Life is Learning Pet Fostering

WE HAVE HAD TO TAKE A BREAK

2011-10-29T23:12:00.000-05:00

We have enjoyed our time fostering tremendously. Unfortuanately, our life will not accomadate us continuing for a few years. We will be back. And in the meantime -- I may change the focus of the blog somewhat. I would like to be able to use it to still help the animals at the Humane Society in some way -- or at least encourage an awareness of the beautiful lives and personalities of the animals around us.
We'll see how it develops.

Our Newest Guest --- Zeus

2011-04-02T08:26:00.002-05:00

Zeus, our new skinny friend, will be with us at least 5 weeks. He has had surgery on a back leg to remove a mass, and when has recovered from this he will begin heartworm treatment.

Moonglow has been adopted

2011-02-06T20:47:00.000-06:00

I checked the CCHS site this evening, and it appears that Moonglow has found his family.

Moonglow available for Adoptions

2011-01-22T14:21:00.004-06:00

We are taking Moonglow back to the Humane Society Sunday and so he should be up for adoption very soon. We have certainly had a grand time with him this week. He has been an easy houseguest. I would call him crate trained at this point, if not completely house broken. However, he is well on his way to understanding where piddles and piles belong and developing the control to achieve that. And that is what we would expect of an 8 week old puppy. He has learned to sit on command, and is a terrific playmate. Here are two videos you can watch to see him, playing and learning: one with me and one with Judd. They were taken one after the other, and you can see how much easier he is sitting with Judd in just that bit of time.

Puppies are well known for their love of chewing, and I have to say that Moonglow is no exception. However, for such a young puppy, he has a very clear understanding of which toys are his, and the word No. A very soft firmly spoken No, with a pointed finger, and he is DONE. We have always immediately handed him one of his toys. I definitely would not leave him unattended with a pair of leather shoes, but he has shown himself to be very easy to get along with -- with supervision.

If a family is looking for a puppy, this one is a prize for sure.

By the way, my sons both say, Sundog, is a better name for him than Moonglow.

Moonglow update

2011-01-17T18:30:00.002-06:00

Moonglow is doing well, getting along with the cats, affectionate and curious about everyone and everything. An MTD bus came by while we were outside today, and his only reaction was to gaze after it in wonderment. His favorite game is tug of war, and he is quite enthusiastic. I've been interrupting our game for petting sessions, and he is learning to settle easily -- and that tug of war is done with toys not human hands, feet or my long hair. He knows fully well which items are his toys now, and that fun is about to happen when we pick one up.

Moonglow has come for a week

2011-01-16T14:06:00.000-06:00

We have a 7 week old Boxer puppy with us this week, and he is a total sweetheart. He is affectionarte, active, curious, and busy. When he is not asleep. He likes to be with us, but did sleep in his crate all night just fine after just a bit of yipping at the very beginning. He has been friendly and eager to make acquaintence with everyone who has come by.

Catman still available for adoption

2010-12-09T15:03:00.000-06:00

I checked the CCHS website today, and it appears that Catman is still available for adoption. He is such a calm and cuddly big kitty, it is just a matter of time before someone notices him.

We have not taken in a new foster yet. But I am looking forward to having a new guest. I'll let you know when someone comes.

Bacon Bacon

2010-11-28T20:12:00.003-06:00

The most energy we have seen from Catman is in response to bacon. That is the thing that gets him up and moving. Although he did take notice when the door opened. I would expect him to get along well in a house that already has cats. Even though he is a Tom and has yet to have that bit taken care of, he shows no interest at all in our 4 cats. Our dog is another matter.

He is still doing a bit of sneezing but seems to be mostly over his URI. He'll be heading back to CCHS on Monday. I was supposed to take him back on Friday, but unfortunately my 1:00 appointment took far longer than I expected.

Molly (Trixie) Update

2010-11-23T14:04:00.000-06:00

We recieved some nice news today that Molly (now known as Trixie) just graduated from her CCHS dog training classes. They sent us along her graduation photo, and I thought some of you might enjoy seeing it also.

Catman continues to do well. We saw him at his most excited since arriving yesterday. Bacon is evidently a great favorite, because he actually opened his eyes wide, stood up, and came over to investigate. This cat is not exactly a ball of fire. Gorgeous, yes. Affectionate, oh yes. Energetic -- definitely not. Anybody who is looking for a sleepy boy to curl up with in the evening, he is the cat for you.

Vacation is done, and Catman has come to visit

2010-11-21T23:20:00.000-06:00

Well, my son and his wife have returned to Finland, and life has returned to its more familiar hectic pace. So we have been able to make a spot available for Catman to hang out while he gets over a nasty cold (upper respiratory infection would be the technical term).

This has got to be one of the most relaxed cats -- EVER. Takes his medication and never bats an eye. We bring him out to visit for awhile, and he spends the entire time laying in the spot he is sat down -- purring if someone is nearby. He loves to be rubbed under the chin and petted, but he is not pushy about it at all.

And he is huge. 15 lbs.

ON VACATION

2010-10-08T21:24:00.000-05:00

Yes, we have been on vacation -- and will be for the next 2 weeks also. Which severely limits me on posting or fostering for awhile. We are looking forward to being back with the animals though.

In the meantime there are many other foster families working with Champaign County Humane Society. Animals are there and waiting for homes. And our friends are working hard to find those homes for them.

Yay! Floyd is going home!

2010-09-20T22:59:00.001-05:00

Our funny goof ball Floyd is headed to his forever home. According to the CCHS website he has been adopted. We know he will bring laughter, joy and genuine affection to his new family. Yay for you, Floyd!!

Floyd still waiting for his home

2010-09-18T13:08:00.000-05:00

Clay sent me a nice message today letting me know that Floyd is still waiting for his forever home -- and that he was able to appear on T.V. this week. He seems REALLY subdued in the T.V. studio -- which is not too surprising since like Clay mentions in the video, Floyd is a little apprehensive about new experiences. He did eventually get accustomed to going up and down our front steps while he was here, but he never was too crazy about it. Since he was here on heartworm treatment and left as soon as that was done, we didn't get to take him on any long walks, or expose hime to a whole lot. He did get used to having us around though, and is definitely a people dog.

Enjoy Floyd's T.V. spot below.

http://www.wicd15.com/newsroom/features/pet_week/videos/vid_212.shtml

Pretty Blue Eyed Floyd

2010-09-07T00:28:00.001-05:00

Some videos of Floyd

2010-09-03T23:15:00.001-05:00

We took some pictures today -- and filmed two videos --- so you can all get a good look at Odie Dog Floyd. We couldn't catch him chasing his tail unfortunately, but you can see how truly playful and yet very affectionate that he is. Even when he is all wound up though, you can see how easily he settles down for a good cuddle. He definitely will bring humor to any family he joins. And check out those sweet blue eyes!!

He'll be headed back to the Humane Society on Saturday, and we expect him to be up for adoption very soon.

Floyd nearly ready to find a home

2010-09-03T09:59:00.001-05:00

I am so sorry I have not gotten any pictures of Floyd posted. He is such a goof it is rather difficult to get a decent picture of him. Definitely an Odie dog -- not a Lassie. He keeps us in stitches chasing his tail, catching socks, and bounding about. He has definitely been the most interested in our cats of any foster that we have had. Obsessed might be a good word. Jack considers him something to play with. Zippy won't come down from the highest perch he can find. Mike plays with no one -- and Floyd seems to be catching on that being batted at by Mike is a far pricklier experience than being batted at by Jack. And Dart has learned to negotiate her way through the living room behind furniture if Floyd happens to be out of his crate. Which actually has been very rare. He is here for heartworm treatment, and he is not prone to sedate behavior out of the crate. Which Jack thinks is very funny and sits next to the crate watching him.

Floyd has a very pitiful moan, and does not enjoy being left alone at all, although he loves his crate -- just not being left in a room alone in it. He is a people dog through and through, and wants to be with us. Thus we have found it necessary to keep the crate in the living room where we usually are. And his moan is not soft. I definitely would not recommend him for an apartment dweller that is gone a lot. Neighbors would not be happy.

