Foster Papa Charlie: Somehow They Know

As a couple that fosters animals until they can find a permanent home, Suze and I have learned even more than we knew before about animal behavior. Each doggy (or the one kitty so far) that we have fostered has taught us something about how animals adjust to new surroundings and the revolving door of temporary placements on the way to someplace (hopefully) permanent.  In particular, each of our failed fosters so far (those who we caved in to and adopted) have shown us more about how foster animals transition to a permanent home.

In the cases of our dog, Ruby, and our cat, Tic Tac, they seemed to be on exemplary behavior with nary a trace of excitability, rambunctiousness, or naughtiness, until after we adopted them.

Somehow they know.

Don’t ask me how. Ruby may know a smattering of English words, in addition to her name, but I can’t see how she could have known enough to understand us saying anything to each other like, “Yes, let’s go ahead and adopt her already.” And yet it seems the day after we did, the “first date” behavior was out the window and it was time to jump up on us, start hording shoes, socks, and bath mats in the living room while we were out, and claw at the recently painted inside of the door when we were unlocking it to come in.

At least she's not hording dead cats.

And Tic Tac. I’ve already written in another post that his “halo” came off after we decided to keep him. Mr. Sit Quietly in Your Arms and Purr became Parkour Cat, bouncing off the walls and furniture and declaring the kitchen counter open for strolling. Of course, in his case the period between bringing him home as a foster to adopting him was pitifully short – less than 48 hours. So he didn’t have to maintain a facade for long.

I iz sittin' in yer Easter Baskit, which I also bin eatin'. 

But of course none of this is intolerable, or even that bad. It’s just that it really seems like they were on best behavior until it was official – then they were ready to be themselves. Maybe that’s as it should be, though. It’s not so much matter of bait and switch (hey, this isn’t the dog I ordered!) so much as getting into that forever home. We should probably admire an animal “savvy enough” to present itself as well as possible to get adopted. Heaven knows they need everything they can get on their side.

Just a Quick Look

That’s all it takes to find your new family member at the Wake County Animal Center (WCAC). Click here to see all the great cats, dogs, rabbits and more waiting for their forever homes.

My time to photograph this week was short as I wanted to get my temporary foster, Ruffus, home; he spent the day at the shelter visiting the vets and getting a progress report on his neck. I had just enough time to capture pics of these five cuties – and for being puppies they were all very well behaved.

 

Max (72133)

Max (ID: 72133) left the center as a tiny puppy and has come back as a timid teen. With lots of love, socialization and training he’d make a great family dog. Doesn’t that face just make you want to say, awww?

Pinot (79306)

Pinot (ID: 79306) is a beautiful Pittie girl who at four months old is looking for a family life filled with games of fetch and rope toys. She’s also said to be good with dogs and kids – bonus!

Jetfire (78493)

Jetfire (ID: 78493) has been at the WCAC since late September. She’s seven months old and was a very good girl for her photo shoot – and just gorgeous with that white blaze on her head and chest.

Madeline (79188)

Look at that face – Madeline (ID: 79188) is a sweet girl who wants to shower her family with kisses and snuggle up for long winter nights. She’s a year old and a wonderful size at 44 pounds.

Blaze (79420)

OMG, I think this might be the best photo I’ve taken so far this year. Blaze (ID: 79420) is a ten-month-old pup who’s previous family said he was good with cats, dogs, and kids – AND he’s crate trained!

It was a great night for quick photo shoots with pups that were so photogenic. All these beauties are looking for love and can be visited daily from noon to 6:00 PM at the WCAC. Click here to check out all the detailson the WCAC website.

It’s Pittie Time!

Really it’s shelter doggy time, but I did get my Pittie time this past week.

Fall is here and the days are getting shorter, which means I’m losing what little natural light comes in the skylights. Not that this changes the happiness with which each of these pups greeted me as I entered their kennels.

Fall also brings Halloween and that divisive topic of whether it’s cruel to put pets in costumes. I dug a few out of our stash at the Wake County Animal Center (WCAC). I picked carefully as I know the challenges of getting a good pic in such tight quarters. In the end there was minimal success and no one was particularly thrilled with it.

Air Raid (78629)

Air Raid (ID: 78629) had it easiest with the spider collar. This sweet guy is about 10 months old. One can only hope he grows into those ears – or maybe not! He’s some sort of Basenji mix. The Fido Fitness crew commented that he walks great on a leash – always a good pup quality.

