Still riding that roller coaster called life!

Okay, so this has been my longest 'break' in between blogs so far.  Yikes!  So I will just pick up where I left off.

After a few days of just us & the beagles, I returned to the shelter for a new foster.  I looked at several & chose this little guy, at the time named Rusty.  He appeared to be a white & brindle pitty, 4 month old puppy, but after visits to the vet for his shots & nueter surgery, it was determined he was older, maybe 7 months, as all his adult teeth had already come in.  He was immediately a joy in our house & renamed Clyde for his clydesdale-like walk.  Nearly house broken, not too phased by his crate & intensely curious about these 2 strange beagles that were not interested in playing much!

After a week or 2, I happened to recognize a dog on CACC Rescue's facebook page (if you befriend them, beware that you will get teary eyed often...).  I had to visit the shelter for myself to confirm... bad idea.  There I saw the big cow-looking pitty that I had taken from being chained outside an abandoned apartment & to the shelter before our trip to Vegas.  He had lost a considerable amount of weight, but was still sweet as ever.  After bringing the beagles up to make sure he was okay with them, my wonderful husband left it up to me whether or not we would take him home to foster as dog #4.  A few days later, when I picked Samson up from the shelter, I was told that he was on the euthanization list.  A couple of hours with him & I could not, for the life of me, figure out why.  It must have been for space constraints.  His first visit was, of course, to Animal Care Chicago to be checked out, nuetered & vaccinated. The staff there sang Samson's praises & I would soon find that this sweet pup was as close to perfect as we have ever known.  Samson impresses everyone he meets with his perfect temperament!  He is often called 'Petey' from the Little Rascals.

Samson & Clyde became fast friends.  They love to rough house & tumble & have been thick as thieves for 2 months.  Clyde did a 1 week stint with friends of friends & that didn't work out.  Clyde's personality is much larger than his slight 33 lbs. & they were incapable of handling him.  He is a great pup & was adopted today by a lovely, local family that happened to see him wearing his hound gear 'adopt me' vest on a walk a few weeks ago.  He will love his new life with his human mom & dad & 2 human sisters. Samson has been a little down & out today wondering where his best friend has gone to.

Our first round of IVF was unsuccessful.  I can't help but feeling discouraged & disappointed.  But in usual fashion, we jumped right back onto the horse & went straight into round two.  Injections twice daily have become routine, the bloating & discomfort has not.  Yesterday, the doctor retrieved 6 eggs.  Today we were notified that 2 successfully fertilized.  Now we wait until tomorrow to hear if they survive before transferring them back to me on Monday or Wednesday.  Then comes the dreaded 2 week wait for the blood test to confirm or deny a pregnancy.  I hope our time has come. I'm really tired of being patient.  I've already vowed to go sky-diving for the first time if this attempt is unsuccessful.  And I'm not sure that I am ready to cash in on that one!!!

In the meantime, life is good.  Vegas trip 2011 #2 is fastly approaching & we are onto our next phase of enjoying our sweet & special Samson.  He holds a special place in my heart as a dog that I rescued from start to finish.  Every month, I still bring confiscated, abandoned or stray dogs into the shelter & never see them again.  Samson came into my life for unknown reasons & for now, he will be here to stay for at least a little while, when I need him most.

'He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world...When all other friends desert, he remains.'

9 Dogs in 1 year!

A lot has happened in the past month!  As we knew would happen, Mocha (now renamed Luna) was basically adopted within 2 weeks.  Our quickest yet!  We did savor her for an additional week, as we wanted to make sure she progressed with use of her broken hind leg. 

Before we left for Vegas, there was some interest in Rocky, but nothing solid as of yet.  He was lucky enough to board at Animal Care Center in the west loop where he played beautifully with the big dogs!  The little ones, not so much. 

Also, before Vegas, we were finally approved for IVF by the insurance review board!  It's funny, we were so stressed & focused for so long about not getting approved, now that we have been, it's almost anti-climactic.  I know I say that now, but of course, the end result will all be worth it.  In the meantime, we keep scheduling that '1 more vacation' before life as we know it changes forever.

Vacation got off to a bad start (missed flight), but the minute we checked in, it became the best Vegas vacation either of us have had to date.  Even a decent win on our last day!  It was so amazing, we are already booking our next one in October.  I may be a couple spins away from Gambler's anonymous (that wheel of fortune machine sucks me in every time!!!).

Upon our return, we met someone that was a perfect fit for our sweet Rocky.  Like Stella, he stayed with us for the longest period, 2 months.  He went to live with his new human dad today, where he will get to sleep in the big bed every night.  I am certain he already likes his new home!  He has also been renamed Winky.  I giggle every time I say it, but it is definitely a fitting name.  I look forward to hearing about progress with his medical needs & about his new adventures as part of a forever family.

Strangely, I am sitting here in a quiet, clean house.  We cannot remember the last time there has only been us & the 2 beagles.  I will enjoy the moment, because we know it won't last long!

This past week marked the 1 year anniversary of our 1st foster, Meaty's adoption.  May 25, 2010.  We look back on our first year of fostering & are proud of our accomplishments.  9 dogs in 1 year.  We have learned a lot about each other, and even more about the will & resilience of shelter dogs.  All 9 dogs have a place in our hearts & keep us motivated to move forward in our efforts.  I hope we can increase our number each year!

I HAVE DONE SOMETHING

    

I looked at all the caged animals in the shelter...the cast-offs of human society.

I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness, and betrayal. And I was angry.

"God," I said, "this is terrible! Why don't you do something?"

God was silent for a moment, and then He spoke softly, "I have done something," he replied. "I created you."

-- Author Unknown

I may have bitten off more than I can chew...

I have been behind on posting & for very good reason.

Rocky is doing fabulous! His one tumor-looking growth is nearly undetectable. His obscured eye seems to be getting better, too! No interest on him yet, but we are scheduled to bring him to 2 events where he will get some great exposure (thanks to his Hound Gear vest). Saturday, April 30th is the Pawz for Japan fundraiser & Saturday, May 7th is the annual Anti-Cruelty Bark in the Park. I'm very excited about both!