Floyd is doing well

2010-08-15T21:06:00.001-05:00

Sorry about not having any pictures yet -- it has been a hectic week. Floyd is doing well though. He does have a bug which caused some pretty nasty diarrhea, but he is on meds for that and is responding well. We did move him upstairs, but opted for trying the crate in the living room, since the yard sale still had some of my living room furniture in my room, it just seemed easier. But it actually is working very well, so we have just stuck with it. Floyd has become very crate comfortable being in the room with us, and goes in and out of the crate even if he is not enclosed in it. And if we close the door, he just stays in there quietly, even if we don't bother to latch it. He is responding well to be asked to lay down in it, when things get too active for a dog on heartworm treatment. So all in all, he is getting more interaction, and still maintaining a low key existence.

Floyd is visiting

2010-08-07T15:41:00.002-05:00

Our new foster friend, Floyd is visiting. I'll load some pictures later. He came home with me yesterday morning. Usually fosters stay in my husband and my bedroom, but we were having a yardsale yesterday that extended into my front room, so I thought Floyd would feel calmer in the basement where he did not hear so many strange voices coming and going right outside the door. Besides the fact that the crate in my bedroom, makes things pretty snug.

Floyd cries when he is lonely. Rather loudly. So that did not work so well. And is not working well. I think Floyd is moving upstairs today.

Also, Floyd is not comfortable using stairs. At all. His front legs go up, but his back ones won't follow -- and then he freezes and pitifully whimpers in great consternation.

Once again -- Floyd is moving upstairs today.

Molly has been adopted

2010-07-31T19:09:00.000-05:00

Hooray!! According to Champaign County web site this evening Molly has been adopted. So happy for her -- and for her new family!

Molly is available for adoption at the Humane Society

2010-07-22T14:36:00.000-05:00

Molly and I spent our last evening together. She typically lays at my feet while I sit on the couch -- but last night she curled up extra cozy. I hope the right family for this special dog finds her soon. She is waiting for you at Champaign County Humane Society.

Would you like to adopt Molly?

2010-07-09T22:53:00.003-05:00

I talked to the staff at the Humane Society the other day, and we agree that it would be fantastic if Molly could be adopted with a minimum amount of time spent back at the Humane Society. She is a an extremely quiet natured and affectionate girl and is happiest in a one on one situation. If you are interested in Molly, and are waiting for her to go up for adoption -- go ahead and let the staff at the Humane Society know, or contact me here on the blog. I don't have much of a video camera, but the links included here, will give you a couple of short movies of her.

OH -- and if you are looking for kittens, Dexter, Snowie and Midnight are back at the Humane Society and ready for adoption. We have had lots of litters of kittens here -- but none match these three in their desire to cuddle. I have let other litters out of the crate for play times -- but then we always have to get them to come out from under the dresser or from behind the stacks under the drafting table. Not these guys. If a person is in the room -- they are on the person. And if a person is not in the room, they are sitting at the door waiting for one to come in. Sweet sweet babies. They will also get along fine with a family that has a dog -- because they all love Molly.

Kitten check up

2010-07-01T10:30:00.001-05:00

Dexter, Snowie, and Midnight went in for the newest round of medicine and weight check today. Midnight continues to hover just below the 2lb mark -- so they will be staying with us till at least next Wed. Much to Miss Molly's joy.

You can see Snowie getting a Molly bath here, purring through the whole thing.

Molly's walk

2010-06-27T20:53:00.002-05:00

Last Wednessday we were able to take Molly on a nice long walk. We started from our house and headed to the library where I wanted to pick up some holds and then on to Jerry's IGA to grab some canned food for the kittens, and finally Hessell Park. When Molly first arrived she was extremely sedate on walks, but on this walk we realized this was just a part of her insecurity and she can benefit from a bit more experience on a leash. By no means is she unruly or a puller, but now that she is more comfortable, she is also bit more likely to jump for squirrells, insist on being way out front or to react to other dogs. She has such a gentle nature, though, that she is truly a pleasure to walk with, even without much obedience training.

Along the way we met lots of people, and even a fire engine wailing down the street. She really enjoyed watching the kids at Hessell and would have loved to join in the play. Unfortunately, a thunder storm was brewing so we cut our visit short. I wouldn't worry about Molly in a storm though. She was just fine, even with the thunder booming right over our heads.

On Thursday, I had a garage sale, and I let Molly hang out under my table to meet lots of people. She was enjoying herself thoroughly, until one customer was unsure of her -- and Molly became very unsure. I ended up moving her farther away where she could still see everyone, but they wouldn't walk right up on her. She didn't like that as well and ended up chewing through her leash. So I moved her closer, but not right under the table, and this spot worked wonderfull.

Molly has a variable pitch bark. Most of the time her bark is nearly silent and wheezing from a very tight throat. She almost squeeks it out and it is mostly just the sound of escaping air squeezed through her vocal chords. Yet, she can really bark -- she just doesn't do it very often. She did bark at the insecure woman at the garage sale. And she has barked at another dog we met on a walk -- one that was raising absolutely all sorts of cain at her. Her normal high pitch squeek is what she has consistently used when she wanted out of the crate, or bathroom, or any time she can see me, but can't get to me for some reason. Her full bark is reserved for being left in the crate when we are not at home -- she doesn't seem to do this when we leave her in the bathroom, or for something she deems a truly serious situation.

The pictures below and in the post below show the day that we let her actually meet the kittens. She had been sniffing them unrelentlessly under the crack of the door, and they were obviously very interested in her, and not scared a bit. She had met them through the walls of the crate, and they never showed even the slightest bit of apprehension. So I brought them out and let them meet. Molly wanted her nose right up in their faces, or the other end, and Midnight did her give her one very mild hiss. Which made her immediately drop to the floor and roll over on her back. She finally got up her nerve to come back, and this time Midnight was just fine. She sniffed and sniffed, and then began grooming them with her tongue. I am not really clear on whether dog saliva is particulary healthy for growing kittens, so I ended the visit, but they were content enough to have gone to sleep together if I had let her go on.

So MUCH to tell -- So many pictures to show you!!

2010-06-25T23:05:00.002-05:00

We are having SUCH a good time, with Molly and the kittens. Molly has been on long walks. She has been to the park, grocery store, library. She has watched Fire engines go by, sat through a yard sale, gone for rides in the van, met boys on skate boards, been outside when thunder boomed overhead -- just a plethora of experiences. We have learned that the biggest thing she has trouble with, is people who are insecure themselves. She reads fear quickly, doesn't like it, and doesn't quite know how to react to it. But friendly, confident, open people, especially with quiet voices, bring 'em on, she loves them all. And she LOVES the kittens!! And they LOVE her. I am so tired, and I have so many stories to share with you, and so many pictures of this beautiful dog. Tomorrow, though.

Kittens and Molly

2010-06-21T23:35:00.001-05:00

Well, now we know the kittens get along with a dog -- and Molly likes kittens. Molly didn't seem to mind giving up her crate at all, and has been rather intrigued by the new occupants. The kittens are not startled in the least when she has briefly been in the room where they are -- and she sticks her nose up against the wire sniffing loudly. I let the kittens out for awhile today for a romp around the room, and Molly laid outside the door sniffing at the crack much of the time -- with a kitten on the other side sniffing back. There was no raised fur, no arched back, no hissing, absolutely nothing. They seemed to think that perhaps another kitten was on the other side.

But after I had been in the basement for awhile I came in -- intent on getting ready for work, not thinking about kittens and tossed the door open. Dexter and Midnight were right there at the door, and they bolted out right under Molly's feet. I snatched Dexter, but Midnight got by. But she seemed a whole lot more intent on her amazement at the new space than she was startled at the dog. In fact, when I found her, she was still right by the door and near Molly just bouncing about under the rocking chair.

Enjoy a few kitten play pictures!

Picnic Molly

2010-06-20T21:56:00.002-05:00

Molly had a major outing today. We went to a picnic at Hessell park. She met babies, watched children splash in the water, listened to music, walked past other dogs -- all with her usual calm. She preferred young children that were not attached to wheels -- but she seemed a bit more used to strollers by the time we left and one young man travelling on his own two feet got a kiss on his ear.