Chewy (79376)

Speaking of big boys who are still of that growing age, this is Chewy (ID: 79376). He was surrendered to the shelter earlier in the day so I didn’t stress him out any more with costumes. I thought he was a grown boy until I saw his kennel card. This hound mix is just 10 months old. He was very well mannered during his photo shoot. How can you say no to that face?!

Last of the Unicorns

Charlene (ID: 78567), the last unicorn, is a very sweet pup. For being just six months old, she did very well to put up with her Halloween photo op. I love how just by putting her ears up or down you see two completely different dogs. I also really love her little Vandyke beard.


Charlene (78567)

 

So sweet

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then it was Pittie time …

Natalya (78923)

Natalya (ID: 78923) is a pretty little girl with wonderful freckles all over. She’s a year old but still seemed to be full of puppy enthusiasm. Her costume photo op didn’t produce anything worth posting, but isn’t she just adorable?

OMG, then there was Button (ID: 79223) and Angel (ID: 78134). These two mommas are so beautiful and very sweet. Just look at Buttons in the pirate hat – so adorable. I had given up on the costumes by the time I got to Angel – preferring to just enjoy the dogs for who they are. Angel was too funny with her whiney grunts when I went next door to do Rastafari’s photo shoot. Poor girl, she was just looking for a little more love.

Buttons (79223)

Angel (78134)

 

Rastafari (78230)

Rastafari (ID: 78230) and Tea Leaf (ID: 78339) were the two brindles of the night. Rasta was full of energy, but had some great comments from volunteers about how well behaved he is on a walk. He’s two years old but still has lots of get-up-and go for someone looking for a walking or running partner. Tea Leaf is noted as being part Rhodesian Ridge Back – probably because of the lovely ridge/Mohawk down the length of his back. He can seem a little intense but what a smile.

Tea Leaf (78339)

 

Paga (79228)

Paga is an owner-surrender. You can tell by his chubby figure that he was well fed in his previous life. They left behind a lot of good notes about him being house and crate trained, good with kids, dogs, and liking to go swimming. He really uses those ears to express himself – I wish I had gotten a better picture of them in “rabbit ear” mode.

Samantha (78957)

Finally there was sweet, sweet Samantha (ID: 78957). She was such a shy and timid girl, I couldn’t help but hang out with her for a little while and give her lots of love. It took a little patience, but she did get to a point where she came to me and gave my hand a little nudge and flip to get some more pets.

Do check out the WCAC pet gallery for all the great pets waiting for their forever homes. We’re at capacity so please click here to learn more about these guys and all the others.

One last thing: next weekend, October 20-21, from 9 AM to 5 PM each day the WCAC is hosting a MEGA adoption event at the PetsMart on Capital Blvd. at Mini-City. PetsMart has challenged us to reach 200 adoptions over the weekend and will give us a $10,000 grant for reaching that goal. The foster program can certainly use that to increase the number of lives saved. Please click on this link to the Friends of WCAC Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfWakeCountyAnimalCenter), download the flier, print it and post it in all your favorite haunts. Thanks!

We’re still here ‘cause there are still pets to be saved

I know it’s been a LONG while since I’ve posted. It’s been a busy time at the Foote house as we failed at fostering one Ruby Jewel Nutter Butter Foote. She has settled in with us nicely and we are taking a Canine Good Citizen’s class with Teamworks Dog Training in Raleigh, NC.

Ruby Jewel Nutter Butter - future disc dog!

I have found some time to go to the Wake County Animal Center (WCAC) to take photos of dogs, but I need to get back on a regular schedule. I can tell it has been a while since I’ve been as there is just one guy left who’s looking for his forever family.

George (ID: 74452)

His name is George and he’s about two years old and a Pittie mix. He really is just looking for lots of love and will lean into people just to get more petting. Volunteers say he walks fantastically on a leash and knows “sit.” He’s currently in foster care, but while at the shelter he kept a very clean kennel and went potty whenever he went outside for a walk – a very good indication that he is housebroken. Email me at afureverfamily@yahoo.com and get more information from his foster family or I can put you in touch with them.

The WCAC has been overflowing with cats, dogs, and bunnies for most of the summer. And although you can always go to the website to check out who’s available for adoption, several of us got together and created the Friends of Wake County Animal Center Facebook page where special and urgent requests can be made for dogs and cats in need of rescue. It’s also a great platform to tell the community about the staff and their deep love for all the animals. Check out this post about the foster coordinator and consider whether fostering might just be for you - click here to apply today, http://www.wakegov.com/pets/foster/Pages/default.aspx.