Last Thursday, I attended a special informational session at Chicago Animal Care & Control about Safe Humane's Court Case program & volunteering at the shelter. I made the mistake of taking the 'tour' of one of the court case pavilions. Pavilion F & G are where court case dogs go & remain until a rescue pulls them. I saw this BEAUTIFUL, 6 month old, indescribably colored, young female pittie with a bandage on her hind leg. Her coloring, we now know, is called blue fawn. A divider separated her small space from her pure blue brother. This sweet girl was limping around in her excrement & the look in her eyes was that of looming depression. Her cage card said that she & her brother were abandoned in an apartment. They shouldn't even have been 'court case dogs' because there was no one charged! Of course, I went home that night & could think of nothing else, so I planned to visit her the next day & get her out of her cage for some fresh air & human contact. 

Scary car ride!

When I returned on Friday, I was saddened to see she was in the exact same filth that she was in the day before. I took her out of her cage on Friday, April 22nd & never looked back. She spent a little time at work with me where she was a big hit & then we headed home.    

Chillin' under the desk on some BDUs



A puppy is alot of work. 2 puppies is INSANE! Maybe 2 puppies that are super young & fit in the palm of your hand are easier. But these 2 lugs at about 30 lbs a piece... not so much.



Mocha's 1st night home

                                        There have been a few 'explosive' potty training accidents & a bit of chaos for the first few days, & even a few domestics. But at the end of every night, when we are all cuddled up on the couch, the look of love & gratitude in Mocha & Rocky's eyes are worth all of it. These 2 cuddle up several times a day & my heart swells. Their ability to love & forgive is amazing. Our few days of annoyance or aggravation equals a future & a lifetime of love for these deserving babies. 

Ying & Yang



Mocha's injury is minor. We are getting a splint for the leg this week & she should heal without a problem. Rocky gets neutered tomorrow & Mocha gets spayed next week. We are already meeting a potential adopter for Mocha tomorrow (fingers crossed). She will move into her forever home quickly as her different coloring makes her unique. People love the unique ones! Rocky met a man on a walk the other day who recognized his value despite his odd look & expressed interest in adopting... I am anxiously hoping he gives us a call!

                                    "The Rescuer's Creed"

I promise I will take your unwanted animals.
I will heal their wounds, their diseases, their broken bones.
I will give them the medical attention they need and deserve.
I will nurture their starvation, and give them a warm place to sleep.
I will spay and neuter them, vaccinate them against the diseases that can harm them.
I will treat them and honor them.
I will buy them toys, blankets, balls, and teach them to play.
I will speak softly to them.
I will try to teach them not to fear, not to cry, and not to hate.
I will whisper sweet, kind, gentle words into their ears, while gently trying to stroke their fear, their pain, and their scars away.
I will face their emotional scars and give them time to overcome them.
I will socialize them, potty train them, teach them to be obedient, show them dignity, and hold their paws, and stroke their ears if they have endured too much and walk them over the Rainbow Bridge,
BUT most of all I will teach them Love. ~Author unknown

The face of a fighter & heart of a lover.

Hubby made the mistake of saying 'dogs are like kids. The biggest adjustment is going from 1 to 2. Anything after 2 is all the same.' The very next day I went to the shelter.

First, I viewed a female puppy that was so terrified, she cowered in the corner & wouldn't even look at us. It broke my heart. The next was another female pup that had eaten poison in her front yard & the owners didn't want to spend the money for a vet to treat her, so they relinquished her. The last was a boy pup in medical. This was my first time back in the medical section of the shelter. I can almost appreciate a shelter dog being stuck in the medical section. It's a smaller room with closer quarters & much more human interaction & attention for the obvious reasons. This boy was a 5 month old, male, white & brindle pit with the most distorted looking face I had ever seen. I knew immediately that out of the 3 I had seen, he was the one who needed out of the shelter the most! He had been there for 2 months after coming in as a stray with extensive, fresh injuries to his head. For 2 months, he was only made comfortable & given antibiotics. This boy needed medical treatment beyond that & wouldn't receive it until a rescue funded it.
I went back & picked him up to bring him home 3 hours later. After the obligatory vomiting on the car ride home & a much needed bath at Canine Corral, he was finally in foster. We were given some great ideas for names (Nikao, Popeye & Elwood, just to name a few), but decided on Rocky after Rocky Balboa because he face appeared so beat up. It is heart wrenching to look at, but his spirit & personality tell such a different story (pictures forthcoming...).


Rocky's 1st night home


The next day, we both took off of work to take Rocky to the specialist in Fox Lake. We were sad to find out there is nothing to be done. It is only a guess that he was bitten by a large dog at some point. The puncture on one side caused his eye socket to shatter & so he is barely able, if at all, to see out of his left eye. The puncture on the right side appears to have gotten infected then healed into an abscess so there is a large tumor looking thing on his right side. There is a chance as he gets older, that both issues will diminish.  He is not in any pain or anything, so onward we move!

Rocky is an absolute doll & I think I say that about ALL of our fosters! He likes to play rough with his foster sister, Stella. They recognize that they are the same breed, so when they play, it is ON. He has become very attached to the both of us. He cries when one of us leaves the room. We are working on housebreaking, which will be easier starting this weekend once we have full use of the fenced in yard again. He is a grazer when he eats... that is very rare in our house. All of our dogs eat like it's their last meal. He walks AWESOME on his leash & is working alot off leash, as well. He prances very proudly when he walks & has no idea that his looks are a bit different. When it is just us & him, he just loves to snuggle. He will actually lay his snout over your face or snuggle in the crook of your neck. Words can't describe how sweet Rocky is. His uniqueness will hopefully attract the perfect home for his adoption!

In other fabulous news, Stella is going to her forever home this Sunday!!! A couple (friend of a friend) met her over the weekend & fell in love.  They don't have any young children & Stella's future mom doesn't work, so Stella will be lavished in the love & attention she deserves all day long!  Although we previously thought her last 2 adopters were 'perfect', I am certain that for Stella, the 3rd time is the charm.  As the only dog in the house, Stella will behave perfectly & not be distracted by other dogs.