But she did absolutely none of the dropping to the ground and submissive peeing that we have seen at the Humane Society. She really is affectionate -- and just prefers a secure situation. She will make a great dog for pretty much anyone, old, young, family, single. She doesn't like being in the crate, and she does bark when we leave her alone -- so an apartment might be difficult for her. One thing we have learned is that she loves to ride in the van. She views the back seat as her own -- and she sits back there very calmly -- but excitement in general for Molly amounts to her ears perking up, and perhaps a bounding step for a moment or two.

The pictures above show Molly meeting a total stranger. The picture to the side is Molly with me. She may be on the timid side, but you can easily see how truly affectionate she is.

Three Kittens

2010-06-19T23:18:00.000-05:00

For the first time since we began fostering we have more than one visitor. Molly really doesn't need the crate -- she is only here for socialization, and the humane society has had a lot of kittens come in lately. So we have made the crate available for three young kittens. It's been awhile since we had cats, and we do enjoy the kittens antics. Check out Dexter's eyebrows on the left!! Snowy is in the middle, and Midnight on the right.

Molly continues to be a sweetheart. She loves to go on a walk, and is a real pleasure to be with. She alerts and is quite interested in the squirrels, but doesn't jerk my arm out of its socket the way my own dog does.

The Lazy Lady --

2010-06-14T16:51:00.000-05:00

Don't get me wrong -- she is pretty -- but lazy lady is definitely more fitting. Nobody told Molly that her breed is known for being 'athletic!' Whatever she is mixed with must be a very laid back sedate breed -- because a nap is pretty much her favorite activity.

Our new pretty lady -- Molly

2010-06-13T18:37:00.001-05:00

We are told she is an Australian Cattle Dog mix -- and she certainly has the coloring, but her hair is a bit softer and with a bit of a wave to it, that just adds to her charm.

She is here with us for socialization. She was scared and skittish at the Humane Society. But she has settled in here within a day. Last night she wanted some cuddle time and reassurance, and I let her lay on my lap for a couple of hours. But today, we very gently told her to stay down, and she has been very content to follow me about and lay at my feet. She doesn't shy at the cats, or try to interact with them at all.

I took her for a walk today and we went around the perimeter of West Side park -- which is hosting the Taste of Champaign today. She behaved exceedingly well. She was never skittish a bit, met people easily, never balked, never pulled. She preferred to stand and watch the BMX racers for awhile before walking past them, but then she proceeded just fine.

I am looking forward to enjoying daily walks with this true sweetheart in the next few days.

Dro Bones still available

2010-05-11T23:46:00.000-05:00

It looks like Dro Bones is still waiting for his forever home. At least he is still listed on the website for the Champaign County Humane Society at cuhumane.org .

We haven't taken in a new foster just yet. Since we took Bones back, none have been posted, which is a good thing.

Dro Bones is up for adoption

2010-04-27T18:14:00.002-05:00

Dro Bones is now listed on the CCHS website. We certainly have enjoyed his time here, and miss him already. He will make someone a terrific companion. He found the ride back, and getting to see his old friends there very exciting.

We'll be waiting to see who chooses this wonderful dog to be a permanent part of their life. I know Bones will be -- exuberant -- in his choice of them. In his time here, though, he showed that he is also very willing to learn, and he likes pleasing people.

And now we take a break for at least a day or so, til we have another visitor.

Dro Bones Last Night Here

2010-04-26T23:37:00.000-05:00

Tonight is Dro Bones last night with us. He will be going back to the Humane Society tomorrow morning. We brought him out for a bit of flashlight play this evening. I tried to video him to share with you all, but unfortunately his antics did not show up well. The thing is, he knows exactly where the light is coming from -- and he loves sticks. So he can't decide whether he should try and catch the fascinating circle of light, or try for that really cool stick that it is coming from.

I did get a good picture of him with the ferret -- and for all of Dro Bones rambunctiousness he is amazingly gentle with her. The first time he noticed her, I was very nervous, but he has shown himself to be reliably subdued with her. He will stand on his hind legs and balance before the cage, to see her, but he has never been anything more than just quietly awed by her existence -- and perhaps curious. He softly leans his front paws against the cage, and doesn't even wiggle it.

QUITE different than his original antics with the cats, although he has become merely enamored with them as well.

Hooray for Dro Bones !

2010-04-26T08:24:00.000-05:00

We have reached a point where I believe Bones actually is responding to the word "Sit". His attention to the human he is with has improved outstandingly during his time here!

And this morning while we were outside, my neighbor came out -- with his dog off of a leash. Of course he and Bones immediately saw each other, but when I called Bones to the door, he was quick to come and was happy to go bounding into the house. His first order once inside is to check and see if he can find one of my cats -- so he was off excitedly, especially since we had come in rather abruptly. I called, "Dro Bones, Crate, Bones, Come on, Crate." And he came bursting back from the kitchen, bounded past me into the bedroom and INTO the crate, turning and waiting for his treat. WOW! I am so proud of this big boy!!

He is high energy, but he has really learned to listen to the people around him. He is going to do just fine.

Dro Bones Learns to Sit

2010-04-22T19:20:00.000-05:00

Dro Bones Learns to Sit today -- and by clicking you can watch a short video of his time out side. You will also see that Down has not been learned yet and that my snakes are very interesting and must be investigated. But believe me, he has come a long way in the last few weeks.

He is very close to learning "Crate" -- he does know that he is headed there when he comes back in the house and that a whole handful of crackers will be his reward!! A much desired prize. But I am very doubtful that he actually recognizes the word "Crate" as a command. Just as he does not really reliably respond to the world "Sit" yet -- but more so to the fact that a cracker is in my hand and if he sits he will get it.

However he definitely knows the words "Wanna Go?" And leaps towards the van hoping there is a ride involved. So I am sure he will eventually learn to associate other words with actions.

YouTube - lrhawkins1's Channel#p/a/f/0/Whv-QNlohz4

2010-04-22T18:46:00.000-05:00

YouTube - lrhawkins1's Channel#p/a/f/0/Whv-QNlohz4

It seems that I can share the video straight from You Tube in a post and not deal with the Video Bar -- so that is what I am trying. Enjoy viewing Bones and the Boys!

Rearranged blog

2010-04-20T23:45:00.004-05:00

I did a bit of rearranging -- and made a mess -- here on the blog. But I think things are back where you can see all the pictures and the video bar is now at the top, so it is easier to find. It seems to be putting up some videos that are not mine though. So I may end up having to remove it.

Right now we are still trying to make it work though. There is a new -- very short -- video of Bones with my son and nephew you may enjoy. Bones LOVES kids. He will cover them in dog slobber -- but he loves them. And he loves playing with them. And I have spent a few hours getting that crazy little short video with no sound to perhaps show, to let you know that. So I hope someone enjoys it. LOL

Bones will be looking for his forever family soon

2010-04-19T08:52:00.000-05:00

Bones is nearly done with his time here with us, and will be returning to CCHMS to find his forever family. We have learned a few things about him during his quiet time here. He is an active dog who LOVES people and wants to interact with his people. He is always ready for ride in the van and is hoping each time he goes outside that a trip in the van is involved. He can be easily distracted -- sort an ADD fellow -- but what that really means is that he is paying attention to EVERYTHING. Far, near, human, animal, vegetable -- he is taking it in. But people rank first in his world and if you want his attention just pick up a ball, stick, or laser pointer. Oh yes, this 60 lb boy will chase a laser pointer like a kitten. He is great fun to be around, but for all his energy, he also loves to just sit quiet and be petted.

And oyster crackers make a great cheap treat. He is still not reliable to sit on command -- unless you have a cracker, but with a cracker you have his full attention.

2010-04-17T17:39:00.000-05:00

I WANT THAT Stick!

I will even sit for that stick.

Oh YES!! STICK STICK STICK!!!

Roxy has found her home!

2010-04-10T14:54:00.001-05:00

Great news for Roxy and her very lucky new family.

We took Dro Bones in for a check up today because his face was very swolen this morning. Evidently he had a bee sting or spider bite, or something that he had an allergic reaction to. He was given a shot of some Benadryl and is doing fine.

