Pasha progress report:)

Earlier today I was just trying to figure out exactly when I first learned of Pasha, and how long I've had her... Feb 22 from Laurie @ Brooklyn Foster Animal Network... "April, a very needy case. Read the safer test. Volunteers are raving about her. Can we have her delivered to you asap?"  she was on the euthanasia-list and I was suddenly available to foster because of a cancelled trip, things do happen for a reason;)


So this pup has been in my life for exactly 3 weeks and I couldn't be happier to have her here!  she has the sweeeetest disposition and we are getting to know each other, pleasant surprises, problem solving, working out logistics of becoming a dog OWNER again... no matter how awesome the dog it's never eeeasy but it is worth it, she's definitely worth shuffling some things around.  I'm happy to have a permanent resident again, it's been a little tough getting attached to the foster pups, watching them learn things and improve and then handing them over (although honestly I couldn't have been happier with the adoptions I've had!!!).  Next time I foster, which I'm thinking will be sooner than later, somebody will be staying with me. Plus she'll make an excellent big sis to the new foster pups!


So on to miss Pasha's progress!  She's suuuuch a good girl, so sweet and eager to please, fun to train, happy to go with the flow, loves car rides, hiking, making friends at the dog run, kissing the kitty;)  blows my mind that somebody abandoned her, but I'm glad she ended up with me!  It's never totally smooth sailing with a new dog, you have to be realistic and expect a few issues, we have a few here, they're minor but still... She did get into things once or twice while I was at work, the recyclables, the quinoa and cat food, nothing terrible but worth preventing!  So for now she's in a confined space while am out, baby gated the hallway so she has the hallway and the bathroom to play in, with some of her sturdier toys and bones and her bed etc...  perhaps most helpful, I don't put food in her bowl in the morning, she gets her dog food + treats and peanut butter or yogurt frozen into a kong overnight!  I timed it yesterday, since they are frozen it took her a good 40 minutes of solid effort to empty it (and she gets 2!), FOOOOOD!!!!  she is very motivated to empty those suckers, I'm sure it burns off some of her mental energy and gives her "an appropriate dog hobby" so she doesn't get bored (tip from Dr.Ian Dunbar of http://www.dogstardaily.com/ works like a charm!).  Also she is a bit of an excited/submissive peer, this has happened a handful of times, she is clearly housebroken but this seems to be something different, we're off to the vet next Monday to rule out physical causes and if not then we'll work on it (I've been reading up...).  


I love my new doggie, fostering has been a great way to find a forever dog and to help other guys in the process.  Can't wait to see how excited she will be to have doggie house guests, I'm hoping to get back to fostering in early April, who will be our next visitor???

teaching the beast patience!

awesome trick interrupted by falling bicycle!

Another favorite game of ours is hide and seek!  She has to sit and stay while I hide in another room (with a toy or treats) and when I say "OK" she has to find me:)  shes' veeerrrry proud of herself when she does and then she gets cookies or we play catch.  Whatever kind of mutt she is whether shepherd, dobie or rottie they are all working dogs and need some kind of problem solving to challenge them and keep them from getting bored!  she also has a backpack like Dingo;) 

Wha' Happened?

Dearest Pasha is only a 1 1/2 years old(ish) and I had been amazed at her excellent house manners, extra impressive considering she has not been allowed any serious exercise since she was recently spayed... Today it got the better of her, when I came home surprise!!!! things were not where I left them, 5 shoes were on her bed, she had carefully extracted some of the wool from my UGGS (similar to stuffed toys right? perhaps it would have been better if she had done visual damage, then maybe I'd stop wearing those ugly things), also her plastic food dish (plus the food measuring cup!) were shredded, a bottle of vitamin E oil left an oil slick on the rug and bottle in tatters and IS THAT QUINOA ALL OVER THE FLOOR, and the COUCH???

Yup, predictably cabin fever struck.... probably didn't help that I had taken away her real bones, the duck she gutted, the rope toy she shredded, the ripped up tennis balls, leaving her with only a Nyla Bone and her Kong bone, unacceptable!  Pasha is great at keeping herself entertained, she looooves to throw things for herself and chase them, but these things are usually hard and super clanky on my mostly hardwood floors which I fear will annoy the downstairs neighbors!  I've been trying to leave her with the least aurally offensive toys when I'm gone, which has clearly resulted in a protest.

Todays carnage. 

The gutted duck is especially pitiful.

$100 later... (+ treats unpictured)

I call this picture "Hope"

Kong Wubba, please hold up to her abuse!

(I deserve kickbacks for promoting Kong products so frequently on Fosteroni!)

The irony of Pasha's timing is that tomorrow was the day I had chosen to declare her officially healed and able to run around and had planned a trip to the woods to celebrate!  This morning we had played a little fetch to make sure the incision site looked alright after some running around.  Oh well, trial and error... hopefully with the new batch of more rugged less loud toys will keep her more appropriately occupied while I'm hard at work earning money to pay for all her toys and to buy myself more quinoa.