Lastly in updates, my fertility doctor came back from vacation & decided to proceed with the methatrexate.  She said there was a pregnancy, but it wasn't developing properly & they could not determine where it was located (uterus or fallopian tube).  I won't go into detail about the injections, but if I have to give myself DAILY shots in the muscles above my butt for IVF, I am in trouble!  As always, if insurance cooperates (& they should after 4 failed pregnancies), IVF will begin in June or July. 

In the meantime, a new garage, a new dining set, a new pup to train & adopt, plus an upcoming trip to Vegas... I can't complain :-)

'Nothing in the world that's worth having comes easy.'

A series of unfortunate events...

I know that's a movie title, but it very much describes one of my days last week. It was one of those days that went from bad to worse real quick.

First, I've been in a 'holding pattern' with this 4th pregnancy. My hormone levels continued to rise slowly on their own, but nothing can be found on an ultrasound. Again, we heard, 'let's just wait & see' from the doctors.


Where is my forever home?


On what we thought was a good note, we were going to complete Stella's adoption. A couple wanted a companion for their 7yr old pit. We watched Stella & Buster play beautifully for over an hour.  Not even 5 minutes after we started on our return home, I received a frantic call from the woman that we needed to come back... the dogs had gone 'ape shit'.  Her words.  So we asked what happened.  The man was sitting on the ground petting both dogs.  The dogs started to play.  After a few minutes, the man decided 'he' didn't want them to play anymore & tried to get in between them to stop them.  We, by no means, are experts on dogs.  But we have learned Stella's triggers. And we went over them thoroughly with the adopters.  She has a past & she has fears.  Once she feels safe & trusts us, those triggers diminish.  The biggest no-no is getting between her & another dog- especially pulling them apart by collars.  I don't know if she feels threatened or is trying to protect her human or the other dog, but we have recognized that & manage accordingly.  We drove home with Stella feeling failed yet again. 

As we got out of the car at home, I realized Stella didn't have 'just' 1 or 2 bit wounds, the whole left side of her face was pretty chewed up.  Off to Dr. B to make sure she didn't need stitches.  Luckily, she did not.  Some antiseptic spray & antibiotic pills & we were good to go.  UNTIL the receptionist next door from the law firm walked into the vet's office.  She told the vet that she was by herself next door & there was someone sawing something by her alley side window.  She didn't know who he was & he said he was replacing her air conditioning unit.  As it is second nature, my husband went over to check it out to insure she was safe.  I would say only 50% of the time does he carry off duty.  Today was one of those days.  Here is how the scene played out for me... I was talking to the vet assistant & seconds later, I heard 3 shots.  I looked at the vet assistant & said 'those are gun shots'.  She plainly stated (in a heavy polish accent), 'no, no, they are just working!!!'.  My instinct was confirmed when Dr. B walked in through the rear entrance with his eyes the size of oreo cookies & said 'call the police'.  I dropped Stella's leash & ran through the office as I tore through my purse looking for my off duty weapon (my purse pistol as I call it).  I haven't been actively on the street for almost 2 years, but training (& fear for my husband's life) took over (my husband's account of my arrival is very amusing).  When all was said & done, everything & everyone was okay.  It turns out, a heroin addict, felon did in fact steal the commercial air conditioner off the back of the building.  When my husband walked out of the door, this guy had just lifted it by himself into the trunk of his car. For those of you that know my other half, he is not small in stature... & neither was the thief, adding the fact that he was probably high.  My hero husband announced who he was & confronted the thief.  The fight was on & my husband had already drawn his weapon.  3 shots were fired, no one was hit except the car & when I ran outside, the car had already fled.  The homeland district responded quickly & caught this moron on the expressway (a beige sedan with a commercial air conditioning unit in the open trunk is not very stealth!).  The day of disappointments turned into a night of exhaustion.  I think it took 3 days for my heart to return from my stomach to it's intended spot. 

I believe everything happens for a reason.  Had our events of the day gone 5 minutes in either direction, everything would have been different.  In the meantime, the Chicago media highlights the poor decisions made by a couple of officers that do not represent the majority of a great department.  Yet, no one recognizes the heroics of off duty officers on a daily basis.  I guess that doesn't make good entertainment. 

Always carry off duty & always go home safe.  It may be your own life you save or that of an unknown citizen.  How many of us think... 'that would never happen to me'...?

'When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.'

Princess Peyton... you changed my life forever.

I've saved my most memorable foster for last. 

We had just adopted Stella to her '1st' home on a Thursday in November 2010.  On Sunday, we were having a lazy day of watching football when I received a text from the foster coordinator.  There was a puppy in foster that was not being accepted by the large resident dog.  She had an injured hind leg.  I picked her up within 2 hours of the text.  She was a TINY 6 week old, black pit puppy that was brought into Chicago Animal Care & Control with a very swollen rear leg.  The shelter is overwhelmed with owner give ups & strays on a daily basis.  Extremely sick dogs are humanely euthanized.  Injured ones are given the basics & sit with their injury & pain until a rescue takes them into foster & provides medical treatment.  This puppy fit in the palm of my hand & a third of her size was taken up by a bandage that wrapped her leg from hip socket to her toes.  She hadn't been given a name yet.  When we got home, she just wanted to snooze in my arms & her head would perk up during certain parts of the football game.  The Indianapolis Colts were playing & Petyon Manning happens to be my favorite player... & so Princess Peyton got her name.

I have always said I wanted a 'special needs' dog... deaf, blind, heart condition, wheelchair, etc.  A dog that needed extra special love.  Little did I know this was going to be my first opportunity that I was not at all prepared for.

Since it was Sunday, the vets were closed, so I got the first available appointment on Monday.  We were supposed to keep her calm so she wouldn't hurt her leg further, but try telling a 6 week old puppy that!  She wanted to run & roll in the grass & play with the beagles. She loved to run & just dragged her little injured leg behind her as if it got in the way.  She slept in bed with us for the first of many sleepless nights.  The vet x-rayed her leg & the report was not good.  He referred us to see an orthopaedic vet & said she would probably need surgery.

In rescue, there are certain vets that extend their services at a deep discount.  The orthopaedic vet was in Fox Lake, about an hour away.  I made the first available appointment for the next day.  One of my favorite things with Peyton was when we'd go somewhere, I didn't have the heart to crate her & banish her to the back of the car.  She was so tiny & well behaved, that she was always transported in a blanket covered laundry basket!!! Filled with a plush bed & plenty of toys.  She fell asleep within minutes everytime.   