But while we were there, I heard someone mention Roxy's name and was able to meet the family that is adopting her. A truly wonderful match -- Roxy will have a wonderful home, and they will have a wonderful new companion.

Dro Bones Progress

2010-04-08T11:02:00.001-05:00

We have been working with Dro Bones on our short outings, practicing sitting, and just trying gain his attention and boost his confidence and comfort with people. We've been using oyster crackers as his treat -- something he dearly loves, and is pretty cheap. He is responding very well . Our sessions are brief, since he is here on heartworm treatment, but we practice every time he is out.

The one improvement that I am seeing, is that he is improving in his comfort level of people approaching. When we take Dro Bones out, we go to our front yard. And we live in a neighborhood where people walk past on the side walk frequently. So even though we are only out briefly, it is likely that he will be approached by a stranger. He is just naturally a very friendly and an exuberant dog, which can be a bit overwhelming for strangers when he jumps and barks. In my front yard, originally, he would respond to people across the street or even half a block away all the same. But by staying close to him and petting him constantly, he is learning that not everything is worth getting that excited about. Maybe its worhwhile to pay attention to the people closer at hand -- who have oyster crackers.

Some news about Roxy

2010-04-01T21:39:00.000-05:00

We got this nice message from Clay at the CCHMS today.

Hi Lavana. Today, I gave a shelter tour to a half dozen special needs students. At the end of the tour, they went outside and waited patiently as I retrieved a dog for them to meet. I brought Roxy out. She sat next to me on the ground. The students approached one at a time, allowed her to sniff their hand, and then petted her gently. Roxy was so wonderful! She was patient, friendly, and never tried to retreat or stand up. Thought you’d like to know.

Thanks, Clay. So good to know that Roxy is doing well. She is such a quiet and laid back lady -- this is just the type of situation where she can shine. --

Dro Bones -- the fun filled 60 lb lap dog

2010-04-01T14:19:00.001-05:00

Well, Dro Bones has definitely been a contrast to the sweet laid back Roxy who we would forget that we had out of her crate. There is no forgetting about Dro Bones.

This is an enthusiasitc joyous doggy dog. My 8-year-old nephew Timmy was here for a visit -- and they immediately became fast buddies. We have learned that Dro Bones loves a tummy rub.

And I was able to post a picture of his gorgeous grin today. He just can't help it -- he is way too full of fun to keep that smile hidden.

It is hard to keep him contained in the crate all day when he wants to play and be sociable so bad -- but it is necessary for now. Till he has had his month of heart worm treatment recovery.

Not only is he fun and full of excitement but he is very smart also. I am glad we have this month to work with him on some behavior issues. Already he has learned to wait for the door to be opened rather than pushing on it. He is learning "Crate" -- so we can say it and have him go in rather than having to push him in -- and is progressing very well. If he is not in an excitable situation he can be relied on to sit on command. Our times together are limited because of the heartworm treatment -- but we are making full use of them. (and bacon grease on a bit of bread is a favorite treat).

Dro Bones has come to visit

2010-03-26T11:49:00.001-05:00

We have a Mountain Cur / Mastiff mix here visiting. He has a beautiful grin I have not been able to catch on camera yet. And he LOVES Judah. I picked Dro Bones up at CCHS and then Judah from the library . Although Bones was enthusiasitc and friendly meeting me -- obviously 14 year old boys are a GREAT favorite because he went berzerk when Judd got in the van!! WOW!! "It's a BOY -- let me lick him, he is MINE!" was pretty much the message.

We will have him for a month. He is here while he goes through the heartworm treatment. We'll be doing some behavior training with him. He needs to learn not jump, and be enthusiastic in a less overwhelming way. But I can see already that he will be true joy to have around.

We had a nice message from Clay Foley at CCHS that Roxy is doing well. Always good to hear. She took so long to warm up here and gain some confidence, I was afraid that going back might be a little intimidating for her. But Clay says she is walking well on a leash and her gains in confidence are very evident. Very nice. She will make some dog loving family a very fine companion.

Roxy is headed back on Monday

2010-03-20T15:32:00.000-05:00

Roxy is headed back to Champaign County Humane Society on Monday. She'll get her check up for her heart worm treatment, and we assume that she will be staying and be up for adoption very soon.

It took Roxy a good two weeks to really become comfortable here, so although I know that anyone who visits her at the humane society is going to be able to pet her -- they may not get to realize her truly affectionate nature. She leans into us now for good rubbing, and follows me around when she is out of the crate. If I am at the desk, she is laying under it. If I am sitting in the living room, she is laying at the front door where she can see me. If I am workign in the kitchen, she is wandering about trying to see what I am doing. Yet, when I tell her "come on Roxy, time to go to bed, " she goes straight in her crate -- with just a bit of a pout. She has never once whined, barked or complained about her time spent in the crate. And in fact, at times she asks to go back to it, if there are several people at home milling around.

She does tend to like things quiet. She met a young boy the yesterday -- maybe twoish -- and she behaved very well, turning toward him to nuzzle a bit as he petted her She tolerates my cats presence, and I would expect no problems if a home had some. According the laws, we can't really let her interact with the cats, but they have seen each other. She does get a bit nervous when all 5 of us are at home and moving around -- and asks to go back to her crate. She has expected to be petted by every person visiting she has seen.

Just this last week, Roxy has begun to be truly eager to come back inside after being out. She gives a little bounce coming through the door, and has to smile and greet everyone in the room. We will truly miss her loving quiet friendship, and hope that she can find a forever home soon that fits her.

Roxy still doing well

2010-03-10T22:44:00.000-06:00

Roxy contiues to do well. She gets a bit more comfortable everyday. She tends to like things quiet still, and she keeps herself quiet as well, which makes her a very easy dog to have around. I've put up some pictures of her, so you can see what I mean about the eyebrows -- my husband's barber would say those need a trim. Funny. And with her wiry overcoat and brindle coloring she truly is a unique and pretty girl.

Roxy has been here two weeks

2010-03-06T23:50:00.001-06:00

Roxy has been here about two weeks now -- and I apologize very much for only just now getting up a couple of pictures of her.

I need not have worried at all about Roxy's activity level, that's for sure. She is a docile friend. To the point of being timid really. She is easy to walk on the leash, has become very accustomed to the crate, and although she has a very large booming bark that would scare anybody half to death she has only seen reason to use it three times since she has been here. All three of those times were when strangers ventured onto our front walk while she was outside, and after two Woofs that fluttered my shingles, she was done when I reached down to pat her and turn her towards the door and she calmly came inside with me.

She is happiest when we are all sitting quietly in the living room together and she can curl up near by and be a part of the group. She is not pushy about seeking attention, but she is a good companion.

She'll be here at least two more weeks as she continues to recover from her heartworm treatment -- and the day she returns we will certainly miss her. In the meantime, I will work on getting some better pictures of our old man, Roxy.

Roxy is now visiting us

2010-02-19T08:39:00.000-06:00

I was able to bring Roxy home yesterday -- and sweeter dog you could never find. She is exceptionally calm and quietly friendly. She will be a great dog with kids, or older people. I took some pictures, but I am having some battery issues this morning and I can't get them uploaded just yet.
She looks like an old man -- my sons all agree. The people at the Humane Society call her a Lab mix, but she is brindle colored with wiry hair and fuzzy eyebrows -- which all combines for a slightly comical look. We love her already.
Roxy is EXCELLENT on a leash -- not even the slightest tug, which is just what the doctor ordered -- literally.

Roxy will be coming to visit

2010-02-13T22:40:00.000-06:00

We are looking forward to bringing Roxy home to visit next Thursday. Roxy will be treated for heartworms, so she will be needing to stay quiet. I am told that she is pretty calm. Since she will only be able to go on short outings -- she and I will be able to return to good health together. While my eye finishes its healing process she will be a good friend to get to know.

Preparing to foster again

2010-02-12T11:31:00.001-06:00

Well, the surgery on my eye turned out to be quite the experience -- and although it was not painful, or debilitating, the recovery was long and required a lot of quiet time. We are now through the worst of it, though, and finally able to return to a life. I am looking forward to being able to foster again. A few animals have come up lately, but the ones we thought we could take have gone to other foster homes. Which is fine, they are being cared for.

