I got the message yesterday, “Are you up to taking in a foster?”  Lucy was adopted weeks ago and doing well with her family, Flipflop is getting restless and board with his “senior” sister, and we have the space in our home and hearts, so “yes” I said and the arrangements start.

I put out clues for my dogs that company is coming, an extra bowl goes out, a dog bed is pulled from storage, Dahlia and Flipflop sniff and are curious.  But it’s not until the new dog arrives that my job really begins.

Ben is a 1-1/2 year old lab mix who is being dropped off after work today.  I have already arranged for a neighbour to take my dogs out to meet Ben and I.  I never introduce a new dog into my home in my home.  We always introduce the dogs outside, this ensures Flipflop (and Dahlia, but it’s usually Flipflop) doesn’t get territorial and try and challenge the new dog, especially when it’s a male dog.

I already know when we get in from our walk, Flipflop will be upset that this dog has come to live with him.  Flipflop will require extra snuggles and reassurance from me that he is the baby.  He will watch the new dog carefully making sure the new dog doesn’t hurt Dahlia or the cats.

Once we go to bed, Flipflop will again get territorial, over me this time. I will need to remind him I am the boss in the house and he needn’t worry.  He will then calm down and sleep beside me, I know likely to show the new dog I am his, which I shouldn’t encourage but I allow Flip to snuggle into me for the night anyway.

In the morning everyone will go for a walk, Flipflop may or may not like the new dog yet. Dahlia really won’t care as long as she gets her attention and morning hugs from me. And then Flipflop and the new dog will go to daycare, where they will spend the day together and start to bond.

Flipflop will start thinking his foster sibling is ok, and start being more welcoming in our home to the new arrival.  He’ll start showing the new dog his toys and seeing if he can engage his foster sibling in play.  Once and awhile he’ll still get upset and give the new dog a warning which I will continue to correct.

By day 4 or 5, Flipflop and his foster sibling will be the best of buds, wrestling and chasing each other.  The first few days of uncertainty and stress will seem like a distant memory as Flipflop takes his sibling under his paw and teaches the dog to play, trust and of course be a dog!

 

There are so many moments of our lives where animals show us lessons in compassion and love.  I’m sure we’ve all seen videos of heroic animals, read their stories, or seen cases where one species nurtures another in need of care.  Their instincts are both beautiful and majestic.

My 3-1/2 year Bahamian Potcake, Flipflop, saved as a young pup, but still bares his street dog instincts.  He’s fast and always on guard, protecting his pack, yet so youthful and playful, and such a snuggle pup with me!

Flipflop’s instincts give him confidence like I’ve never seen in a dog, and also makes him a bit a jerk at times too, which of course, I correct him on.  I believe his confidence and his fearlessness is what makes him such an amazing dog with my fosters.  Flipflop teaches them more than I do about trust and play.

At Flipflop’s daycare, I’m told he always spends time with the new dogs who are a little unsure, until they get their confidence and then he will return to play with his own friends.  And sometimes he just likes to sit in the middle of the room and watch all the dogs interact.

He’s the protector.

My senior girl, Dahlia, who’s been in my life for only a year,  and yet in that year I have seen this broken dog turn into a younger, playful, confident girl.  Dahlia is my canine hero.

A broken dog, literally broken bones and spirt when saved in a joint effort by Eddy’s Dogs and Royal Canadian Pooch, she came to me a few months after surgery. She was scared of me, but loved Flipflop and it didn’t take her long to warm up to me.

And now, no one would even guess that this girl is a senior rescue.  She is confident, mobile and so playful.  I send video’s to her saviours because I know it brings them joy to see how far this amazing dog has come in a year.

No matter what was thrown at Dahlia in her first 8 years of her life, she has overcome it all and has let go of all her fears and anxiety.  The only issue Dahlia has now is her assertive Catahoula personality that makes her larger than life and animated. She dances around like she’s a toy poodle and not an 80 lbs hunting dog, which makes her quite clumsy but so cute.