The orthopaedic vet plainly stated, he could not save the leg.  If the injury was within 3 days, he could have.  The break caused the bones to float into a parallel position & fuse together.  Trying to take them apart would cause further trauma & her tiny body would not survive the surgery altogether.  I contacted the foster coordinator & found the decision was mine to make.  My stomach rolled with nausea at the thought of amputation.  Just thinking about leaving her there overnight caused me to cry openly.  This poor baby had been injured, dumped & was in a shelter in her short, first 5 weeks & I was going to break her heart by leaving her at the vet's office which would result in her having only 3 legs.  I cried the entire way home... part from physical exhaustion & part from emotional exhaustion. 

My husband picked her up very early the next morning.  To our surprise, she didn't have to stay at the vet's any longer than the anesthesia wearing off!  All I could think was 'are you kidding me'???  The vet staff fell in love with her & she was held & snuggled for most of the time she was there.  When I came home from work, I expected to find a pitiful, depressed little girl.  I was completely wrong.  Peyton was just fine.  She was ready to play & live her life, glad that the lifeless limb that was holding her back was now gone.  She learned to go up our 6 steep basement stairs within a week or two.  And on her first leashed walk, that little 3-legged stinker was FAST!  She didn't want to walk, she wanted to run!  For all the time I had felt sorry for Peyton, she remained unchanged.  Her fortitude & happy-go-lucky personality left a paw print on my heart forever.

Peyton was quickly adopted by an amazing family.  She went to a home with a human mom & dad, a human brother, sister & 2 canine siblings, as well.  She was renamed Roxy & learned that she absolutely loved to play in the snow.  She is such a smart little girl & would go straight to the floor heat vent & lay on it to warm up.  She loves to snuggle with her brother, Maddix the boxer & to play with her other brother, Sancho the chihuahua. 

I look forward to updates about Roxy as she grows up & has a fulfilling, loving & happy life.

'Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.'   

Igor found his furever home!

Last night, I took Igor to his new home.  He is going to live with a human mom & dad,  & 3 human siblings- a 5 year old girl & 3 & 1 year old boys.  Plus 2 feline friends!  Igor has a huge yard to play in & 5 pairs of hands to lavish him with the attention & love he deserves.  Igor was such a special boy in our home... we knew he needed a home with either a canine companion and/or children.  When it came down to the wire, Igor appeared to be most happy with children in his company.  He probably missed out on so much in his unknown past.  Igor was so intrigued to watch one of his new siblings swinging on a playset in the yard & watching another climb a climbing wall & slide down a huge slide.  Igor thoroughly enjoyed riding shotgun on the way to his new home! 
Buddy (our beagle) is somber today.  He is familiar with 'losing' friends when fosters are here for a short time, then go to their forever home.  Stella (our other foster) is still looking for her friend Igor at times.  It is much quieter & calm in our house with 3 dogs rather than 4, but it's still early on a Sunday morning, I won't hold my breath!  Now we can focus on finding the perfect home for Stella.  She so very much deserves it.

 Yesterday, Stella had a playdate with my 16 month old niece.  We had been told she was good with kids, but I had to see it for myself.  Stella is always excited to meet new people & go to new places.  So much so, her entire body wiggles & her tail is like a whip!  After the initial excitement wore off after about 15 minutes, Stella followed my niece around, played with her toys & snuck in a kiss anytime she got the chance.  Stella would love a family with kids & that is what we will try & find for her, too! 



'It is true that pitbulls grab & hold on. But what they most often grab & refuse to let go of is your heart, not your arm.'

if the 3rd time wasn't the charm... the 4th time must be April Fools!

If I had a dollar for everytime someone told me, 'it (pregnancy) will happen when you least expect it', I would be rich.  And they were certainly right.  Kind of. 
We took the past month off of fertility procedures to enjoy a quick ski trip & to 'rest' from the pressure.  Sure enough, it happened naturally.  As always, we proceeded with guarded optimism.
Today, I would be 5 weeks & 4 days pregnant.  We learned today that it is likely a tubal or ectopic pregnancy, as there is nothing in my uterus.  It's indescribable to go from seeing an empty sac in my ultrasound of prior pregnancies to seeing a whole lot of nothing at all in today's ultrasound.  My body sure fooled me this time.  There was a pregnancy, just not where it's supposed to be.  I can only pray that it isn't tubal, which if not corrected, can damage my reproductive organs.  I'm not done fighting yet, I still need those parts!

It is kind of sad that I have become quite numb to the disappointment.  It also doesn't help that I've been fighting a terrible chest & head cold for the past week (sans any cold medication because tylenol is the only 100% safe in pregnancy!).  Crying is not much of an option today.  I can't breath with these darn sinues as it is.

I am so grateful for my support system of my family & friends.  I don't know what I would do without you all.  With all that is going on in the world (especially Japan), I can only be thankful that a 4th failed pregnancy is my only heartbreak today.

On the foster front (because that is very much constant in our lives), we have had lots of interest in Igor, but no serious follow throughs.  I actually became annoyed with one interested party today.  He was so arrogant to believe he didn't need to fill out an application & could come meet Igor (without the rest of his family) with 15 minutes notice!  Excuse me Mr. Important Business dude... you're not worthy.  ;-)  And another lady asked if she could 'test him out' in her home for a week.  What are people thinking?  Of course, we want Igor & Stella to find their forever homes so we can save more dogs from the shelter, but we refuse to just give them to anyone that is interested.  We have had zero interest in poor Stella.  She did just get her professional pictures taken this weekend & a mass email was sent today to dog lovers in the Chicago area.  I am seriously considering renaming her 'Sammi Sweetheart'... yes, from the Jersey Shore.  'The sweetest bitch you'll ever meet' is her claim to fame.  Stella is still the sweetheart in our home.  She is thriving without any  problems in our home.

I can't believe I've forgotten to mention this is previous posts, but my husband & I have both finished reading The Lost Dogs, the story of the Michael Vick pit bulls.  I am borrowing it to ANYONE that is interested.  It is the most enlightening, heart breaking & heart warming book I have ever read.  These dogs have the heart & soul of what we humans should aspire to achieve in a single lifetime.  Their story solidifies our plight of saving & educating about this very precious breed.



