Fostering Chester

I’m happy to report that Chester Abbie Faith and brood seem to be thriving. The pups seem to be getting fatter and more mobile much more quickly than Iva’s pups. They were only born on Wednesday, but at four days old, they are squirming, squeaking bundles of cuteness.

And here are close-ups of Abbie’s pups, with their temporary names. And, yes, this is what I’m using as an alphabet primer for Jack.

Bradley (boy):

Cayce (boy):

Duncan (boy):

Elloree (girl):

Fairfax (boy):

Gaffney (girl):

Hilda (girl):

Last Chance Animal Rescue (a truly awesome rescue organization) is willing to take Chesters A-H, squared and to find homes for them, but I will probably have them until they’re weaned. Abbie Faith has heartworms, and it will be so much less expensive to treat her here than in New York, where the rescue is located. So . . . if anyone would like to adopt Abbie Faith or a puppy, let me know! For every dog for whom I’m able to find a home, the rescuers at Last Chance will be able to take another in need.

But, yes, we’ll have 8+ dogs for several more weeks. When I broke the news to Scott, I spun it as “Well, at least you’ll get to see them with their eyes open!” He bemoaned the fact that Iva’s pups went to rescue before the eye-opening event.

He had a breakthrough last night, though. Scott’s #1 complaint about all the craziness I bring into his life is that he likes his life to be EASY. He would love to come home after work, play Battlefield 2, or watch Top Gear.

He admitted, though, that when he’s an old man, he won’t remember those game-playing or television episodes. He’ll remember, instead, a pack full of dogs running around while a 6-year and almost 2-year old pretend to be dogs too. — and the two of us trying to bring order to the chaos of it all and finally embracing it and each other.

And, by that point, he *may* even remember it fondly.

Or, he may be crazy and running around like a pretend dog himself.

Update on Bradley: Adopted! Wednesday October 5, 2011 by Bryan Germann and Catherine Eisner

Update on Cayce: Adopted! Sunday October 2, 2011 by Lauren Eyler and Dawn Perry

Update on Elloree: Rescued! Friday October 21, 2011 by Last Chance Animal Rescue

Pulled: Wednesday August 10, 2011 from the Marlboro County Animal Shelter

Rescue Commitments for Abbie Faith, Duncan, Fairfax and Hilda: Friday October 21, 2011 by Dog Tags; for Elloree: Friday October 21, 2011 by Last Chance Animal Rescue

Adoption Commitments for Bradley: Wednesday October 5, 2011 by Bryan Germann and Catherine Eisner; for Cayce (renamed Truman): Sunday October 2, 2011 by Lauren Eyler and Dawn Perry

Meet my Chester A, squared. She’s my 27th foster, which means that I’ve worked my way through the alphabet once. And here we go again. This is my Chester Abbeville (Abbie), Middle Mutt’s Faith. So we shall call her Chester Abbie Faith.

I got an email from my friend in rescue, Whitney, asking if I would be willing to take a sweet bull terrier mix that was delivering pups “as we speak.” I said, “Of course!” Whitney’s fabulous rescue organization, Last Chance Animal Rescue, will be taking Chester A. and her seven gorgeous pups after we’ve cared for them awhile. — unless, of course, I can manage to find them good homes here, thus freeing up space for Whitney to rescue others!

I have tons of work this week, since classes at USC start next week, but I just grabbed one of my Assistant Directors (Casey, who has become my Assistant Director in both First-Year English Program world and in life) and said “Road Trip!” Luckily, we work well in the car together. — better, sometimes, in fact, since we can’t escape. And Casey’s friend (and my new friend), Kat, came along as well, making us take breaks from shop talk to discuss television shows. So, yay for Kat!

One of Abbie Faith’s guardian angels, Kenny from Marlboro County, met us halfway with her. Huge thanks to Kenny for caring so much about Abbie Faith and pups to be willing to make the drive! Here’s our first glimpse of the newest Fisk fosters:

Since I was literally driving past the vet I use in Bishopville, I stopped to see if Dr. Currie could give Abbie Faith an exam, since she hadn’t been vetted. He kindly agreed to fit us in, and I’m glad he did. Poor Abbie Faith has hookworms and heartworms. The latter is serious, though treatable. However, we’ll have to wait until her pups are weaned to do so, since she’ll have to spend three days away from them, at the animal hospital. Then, she’ll have to take it easy for a month afterward. If ever a dog deserved to take it easy a month, it’s Chester A.

She is young (2 years at the most), underweight, and her ears seem to have been recently cropped. Dr. Currie had to pull out the stitches and said that whoever did so must not have had the proper equipment, since the cuts are jagged. She was such a good tolerant girl during the entire exam, only whining once or twice, because she wanted off the table to check on her pups. The nurses and Dr. Currie were all taken with her. But, how could you not be?

I mean really. Look at those eyes:

And, of course, it’s easy to be taken by a dog surrounded by puppy cuteness. Exhibit A:

And Exhibit B: ohmygoodnesssoadorable

We have seven, four boys and three girls: Chesters Bradley (boy); Cayce (boy, after Casey Carroll!); Duncan (boy); Elloree (girl); Fairfax (boy); Gaffney (girl); and Hilda (girl). More photos of the pups to come.

Middle Mutts has set up a chip-in for Abbie Faith and pups, since vetting care will no doubt be expensive:

http://middlemutts.chipin.com/faith-and-her-puppies

And, yes, the first seven donors giving $20 or more will have an opportunity to name a pup! I have to go ahead and assign names, because I have a crazy thing for names. BUT I love people who are willing to foster for me (yes, you John Muckelbauer), and who are willing to donate funds so that I can foster more (wish I could do a heroes list here, Stephen Colbert style). So if you foster for me or donate funds, I will call any dog whatever you want me too. 😉

And: how is Scott taking this? His response after seeing Chester Z was “I love it when you get new dogs, because I can get away with doing whatever I want. I think I’m going to play Battlefield 2 now.”

Well, truthfully, his first response was, “What the hell is that?” because Casey and I thought it would be funny to see how long it would be before he noticed Chester Z, who was napping under a chair, on his own. It was a full 10 minutes at least, which enabled me to say: “What?! You didn’t even know she was here! She’ll be no trouble at all!”

(I think it’s appropriate to slip in a photo of fosters Z and E. Chester Edisto is in heaven, since the red-haired girl he adores has finally consented to nap beside him.)

For all his blustering, Scott Fisk is a big mush when it comes to dogs. I thought Abbie Faith needed to sleep in his outside shop, so she’d have access to the fenced in back yard; she has an upset stomach b/c of her hookworms. Scott thought it would be too hot, so he bought a window unit for his shop. — something he was never willing to spend the money on for himself.

And then he made her a whelping box out of the window unit packaging. So, Scott Fisk: no more of this “my wife is fostering dogs” business. WE are fostering dogs, Sweetheart. We are.