Marly’s Foster Puppies

An update:

Tulie is getting along just great! Her and Roxy are adjusting well……slowly but surely! They like to play, which is probably the laziest play session I think that I have ever seen! The two just lie on their backs and nibble on each others ears or mouths! Tulie is the one that instigates their play time by giving Rox a nip as she walks by or a bark that says “Hey! I’m here, play with me!”
She had her first bath with us today, and handled it pretty good!

A family came to see Tulie on Thursday. They brought their dog Roxy (adopted from the Saskatoon SPCA last summer) for a meet and greet.

On Friday, after more pictures, hugs, a few tears, Tulie went to her forever home to bedevil Roxy, and to provide laughter and love for many years.

The time has gone by so fast — from sightless, totally dependent little creatures to 11 week old bundles of fun, mischief, and wonderment in 2 months! Tulie was here longer than Turk and Tommy, so I had more time with her, the opportunity to begin one-on-one training, to experience the remarkable capacity puppies have to absorb information, process it (often incorrectly, but they are babies after all), watching curiosity overtake fear of the unknown, as they learn how to live and get along in a human world. It is a truly wonderful experience, leavened only by the fact that I cannot keep them all.

But most families are kind and will send updates, I will know that the puppies are special to someone and growing up safe and cared for. And for the time being, I get my house back, MM gets his toys and space to himself, and the flower beds get a chance to recover from the constant gardening of the puppies!

There are still two puppies from the litter available for adoption from the Saskatoon SPCA — Trey and Tara. I will try to get updated pictures and more information about them.

Last Friday evening Tommy was chosen by, and went to live with, his forever family. He was shy and not too interested in meeting them, but I am sure that by now he has fallen in love and is keeping everyone busy with his curiosity and antics.

We miss him.

Now we need to find a home for Tulie — will post more on her tomorrow, for now a picture will have to suffice

It has been a great couple of weeks for updates on previously fostered puppies — this completes Merry’s litter: Sasha, Perry (Harley) and

Sprite (Abbi):

Just thought we would touch base and let you know how things were with Abbi. I have attached some pictures of her so you can see just how big she is getting! She is finally house trained, with the odd accident when she gets excited, but other than that she is fully trained. She also has learned to sit and lay down and to come when called. She is a cuddler, and refuses to sleep alone but does sleep in her kennel at night, and when we are away. She follows her big sister Zena everywhere and is more excited to see her than anyone else. They never stop playing! She keeps growing and has gained a lot of weight. We will continue to update you on her progress.

With her big sister Zena

And apprenticing as a carpenter

It was a year ago that the Saskatoon SPCA volunteer webmaster coerced me into starting this blog. She had quite a job convincing me — I am computer challenged, couldn’t imagine what there would be to write about, it would take time, I have no expertise in animal rights issues, training, pet safety, etc. She had a few points I could not argue with: pictures and stories of the puppies might help find homes for them; and the blog might increase interest in the Saskatoon SPCA, encouraging people to visit the website, perhaps come to the Shelter, volunteer, become a foster home, maybe even donate. Considering the number of animals that come through our doors each year, the need for foster and forever homes, the Momma dog and 8 puppies in my bathroom — I agreed to try.

The puppies that started all of this celebrated their first birthday on May 17. Happy belated birthday greetings to Emmett, Dante, Buddy, Jasper, Panda, Bear and Rollie.

Back on February 14, there is an update on Panda and Bear:

Baby pictures (9 days old)

and how they look now:

This morning there was an email from Sir Emmett:

9 and 17 days old

While all of the puppies are special in their own way and need homes particular to their characters and needs, Emmett was the one in Gena’s litter that, without a particular home, would most likely not reach his full potential. He was named in memory of the clown, Emmett Kelly. As a puppy Emmett was cute, cuddley, comical, but also very timid (relied heavily on his brother Marshall (Buddy) to lead the way). He needed a home with experienced dog people that would give him time to build his confidence and help him to blossom.

He was a lucky puppy:

I’m sorry i haven’t sent any up-dates on Emmett in a long time! Since he’s just had his 1st birthday i thought i should send out some photo’s for you. He is such an amazing boy - he’s absolutely beautiful - he smiles all the time - he is happy all the time - he’s so gentle and loving and has a huge fan base (not just our family of course) but with all of our friends and their furry children, our neighbours and the many many passerby’s at the chief white cap off leash dog park! He is a total comedian - he cracks us up on a daily basis with his happy go lucky attitude! Now don’t get me wrong here - he does get into his fair share of trouble sometimes - he had his first (and hopefully only) bird catch last week (mom was not happy) he is a little thief and steals the kids clothes every opportunity he gets and he has had to learn that digging is only okay in dog run - not the lawn!!