P.S. Pasha has been trying to get treats out of the Kong with laser like focus for a good 45 minutes now:)  I'm ignoring the slobber all over the rug, it's worth it and the rug is washable...

She's my best friend:)

Soooo turns out I may be the lucky someone ending up with foster pooch number four!  I am officially considering adopting Pasha and am in the process of "test driving" our arrangement, I want everybody to be happy!   I've owned a dog before but Lulu was a tiny (super duper amazing) maltese who potty-wise was like a house cat.  I am a big fan of wee-wee pads, not instead of all walks but they sure can come in handy and make it possible to go out after work once in awhile and keep the poor pup from crossing her legs if she really has to go(!).  We'll see what we can do, I'm sure paper training is totally possible and since that's my only reservation I think I'm going to get right on that (I am teaching her the words "go potty", poop and pee when we go out for walks, I think she knows what they mean!  but she's so proud of herself for being housebroken she doesn't want to go on the pad, she feels like she'sbacksliding ;)

As my friend Jeanette pointed out, she is both cute and ambitious!

I love her to death, what a find!

Who am I kidding, she already has her Pasha Kelly dog tag and the enormous doggie bed is coming in the mail!  When you are a "single parent" (certainly feels that way!) it's extra important to make your pup a solid canine citizen who is welcome everywhere and whom people will delight in babysitting, at the moment I am working on avoiding bad habits!

My big plan:

1. Teach her to walk perfectly on her leash!  she already pretty good but she's strong and low to the ground so any pulling is unwelcome.  I'm not too worried about this.

2. Barking? she doesn't :)

3. Beggin'?  nope, not really, but just to be sure I tell her to "go" and point away from the table and she has to wander off a few steps.

4. I made the mistake of letting her on the couch for snuggles ( I figured she wouldn't be staying for long anyway), and then she started jumping on everyones couch when visiting!  easy mistake Pasha but now we've gotta change the rules on you.  Luckily she catches on quickly! 

5. Letting her sleep on the bed (see above)...  the fancy plush dog bed will make it up to her though right??

6.  Jumping up on people to say hi!  again, pretty unwelcome by most people, she's kinda big and her paws are muddy if she's in the woods or dog run... teaching her "up" and "get down" so she can be invited up if somebody wants hugs!  also I'm teaching her to sit for pets when I come home instead of the jumping.

7. Attempt to teach her to ring a bell when she needs to go out for a squirt, first I need to find a bell though, it's not christmas time?

I'm sure there's other stuff which I'll remember later, but for now we are in pretty good shape, she needs a few tweaks but not a major overhaul!  and don't worry this does not mean the end of fostering for me, once she's settled in we may get dog number 5 in here and they can learn from her good example:)

xoxo

April and Pasha!

Somebody's lucking out with this one!

Pasha has been with me since Thursday evening and I am smitten!  It's a mystery to me why someone would tie this dog to a fence and walk away, she has been an angel and is passing every test with flying colors.  She knows basic commands, quiet in the house, friendly to everyone (although she growled at suspicious looking teenage boys, she's protective!), not destructive except to tennis balls and toys, good with other animals (Josie almost likes her), keeps herself entertained with bones and toys, athletic outside and mellow inside, doesn't beg (wistful eye begging doesn't count).  She's kinda perfect...  But why tell you when I can show you?

Herro I'm Pasha!

such a pretty face!

she's so photogenic I can't stop!

this is her confused look (check out the teeth over lip action;)

trying to make friends, she just has to learn kitties 

don't like the puppy bounce style of playing...

oh yeah, treats...

that's better!

take me home and I'll the love the crap out of you!

bonus tail chasing video, enjoy:)

For information on Pasha email me at aprilkelly4377@gmail.com or call 917 374-3260

Cuatro!

Foster dog numba 4 is here:)  I've been waiting all day for my special delivery and she arrived around five and already less than 2 hours in I'm in love!  I'm calling her Pasha, and she's been wiggly and kissy and super outgoing from the second they let her out of the van, I was worried for nothing!

What we know/don't know:

1. Found as a stray found tied to a fence on 2/16, nice...

2. Breed?  Rottie mix? Shepherd mix? who knows, who cares she's lovable and gorgeous:)
1 1/2 years old, 42lbs.  Fixed, vaccinated.

3. Barely noticed my cat, no big deal to her, the cat was not too excited to see another giant dog though;)  I'll keep them separated for a bit but I'm not expecting a problem.

4. Personality! We have another sweetie! she's kissy and a "lapdog" lots of dog smiles, friendly and plays well with others, she already had a little play session at the dog run, plays fetch with the ball AND sometimes brings it back.  She's alright on the leash, pulls a little but nothing terrible.  Sits for food, shakes, jumps on the couch when invited ;)  plays with toys and is at this moment chomping on a bone in her crate with the door open, no wait, she just brought it over to chew next to me under the desk:)  she is relaxed and already at home here.

That's all I know so far, she seems super sweet, well mannered and playful, somebody will be lucky to adopt her but I'm definitely going to enjoy her in the meantime!

Meet Pasha (originally Linda)!

