Back to Fostering!

While it is true that four large, strong, active dogs is a lot for one person to manage, it is also true that living one's passion is the key to a good life.

Good news for Presley!

I just picked him up this afternoon. Got him home and had to really think about what to do next. How do you introduce a new dog to three reactive pit bulls who are likely to be all kinds of inappropriate at first greeting? 

I decided to put him in the basement, then take one dog at a time out, tether that dog to the base of the stairs, then bring out Presley and walk him slowly to the tethered dog. 

First Dahlia, because she was the most grumpy with my last foster, Grant. Dahlia seemed to like him right off the bat!

Then Fozzie--no problem, as usual. Then Princess Sky. I wasn't worried as she was easy with Grant. 

But she was tense with Presley! What to do? 

Princess might be testy but she is testy in a good way--she warns loudly, but is clear that she wants to avoid real conflict. So I felt pretty good just leashing up the two of them and bringing them for a walk!

And by the end of it, even Princess was feeling pretty accepting of our man. Now they are happily lounging around, play bowing, humping, and even relaxing together.

There's no question that having a new foster dog is exciting and a bit stressful, and life would be easier if I didn't do it.

But I've been thinking lately about what makes life meaningful, and redeemable. 

What makes me feel that if I died today, I would die having done what I was put on this planet to do? For me, it is rescuing animals. The stress is a small price to pay for feeling like I am living my life's purpose, especially when I also get the chance to smooch with a loving, fluffy, deserving package of joy who needed a place to crash and some warmth and love.

Stray in Baltimore

The other day Florian was driving around Baltimore after teaching his class at a university, and he saw a dog running around in a grassy area near the train tracks. 

When he got out of the car, the dog ran away from him but when he squatted down and waited a few minutes, the dog cautiously approached and he was able to give him some of his lunch. But when he tried to touch him, the dog ran away again.

A neighbor showed up, and told Florian the dog has been running around there for a couple of months.

Florian said he looked just like Fozzie and we had to rescue him. He picked me up after work and we went back.

As soon as we got there a couple of neighbors leaned out of their windows and struck up a conversation about the dog, and told us that a few people come regularly to feed him but no one has been able to catch him. We didn't see the dog at first, but a neighbor said he was probably looking right at us. Sure enough, there was movement in the bushes and there he was.

A large dog, brindled and with a white chest like Fozzie but more stocky and with a bigger head. Maybe a mastiff/boxer/presa canario something. He wouldn't come anywhere near us this time. 

A few days later we came back and this time we met a woman who said she comes a few times a day to feed him and that he sometimes comes and eats out of her hand. She said he likes rice, likes carrots and peas and baked chicken and dog food mixed together, but doesn't like fried food. She said animal control has tried a few times to catch him with no luck. Someone set up a crate with blankets in the trees for him, but this woman said he never goes inside anything enclosed.

I was so happy to hear that there are people caring for this dog and that the people who live around him--in a poor section of West Baltimore--are trying to help him!  Restores my faith in humans a bit.

But we still need to find a way to get him before it gets too cold and before he gets hit by a car!  

Coordinating now among rescues and trappers and neighbors.

And Me! Cheep! And Me!

And on the last day of RESCUE ME HOME week, in honor of Mayziegal, Brudder Ranger, and Grampa J who we're certain love all animals and want to see them all in good homes, we are doing a post about our feathered friends in need of rescue.

You may know that we are fortunate enough to share our home with two very lovable budgies, Ingamar and Flower. 


Flower was a Valentine's Day gift two and a half years ago from Florian. And the moment I saw her alone in her cage, I knew she needed a sweetie too so we went right back out and got her Ingamar. 

Ingamar and Flower bring us so much joy. They don't get into fights, don't chew the furniture, don't require walks, they just sing. They eat cauliflower and strawberries and nice twigs I find for them, and they sing. Pretty songs all day, especially if we play music or watch a movie or a dance video or run the blender or a hair dryer. Ingamar, the green one, will sit on my finger and hang out for a while, while Flower's more shy. That's often true of budgies, that the boys are more social. 


Ingamar and Flower didn't come from a rescue, but today's fun fact is that you CAN adopt a bird from rescue, or even from your local shelter! Shelters often have doves, parakeets, cockatiels, even chickens!


Just one excellent example is Ricky. Ricky is one handsome rooster, and he can be adopted from Montgomery County Humane Society. 

There's not much info on Ricky. His description page says:  


RICKY - ID#A354099
I am an unaltered male, red and black Chicken.

The shelter staff think I am about 1 year and 1 month old.

I have been at the shelter since Oct 07, 2011.

His description implies that roosters can, in fact, be altered--but I'm betting that's not true. 