Also steals paper cups!

We ordered a birthday cake for emmett from the barkery - it was just a little one - and the girls called me the day before i had to pick it up saying they were struggling to print ‘happy birthday emmett’ on such a little cake - so when i picked it up yesterday - i was pleasantly surprised that they managed to get it all on there - too funny - puppy birthday cakes!!

He’s also found his voice - he’s protective of our family - he will bark when people come to the door that he doesn’t know - his confidence is huge now compared to the sheepish little guy he used to be. He no longer vomits during car rides (which took many many little trips around the neighbourhood one block at first, then two blocks, then three etc) now he LOVES car rides b/c that usually means we’re heading to the park! He has been such a total blessing to our family - we are head over heels in love with him as he is with us!

It has been a busy, and successful, year. Thanks Lorene for caring enough about the little critters to set this up and for encouraging me to continue. I hope it has been a positive experience for all concerned.

Can you wish a Happy Birthday to a Blog?

Tommy is still with us — so he is still in need of a forever home.

Back in December 2005 a dog came into the Saskatoon SPCA, the staff loved him, named him Radar, but were concerned that he was ‘mouthing’ a lot — it was possible that the behaviour was his way of getting attention amongst the many others and the busyness of the Shelter or it could be more serious dominance behaviour. He was placed in foster care to see if it was a dangerous behaviour and/or if the behaviour could be corrected and the dog could go up for adoption. It was apparent from the moment Radar arrived in the house that he was a wonderful animal, young, exuberant, mannerly and not at all dangerous — he seldom mouthed me, when he did it was to playfully get my attention — more ‘gumming’ than dangerous.

Doorbell rang — it was my new neighbour. “Do you have a black dog with a white foot?” “Yes” . “Well, when we drove into the driveway just now, he was standing in front of your garage. I asked him where he lived and told him he had better go home. He turned, ran between the garages, jumped over the fence back into your yard.” Oops.

Radar only lived with us for a week.

He jumped the fence at every opportunity, but never ran away — as soon as I realized he was out and called him, he jumped back into the yard. A few days before Christmas a couple brought their dog over for a meet and greet with Radar. They fell in love with him and adopted him that same day. They named him Rudy in keeping with the Christmas season.

Shortly after he was adopted, despite the solid fence at Rudy’s forever home, he managed to get out and was injured, perhaps hit by a car. His injuries were serious though not life threatening. He was a very lucky puppy — he had a home and owners that cared — the following proves that Rudy suffered no long term disability!

Hi there

Just thought I would pass on this photo & wish you a happy (foster) Moms day

Rudy (formerly Radar) just competed in his first flyball tournament today up at Warman Diamond Arena and became Rudy FD, FDX (flyball Dog, Flyball Dog Excellent) WOW !!

We are very proud doggie parents & just thought we’d thank you again for all the hard work you do for the dogs that need a foster home at the SPCA. If you hadn’t fostered him we wouldn’t have got him & we wouldn’t be getting up at 6.15am again on Sunday to take him to race again !! Oh for the love of dogs !

Have a great Momma’s Day, Rudy’s Foster Mom !

Rebecca & Rudy FD, FDX

And the good news continues!

From Merry’s litter (born Boxing Day 2006)

Hi Marly hope everything is going good. Everything and everyone is doing very well here. I have some pics of Sasha attached for you to see her. She is doing very well. She can finally go all night without any accidents (I better be knocking on wood…lol). She loves going for walks and just being outside as long as someone is outside with her. She has tripled in size wow. I will give Sasha hugs and kisses for you I am sure she would lick you to pieces if she would see you.

Yours truly,
Lenore, Rob and the kids

And from Sasha’s brother Perry (renamed Harley)

Thought we’d send some updated pictures for you. He’s growing like a weed
and weighs 30 pounds if not more

Two more very lucky puppies. I can only hope that Tommy finds a home as welcoming.

Thank you so much to the families above, and all the others over the years, that have contacted the Saskatoon SPCA to save a life, and adopted one of ‘mine’. You have joined a group of very special people!

Does this look like a 9 week old puppy?

This morning, very early, the phone rang. It was Turk’s forever home calling to see when Turk could be picked up. My first inclination was to say ‘NEVER’, but I know the puppies must leave and I know Turk is going to a good home where he will be loved and very well cared for. Still, he is so young and leaving his siblings and the only home he has known is such a big step. Turk will be fine, he will assess the situation in his little puppy mind and quickly realize that although he no longer has puppies to play with, he now has people who will give him individual attention, ensure his safety, and love and cuddle him — for now that is all he will care about.

We took pictures and said our good-byes:

.

