001-05:00

We have three new additions who came to us from kill shelters in the south. The plight of these dogs is heartbreaking. They have been on death row, forgotten for months on end in boarding facilities, pushed out of loving homes due to breed bans, malnourished and devoid of love. They do all have one thing in common. At every point in their plight, people have stepped forward and tried to help. This help came in many forms. Sometimes it was the rescuer who pulled them from the shelter, the rescuer that opened their home temporarily, the volunteer who took a day to take them for a walk and give them a little love, the list goes on but every person who crossed paths with these dogs has contributed to giving these dogs a chance to find love, give love and make a difference. If you are reading this and you have made a difference in the lives of the dogs that pass through here, we thank you. We take care of these dogs on a daily basis, but our supporters are the backbone of this operation. Let’s introduce our new arrivals:

Roscoe: A pit bull mix (male, neutered) who was rescued from a gas chamber in Georgia. He was living happily in a foster home in Tennessee when he became the latest casualty to a breed ban. Roscoe, faced with death row for a second time, was given up by his foster family to ensure his safety. He is wonderfully polite, sweet and playful. He is hoping after a year in limbo he will finally have a home to call his own, forever. Thank you to Kathy and her family for all their love and care they gave to him while he was entrusted to them. If you know someone who would can give Roscoe the home he deserves, please pass this on to them.

Harley is a year old male lab/shepherd mix. He is neutered. Harley was pulled from a kill shelter in Georgia by Coweta Kids. He has been in a boarding facility for most of his life. He is a warm, loving dog. He is great with other dogs, children and people. Harley is a people pleaser. Despite his rough start in life, Harley is everything you could ask for in a dog.

Hailey will be two years old in March. She is a spayed black lab mix. She is charming and sweet. Hailey tested positive for heartworm, underwent treatment and retested negative. She has been in boarding for the better part of a year. She is great with dogs, kids and people. Hailey has the sweetest disposition and tons of love to share.

Gypsy returns from her travels

2008-12-12T14:07:00.002-05:00

Gypsy is back with us for the short term. She came back from her preadoptive home for her spay scheduled for next week. She is looking great! She is one happy go lucky dog. She reunited with Molly and played in the snow for a little while before settling in for a quiet afternoon of bone chewing.

Some Snow fun

2008-12-07T23:42:00.004-05:00

Today was a day of fun in the snow. We broke out the skis and kick sled to see if we could teach the dogs to pull and work off some energy.

Here are some videos of the fun we had.

They are all still learning...so far we are more than happy with our results.

Adoptees find love and happiness in their new homes

2008-11-26T17:56:00.001-05:00

Obo (now Winchester) is doing great in his new home. His new owners say “Thank you for everything. Winchester fits into our family like a glove. WE LOVE HIM SO MUCH.

With out you though we would've missed out on Winnie.

Thanks again, “

Heidi Jo

Bella’s new

owner says she is very quiet inside and sleeps on her pillow but outside she runs around, comes back to the house when

she is called, and is working on her hunting skills!

And Gypsy is doing well in her preadoptive home. The girls are in love with her and I am sure she is equally in love with them!

Gypsy goes for an extended visit

2008-11-22T22:23:00.001-05:00

Gypsy left yesterday for a preadoptive home. She has got two kids to love and play with and two very attentive adults. We are very excited for her! She will come back here for her surgery in the middle of December and then she will be able to go to her new home.

She is getting one on one attention plus. She is an awesome dog and she will blossom in her new environment. We will update her progress as we hear.

Murphy's law

2008-11-22T21:02:00.003-05:00

Gypsy was scheduled for her spay this morning. We were fortunate this time in being able to get an appointment quickly. As Murphy would have it though, Gypsy went into heat this week. Because of the added risks this poses in surgery, she will have to wait until her heat cycle is completed and they have another opening. The new date is scheduled for Dec 16, 2008. We will not be actively advertising Gypsy until after that date. If you are interested in Gypsy, she is available for visitations. Although we cannot let her go to a new home until she is spayed, this provides anyone who is interested in her a chance to get to know her and have first preference on her when she is ready. This dog is an all around good dog.