And then there is Dupont, my amazing collie/shepherd and first dog I owned as an adult.  Dupont was diagnosed with arthritis at 3 years old, along with that, he had ultra sensitive skin and environmental allergies.  All these minor elements made me an expert at dog care and put me in a great position of knowledge with helping Flipflop with his seasonal allergies and enabled me to nurse a recovering Dahlia to health when she moved in with me.

Dupont loved to hike, he and I would go for hours every weekend and it wasn’t until his last few years of life that he couldn’t do his long walks anymore.  Instead, Dupont would enjoy spending countless hours laying in the grass under the shade of a tree.  When Dupont first started laying down and not wanting to walk, I would worry about him a great deal, and then I realized this is how he wanted to spend his senior years.  So, I would bring a book and some water for us both and oblige him.

When I think of these three very different dogs and the joy they have brought and continue to bring into my life, I reflect on some of lessons each of them have taught me.

Dupont taught me to slow down – that sometimes in life it’s nice to just sit still and watch the world go by.  There is never a hurry to get anywhere.

Flipflop taught me patience, he is far from a perfect dog, and there are days he drives me crazy!  But when I see him interact with the new dogs who enter our home, he takes his time to work with each dog.  I see him time and time again showing the foster his toys and how to play with them, until they learn.

And Dahlia, Dahlia has taught me resilience, no matter what life throws at you, you just have to keep trusting humanity and not let anyone break your spirit.

 

 

 

My little foster Lucy, so sweet but so shy had such a hard time finding the right home.

Rescued as a pup from Mexico and then surrendered back to the rescue by 2 years old, she had no trust.  At the time of her surrender, there were no available foster homes, so Lucy was placed in a pet centre where she was well taken care of but the environment was not suited for her nervous personality.    Lucy started shutting down and showing signs of depression.

When I was available to foster again, I couldn’t refuse to help Lucy.  I went to pick her up, she was so scared she crawled to me on her belly.  It was heartbreaking.  Once outside, I got down on her level to introduce myself  to her.

It wasn’t until we got to my place and my trusted friend and neighbour came outside with my dogs to meet Lucy that Lucy started to relax. She instantly bonded with Flipflop, I called it the “terrier connection”!  I had never seen Flipflop warm up to a foster as quickly as he did Lucy.

For months Lucy lived with us, as part of our pack.  Going through meet and greet after meet and greet, each one resulting in Lucy not being the “right” dog.  Lucy must have been waiting for her people to come.  Because when they did, there was NO doubt in my mind that they were Lucy’s match.

Lucy bonded very quickly with her new mom and has made great progress with her dad in just a few days.  She is enjoying her walks and making new friends in her neighbourhood.

I’m so proud of her and how far she’s come with her insecurities, and even though I worried that when Lucy left her insecurities would get the best of her, instead she is flourishing.  Proving once again what an amazing dog she is.

 

 

No, this blog is not about beach footwear, it’s about my Bahamian Potcake, Flipflop.  A potcake is a mixed breed dog found on Caribbean Islands. The name comes from the congealed rice and pea mixture that local residents traditionally fed dogs.

As soon as I saw Flipflop’s photo I instantly wanted to meet him, so I messaged my good friend, who was set to be his foster mom once he arrived in Canada.  He and I were meant to be.

Although I haven’t done a DNA test on him, I swear he’s 80% Jack Russell Terrier and 10% Rottweiler and 10% mystery!  I could be completely off with that guess as well but I really don’t care what he is, he’s my baby.

Flipflop is not what I would describe as a perfect dog, he’s got some street instincts which I have to keep an eye on, but he’s very well socialized, friendly, and high energy!  He’s cuddly, loves his momma and is actually very sensitive.

Obviously I love this dog, but where he really shines the most is as a foster brother.  Flipflop is 3-1/2 now, I started fostering when he was 2, and regardless of the dog, he’s excelled at being a good foster sibling to them.