Pretty in pink at the dog run.  I'll add videos of her amazing doggie social skills next time!

For information on Pasha email me at aprilkelly4377@gmail.com or call 917 374-3260

Special delivery!

I had a vacation coming up and didn't want to take in a new dog with a limited window of time, you never know how long your houseguest will stick around waiting for that perfect match!  Well my little visit has been postponed due to a series of unfortunate events (soon, Joey, soon!), such a bummer but fostering always cheers me up sooooo.... this foster is dedicated to my favorite person and fellow dog lover Joey (our misadventure will save a doggie life and we'll be able to enjoy Disneyland that much more;)

Tomorrow morning my new friend will be delivered, we have never met and I'm hoping she's as sweet as she looks (little nervous, they wouldn't send me a vicious beast with murder in her heart would they? nah).

Doesn't she look like a good girl?

can't wait to meet her, I have a soft spot for the rotties!

Catching up with my Fosteroni's!!!

 "I'm soooo, sooo happy to report that I do hear fairly regularly from the new owners of the 3 dogs I've fostered so far!  it's super kind of them and really a treat for me and the rest of us who knew and loved the dogs before they were adopted (seriously everyone involved is so grateful that you take the time to let us know how well our pups are doing, it makes letting them go and taking in a new one a positive feedback loop instead of a series of bummers and murkiness)!

The afternoon Minnie was adopted I was super sad and missing her but right after she left (literally RIGHT AFTER) I got a crazily well timed text with pics from Jean on Spinx (now Charley) that made my day.  (as well as up to the minute reports from Minnie/Savannah's new dad as to how she was making out!)

"He's amazing!!! I sent you an email--we are calling him Charley now. One Spinx in the house is enough!  He's so great--we adore him."

with his big sister Kowie!

general cuteness

is that Wan the cranky dog hating cat?? is it a truce?  ;)

Yup, any plastic will do (I remember him stealing "toys" from the recyclables)

Hey April--just some news about Spinx--we gave him a new name: Charley. We think it's very fitting, and one Spinx in the household is enough!! He's so great...we're totally in love with him, and he just gets better and better! I'm sending you some photos from my phone; we love taking him to Prospect Park because he just plays with everybody!! 

Hope you're enjoying your new foster pet...!

Jean & Joel 

awesome, glad Charley's being a good boy! and it looks like the cats like him a little better now??  I'm dogless at the moment, another was adopted on saturday, we'll see who's next!  send as many updates as you like, they always make me smile!!!!  I got your texts a few minutes after my last pup was adopted saturday and it totally cheered me up:)

-April

yay!! yes, Charley's the best--he's getting better and better every day--calm when necessary, playful, sweet, so funny and hapless and lovey. He's such a big fun goofball!! And the cats are fine with him--they're learning how to fend off his unwanted advances--and Kowie is learning how to assert her dominance and remain on top. She's funny with him--she won't play, as hard as he tries to get her to do it, but she puts him in his place regularly. They're getting along just fine, and it's so interesting to see a different side of her. Now she's the grown-up calm and mature one!

Jean & Joel 

And how about miss Edwina/Dingo/Bronx my original dog crush up in Maine??  Her owners Meagan and Ben both "Facebook friended" me so I get to check out all sorts of great doggie pics which they frequently post, and Meagan even months later has been sending along updates and adorable anecdotes (thanks lady!).

 Nope not a bad life huh?

I was doing errands downtown with Rush and Bronx today. We stopped for tea and the coffee shop had a painting of Roosevelt hanging high on the wall and Bronx started staring at it. Everyone noticed how interested she was in it and then she started barking and growling! We couldn't stop laughing, about her argument with a fellow New Yorker.

Hey,

Just wanted to update you, Bronx is getting fixed tomorrow! The Vet said dogs can be out of heat but still show internal signs so waiting 1-2 months after going out of heat is safest for the dog. 

She has been getting along with everyone perfectly. She loves running on the beach is great at meeting new people/dogs. We brought her to my Grandmother's 82nd birthday and she was a big hit with all of my extended family. Bronx has mastered 'sit', 'come', 'down', 'back up' and sometimes 'leave it' and we are still working on more tricks! She has gotten some dry winter skin, (maybe from rolling in the snow/sand so much? so funny how she loves to roll around!) so we have been putting salmon oil on her dry food. This is slowly starting to help her skin and making her fur is softer than ever!! Did you feed her anything special like a treat that maybe helped her skin? Our only complaint is she loves to chase our neighbors cat, which is to be expected between dogs and strange mean cats who are in places they don't belong! 

Hope all is well!

Meagan

Best friends:)  so sweet.

I'm really hoping update posts like this will encourage folks who are considering fostering to give it a shot and to know that when a dog leaves your house they are not necessarily vanishing into thin air!  It means so much to know that you chose the right home and that these pups are LOVED, cared for, and enjoying their second chance, and all the cute stories and observations are a bonus:)

-April

if you or anyone you know is interested in fostering a dog or cat (or other critters) please email me and I'll point you in the right direction, you can never have too many good foster parents!
aprilkelly4377@gmail.com