A tribute to Sissy

2008-11-22T21:00:00.001-05:00

Our hearts go out to Bill and Jill on the passing of their faithful and loving dog. Sissy. Sissy had an inoperable brain tumor which was causing her great pain, and affecting her ability to breath. After consulting with their vet, and coming to the realization that there were no other medical options for improving the quality of Sissy's life or easing her pain, they made the decision to end her suffering. She will be missed!

Bella's Big Day

2008-11-17T18:32:00.001-05:00

Bella found her forever home today! She has the best of both worlds. She is going to be an inside dog but get to go out in the woods and hunt with her new owner. We are excited for her and wish her the best. She is one great dog!

Bella, happy, healthy and waiting patiently

2008-11-14T21:02:00.000-05:00

Happy, bouncy, sleepy, lovable Bella waiting patiently for a home she can call her own. She is back on track with loving life. She loves to go out and run around the yard with the other dogs. She is a gift we treasure every day.

Good friends

2008-11-09T18:59:00.001-05:00

The girls have been playing hard this last week and nothing makes them happier! It is amazing the difference in Bella since her surgeries. She is feeling better and is so full of life. She loves running around with the other pups. Gypsy has been well behaved with a little bit of mischief thrown in. She loves to jump and try to reach the laundry on the line. Bella is looking for a quiet, calm household. She loves to watch tv and go for walks on the leash. Gypsy likes to interact with people. It doesn't really matter to her what the person is doing as long as she is part of it.

Gypsy's adventures

2008-11-06T14:17:00.001-05:00

Gypsy has had quite the adventures in the last two days . She went to get her microchip yesterday. She didn't make a peep. She spent the afternoon playing with other dogs and snuggling up to a kid she found there.

Today she had her first vet appointment. She got a clean bill of health. Her heartworm/lyme test was negative. On November 12th she is due to be spayed. After all that she came home and met one of the team huskies... the every playful Skyy and they played together for a little while before falling asleep.

Gypsy and Bella become friends

2008-11-04T21:21:00.001-05:00

Bella is such a sweetheart with the younger dogs. She really looks out for them and is patient and loving with them even when they are persistently annoying with her. Bella does not have that same patience for older dogs.

Gypsy is adjusting well to home life. She appears to be housebroken. Gypsy plays well with the other dogs. She is shy but very loving.

Bella back on track and ready to run

2008-11-03T15:46:00.001-05:00

Bella is feeling young again. She is feeling much better after her surgeries and will be ready for a new home in two weeks. She loves to walk, can navigate stairs now and loves to watch tv. She is great with younger dogs and still maintains her mothering instinct. She needs a fenced yard or to be on a leash as she is a hound and loves to follow her nose.

Lights, Camera...Action

2008-11-01T00:11:00.002-04:00

Here she is Bella on Video for your viewing pleasure.

Click to view

Bella bouncing back and happy again

2008-10-30T15:35:00.001-04:00

Bella is feeling social and happy once again. She enjoys the company of younger puppy like dogs and is very tolerant of their antics. She is pictured here with the feral dog Molly.

The Saga of D2/Daisy/Shelia/Spades

2008-10-30T15:10:00.000-04:00

Here is Daisy when she was living here.

Here is Daisy now, after she was adopted out by Fort Drum. She was at her new home just under one month before escaping. There she sits unclaimed. This makes for her 3rd Shelter. This is hard to see such a sweet loving dog go from shelter to shelter with no one being able to accomodate her needs. She does love to run and play, but she also needs a dig proof, climb proof enviroment. We worked hard on her seperation anxiety and gain our trust.

She has now taken several steps backwards and needs those methods put back in place.
Daisy will love you unconditionally, you also need to set her boundries to allow it to happen.

Most importantly she needs a safe enclosure to be in other wise one day she will not make it to another shelter and end up dead.

Now how can you help this wonderful escape artist? Simple This Sunday head on in to Jefferson County Dog Control between 10am and 5pm and Check Daisy/D2/Shelia/Spades out and if you see she may not be the dog for you that is fine as they have 20 others to choose from. Just remember her sweet loving side comes with a brain and one strong hunting instinct.

Hope to see you there Sunday.