'We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare, and love we can spare.  And in return, dogs give us their all.'

Rosebud Returns...

It only took 2 days after the initial call that Stella (originally named Rosebud) was fighting with her adopted sibling, for her adopters to call & ask us to pick her up.

9pm on a Sunday night & we didn't even hesitate... drove an hour & picked her up immediately.  From what we were told, I was expecting a 'monster'.  In the 3 months she was in her new home, the 2 dogs had been clashing regularly.  We were angry that her adopters hadn't contacted us for help after the first or second time.  Friends would have sent out a trainer & either the 2 girls could have been managed properly or Stella may have determined to be placed as an only dog in a new home.  I feel that I failed her.  She was only 4 months when she was adopted, she was a puppy & able to molded with the right leader.  Stella also came back with quite a few scars on her face & head.  It breaks my heart.  Although she wants to be a dominant dog, I think she had to defend herself at times, too.

Luckily, she fell right back into our 'pack' at home.  4 dogs here now.  As I type this, she is snuggled over the paws of our stubborn beagle, Buddy.  Stella is a sweetheart. We monitor all dogs very closely.  We have learned Stella's triggers that cause her to potentially act out.  Picking up Bella, our small female beagle, is one of them.  Giving attention to another dog on an elevated surface (couch, ottoman or chair) is another one.  We avoid these actions once we realized they aggravated her & have had no incidents.  Unfortunately, she didn't fare well in doggie daycare while we went on our ski trip.  She has a very high prey drive & wanted to go after every small dog there... I can't express the gratitude to Canine Corral for allowing her to stay & altering their schedules to try & work with her.  Stella will never be a dog park or doggie daycare candidate, which will make her challenging to find a home for. 

Surprisingly, her presence here has also brought a different side of Igor out.  Igor has been antogonizing Stella to play constantly.  They are perfectly matched in size & Igor doesn't have a mean bone in his body.  Several times daily, they chase & wrestle outside & inside, whenever the mood strikes.  We can also leave out the deer antler bones & tug toys & all 4 dogs are appropriate.  If Stella wants a bone that someone else has, she will patiently wait & take it when the other dog walks away from it.

The night before we went out of town, Stella was the only dog home with us.  So she was allowed throughout the house with us, on the couch while we watched t.v. & in the bed at night.  She is a DOLL.  She is such a lover & not obtrusive at all.  We are going to work with a trainer to see if Stella's triggers can be rehabilitated or if she is destined to be a solo dog.  I am dedicated to finding her the perfect home this time around...she doesn't deserve to be shuffled from home to home.  She, of course, always has a home here with us.

'Dogs are lousy poker players.  When they get a good hand, they wag their tails'

Light at the end of the tunnel!

Okay, so it seems I've slacked in blogging lately.
Lots to catch up on!

2 weeks ago, we visited the shelter to meet a potential foster. I selected this boy (who we have named Mario) because of his extremely intimidating features & his supersweet personality. He has cropped ears, bow-legged feet & is 80+ pounds of pure muscle. He was very responsive & seemed un-phased by our beagles & just happy to be out of his kennel. We provoked a few scuffles between him & Buddy & he was remorseful when he was yelled at, but we just weren't ready to take him on. I am keeping an eye to see if he's still at the shelter & hopefully we will be ready to take him on next round with some routine training.

And then came Igor. We wanted a break from the puppy routine (housetraining every 20 minutes in the bitter cold weather was brutal), so there was this smaller pit mix that was cowering & shaking in his kennel. He refused to come to us & refused to walk on a leash. We carried his 27 lbs. out to meet the beags. He was so happy to be free & wagged his tail furiously as it was tucked between his legs. He came home with us an hour later. Typically we would wait until he was neutered, but he had kennel cough, so that needs to be treated before he can undergo surgery. The shelter was no place for this shy boy to get better. His endearing underbite earned him the name of Igor. He has a face only a mother could love!

First stop was the Canine Corral for a much needed bath. Not only was this the smelliest dog we have brought home, to date, but the poor guy's nerves got the best of him & he got carsick on his ride home. This must be what having kids is like!

His first week with us was hectic. His cough progressed quickly & after 3 days, we were really worried. With visits to the vet every other day, some intravenous antibiotics & fluids, he finally started feeling better after about a week.

When he first came home, there were a couple of issues we were baffled by. He refused to walk up stairs. He was fine going down them. He also had a weird thing about doorways. We had to carry him out to the yard to use the bathroom. Same thing with the gates on our fence. We did take him on his first walk successfully with a harness. He does not like anything to pull on his collar. He mimics the beagles (including an obsession with squirrels), so that has helped tremendously. A HUGE thank you to Angela Lullo Caldwell (a high school friend on facebook) who always gives me great advice for new challenges with our fosters.  Sign up for her dog training classes at the Orland Hills Petsmart.

2 nights ago as we were watching t.v. & we witnessed Igor out of the corner of our eyes, tugging & kissing Buddy's ear. We sat quietly in anticipation of Buddy's reaction. Buddy finally caved & reciprocated to sweet Igor. Since that night, they love to wrestle, chase each other & play tug of war. It warms our hearts to see this boy come out of his shell & for our beagles to finally accept him. Igor has also been given the nickname of Mr. Wiggles. When you talk to him & give him any type of attention, his whole body wiggles. And like several of our previous fosters, he seems to be working on his beagle 'howl' every so often.

We picked up Santo from his 3 weeks of prison training & delivered him successfully to his new home. He put on a much needed 20 lbs. & is reportedly doing well in his new home with his human mom & dad. This lucky boy will definitely be spoiled.





We received an email from Stella (previously Rosebud)'s adopters who are having some issues with her after 3 months. They have agreed to work with a trainer & our fingers are crossed that things will work out for them.