Roosters make all-natural alarm clocks and their poo helps fertilize your yard. Chickens, too, make fabulous pets--they are surprisingly cuddly and personable!

In the market for another sort of feathered friend? Why not check out a rescue group like Phoenix Landing? 

Many people buy a parrot without fully understanding the needs of this intelligent animal for social interaction, enrichment, and attention. Multiply these needs by the extremely long lifespan of many parrots, and this pet can quickly become more than most former parrot fans bargained for. 

Groups like Phoenix Landing have arisen to provide sanctuary for parrots who outlive their owners or whose owners realize they took on more than they could handle. Some have facilities where birds find temporary refuge, and others rely exclusively on foster homes. 

It is reasonable to wonder whether a flighted creature that still exists and thrives in its natural habitat should be confined to a cage to suit human fancy. 

While many domesticated birds, like Ingamar and Flower, were born and raised in captivity, the exotic pet trade flourishes in part thanks to the illegal capture of animals in the wild, and of course we do exotic animals no favors by supporting the industry that exploits them.  

For those who are already domesticated though, we owe it to them to give them the best lives possible.  Fostering or adopting from a rescue group is an excellent way to give back to the beautiful creatures that decorate our world with color and fill it with song. 

Rescue Me Too!

Today's post is also dedicated to Mayzie's RESCUE ME HOME WEEK in memory of Grampa J!  Mayzie and Brudder Ranger are such dedicated beautiful activist pups, we want to make sure they know their activism on behalf of all animals awaiting rescue is appreciated and magnified, like a beautiful flower blooming for all the cool fresh noses to sniff.

We're playing for the Washington Humane Society, because they work so hard to help so many abandoned and neglected animals in the Washington, DC area.






Today let's take a look at Gino and Toto, a gorgeous pair of rabbits who live at the Washington Humane Society.








Here's what their description says about Gino and Toto:

Meet Gino and Toto! We're just a couple of beautiful boys who've had enough of the bachelor life and are searching for our forever home. Since we're pals from way back, we want to stick together- friends are forever! So if you're looking for a sweet, snuggly pair, just ask for us- we'll hop right into your heart!










Did you know what great pets rabbits make? They can live in a nice-sized crate or pen, but they can also roam around the house and be litter-trained! They love affection and they eat all kinds of yummy things besides carrots--like dandelion greens. In the summer, you can even put them in a movable pen in your yard and they'll mow the lawn for you, square by square. 

And another thing you may not have known? You can find them at your local shelter! No need to go to one of those big box pet stores and give money to the people who profit from selling animals. Go to your shelter and check out all the love that awaits in so many shapes, sizes, and species.

And while you're there, wouldn't you just love to adopt a large, older, black dog? These are the dogs that stick around longest in shelters. Dogs like Doc, this precious skinny pit bull mix who is also at the Washington Humane Society. Here's what they say about Doc:

Doc is a goofball! He's fearless on the agility equipment and loves playing with toys in the yard. Doc came to WHS because he didn't get along with his former owner's cat, but is winning over hearts at the shelter with his playful antics. Come meet this great dog today!

Doc has the kind of face that gets foster moms like me in trouble. I sure hope someone else out there thinks he's as adorable as I do.

Thanks Mayzie and Brudder Ranger! Thanks Grampa J! I hope lots of animals find their way to loving homes because of your good works.

Rescue Me!

We are posting today as part of Mayzie's RESCUE ME HOME WEEK in memory of Grampa J!  Mayzie and Brudder Ranger are inviting all us bloggers to participate by blogging about an animal in need of rescuing at least once this week, and all those who do will be entered in a drawing to win $100 for a rescue of their choice! Grampa J must have been a pretty amazing guy, and he would be so happy to know about all the good things going on in his honor.

Even though every day is Rescue Me Home day on this blog, I think its just so cool that bloggers do things like this as a community. So I'm taking this opportunity to post about some of the OTHER dogs out there in need of rescue. 

Besides those other two that you've heard so much about, here's a little bit about Simon, whom we had the pleasure of meeting at Saturday's Home for the Holidays adoption event.

Photo: Narda Alarcon

Simon is a pit bull who has a gorgeous, velvety coat that I believe you would call blue. 





His description says

I'm Simon. They gave me a serious name hoping it would balance out my zany side but I love being silly and making the humans laugh. There is something about laughter that just makes everything better!

I'm an adorable American Pit (AAAP). I'm very charming, well behaved and somehow got away from my family.

You can tell I was loved very much because I like to give and get doggie kisses. I'm a very sweet guy! 

Simmon is one lucky guy as he is safe in the hands of Jasmine's House, staying in boarding until he finds his forever home. Will it be yours? Email info@jasmineshouse.org if you think so!

Photo: Narda Alarcon