So, I’ve been writing for Daily Kos and trying to consolidate my THREE (i.e., too many) blogs. Therefore, I’ll link diaries relevant to fostering here. And I just wrote one!
GOD GOT A DOG: Another Book That Evangelical Christians Should Read
You’ll notice that I mention 78, rather than 76, fosters. Here are some quick details that didn’t make it into the admittedly-already-too-long post.
Chester 77: Tiger (who we called “Tigress,” b/c: Hunger Games!) is a lovely 2-year-old large-sized mixed breed dog. Although heart worm positive, she received her treatment while with us and has a clean bill of health. She spent her time in Holly Hill, playing the part of gentle giant, content to stroll along beside us and wag her tail. Another favorite activity included lounging in the backyard while monitoring squirrels. She *never* jumped on us, even when excited. She’s a pack-follower and wants very much to please all around her — both her pet and human companions.
Normally, I foster small dogs (b/c of all the kids and pets) but I was perfectly comfortable fostering both Tigress and Harley (described below), despite their size. I could tell, though, that people were nervous to see me walking her — which was maybe my first glimpse of the prejudice that people have towards dogs of Tigress’s admittedly imposing stature. I tried to explain to one guy, who jumped aside to let us pass, that she really is very sweet and that he would more likely be bitten by my cyborg wiener dog that *everyone* tries to pet, b/c: least imposing stature ever.
Poor Tigress. Also: poor Tigress, b/c she’s . . . umm . . . not very bright. She kept getting sucker-punched when she pawed the bird feeders in our yard, and she panicked when she thought she was locked in her kennel (without realizing that she had only to push her way out through the unlocked door).
but! ^all of the above^ made us laugh — which made her even lovelier. Currently, she’s with the fabulous people at Virginia Paws for Pits, her adoption agency that will find her the perfect forever family.
Chester 78: Harley is a handsome 2-year-old medium-sized mixed breed dog. Although heart worm positive, he received his treatment while with us and has a clean bill of health. He spent his time in Holly Hill, playing the part of crazy man, running from person to pet to person to pet, hoping to play. Another favorite activity included trying desperately to catch all the squirrels. He *always* jumped on us, even when in more subdued moods (rather than his usual “tasmanian devil” state of being). He’s a pack-follower and wants very much to please all around him — both his pet and human companions, but he always seemed to think that (despite our protestations) we’re most pleased by bear hugs that come at the end of full gallops.
Two memorable moments: (1) Harley, riding on my 79-year-old grandmother’s lap, for his final heart worm treatment; and (2) Harley, on transport day, being asked by no less than five people why his snout had a great stripe. Answer: grass stain from wrestling with our dog, Annie Cresta, that a.m.
He was my perpetually disheveled child of a dog. Things are a lot calmer and quieter without him. And, of course, we miss the joy-in-the-chaos. Currently, he’s with the fabulous people at Home Sweet Home Animal Rescue, his New Jersey adoption agency that will find him the perfect forever family.
Note in the photo, below, the amazing transformation of scared shelter pup into happiest dog-face on the planet . . . which is *exactly* what makes it all worth it.
Fostering Chester 
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