Puppy Style

Now as promised, here are all my foster dogs. These, like the cats, were the animals I looked after when my local animal shelter was full to the brim. It was a 'No Kill' shelter so sometimes there was no room at the shelter so I would look after an animal for a few weeks until there was a space because another animal had been rehomed. Or sometimes the animal would be sick and needed some TLC before being returned to the shelter.

My first EVER foster animal was Lucky, who was an older dog with an underbite and the sweetest, sweetest nature I have ever seen in an animal. I cried buckets when we gave her back to the shelter.

Next was Toby, who I gladly gave back! He peed everywhere and howled throughout the night and had SO much energy. Not the dog for me, but someone else did indeed snap him up. I'd forgotten just how huge his ears were until I saw his pictures... this picture doesn't do them justice but he looks super cute in it.

Next we had Kelly who was my first brush with a 'bigger' dog, although she wasn't big, just very solid. She was such a character and made me absolutely head over heels for the Staffy breed. Staffies hate being left alone, so when I left her alone outside for about fifteen minutes, the resulting photo is what happened. Also my phone was destroyed too in the same outburst. I'd left both my phone and book on the table when I left... neither were intact when I returned! This photo still makes me chuckle. And the book that she ate was a book all about the joys of caring for dogs from animal shelters :)

Then there was Barney. This is my favourite story because I still get to see him. My neighbours had been looking and looking for a dog and had been to the shelter many times, searching for that elusive 'One'. On chatting with them one day, I mentioned that I was fostering a Silky Terrier puppy and they froze, because that was the breed that they actually secretly really wanted. I showed them Barney and it was love at first sight for everyone. I love going back to mum's house and hearing the neighbours' children in the backyard giggle and play with Barney. Such a great end to Barney's story. And he's almost grown into those ears!!
Then I got introduced to cats and unbelievably became a cat person! But I ended up having one more dog, Jezza.

Jezza is your typical shelter dog. Not much to look at, usually an odd mix of breeds and middle-aged but once you get past all that, you have a real winner. Jezza had actually been in the shelter for a while and his brown eyes looked so sad that the shelter staff gave him to me for two weeks so that we could inject some love into him and bring that spark back. Because people do overlook the older dogs, especially the ones that aren't cute. I did feel terrible taking him back because he'd really come out of his shell and there I was, taking him back to that place he hated. BUT it worked because less than a week later, he was gone! He will have made such a lovely addition to a family. Animals are like people, they each have their own personality. But shelter dogs are their own breed really. Every single one I have met has been so incredibly sweet and loving. It's like they genuinely know that you have saved their life and they want to give all their love back to you as a way to say thank you.

Ok, end of lecture :) And now I've finished this post, I have no reason not to continue studying for my exam tomorrow. Shame!

****

Abigail- Aw, you'll have to post a picture of your kitty so I can see him!! It is such a hassle trying to find a place that will allow pets. That is the reason why I don't have one at the moment, I just don't know where I'll be next year. I'll wait til I'm more settled- but that doesn't stop me from dreaming!

Gentri- Thanks for stopping by my blog! I love your blog, it was really fun- how could I *not* follow?! I'm also a big softie when it comes to animals, how do they manage to worm their way into our hearts so easily??