Lastly, a fertility update. After 1 unsuccessful attempt at IUI (intrauterine insemination), the insurance case manager called with good news this week. She insisted the physician reviewer give an exact number of attempts at IUI that would be required before approving IVF. He stated only one more IUI would be required. Finally, a light at the end of the tunnel. The first round of IUI was difficult, both physically & emotionally. After the disappointment of that failed attempt, we decided to take this next month off from any fertility procedures... and are taking a spontaneous trip to go skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado, our favorite ski spot & the very first vacation we took together 5 years ago.

'Don't litter. Spay & neuter your pets.'

Our first puppy foster; Rosebud

It couldn't have been better timing when I received an email about a puppy that needed to be pulled from the shelter. We definitely needed some puppy love in our home. And this would be our first experience together with a puppy! It's great preparation for having children.

Rosebud was named by the shelter staff & to this day, I am not sure why, because it makes me think of Rosebud from the 'Buddies' movie series who was a fluffy, sweet golden retriever puppy. Our Rosebud was a pitbull rescued from a most certain frightful fate in the ghetto. We found out that her 17 year old handler thought that swinging her by her collar & leash like a yo-yo was appropriate. Thankfully a diligent, kind police officer rescued this little pup & arrested the savage that mistreated her.

After Rosebud's 2 weeks of jail time at the shelter, she came to live with us. She was a feisty puppy & obviously had begun learning bad manners & defense mechanisms in her previous less than loving home. She was definitely in her chewing phase & we were her preferred chew toy. Rosebud kept us on our toes, but was house & crate trained quickly & even bonded with the stubborn resident beagles. As all of the pitbulls we have had, she was eager to please & completely dedicated to her human caregivers. She especially loved wrestling with the kids that visited her!

Rosebud was adopted to a couple with a female pit mix named Daisy who needed a companion & playmate. Rosebud has been renamed Stella & is flourishing in her new home. Stella has grown quite big in the few months she has been gone & by the looks of this picture, is now a full grown, well adjusted gal.

Stella was the first of three puppies we fostered at the end of 2010. Puppies are very much like children with the exception of being able to leave them home in a cage for a few hours at a time ;-) The puppies have required us to work as a team & rely on one another to get the job done. We have been successful thus far! There is still nothing as comforting & sweet as the love of a tired & relaxed puppy.

On a more entertaining note, as we were driving yesterday, we saw an unleashed, golden retriever type dog walking over a bridge on a busy street. When we realized he didn't have an owner, my husband pulled the car over, handed me his belt (once again, I didn't have a spare leash in my car) & off I ran. For those of you that know me, I am NOT a runner. But saving a dog in need changes me. And this dog was ready to run! After 2 blocks, he started to walk into a busy street & as I tried to get his attention & get him to come to me, he looked & darted right into traffic. He was struck by a minivan; I heard the impact, a short cry & people began to get out of their cars gasping in horror. But when I got to the spot he was hit, he was gone! I caught him out of the corner of my eye running (uninjured) down an alley. I have to tell you that we were in an unfamiliar area. I was without a cell phone & running in an alley of a street I couldn't name. Lucky for us, my husband and I are a bit familiar with 'chasing' & in the car, he was able to parallel & locate me. The dog thankfully went into a gangway & we were able to close him in on both sides. We hooked him with the belt & found his owners walking around looking for him. We got back in our car & continued on our way. I coughed for awhile because of running in the cold, but I surprisingly wasn't tired & I am not sore. Adrenaline does crazy things & last night, it saved a family dog.

'A dog is for life, and not just for Christmas.'

Toby... aka 'Huge Dog'

Toby is one of the dogs that 'chose' us.

As we were deciding whether we would continue to foster, a high school friend on facebook was looking for a home for Toby, the young, red & white, pitbull boy. This friend had been dogsitting Toby for about a month & the original owner decided he didn't want him back. Toby was going to be taken to a shelter, so without a second thought, I said we would take him.

Having been in a home for a month with children, another pitbull & a small dog, Toby was well adjusted. He was a great addition in our home.

Much like Meaty, Toby was very eager to please his humans & dedicated to following us around anytime we were near. Toby loved to play fetch! He may have thought he was a retriever breed...

Not having children of our own yet, we end up 'testing' our foster dogs with our WILLING friends' kids! (a special thanks to our real & 'play' nieces & nephews!!!). The kids are our biggest critics. If THEY trust the dogs, then it's all good!
I realized that Toby was given the stamp of approval when the 3 year old girl came upstairs & said to me 'I let huge dog out of his cage. He didn't want to be in there anymore'. Toby & her became co-conspirators from this moment on.

We had our first strange adopter experience this time, too. A younger guy came with a car full of female passengers & expected to 'buy' Toby & take him home that day. We have since revised our protocol. Only approved applications can meet our pups :-)

Toby went to his forever home with a pair of wonderful young sisters. They have an older pit named Boody & are phenomenal with the training of their dogs. Toby is fashion forward in his spike collar & boots on the lakefront!

Lexi went to her forever home last night. She is now blessed with a mom & dad, 2 human brothers & 2 canine sisters; a huge american bulldog & a senior boxer. Delilah, the bulldog, loves to play with little spitfire Lexi & will surely expend that puppy energy. The beagle's moods when we came home without Lexi was kind of somber. I can never tell if they actually MISS the foster dogs... or if they are worried that THEY will be next to go :-)

On the fertility front... full steam ahead with whatever the insurance company will approve. That includes clomid, estrogren, progesterone, hcg, baby aspirin, specimen cups & turkey basters. I will spare the specifics, but I am prepared to be a walking science project!

'If your dog doesn't like someone, you probably shouldn't either'.

Georgia... not-so-much 'Peach'

We knew at some point there would be a foster that wouldn't work for us. Dog relationships are similar to those we have with people. Some people are your best friends, some are your acquaintances, and some you'd rather just not deal with. Never thought our 'bad' experience would come with our 2nd ever foster. Especially after the sweetie Meaty!

Georgia was a year old, orange & black brindle, female petite pittie mix. When I picked her up, I was surpised at how petite she was. The little girl wasn't much bigger than Bella. Maybe around 30 lbs & looked more like a whippet. On the car ride home, she seemed sweet. Boy was I wrong!

I had to do the introduction solo. Georgia was very high energy, played a little too aggressive & tried to dominate the beagles. There were a few brawls that day. Walking the 3 dogs together was the only reprieve where everyone co-existed peacefully.