Tommy, Tulie and MM will get lots of attention today — probably more than they want!

Oh, and this morning after their breakfast, the puppies were playing with the food bowl they hid a few days ago — I have no idea where they found it, but it is now safely in the dishwasher

For the past few days the puppies have been playing ‘hide the food bowl’. Each afternoon the bowl has been carted somewhere in the yard and carefully placed so as to be hidden from casual view.

They take great joy in following me around as I look for it, then when I find it and go to pick it up, they pounce on it and try to run with it — however 3 puppies and a small round dish do not run far or fast!

This afternoon, they hid it so well I haven’t been able to find it. It has to be somewhere in the yard, and I am sure one of these days I’ll run across it and remember the games played and the fun we all had.

Everyone piled into the crate/car today and made another trip to the Shelter, this time for their booster shots and to get a microchip for Turk. They were all brave for the booster shot — Turk squealed a little when the microchip was implanted, but it was only for a second and he is fine now.

Yes, Turk has been adopted. And Tommy has been spoken for. They will both go to their forever homes on Monday.

Also, little Toga (from the other foster home) went to her forever home this afternoon.

Since the Fall of 2002 we have fostered 34 puppies and 13 adult dogs. Each one formed a bond during their stay, found a spot in my heart, and is remembered as a welcome visitor and friend (I have the pictures to prove it!) I have learned so much from them and they have, individually and collectively, given me much pleasure and the satisfaction of knowing that in some small way their lives improved because of our association.

Fostering animals is a rewarding experience in many ways, one of which is meeting the people who will spend the next decade or so caring for and loving a little critter. It is very difficult to let them go, they spend 2 months or more charming and amusing me, then they leave. The only reason I can love them and let them go is because so many of the adopting families keep in touch, reassure me that the dog is doing fine, is loved and truly has a forever home.

In April 2004, 7 adorable collie-cross puppies went to their new homes. One of them was Liz

I hear from the family frequently and know that Lizzie is a ‘lap of luxury’ member of the family.

Last December a Momma dog moved in and on Boxing Day had her puppies. We named her Merry and she lived here for 3 months in total, a super Shepherd cross that everyone fell in love with (you can follow Merry’s story in the blog starting back in December through early March). Her family renamed her ‘Tika’

I just wanted to update you on Tika. She is so wonderful. We go to the dog park all of the time and she gets along very well with the other dogs. She is fitting into our house like she has always been here and loves the girls. She whines when they have to go out without her and is very excited upon their return. She is learning to play fetch — but only on her terms. We all love her so very much and I am sure she loves us just as much!

She passed the guard dog test the other night. My sister stopped by very late and Tika and the girls were asleep for the night, but when Tika heard the door open she ran to it barking all the way. Once she realized it was ok she went back to her spot beside the girls beds. I was so proud of her.

And there was a picture attached

On the Saskatoon SPCA website is a section called ‘Success Stories’. Many families send in comments and pictures to express their joy in the animal they have adopted, the life saved, and to thank the staff for caring for the animal that is now such an important part of their life. Much of the work in the Shelter involves unwanted and abandoned animals, so much sadness and distress — success stories are the positive feedback that lifts the spirit and provides the incentive to continue. Please, if you have adopted an animal from a Shelter anywhere in the world, drop them a line, a picture, and let them know that their efforts made a difference in your life.

And because most Shelters are run by charitable organizations, please support the fundraising efforts of your local Shelter to ensure they still exist when you, your family and friends go looking for that special little something to complete your life.

Puppies are all back home. Picked them up just after 5:00 p.m.

Tulie made it all the way to the deck, where she took a rest for about an hour:

Turk was too woozey to get out of the car so I carried him into the house and set him down in the cage — he didn’t move for about an hour:

Tommy had a little bit of energy so he was put into the cage to restrict his activity. He wanted to play with Turk, who was barely conscious, so Momma bathtowel to the rescue one more time:

Vet orders were to feed them a small amount, wait two hours and if they were still hungry give them another small portion (regular feeding to resume tomorrow), and to restrict their activity for the next 3 days. Sure.

After about an hour they were all far more active than the ‘restrict activity’ order would allow — even Momma bathtowel couldn’t slow them down. So I removed the step stools from the cage and got out of the way — at least they couldn’t climb up and fall off. They had been confined all day and had several naps, there was a lot of pent up puppy energy to burn off.

Tommy ate his share immediately. Tulie and Turk waited a couple of hours, but ate well and Tommy joined them for another share. Finally about 9:30 p.m. they settled down for the evening — checked the surgery areas, all look fine so far and the waterworks are working overtime!

Apparently I was misinformed about Toga (from the other foster home). She is still available for adoption.