Keep checking back, we'll be having a guest soon.

See you later ---

2009-12-27T22:04:00.000-06:00

We have not taken in a new foster friend for the last week or so, for a couple of reasons. One of those reasons is that I am headed to St. Louis tomorrow for some surgery on my left eye. I probably will not be posting for the next week or so. We are looking forward to recovering and being able to foster once again.

Be sure to check out the upcoming volunteer classes being offered. You can find information at the Champaign County Humane Society web site. We have found fostering to be a terrific experience for our family. It has brought us great joy and some sadness. Just playing a small part in helping these animals is an extremely rewarding experience. And obviously -- since we need to take off these weeks for the surgery -- it is a commitment that you can work into your life as it fits.

See you soon

Shadow and Lark

2009-12-26T23:02:00.000-06:00

And our two doggie residents? We've had Shadow several years now. We adopted him from the Humane Society following the tragic death of our first family dog, Rusty. Shadow is a mixed up mutt with a lot of spanial in him, which means he is not exactly bright and is extremely affectionate and enthusiasitic. It took several years, but he finally does respond reliably to a sit command. He continues to pull horendously on a leash and is NOT a pleasure to walk. Regrettably we have not worked with him consistently on this problem, it is far too easy to let him have his exercize in our fenced back yard. Unfortuanately, on one walk -- while on a leash with my son who was about 15 at that time -- Shadow spied a squirrel across the street and bolted right into the path of a car. He broke a rib, punctured a lung, and broke a back leg very near the hip joint. He did recover, but the cold weather really bothers him. His out door trips tend to be brief in the winter. He is very quick about getting his business done, and getting back in the house.
Shadow is the older of our two dogs -- but Lark is the larger. She is mixture of Lab, German Shepherd, and Husky. She is a smart girl and has finally grown out of her puppy years and is becoming a very pleasant companion rather than just goof ball. She enjoys walking, and needs to do so more. She also pulls -- not as bad as Shadow, but bad enough. It really is not that the dogs need more training -- we need more training in being more effective and consistent with them on a leash. The both have good house manners -- but I must admit that I have failed miserably at teaching them good leash behavior.
We got Lark because my youngest son very much wanted a dog of his own. My husband and I had told him that if he maintained feeding, watering and caring for Shadow independently without being reminded for some period of weeks that I no longer remember, that he could have a dog of his own. Within a day of being told that my oldest son brought him home an abandoned puppy that he had found. The puppy turned out to have a chip, had been adopted from the Humane Society, and later dumped out beside the road. We adoped the puppy, and Judah fully lived up to his agreement. Unfortunately, that dog was too smart for his good and found a way to push under our fence, was hit by a car and killed. A few weeks later, my husband found Lark being offered free by a farmer in Indiana and brought him home for Judah. She was a pretty young puppy at the time; looking back at the pictures it is hard to remember how young and small she was. We did not have a crate that first night and placed her in two laundry baskets wired together. She made it clear from the outset that she would sleep absolutely anywhere -- anywhere that she could see Judah that is, crate or no crate, but she had to see Judd. She knew whose dog she was from that first night on.

Mike and Ashes

2009-12-24T19:26:00.001-06:00

Mike is pictured with Zippy in the side bar. He is the cat closest to the front. Mike is our smart cat. My brother-in-law rescued him and his sister from a ditch in Indiana as tiny kittens. They had been abandoned as coyote food since there was no way they were going to survive. He and his wife bottle fed them and cared for them, however when their baby was born they did not feel like they could keep them and they came to live with us.
It was the same summer we were catching feral cats and they brought our numbers up to six cats living in the house right then.
When Mike and Ashes came to us, they still were not full grown -- sort of in their teen years. One day when I went in the kitchen, Ashes was laying under the table, and she looked a little odd. I leaned down to look at her and realized there was a mouse between her paws. When she sat up the mouse walked around her in a circle, stopped back in front of her, stood on its hind legs and stretched up to her. She tipped her head and touched noses with it, laid back down, and the mouse curled up between her paws.
Now don't get me wrong, I thought this little scene was lovely -- but not in my kitchen. So I went and got Valiant who was about 8 inches long at this point. But since he was raised by a wild mama cat, not a human with a bottle he knew exactly what to do with the mouse and was very eager to give Ashes pointers. Being an intelligent -- although inexperienced -- kitty, she learned quickly.
Ashes eventually went to live with a neighbor, but Mike has stayed on. He is by far the most intellegent of our crew -- and he knows it. He is obviously disdainful of the other cats. He listens -- and I do mean LISTENS -- to classical music and responds to it. There is one piece by Schoenberg that he has an obvious distaste for. He believes something lives in the printer and scanner. He knows what the door knob is for. He watches television. He knows he is not allowed in my room, but that the foster animals are. He sits at the door and looks in at them if we have it open for a moment, although the other cats never even realize anybody is in there.

In the summer we block off the living room with blankets and put a window air conditioner in the room. There may or may not be a gate behind the blanket depending on if the ferret is out. Zippy and Dart act as though it is always there and jump up on the couch to go over it even when it is not there. Jack just runs into the gate. Mike will carefully pull the cover aside every time and check.

Mike has a very soft purr. You almost have to lay your ear against his body to hear it. But he is very relaxed and affectionate -- loves to rub his chin and head on your arm. He doesn't mind if you are not petting him, he will rub his head on your hand or arm and pet yourself.

Dart's Story

2009-12-22T22:09:00.002-06:00

We caught Dart that same summer that we caught Zippy and his family. In fact it was actually Dart's family that moved into our yard first. Her mama evidently had her kittens in our garage, or moved them there. We came home one day and she had brought the litter out to see the world -- probably for the first time. There was a little boy kitten playing on a stack of lumber in our driveway. I was able to walk up right behind and pick him up, and though he had never seen a human before he stayed perfectly calm on his trip up into the air -- til he turned and saw me and everything came unglued. I was doing my best to keep ahold of him, and didn't understand why my husband was yelling and making so much ruckus at the other end of the driveway. Then I turned -- and saw mama coming for me. I escaped over the top of a car -- a Valiant -- and retreated to the van. It took awhile to catch the kitten again inside the van, but eventually we did.

I had thought that Valiant was old enough to be weened -- but he wasn't . He ate food fine, and drank well, so I am sure that he had eaten before, but he evidently also still nursed. Valiant was a very sweet kitten and nearly immediately tamed and became a member of hte family. But one night soon after he joined us, he was laying in bed with me and kept nuzzling my bare arm. Finally, he found a nub of fabric in the armpit of my T-shirt where all four seams met -- and that was close enough to a nipple for him. He nursed quite contendedly for probably 15 minutes and went to sleep.

The day that I caught Valiant, there had been four kittens - but two others disappeared in a manner we don't know. Probably a bird or some type of predator. We saw the mama and the last kitten quite often, but this last kitten was very skittish and was not going to be caught so easily as her brother. I didn't have a live trap yet, so finally we put Valiant in a cat carrier inside the front door, propped the door open, and let him meow. It wasn't long till his sister came in to find him, and we were able to shut the door behind her.

It immediately became apparent that we had not thought that through well enough, because now we had a wild kitten loose in our house, and she had no intention of us finding her. We named her Dart -- not for her skittish nature, but because the Dart is the sister car to the Valiant, yet the name suited her very well. Dart was quite a bit older than Valiant by the time we caught her, and she naver has completely become tame. I was taking classes at Parkland when she was young, and she would come out of hiding and watch me working at the computer. It took months, much patience, and many stages but eventually she and I became friends. She still, after several years, will only be petted by someone when they are sitting at the computer desk.

Dart is an outdoor cat at this point. When she first was trapped in our house, we eventually got her confined to one room -- with a litter box -- and she did use it. Once we believed that she would use the litter box, we let her in the rest of the house, however when she was about two she quit using the litterbox and began using laundry baskets of clothing. We took her to the vet and had her checked for medical problems, but there were none. She simply does not like litter. The vet suggested trying to retrain her by putting her in a crate. We tried. She slept in the litterbox and peed on the towell. The vet suggested that we set up box for her with paper towells and change it often. However, we have four cats -- and it seemed like this was just going to get confusing for everyone.