With any introduction of a new animal into a home, there is always an adjustment period.  Flipflop takes a few days to decide how he feels about his new foster sibling, but it always turns out he likes them.  And when that moment happens, the rest of the foster’s stay with us is magic.

Flipflop’s friendliness, confidence and playful personality lures the fosters out of their shell.  No matter their history, their fears and insecurities Flipflop teaches them to play, trust and love.  He essentially makes them dogs again.

As a foster parent I get a lot of credit from people for helping these dogs heal, but the truth is, I’m just one part of the equation, I  couldn’t do what I do without my amazing sidekick, Flipflop.

Instant gratification when one adopts a dog is something, I am learning, that is an expectation many have.  It reminds me of the commercial, I can’t remember the product, but the ad stuck with me.  A lady adopted a dog and she’s trying to get it to play and it’s just laying there, and then after several attempts the lady gives up. And then you see the dog going up to her with the ball to play.   It’s an awesome commercial, but what the commercial can’t show you is that moment when the dog comes to you can take days, even weeks to happen.

I’m sure it does happen immediately to some, I haven’t experienced but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.  But when you adopt a pet, your expectation should be it’ll take time.

My poor sweet foster lady Lucy is reminding me of this with every meet and greet.  Lucy is insecure, she’s got a nervous energy and needs calmness and stability.  She also needs a home where people are willing to let her adapt and not expect an instant connection from her.

Every rescue dog a has a story that has led them to rescue.  It’s rarely a happy journey, and it’s our job when we adopt to help the dog get to their healthier path.

When you decide to adopt, you’re a hero, at least me!  But you also need to be aware, that your new family member is going to need time to adjust and get comfortable in their new surroundings.

Every meet and greet I’ve had with Lucy has not ended in success as each family was expecting something from her.  Something that she needs time to give, trust.  Lucy has shown her kindness, how sweet she is, and her fun personality at her past couple meet and greets, however; she has also shown her insecurity.

Don’t get me wrong, I am glad that the potential adopters decide Lucy isn’t right for them, rather than adopting her and surrendering her back to the rescue.  But I also feel that if you’re going to adopt you need to be aware that RESCUE means the dogs have been RESCUED from situations.

Even with a puppy, there isn’t always an instant bond, however; it usually comes easier as the pup has less baggage (and yes, you can get puppies through rescues).

It’s not common, but some lucky people work at dog friendly organizations.  I am fortunate enough to work at one of them, and I love it.

I suffer from anxiety and depression, and  while I diligently workout every day and take my medication faithfully, some days just suck.  These are the days I take one of my four legged kids to work.

I often bring Dahlia, as she’s older and calmer than Flipflop, although he’s quite popular at the office for his antics and playfulness.

Dahlia is my “zen” dog, she is just happy to be around people who want to love her, and she adores her momma.  When Dahlia comes to work with me, she happily lays on the dog blanket I keep in my office, getting up only to greet visitors and to receive some scratches behind her ears.

When Dahlia first came to work with me, I was fostering her and wanted to socialize her.  She sadly walked around the office following me, freezing while people came around to meet her. One of my close friends and colleagues cried while she witnessed Dahlia sitting my office facing the wall, my colleague had never seen such a sad dog before.

A couple weeks later I brought Dahlia back, while she still was unsure she was much more relaxed and rather than freeze while people came around her, she contently received pets and no longer sat facing a wall.  Many saw huge progress in her.

I kept bring Dahlia to work every few weeks and every time she was unrecognizable to people, as she became more and more confident.  I even got asked if she grew, as she looked bigger, but of course she hadn’t grown, she was standing taller and prouder.

Dahlia continues to awe my co-workers and  now  when she comes to work she  runs into the office, tail wagging and ready for love and attention from anyone willing to get it from her.