And then she bit me...

Georgia had a dominance issue. And she easily dominated me, for some reason (I don't believe I am a pushover, but her behavior dictated differently). I would just be walking & she would run up & bite my calf. Or I was sitting on the couch & she would come up & bit my thigh. She wasn't trying to hurt me, she was only trying to get my attention. And she sure got it! She never ONCE even attempted to bite my husband. She was the devil spawn in her crate, thrashing, barking & crying. The rescue sent out a trainer to help us. Emily was amazing! She is just one of those people that is natural at what she does. Georgia was able to co-mingle with Emily's laid back, female, yellow lab without a problem. I learned how to redirect & deal with Geogia's obsession with biting me, but I just wasn't good at it. Instead of 'not' reacting when she bit me so that she would release & walk away... I would instead freak out, which caused her grip to tighten! I ended up putting a soft muzzle on her just to make it through the day. Georgia had one goal in life- to get that muzzle off & come bite me again!

I noticed the beagles at the farthest corner of the room, or on the highest stair, to avoid even making eye contact with this dominant intruder. I could take the biting (okay, for a little while anyway), but I couldn't have our beagles so terrified & uncomfortable in their own home.

The rescue came & picked up Georgia a week from the day I brought her home. I felt pretty bad, almost like a failure, but also exhausted by the stressful week it had been. I was worried she wouldn't get adopted or even euthanized. But I am happy to report that Georgia DID get into an intense training program & has found her forever home with a tolerant doggie sibling & human parents...with a mother than doesn't allow her to dominate.

I thought that may be our last fostering experience, we were not interested in ever remotely repeating that kind of week. But of course, there have been more fosters & each sweeter than the one before. Georgia may have broken some skin (in a few spots), but she didn't break my spirit!


Our little Lexi is being spayed today. I can't wait to pick her up at 5 o'clock. We are meeting a family interested in her on Thursday.

This weekend I read the book Oogy in about 2 hours flat. Recommended read for all dog lovers; bully breeds especially! I have it if anyone wants to borrow it :-)

'Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human ever has to choose a relative'.

Can I get off this rollercoaster now please?

The past 24 hours have been quite the emotional rollercoaster. 

On a high point, we met a couple who were interested in LeRoy (a family member of the PetVet technician that cared for him after his oral surgery) last night.  We loved them & they loved LEROY!  They are proceeding with adopting the sweet boy & have changed his name to Santo as he starts his 3 weeks of training at Mixed Up Mutts today.

Due to an early start at work, Santo had to spend a few hours with me there.  He really is sweeter than I ever imagined.  He sat through a meeting & was content laying on the ground, while dutifully keeping watch of the door.  If only we could teach him to search for drugs & sniff money, he'd have a job!
Before I took him to the adoption coordinator that transported him to Mixed Up Mutts, someone said 'he has changed my opinions of pit bulls'.  That is what I live to hear in our fostering endeavors!

Dropping him off for his transport was bittersweet.  We signed him up for the training program assuming that he would need all the resources he could have under his belt to make him more marketable, being a 4 year old pit bull in search of a forever home.  Little did we know he doesn't need much training (he's near perfect already) & that someone would jump at the opportunity to adopt him!  In 3 weeks, I will pick him up when he returns & deliver him to his new family & complete the adoption.  Santo is another one that will get the perfect life he so deserves.

As my Friday was coming to an end, I received the unexpected call from my insurance case manager.  The review board responded to my appeal 4 days early.  They are still denying my IVF treatments.  Unbelievable.  I'm so emotionally exhausted today, that is all I can think.  On Monday, my last attempt will be to appeal through my employer's benefit office.  I am looking for an attorney that deals in insurance b.s. if anyone out there knows of one???

For now, I am relishing in the puppy love from Lexi at home, looking forward to our vacation to Vegas in May, and thinking about a ski trip in the next 2 months.  My life goes on!

Today, I also miss my grandpa, as today would have been his birthday.  He passed right before I landed my dream career 6 years ago & I know he's my angel above.  He is surely where I inherited my love of dogs from! 

3 day weekend, here I come!  Thank you Martin Luther King for your holiday on Monday.

'To err is human, to forgive, canine'.

  

The Meaty Monster!!!

Our first experience with fostering a pitbull (and our first experience with a pitbull period) was one that we will never forget.



 After my third & last miscarriage, I received a mass email about a dog needing a foster family in order to receive a necessary surgery. Meaty was found as a stray & sat in the shelter for 2 months with his leg/hip injury. Sight unseen (besides the picture shown above), I said 'we will take him'.  I wish I had a dollar for everytime my hubby has said 'I don't think this is a good idea...' (from the first foster up until our now 7th foster).  Around this time, I became engrossed with the shows Pit Boss & Pitbulls & Parolees.  We both now watch it pretty religiously.  

We went & picked up Meaty from Animal Arc. Possibly the most professional animal clinic we had ever seen. There seemed to be owners with pitbulls at every turn. Meaty was allowed to roam the office free with a few other well behaved patients. We found out his best friend had become a chihuahua in his weeklong stay. My husband sat on the floor to greet this 60lb compact boy of pure muscle when the technician brought him out to us. As I watched the 'I don't think this is a good idea' look in his eyes, this clumsy grey pitbull limped right up to my husband & gave him a big, wet smooch! It was love at first sight.

Meaty rehabilitated with us for almost 2 months. He went from completely carrying his hind leg to using it almost completely. Whatever this boy's history had been, he had forgotten & moved on. We often threatened to find new homes for the beagles, as Meaty was often showing them up by his perfect, gentlemanly behavior. Meaty went with us to family parties and was quite a hit at a couple of the local watering holes my husband is known to frequent. Everyone that met Meaty was shocked that a pitbull could be so sweet. He is a true ambassador of the breed.

Being our first foster, we were overly cautious in picking a family for this amazing boy. Jolie & Vince are the perfect family. As much as we miss him at times, I often say, 'I want to come back as Meaty in my next life'. It is people like them that make this process so complete & fulfilling. He is truly a part of their family. I look forward to keeping in touch with them & seeing the endless beautiful pictures of Meaty that his new family takes... he gets to go to dog parks, the beach, street festivals, family functions & ugly sweater parties, just to name a few. This dog has 'the life'. I can't think of another dog that deserves such royalty. He is treated like the prince he is!