I am a strong believer that cats are not native and do not belong outside -- especially in town. But finally we opened the door and let Dart out. She no longer pees on our laundry, and she comes and goes as she pleases.

Dart has never been able to get along with the other cats. I don't thing she believes they really are cats with their lap kitty ways. During the time she is inside, she generally is in my kitchen ceiling. We had a chimney that we were tearing down in one corner, which left an opening up into the drop ceiling. She jumps to the base, and just keeps running going up the wall and into the ceiling -- and the other cats know better than to try and follow.

Eventually, we found an excellent home for Valiant. He was the first child I had nursed that grew up and moved away.

Dart is still with us and will be til the end. The yearly trip to the vet is always traumatic. She is sort of like a shy baby hiding on my lap with her head tucked beneath my arm. I am her human and she trusts me completely. It is a sacred trust not to be taken lightly.

Story of Zippy

2009-12-19T08:01:00.002-06:00

And a bit about Dart --
Several years ago our neighborhood had a major problem with feral cats. A drug house down the block was shut down which had MANY cats living in the walls. The house really had been inhabitable; it was what is referred to as a Flop House. After many arrests the remaining 'occupants' disappeared. The cats ended up completely abandoned and began roaming farther, scavaging more for survival. I aquired a live trap and began catching cats. The orignial thought was that I would 'find them homes', being very naive about how hard that was and how very many cats there were. I was able to find a few homes, several others we ended up bringing to the Humane Society and letting them do the job they are so very good at. Zippy and Dart ended up staying with us forever.
After catching a cat in the live trap, we transferred it to a crate for a few days to become used to humans at least being present. The day we decided to let Zippy out of the crate for the first time we were on the back porch to have a fairly small space. Zippy remained hunkered down in the back corner of the crate very quiet as I popped the door open. He stayed there as I slowly opened it. Never moved a muscle as we stood and spoke to him quietly. Then he was not in the crate anymore -- it took a few seconds to even comprehend that he had moved. But he was now on the ceiling. There is a small trim board at the top of the wall and Zippy had literally flown from the crate gripped the board, barely the width of one paw and by sheer momentum he managed to circle the entire porch on that board above our heads before dropping to floor. Zippy eventually became a very affectionate lap kitty, but he kept his name from that first day.
Zippy is a very ugly kitty. He has major allergies that took us years to finally completely identify. In the meantime there were times that he bled from every pore of his body, developed large open wounds, and bouts of diarhea and vomiting. His mother and siblings were all pretty things with a unique pinched up face that we were sure would be able to be adopted and we took them to the Humane Society. But we kept Zippy.
Zippy is essentially an indoor kitty. But he does remember his feral roots especially in the spring. He has been known to sneak out the door -- and take down a squirrel. It took him several hours, but he never let go and eventually he won.
He is very cold natured- especially when he is having an allergic reaction to something and very much prefers laying on a human or another cat. He has a loud irregular pur -- sort of misses a cylinder -- but for him it is perfect.

My first animal friends

2009-12-16T18:36:00.003-06:00

I've always loved animals -- and I've always had them with me. Bo-Bo, pictured in the side bar, was a member of the family before I was. We moved from the country into the city and as every truck load of household goods left, Bo-Bo grew more and more worried. But when we had him get up in that last load and come with us -- he was one happy dog. Cindy was my cat -- and my preferred solace. This picture is when I had the mumps -- but Cindy did not leave me. Ben was my companion through my teen years. He and I had many adventures in the pasture behind our house. And Shawnee was still with me when I married and had my first two babies.

I believe in the value of animal friendships -- not just for the humans but for the animals as well. It is one of the main reasons we foster. Animals do have emotions -- they have a lot of love to give and deserve to have that respected. We enjoy being able to be a part of the respect that the Humane Society gives. They are caring people and we see them giving of themseves tremendously to treat these animals with respect and dignity. There is not a happy ending every time -- because animals are mortal. Yet there are way more happy endings than there would be without these people there caring.

Our own animals:

2009-12-16T15:09:00.003-06:00

I'll be volunteering at the shelter for the next few weeks and we'll be taking a break from fostering. Just for a couple of weeks -- but in the meantime I thought that I would introduce you to our permanant residents. I've put up some photos and in the next few days you can watch for some posts describing our animals and my experiences at the shelter.

Just a quick rundown --
Bo-Bo -- It all began with Bo-Bo many many years ago.
Shadow -- Picture Odie as a black spaniel -- really happy and really stupid, but we love him.
Jack-- the comic. Jack is partially blind which combined with his playful nature and tendency to consider himself topcat gets him into ridiculous situations. I'll tell you about some of them.
Mike and Zippy -- Mike was abandoned in a ditch as a kitten -- not even weened -- along with his sister Ashes. Zippy was a feral kitten in our yard we adopted.
Dart -- Dart was also a feral kitten we took in from the neighborhood along with her brother Valiant and mother Chrysler. You will enjoy those stories!
Lark-- Lark joined us from a farm in Indiana. She is now full grown and a true sweet heart.
Fraya-- not pictured yet -- a ferret. She tries had to be friends with everyone else, but Lark thinks she is a chew toy and the cats just play aloof. Except for Jack who will play a bit -- but he can't quite figure her out.

More than just a UTI

2009-12-14T08:36:00.002-06:00

Topaz and Indigo returned Friday for their check up -- and still have a lot of blood in their urine. Which means that we are not dealing with just a Urinary Tract Infection after all. There must be something much worse going on for these wonderful kitties -- but whatever that something is it is it makes them not adoptable.

This is a very sad outcome for two very friendly wonderful cats, yet it is a reality that cannot be escaped not only at the Humane Society but in many pet owners lives. Our pets can get very sick at times -- with illnesses that we may not be able to rescue them from no matter how much we love them, how much money we have, how much time we can give them, or how friendly, loving and wonderful they are. It happens at the Humane Society also -- and because of the volume of animals they care for it happens there more often.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for the people who put themselves out so much for these animals. I have so many people tell me they could never foster because they would just get too attached to the animals. And I have to respect that. But these people at the Humane Society care too much about the animals to protect their own emotions and not care for them as much as they are able. They know that they are going to be hurt and experience loss and pain over and over again -- but that is not a good enough reason to not try to help some. I have to respect that kind of deep caring as well. They are unique and wonderful humans.

Topaz is sick again - -

2009-12-08T11:06:00.000-06:00

Topaz has started puking again. There had been no puking since I had brought him in to see the folks at the Humane Society until four days ago. He puked during the night and I noticed the next morning that someone drank A LOT of water that night. So I hoped he had just drank too much and made himself ill. This was one of the possibilities that the staff at CCHS has suggested. But he has puked the next two nights as well, and yesterday he puked three times on my bed while we were gone and again during the night. During the night it was VERY WEIRD because he made an extremely unusual sound before puking. He sounded like a mechanical baby doll crying. Both my husband and I sat right straight up in bed saying "What in the world was THAT?!" I leaned around to peer in the crate and Topaz was up and began puking at about that moment -- conveniently aimed into the litter box.

Poor Topaz! I feel so bad for him.

Topaz and Indigo are doing well

2009-12-03T11:34:00.000-06:00

Topaz has not thrown up now in at least a week! Hooray, for Topaz! Not since we had the long conversation at the Humane Society about what could possibly be the problem. They are taking the medicine very well, eating and drinking a good amount and just as affectionate and playful as ever.

They spend their days roaming our room, and their nights in the crate which enables us to sleep through the night without frolicing kitties. During the time we thought Topaz was puking because of stress from the crate, we did leave them out all night long, and they learned not to play on top of us quite easily, but they still like to chase each other about which can get noisy. Since we decided the crate was not the issue, we have returned to crating them at night.

Hoping for the best on their next check up. These kitties just need to be healthy to find their forever homes. They are so affectionate and lovable we are sure they will be perfect match for someone.

Some concern

2009-11-25T23:40:00.000-06:00

I took Topaz and Indigo in for their recheck today -- and recieved some worrisome news. It seems that the Urinary Tract Infection is VERY stubborn and we have brought them back home for THIRD round of Clavimax. Wow! These poor kitties.