Bringing my dogs to work not only helps me on my hard days, it provides great stress relief to those I work with.  I also bring my fosters in to socialize them with people.

Yesterday I brought my foster Lucy in for the first time. Lucy has done so well with her insecurities, I felt she was ready for the office.  She didn’t disappoint, she was a very good girl and while she still shied away from the men, she was full of kisses and cuddles for the ladies.

After a couple of hours however; Lucy started finding her way to some of the guys, on her terms and was happy to cautiously give them a kiss and play fetch with them.

 

 

I wish I had the gift to know what my dogs and cats are thinking at any time.  I have a pretty good idea for the most part, as I bond very closely with my animals, but to actually hear their thoughts I think would be so amazing.  Then again to hear the thoughts of my fosters when they first come would probably crush me.

I do believe that some people possess this gift, and I have had some really cool experiences with some.

My first experience was years ago with my collie/shepherd mix Dupont.  He and I were on a group hike and part of the hike was to meet an animal communicator.  The hike was through a dog adventure group and no one on the hike knew me.  During the hike we all got acquainted, chatted about our dogs and kept to small talk.  We got to the building where one by one, we would enter with our dogs and meet the communicator.  I was a skeptic, but thought it sounded fun and Dupont LOVED his hikes with me.  So figured why not?!

While waiting for our turn, I listened to how amazed those who had their turn were by what their dogs had shared.  But what got my attention is when one of the hikers said that she had asked if her dog, Journey, missed her dad.  She asked this because her dad recently passed away.  The communicator answered, that yes, Journey did miss her dad but her dad still visits him.

I was recently separated and had 100% custody of Dupont.  No one in this group knew of my relationship status, Facebook wasn’t even a “thing” then.  When I went in with Dupont I asked a few light questions.  I asked his favourite toy to which he replied “stuffies”, which is what I always called his stuffed toys.  I then asked “Does he miss his dad?”  Expecting the same response Elaine received.  However; to my surprise, she responded “he does miss his dad, but he’s happy he’s with you.”  My skepticism faded.

Fast forward to two years ago, Flipflop’s daycare hosted a charity fundraiser for The Bello Project (https://www.homehospiceassociation.com/thebelloproject). A session with an animal communicator along with a photo of your pet with Santa was right up my alley. I attended with Flipflop, but Flipflop was not who I was really interested in talking to.

Dupont had passed away 11 months before, and I never truly got over it.  I brought his collar, and handed it to the communicator, who then told me the dog she was “seeing”, it was my Dupont.  She told me Dupont was happy and he did not resent Flipflop at all (a fear I had) and that he knew how much I loved him and he had a wonderful life.  As I cried uncontrollably I started to let go of the guilt I felt over Dupont’s death.  She told me that Dupont didn’t want me to be sad anymore.  When in physical form the only time Dupont would snuggle with me is when I cried, he hated to see me cry.  I still cry every 14th of January for him (the day he passed) even though he doesn’t want me to, he’s worth the tears.

Then we turned out attention to Flipflop, who said that he was happy I brought him “here” because he really likes it.  The communicator asked what I thought that meant and I explained that this was his daycare, so he must enjoy his days here! 🙂

And here we are today, I had started my blog and posted about my insecure foster, Lucy.  After a post I received a message from a fellow blogger: https://joaniemorrison.com/. Joanie explained she was an animal communicator and offered to connect with Lucy to assist.  Having had all positive experiences in the past and nothing to lose, I took her up on the offer.

Lucy used to sneeze a lot, I thought it was stress related, and was right, but what I didn’t expect was Joanie could read her energy and remove any trapped emotions, Lucy stopped sneezing within 12 hours.

When Lucy started sneezing regularly again, I contacted Joanie to ask if she could assist. Joanie worked her magic and then suggested that perhaps Lucy was picking up some energy from me or the others in my home (pets included), causing her to sneeze.  So I decided to hire her to work on my family and I.

