A NEW foster DOG!!!

I have begun work at the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley, and am thouroughly enjoying myself. Being back in Idaho is a bit of culture shock, but for the most part I have found the people to be incredibly friendly and warm. And the dogs! There are so many wonderful dogs here! The Wood River Valley is so lucky to have such a great animal shelter. The resources they put into their animals, as well as the resources they have for the community are amazing. Because it is an adoption guarantee shelter, they certainly have some long term residents. One cat has been here since I left 2 years ago. It makes me think she was waiting for me to come back to adopt her... There are also some long term resident dogs. One in particular peeked my interest. "Sundance" was dumped at the shelter after hours. It took staff 3 days to catch him, he was so shy and untrusting of humans. During his time at the shelter he has certainly blossomed. He even goes to an organized agility class which he really loves. Don't be fooled though, he is still a shy boy, and he displays his fear at the shelter by barking at anyone who passes by his kennel. I knew he wouldn't get adopted acting that way, and I had a hunch he probably hadn't ever been in a home setting. So, after making sure he and Stella would get along, and that he would behave around Chip, I decided to take him home as a foster, and try to get him some socialization.

So far it's been a bit rough. He is petrified of everything. Thank goodness for his crate. He retreats to it any time he is inside, which is fine with me. I am happy he has a safe spot. Our biggest challenge is that he won't go to the bathroom while here. He is too spooked by everything outside, and he paces or runs around the yard tail tucked. So, I have resorted to taking him back up to the shelter to go to the bathroom a couple times a day. (It's amazing, we get there and he walks around marking on everything...) Today we had a breakthrough- he trotted around the yard with his tail up, and didn't hide nearly as much. When we went inside I was able to call him over to me, open the front door and he ran inside. (Usually I have to creep up to him to put his leash on and coax him into the house) So, maybe we are making progress. Did I mention that the first day he got out of the yard and ran off for 3 hours? Thankfully he did come back when a thunderstorm passed through.... He sure is handsome though...

So, I'll keep you posted on Sundance's and my progress. If nothing else, I am learning how to be more patient.....

With Love comes Pain

Yesterday my friend Rachel made the tough decision to put her cat Lou to sleep. She had had Lou for something like 18 years, and while he had been diagnosed with cancer and diabetes over a year ago, he was still chugging along, even though his new nickname was Skeletor. Rachel works as an emergency vet, and a large part of her job is, unfortunately, counseling people on euthanasia. Rachel is amazing at helping people come to peace with their decision and stressing the fact that sometimes euthanasia can be the greatest gift we give out pets. Being a "euthanasia counselor" however, didn't make the process any easier for her when it was time to put her beloved Lou to rest. Speaking with her made me think about Montana of course, and the euthanasia and grieving process I went through. As Rachel asked me for advice, I had the same thoughts go through my head: No matter what I say, this is a decision she has to be ok with. It is such a personal decision and it really doesn't matter what anyone else says.

I think Rachel made the right decision for Lou, and I think she agrees. What is so important for me, when dealing with the death of a loved pet, is that until you've done it yourself, you can't judge anyone else for the choices they make. I used to think some people were "prolongers" keeping their pets alive for themselves, rather than for the pet. But, quite honestly, after struggling with the decision for Montana, I understand why people wait as long as possible.

It saddens me how many of my friend's pets have been lost recently, but I am somewhat comforted by the thought of them all in pet heaven together, waiting for our time to join them. I sincerely hope that Lou, Tang, Montana, Mackay, Teddy, Chum, Maggie, Mariah and Jack, among others, are going to be ready for us when we join them. To all the pets that have touched our hearts and made us better people, I thank you!

Left Behind, But Not Forgotten

I made the decision to leave Tang in Ithaca when I moved to Idaho. His cancer had spread throughout his body, but his quality of life was still good. He was eating, catching chipmunks, and wrestling with my upstairs neighbors cat. When I mentioned that I was considering euthanizing him to my neighbor she offered to take him in. The stress of the trip to Idaho could prove to be too much for him, and seeing how he loved Tammi and her pets, I agreed. I felt that if he was still doing well when I flew home in November I could transport him back on the plane with me to Idaho. It was incredibly hard to say goodbye to him. While I knew I was making the right decision, I've never left a pet before, and it was a truly heartwrenching experience. Tang was the perfect cat in so many ways. He was great with my dogs, great with other cats, independent, but still loveable. He had been at the animal shelter for a year before I took him home, and I wish I had taken him in sooner so that we could have had more time together. In many ways I felt like Tang was so happy to be in a home that loved him, and he showed his gratitude by being exactly what I wanted out of a feline companion.

This evening Tang was put to sleep by two incredibly wonderful friends. Tammi called me yesterday to let me know he had taken a turn for the worse, he wasn't eating and barely getting around. I am so lucky to have friends that can help me out at a moment's notice and make sure that Tang didn't suffer a day in his life. His passing was peaceful, and while I wasn't there physically, my thoughts were with him and I felt peace knowing that he and Montana would be reunited.

I loved Tang so much, and I am so happy he was a part of my life. I hope that his time spent with me, Montana, Stella and Chip was as wonderful for him as it was for us.

***While this post is obviously dedicated to Tang's memory, it is also dedicated to Dr Brian Collins and Soshi Cook, two fabulous people whose love for animals makes them true humanitarians.***

In Anticipation of Chip's Arrival

As I sit here awaiting my cat's arrival via plane, I can't help but be anxious, nervous about the state he'll be in when he arrives. I hate flying pets, but in this case, it really seemed like the best option, and all I can hope for, is that Chip is his unflappable self when he steps out of his carrier and into my arms. I've never met a cat like Chip. He isn't fazed by anything. He spent the last week in the office of the TC SPCA animal control, and after about 5 minutes there he completely forgot about me and was ready to make it his permanent home. In fact, after my departure, my friend Kate gave me reports which consistently mentioned the fact that he couldn't care less that I had left him. Perhaps this is why no one ever considers cats to be (wo)man's best friend. Yet, for some reason, it is Chip's extreme disloyalty to me that makes me love him so much. It is the fact that he can acclimate to any situation that makes him such a great cat. So, here's to hoping that he'll be the same unfazed boy that he was before the flight. And, that he'll love life in Idaho with Stella and I.

**I dedicate this post to the wonderful animal control officers that made Chip comfortable, happy and spoiled while he waited to join the rest of the family in Idaho. And especially to Kate for taking him to the airport, making sure he was handled well by the cargo personnel and giving him lots of love.****

And Away We Go!!!!

Greetings from North Dakota! I'm well on my way to Idaho, and for those of you who may be wondering, no, ND is not on the direct route to Idaho. I'm taking a true road trip. Joining me are my friend Laura and my #1 companion Stella. We've been having a blast; sightseeing, driving, and driving some more. What's amazed me through all of it (other than the fact that our country is BEAUTIFUL!) is how amazingly perfect Stella can be!!! She zonks out in the car, sleeps through the night, and has been wonderful with all the people we've met. She is super happy too. I think dogs are amazing in their resiliance. As long as she is with me, she's happy. Although, she's certainly got a soft spot for my friend Laura too. At the beginning of the trip she acted deaf whenever Laura would call her or ask her to do something. Now, she happily trots over to her when called. Okay, maybe not all the time, but this is Stella we're talking about...

 I love my dog. I can't imagine not sharing this wonderful trip with her. We'll be in our new home tomorrow. I hope it makes her happy....