We had a long conversation about Topaz's problems vomiting, and came to the conclusion to just keep monitoring him. He continues to gain weight -- I am wondering if they are getting enough exercize closed just in my one room. But they do seem to dash about it quite well at night.

Another problem is that I was not able to get a urine sample from Indigo this morning. We assumed that he will need to continue the meds as well as Topaz -- but when I brought him home I thought that I would go ahead and leave him in the crate alone and get a sample from him to verify. But it is now 11:30 at night and still no urine. This cannot be good. He seems healthy in every way though. He is active, coat shiny, eyes bright, gaining weight (and he doesn't need to) and plenty affectionate.

So come on kitties -- we're doing all we can for you, and now you are really worrying me! What is the deal here?

Topaz has had some trouble

2009-11-23T09:28:00.000-06:00

Topaz has had some trouble since he has been here, and we haven't been able to quite figure it out. He threw up his first night, and I thought it was probably just stress from the change. But then he threw up a couple of nights later, and three times the night after that. We decided that was due to change in food. But after returning to his regular food, he threw up again. The episodes had always occured in the crate -- so we decided it was due to stress from being crated at night and we tried leaving him out. Unfortunately he still threw up. It doesn't happen every night. But it still happens. I've taken him in to the Humane Society once for a check up and he has actually gained weight. He continues to eat, drink, play and use the litter box normally, we still have these vomiting episodes. I will be taking him in again, and hopefully we can figure out a cause.

I've posted a picture of Indigo playing his favorite game of 'attack the carrier'. The cat carrier sits a top the crate, which means it shakes and rattles when Indigo jumps up on top of it. Indigo is convinced this is done just to play with him. He rolls on the carrier to make it rattle, and then jumps up and pounces on it in response. Perhaps he thinks something is inside of it.

Topaz and Indigo still with us

2009-11-17T10:52:00.001-06:00

I took a urine sample in the other day, and UTI still remains -- low grade but still there. So we have began another round of antibiotics. These kitties are so affectionate they consider having a pill shoved down their throats just another cuddle though. Topaz didn't even quit purring this morning, and it was obvious he knew what the drill was as soon as I picked him up and didn't mind a bit.

They continue to use the litter box well, and love playing games. We have to crate them at night so that we can sleep, but we try to spend some time cuddling and playing during the day. Judah enjoys doing his homework in the foster room (Randy and I's bedroom).

Our cat, Mike, seems to know these two have stayed a bit longer than usual. He lays at the door staring at it, and watches to catch a glimpse of the interlopers when we go through. They have made eye contact, but nobody ever reacts. Topaz and Indigo know Mike is out here, and he knows they are in there. And that seems to be enough for everybody. Our other cats never pay any attention to the fosters.

Indigo and Topaz doing well

2009-11-09T22:41:00.000-06:00

Sorry, that I have not posted recently. Things have been a bit hectic around here with lots of flu, my husband recently diagnosed with diabetes, and my uncontrolled glaucoma sending us on trips to St. Louis.
However, the animals are all doing very well! Indigo and Topaz have tolerated the pills very well. They have grown more affectionate every day. Topaz always mews a greeting as we walk in the room and comes to great us, placing paws on our chest and touching noses. Indigo is a bit more laid back, but also very sweet.
They have proven themselves to me, and I trust them enough to give them the run of my bedroom all day -- there has never been a mess out of the litter box, so I think the problem must have totally been medical. At night we do put them in the crate. Having them romp and play all over the top of us while we are trying to sleep is just a bit disconcerting.
These kitties are probably nearing the end of their stay with us.

Mild Urinary Tract Infections

2009-10-26T23:53:00.001-05:00

Seems that our two kitty cats have very mild urinary tract infections. I picked up some liquid medicine for them today from the Humane Society, but they immediately puked and spat that out all over their crate. QUITE emphatically and in great general agreement. So I'll be picking up some pills for them in the morning.

Topaz and Indigo

2009-10-25T18:34:00.001-05:00

We seem to be having a trend of blue animals at our house. Our two new fosters are two cats named Topaz and Indigo (last dog was Saphyre). My understanding is that these cats come from the same home, and are having some litter box issues. Our job is to determine if there is a medical problem or a behavioral one. They seem to using the box well so far, although we are only giving them the run of the room if we are in there watching them.

These cats are very affectionate. Topaz seems to be a bit more cuddly and Indigo a bit more playful. I was sitting in the cat room (my bedroom) reading today, letting them wander around and lost track of Topaz. I called KeeKee in my kitty calling voice and her head popped out of a two inch wide crack in a drawer. Not sure how she got in there so quietly, because she had quite the squeeze getting out. And now you know I have a bad habit of not getting my drawers shut all the way. My mom is probably very embarrassed. It's a lesson she did teach, I just didn't learn it well. :-)

Indigo is the brown kitty -- with beatiful blue eyes, and Topaz is the black one with greenish brown eyes.

Some words about fostering

2009-10-22T09:27:00.000-05:00

We are still waiting on a family for Saphyre -- and for another animal for our family to foster. My family has taken dogs the last couple of times, and these were not high needs dogs, but they do require some attention. Our own animals also need their attention -- including our two dogs.
We knew when we began fostering that our family would only be able to handle a high needs animal once in a great while. Which is one reason more foster families are needed so badly. High needs situations do not happen often, but they do happen and these are best spread around amoung lots of willing hands. I really appreaciate how the staff at the Humane Society are so careful to be sure to only send home an animal that we feel comfortable caring for.
Right now there is another dog which needs heartworm treatment and she will need to be in foster care for about a month, keeping quiet, like we did with Saphyre. There are also two puppies which need daily physical therapy. However, the six of us have a lot going on right now, and we are not in a situation to help these wonderful dogs out. There are several other foster families also -- but the more there are the more the load is spread around.

Our pretty girl Saphyre still looking for a family

2009-10-16T12:10:00.001-05:00

Our pretty girl Saphyre is still waiting for her family at Champaign County Humane Society. I think that this is my favorite photo of her time with us. It shows her regalness and yet you can see she is ready to play whenever you are. The movies at the bottom of the page are a bit dark, but they will give you an introductioin to her.

Jack, our cat, seems to be doing well. So he will probably be vacating the crate in the next few days and we will be able to take in another foster.

Saphyre available for adoption

2009-10-12T12:55:00.001-05:00

Randy took Saphyre back to the Champaign County Humane Society on Saturday and she has been cleared for adoption! Hooray -- now just waiting for her family to find her.

If you are interested in adopting her you can visit the website at http://www.cuhumane.org/ . There are 3 videos of her at the bottom of this page.

Wishing you all the best Saphyre!

As far as our next foster animal, we will need to wait a couple of weeks before bringing another one home. We have four cats of our own, and one of them has been losing weight. We are not sure if he has just decided that he doesn't like this special food that we have to buy because another of the cats has severe allergies or if he has developed a health problem. We have had him checked for diabetes and that came up clear. So we are going to use the crate for him for a couple of weeks so we can monitor exactly how much he is eating and what his particular deposits in the litter box are.

Saphyre's big day tomorrow

2009-10-08T10:14:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow Saphyre will be heading back to the Champaign County Humane Society for her check up -- and hopefully if all is well, she will be returning for adoption. We have enjoyed her so much while she has stayed here -- and our activity has been severely limited.

We filmed an introduction to Saphyre that you can view at the bottom of the page, along with a couple of other videos of her. You will see how sweet she is -- how playful, and yet how eager to please and quiet she can be. She can be lively, active and rowdy -- but is willing to listen to her people say the game is done. She has had to spend quite a bit of time in her crate this last month because of being treated for heart worms and has never once complained about it. I can easliy see her being comfortable living in an apartment, or a house in the country with lots of room to run. She could adapt to a family that works -- or one that has people home all day. She is just eager to give her heart to someone who will love her back forever.

Saphyre's outing

2009-10-06T23:08:00.000-05:00

Saphyre has to keep quiet because of her heartworm treatment -- but she doesn't have to be bored. So this weekend when our family was planning an outing, we planned around Saphyre and took her along. She still had limited walks, but she got to see some sites on those walks, meet some new people, and smell some new smells. She truly will make a great friend and companion for her new family. She did very well with lots of people, stayed calm and we actually were able to have her out of her crate longer than we had expected to be able to.