It’s been a few days and it’s been an amazing experience.  My energy is higher, Lucy hasn’t even sniffled, my sleep has never been better and everyone is calmer.  Plus I got the added benefit of hearing what was on the mind of my fur kids, which proved to be quite humorous. 🙂

Although Dr. Doolittle may have been imagined as a story to entertain children, the human/animal connection is very real for some very gifted people.

 

 

It’s something we’ve all heard:  when you have an older dog and you get a younger dog (like a puppy), the older dog will teach the puppy a lot.  This is very true, dogs do teach one another.  I have seen my Potcake, Flipflop, teach my fosters.

It sounds pretty simple, you have a well trained dog, you introduce a younger dog into your home.  You fully expect once the two dogs get acquainted the older dog (or in my case the permanent one) starts teaching the other dog.  It’s actually really cool to watch a dog who has never played before learn to play!  Dahlia (my senior rescue) is just catching onto how to properly play and she’s SO excited, as am I.

But what I always forget and sadly get reminded of is, the young dog will also teach the older dogs a few things too.  My best friend described it best, when she said she felt like her puppy was reminding her then 3 year old dog how fun it is to misbehave!

I never really gave this situation much thought before, as Flipflop is only 3 and still a big goof ball in his own right.  So having him wrestle or get into mischief with some of the younger fosters doesn’t really phase me.

But what happened last night sure reminded me about the reverse teachings of a younger dog to an older one.

My current foster Lucy used to be very nervous on leash when I got her, she would bark at everyone and every dog we walked by.  Of course with a lot treats and training, she is getting over this.  She no longer barks at people at all, and is about 80% there with not barking at dogs.  I’m really proud of her, not only because she is learning to relax and trust, but she would also get Flipflop & Dahlia to bark with her.

Last night, I was walking Dahlia on her own, and she saw a dog.  Normally an event that would not even be noticed.  However, last night  Dahlia delighted in barking at the dog and behaving much like Lucy used to!  And then I realized the inevitable, Lucy taught Dahlia to bark at other dogs while walking on her leash!

Reminding me, as I’m reminding you, you can certainly teach an old dog! 🙂

 

Contact

Most people who have pets, know it’s very possible for different species to get along.  If introduced safely and properly dogs and cats can be best friends.

My two cats are also rescued, Sixx (named after Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx) & Angel (Named after Criss Angel), were feral kittens when they were rescued.  They lived at an animal haven until they were about one years old.  The founder was just about to give up on them finding a forever home when I called her, looking for two cats.  Sometimes things are just meant to be.

At the time, I had one dog, Dupont, he grew up with a cat, who had passed away and he missed her terribly.  So, it was no surprise when Sixx & Angel moved in, Dupont was thrilled.  Of course, the cats were not too sure of this 100 lbs dog who would whimper for them to come see him.  Eventually, Sixx did come out and that’s when Sixx realized life as a dog was pretty awesome.

Sixx started mimicking everything Dupont did, he would play with dog toys, try and eat dog bones, and come running for treats.  At walk time, Sixx would come to the door, expecting to go for a walk with Dupont.  I tried to leash-train Sixx, but he never took to it, so he eventually gave up on wanting walks.

Angel is much more reserved, he still doesn’t like to interact with the dogs, but he doesn’t hide from them.  Unlike Sixx, Angel realizes he’s a cat so he behaves as one.  But even having a cat who doesn’t think he’s a dog, he lives quite peacefully in a houseful of them.

Flipflop likes to show off as new fosters come and needs a reminder not to chase the cats. The fosters tend to take their queues from Flipflop on how to behave.  With that said, with each dog it’s a different situation and I am always cautious when a new foster is moving in with us.

When introducing a new animal into your home, regardless of the species, introductions are the key to success. It’s best to introduce the pets slowly and keep them separated when you’re not around.

Like humans, animals have personalities and sometimes even if you do everything right, they just may not get along. But when they do, there is nothing as cute as having a dog and cat who are best friends.