Meaty will always have a place in our hearts. Part of the adoption agreement is that if the adoptive owners must relinquish their dog at any time, they are to contact us to take them. We will welcome with open arms ANY of our prior fosters to date, but especially this Meaty moose!







                                                              Famous Pitbulls in history:



*Petey-from the Little Rascals

*Dakota-Search & rescue for Space Shuttle Columbia

*Sir Thomas- Helen Keller's pitbull

*Popsicle- US Custom's #1 Canine



*Sgt. Stubby- World War I Hero

'Punish the DEED, not the BREED'.

I can't save them all....

Today I had planned on talking about our first foster, Meaty.
But a sequence of events in my day has caused my focus to shift & weighs heavy on my heart.

While proudly showing photos of Lexi & LeRoy, a co-worker told me about a dog they found in an abandoned house yesterday. They said she was about a year old pitbull & so emaciated, she couldn't even stand up. They fed her some rice & she was grateful. My heart sank. I said that I would bring my 'emergency' kit (I usually carry a leash, dog food/treats & a blanket in my car at all times) tomorrow & we would go get her. About 15 minutes later, my emotions got the best of me & I asked the guys to go there with me to rescue her immediately. I would just use my belt as a leash/collar. I knew I would do what it takes to get this poor soul to the shelter.

It's days like this I wish I would have had my camera with me (I should add it to my kit!). From the time the guys left yesterday to today, savages had stripped this place. The water heater, the furnace, the copper, the bathroom & kitchen fixtures were all gone. There was water flooding the floor & all 4 burners were blazing on the stove. Unfortunately, the pup was nowhere to be found. There was dog excrement everywhere, a couple of empty cans of Alpo & a leash, but no dog. I hope for the best for her, but expect the worst. At the very least, I would have liked to get her to the shelter for a warm kennel, some human & canine contact & a good meal before she would more than likely be humanely euthanized. No dog deserves a painful, slow death from starvation & the elements. Most dogs in this situation are likely to fall victim to torture, abuse & injury or death.

Most of my co-workers feel that taking a stray dog to 27th & Western is a last resort. I used to think the same. But now I beg to differ. Many of the dogs we bring in are friendly, well cared for & more than likely, being missed by someone. They deserve the chance to be checked for a micro-chip or to be reclaimed by their loving owner. I can appreciate the fact that we don't want to see them put in a kennel at the shelter. It is misconception that the shelter euthanizes every pit that walks in the door. In recent years, it was the court case dogs that were deemed unadoptable. Thanks to programs like Safe Humane Chicago, these dogs are tested, trainined & given another chance at life. A dog will only be euthanized if it's human aggressive (that's a given) & if it's chances to be adopted diminish- due to old age, medical problems, etc. and to make room for the many dogs coming through those doors on a daily basis.
Chicagoland rescues go to the shelter weekly & pull dogs into their programs. The pure breds & puppies have the highest chances. You will rarely see a beagle, a rottweiler, or a labrador, for example, sitting at the shelter. But the pit bulls are the majority breed sitting in kennels at Chicago Animal Care & Control & I am proud to say that we have dedicated our efforts to saving them. One (or two) at a time!

Tonight I will give extra love to our fosters & furevers as I think of the many dogs around the city that will be cold, hungry & await help that may never come.
LeRoy has gained 5 lbs in his week with us & has a potential adopter is coming to meet him Thursday night.

'The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man's.'

Canine Hierarchy

Not having dogs until my adult years, I didn't know much about pack mentality & canine hierarchy. It has become pretty fascinating to me.

The dog I've had the longest is Bella, the 7 year old beagle mix (that looks like an italian greyhound). She is a petite 19 lbs. on legs like stilts. She has been the alpha or 'top dog' in our home for the past 3 years, since Charlie (my senior beagle) passed away. Buddy, our 45+ lb. male beagle is 2nd in command. It's amusing to watch Bella put him in his place. Any foster that comes into our home learns quickly that Bella is in charge & that Buddy is her enforcer. All but 1 foster has succeeded in this realization.

Lexi is a typical puppy. She likes to antagonize & force the other dogs to give her attention, even if it's negative. LeRoy has bonded the most with Lexi, as I said before, it's as if he realizes they are the same breed. This weekend, Lexi was trying to get Bella to play with her. Bella gave her warning 'snap' & lucky for her I was sitting on the floor with LeRoy. This was the first time I'd seen him show his teeth (what is left of them anyway) & lunged towards Bella. LeRoy has become Lexi's protector. I can appreciate that. I would love for them to get adopted together.

Lexi is quite the pistol lately. On her twice daily walks, she had decided when we put her down (unleashed), she is going to walk 'home'. Even if we are nowhere near the house, she just turns & starts walking the other way. Our walks are now dictated by her. Whichever direction she walks, we follow, and continue until we make it home. I am getting quite the workout thanks to Lexi.

LeRoy experienced his first overnighter in the big, human bed. It took a little while for him to understand the concept, but settled in perfectly for the entire night & well into the morning. He is becoming less dependent on us & starting to explore on his own, as well as follow the other dogs. We will be sad to see him leave for his 4-6 week training camp on Friday, but also can't wait to see what he becomes!  I am ecstatic to report that I received a call from a vet tech where LeRoy had his oral surgery.  She has someone that may be interested in the big blue boy!!!  My heart melts at the thought.  The husband... well, I believe he got a bit choked up as he said  'you mean he might not come back to us after training'?  As hard as it can be, it's our ultimate goal; to find the perfect home & save another.

A big thank you to my Aunt Anne who gave us a ton of dog food & treats for our fosters! & a thank you to my mom & dad who delivered the goods & visited last night.
I ran to the garage to get bottled water for their ride home. I asked, 'are you guys okay with LeRoy?'. They said yes. I found out today that when I left, my dad said to my mom... 'don't make any sudden moves'!!! I see I have to work on my dad's pitbull perception a little more...

here is a pic of LeRoy attempting to fit in the 'small dog' snuggle bed.

'The more I see of man, the more I like dogs'.