2009-10-06T22:33:00.001-05:00

We don't often hear from our foster friends, but what fun -- this time we did! These two pups stayed with us earlier in the summer, along with 4 siblings. They were adopted by friends and get to visit one another regularly. And when Bowie's family noticed our blog mentioned at the CCHS website, and recognized the pictures, they let us know that Bowie and George are doing well. Good to hear from you!

A Carefully Monitored Game

2009-10-02T09:31:00.001-05:00

We have to keep Saphyre quiet because of the heartworm treatment that she is under, but she is a young active dog who wants to play. We did indulge her in a short game with her rope the other night, being careful not to encourage her running or jumping for it. She has grown to be a great favorite of my son Nate -- who being an active young person himself sympathizes with her plight. The funniest thing, and I could never get a picture of this, was when Nate would let her have the rope, she would immediately whip in a circle with her back to him, sit and peek back over her shoulder at him. So coy, the little tease!

Saphyre and the Kong

2009-09-24T10:09:00.000-05:00

We began giving Saphyre a Kong filled with food because she has to spend so much time quietly occupied in her crate. She is very intelligent and grows bored easily -- and then begins licking her paws repeatedly. So the Kong seemed like a great fit for her.
She was very quick to empty it of dry food, and didn't like peanut butter. But she found a light coating of split pea soup absolutely enchanting -- and it made things sticky enough to keep it a puzzle for awhile. She now LOVES the Kong!
We do have to keep the Kong confined to the crate, though. She gets way too active with it in an open room -- too active for a dog on heart worm treatment. She'll be great fun for a family once she can be be active. And we figure keeping the Kong as a crate only treat will help her time spent quiet pass a little better.

Such a good girl

2009-09-23T12:30:00.000-05:00

For all of her antics, eagerness, and strength, Saphyre continues to be so genuinely driven to please she is a total joy. She is very well crate trained, and takes no urging to go in at all when asked to. She is quiet while in the crate and content; she will lick her paw repetedly if bored so needs her toys. She sits on command, although she has yet to learn to hold the sit. She has been sleeping out of her crate in our bedroom curled up on the rug beside the bed at night, so content and happy just to be near us, it is hard to believe she is the same circus dog when she first gets outside. But a simple "No" achieves such a contrite face -- if there is not a cat involved, it is easy to see what a loyal and good dog she truly is.

Be sure and check our video of her meeting Isaac this afternoon when he got home from school. It's all the way down at the bottom of the page.

Saphyre will be availbale for adoption at CCHS in another couple of weeks when she completes her heartworm treatment.

Saphyre the Circus Dog

2009-09-21T15:04:00.000-05:00

So I took Saphyre out for her QUIET walk this afternoon. She opened my front door and drug me down the steps. She made about three laps around me jumping as high as my head, twisting corkscrews in midair, running to leap again, before I could get ahold of her. Someone needs to explain 'quiet' to Saphyre.

Saphyre doing well

2009-09-17T23:10:00.000-05:00

We had Saphyre back at CCHS this afternoon for a check up. She is doing well, and we will just continue balancing giving her attention with keeping her quiet. It was very easy to see that Saphyre loves Heather! She is always friendly and affectionate, but when Heather walked in the room her joy knew no bounds.

Saphyre has arrived

2009-09-14T09:37:00.000-05:00

Our new foster came home with us on Saturday when we returned Winston. Saphyre is a big girl -- and strong. She is being treated for heartworms right now, so she will be with us for about a month. And during that time she is to remain quiet, which is quite a task for this young happy dog. She is immediately ready to play and be petted by anyone, just your typical, happy, playful, tongue swinging dog!

Winston has a family

2009-09-14T08:58:00.000-05:00

Good news this morning! We took Winston back to the Humane Society on Saturday -- and he has already been adopted. Yay for Winston and his new family. He is such a sweet boy; I know that he will be such a good addition to a family -- and will keep them laughing at his silly antics.

Thursday

2009-09-10T11:04:00.000-05:00

We have all come down with sickness this week, so Winston's outings have shortened somewhat. But Isaac took him down to the ball diamond to play this morning -- you have to see his goofball antics in the video below! This is definitely a favorite past time of Winston's. Goofball craziness. He should be a comedian.

Monday

2009-09-07T15:09:00.000-05:00

Winston has been playing with his kong and chew toys all morning, and is now all tuckered out dozing off to sleep at my feet. I couldn't resist and reached down to tickle his belly with one finger as his eyes dropped shut. And he stretches and rolls over farther on his back for a full belly rub -- and closes his eyes. Such a sweetie pie.

Saturday

2009-09-05T20:32:00.000-05:00

Took Winston in for his check up today, and it looks like he will be staying with us another week. We are glad to have him, but know that the sooner he can find his Forever Family the better for him. But one more week to get a bit healthier is better for everyone.
Our family space is two adjoining rooms with a large open doorway between. Yesterday, Winston enjoyed laying on the cover layed for him in both rooms, wherever I was sitting. Today, Winston just lays at my feet -- forget the cover. Forever Family -- whoever you are -- you are one lucky family to have this devoted dog.

Be sure to check out the videos of Winston at the bottom of the page.

Thursday

2009-09-03T10:00:00.000-05:00

It is hard to choose just one photo of Winston to put up for today. He has grown so at ease and playful. We call him Goofy, with his silly antics, twisting and jumping chasing his kong toy, or playing with his rope.
It is hard to show in a photo just how affectionate, Winston is, so I have posted a video at the bottom of the page. You can see how he loves -- and a bit of how silly he is.
Winston will be due to return to Champaign County Humane Society on Saturday. At the beginning of the week, I really doubted that one week would be sufficient for him to become confident enough to go up for adoption. But Winston will be very ready to meet his new family -- whoever they are -- and go home.

Sunday

2009-08-30T15:19:00.000-05:00

Winston went in for a check up this morning and has a new pill that he will be taking. But I was so proud of how brave he was. He slowed at the doors, but only really balked at one -- when we were first entering the building. And he didn't really stop at that one, but went through v-e-r-y slowly.

He is doing well with crate training also. We make sure he spends some time in the crate when we are at home as well as when we are gone, so he just feels like it his own special place. Besides -- that is where his food is. But as you can see in today's picture, he also has his cover to lay on in the front room. Winston is going to make such a good buddy for someone.

Saturday

2009-08-29T18:33:00.001-05:00

Winston has had a busy Saturday full of new experiences. He enjoyed his walk this morning, and then he had a break for awhile. He rode in the van with us to visit some friends at their new home, and then another ride later to the golf course to pick up my husband. On that trip we stopped off to visit some other friends. At this place we went inside and he got to be petted by several people. They live upstairs -- which was the one new experience that Winston totally balked at. Everything else he warmed up to in time -- but the stairs were just a no go. I finally carried him up. He did manage to come down them when we were leaving.
We're off for another ride here in minute. He has caught on already that he can expect to go with me when I am leaving -- funny boy. He goes straight to the door when he thinks I am headed out. He loves riding in the van -- although he is not sure about the jump up or down. He rides very quietly.

Our new friend Winston

2009-08-28T13:34:00.000-05:00

Winston, a 3 month old pit bull, arrived at our home on Wed. Winston is staying with us for some socialization. He is very timid, and just needs to become comfortable meeting new situations and people confidently.

When Winston arrived Wed, he refused to leave his crate for hours. Taking him outside for a potty break was just tremendously overwhelmiing for him. He could barely get up the courage to stand and pee -- but just lay on the ground with his head between his paws extremely sad, lonely and terrified.

But by today, he is walking out of his crate when we open it -- although tentatively, and this morning he even mustered up the courage to step through the front door into the out doors. He no longer lays outside, but quickly does his business and then sniffs about and does a small version of the pit bull twist and wiggle pounce. If you have ever seen a happy pit bull, you know what I mean.

Winston even went for a walk with me this morning, all the way down to the park, and around it. I stopped in at my credit union, and they invited him in, but that was just one doorway too many for him. We'll stop and visit them next Monday.