 

 

 

 

I know the hesitation, I have said it myself.  The thought of adopting a senior dog was taboo for me, as it is many.  What a heartbreak, you adopt this dog and give it all you can to have it leave you a short time later.  It’s true, loving a dog always leads to heartbreak, their lives are much shorter than we’d all like.

When I started fostering, I knew I’d be sad as the dogs left me but I also knew they’d be going onto wonderful lives with loving families.  I was, so I thought, mentally prepared for this.

Nine months ago, I was waiting for my fourth foster to arrive, her name was and still is Dahlia.  She’s an eight year old Catahoula mix, and had a lot of baggage, including recovering from a 5 hour surgery as she was saved from her abusive owner and rushed into surgery to fix the leg he had broken in three places.

I have lots of experience with dogs who need to recover from ailments, such as ACL injuries and chronic arthritis pain.  I knew, as the rescue did, I could rehabilitate this dog and get her ready for her forever home.  What I didn’t know, is the forever home would end up being mine!

Dahlia loves me, and I mean LOVES me, like nothing I’ve ever experienced.  Don’t get me wrong, I know Flipflop loves me and we have a special bond.  But with Dahlia its different, its deeper than love, in her mind, I saved her.

It wasn’t an instant bond with Dahlia and I, she feared me at first, as she did all people.  I loved her instantly, however; as I saw the damage the blows to her head had done to eyes, the scar down her leg from surgery, the fear eight years of abuse and mistrust did to her. And yet, she still wanted to be loved, she still wanted to try and trust humans.  It broke my heart.  That was in April 2017, I adopted Dahlia is June, although I am pretty sure she would say she was adopted in April.

Dahlia gets excited to see me, she loves to be near me, but what makes her so different, is her gratitude.  Dahlia will dance with delight and glee at every meal time, knowing she’s being fed, even after 9 months of consistency.  When we are at off leash parks, she will go off for a moment or two and then return to me constantly for reassurance that I’m there.  And unlike most dogs, she gets so excited at anytime to be put back on her leash, much like at meal time, she dances when she is being clipped up to her leash, knowing she’s staying with me.

Like most dog owners, I travel from time to time and I’m very fortunate to have amazing neighbours who will take my dogs and fosters for me.  Dahlia does very well when she’s at others homes, she knows all the neighbours and that they love her. But when I return, she loses her mind, she shoves all the other dogs out of her way to come to me, and she cries while she dances around and nudges me to pet her.  She tries to crawl up on me (but she’s 80 lbs) so I go down to her level so she can feel closer to me.  And when we go for our first walk after I’ve been away, she refuses to do her business as it means she needs to leave my side.  I have to get her home and sit on the couch with her on my lap (she doesn’t realize she’s big, she really thinks she’s a little dainty lady) for at least an hour before she recovers from her excitement that her mom is home.  It’s a toss up of emotions for me, part of me is frustrated I can’t do anything for an hour but on the flip side, I am so overwhelmed that I am everything to this sweet girl.

We’ve all heard it and it’s true, dogs know when they have been saved, I see it time and time again, not only with my own fosters and dogs but also through the dogs that I meet that others are fostering or have adopted.  It’s wonderful to see and hear the stories of growth in these dogs once they learn to trust and feel loved.

Dahlia has shown the me the pure joy of adopting a senior dog and the amazing way she has learned to communicate with me and show her gratitude.  She was so sad when I met her, she didn’t know how to play or what toys were.  Now she walks around with great pride carrying her favourite toys, or will give me a nudge with her nose if there is a ball in sight and she wants me to toss it for her.

I am literally watching Dahlia get younger every day as she becomes more playful all the time and she is so happy. When I look at her and she smiles at me, I know whether she lives to be 15 or her body retires on her tomorrow, this girl is going to leave this earth happy and knowing she has experiences true unconditional love.  The kind of love and happiness that all dogs deserve.