Under the Weather, and Homecheck for the TUAPAS

Well, some nasty flu has gobbled up me and spit me out, and two days later I'm just starting to give a real kick back. I've still got three weeks until I call it an end to the school year, got to keep kicking.

No new pictures as the dogs have been mostly homebound the last couple of days, still going out for their walks with Jerrad, but not a lot of Emily time. The Tuapas don't mind -Jerrad isn't around, they usually just hole up in their crates or find cushy pillows, or Zephyr will tail Beckett around trying to be the big, posturing Kahuna. Zephyr is nice and dog social, he just isn't fond of Beckett, almost 100% for the reason that Beckett is mostly blind and doesn't really know where he's going.

This weekend there will be a homevisit for Jasmine and Zephyr together. A retired couple who are interested in one dog, but have seen the pictures of these two together. Good luck TUAPAS. It would be nice for you to find a home together!

And just over a week until the TG Bus lands again. Our possible candidate is DimSum, Chow's sister, but we'll see what's in store. It might be the flu talking, but a completely and udder couch potato sounds better right now!

I have my fingers crossed that the current two will find their home before somebody new comes. But that is asking for best case scenario, which unfortunately, doesn't happen a whole heck of a lot.

Now, back to the couch. It's so sad that getting up to go to the washroom and come back to the computer is so draining. I'm such a whiner though.

Lemon is making sure I'm kept good care of, and Beckett keeps standing watch at the door of the bedroom or the bathroom. They're both going to be nuts if Sunday hits and they don't get their big hike.

BLAH. Go away flu, go away!

Delaying my Anniversary

It's been one year today that Tucker came to me, and I've got so much darn homework I can't get a good post together. So, I will defer my anniversary for a week :)

Stay tuned!

4 Zonked Pooches, and Longing for a Greyhound

So, the TUAPAS continue to love Jerrad much more than myself. I think its because I'm the 'commanding one' of the household. I'm used to my own dogs, that don't have that 'eager-to-please' thing going on in their heads. They are 'do what she says or we'll get torn a new strip' dogs. Sigh. Most dogs aren't, and I would be more than happy to use only positive reinforcement, if it actually worked.

But, I tried the off-leash hike a couple of days ago starting with nothing but positive, and by god Beckett was in one direction, and Lemon tore after a jogger, and they were like 'freedom suckers!!!'. So, Emily the bitch came back out in full force. If I maintain the first five minutes of mean mother, we're good for the rest of the walk. Sigh, must I always be the bad cop?

Zephyr and Jasmine are soft dogs. Not exactly 'eager-to-please' types, but dogs that don't like raised voices, or quick movements, or the whole 'leader' thing. So, they gravitate to Jerrad -the good cop.

Tonight, after Jerrad left for work, they both whined for about two minutes, and then headed into their crates of their own free will. Thanks guys. Good to know I'm not really worth spending time with! I'm so loved. (Yaya, whine whine, complain complain. I actually don't mind that much, and Jerrad is pretty giddy he finally has fosters who LOVE him and don't want much to do with me.)

In other news, while I'm supposed to be doing a mountain of homework, I finish a small boulder sized chunk, and get to looking at greyhounds for adoption.

Why greyhounds. Cause Meshum and daycare and badly bred dogs are scaring me senseless that Beckett, being 7, is 'old'. (He's MIDDLE-AGED!). But still, its scary. He could live another 7 or more years, or he could only have a year or two left. And basically, when he goes (hopefully not for a long LONG time), I want another Beckett dog. I can understand why people clone their good dogs.

So, I've decided #3 will be a greyhound (rescued!). (Hahahaha right, I'll probably somehow end up getting a dog I never thought of, but you know, I'm keeping myself occupied). But really, aren't they gorgeous!

Still, I'd rather just freeze Beckett. Don't get old on me man. You are the best dog I could ever ask for!

I'm not looking old to you am I??

Darn Meshum and scaring me!

Update from Chow, Pics at the Lake, and Dear God, It's that Time of the Semester Again

First off, an update from Chow!

Hi Emily

Well, we have renamed Chowmein "Lucy", and her first day was better than we
could have hoped for.

She settled in quickly, slept quietly all night and in the morning was
reintroduced to Midas.  They played together all day in the garden.  Midas
started with his goofy behaviour, but quickly got sorted out and by
afternooon they were sharing a bone and running around the yard together
like best buds!  Lucy has good manners with the cats and walks very nicely
on her leash.  I think Midas behaved better than usual on our walk to the
mailbox as Lucy set a good example.

She follows me from room to room and is a fast learner.  She was coming
when called yesterday afternoon (except when she was hiding under a shrub
chewing on a bone and wanting a few minutes to herself.)  This morning one
of the cats joined us on our walk up the driveway for the newspaper and
Lucy settled at my feet when I sat down with my coffee and paper.  Aaahhh.
She's the perfect dog for us and seems to enjoy life in the country.  Today
we are going into Sooke together and she can meet some of the locals.

All the best,
Linda

Secondly, some pictures of the TUAPAS from our trip to the lake!

Zephyr on the move.

Beautiful Jasmine

Loose Leashes on the Lake Walk

Zephyr wants perfectly in line with Jerrad and Beckett.

Other news is that the semester is really picking up, and my brain just doesn't want to get into school mode. My problem is that I write a ton when I'm not in school, so that when I'm in school, I find it hard to write new stuff for deadline -I do best without judgement. Granted, I need those deadlines. So, I'm quite glad I've only got the TUAPAS for the next couple of weeks, as I really need to remind myself I'm a student before I'm a dog daycare worker, and before I'm a foster mum. I CAN do it all, I just need to remind myself school needs some focus! That I can't just sail through a master's like I did my bachelors.

Besides, I'm paying way too much just to coast!

So, if there aren't too many updates over the next week or two, I apologize. When I'm in extreme school mode, I lose all track of time anyway. I will resurface at the end of the month, when most likely I'll be getting my new TG foster -who will remain a mystery, even to me, until a couple days before the bus comes down.

And now, to that mountain of schoolwork I've been ignoring for the last week or two!
Emily Out

Early Anniversary

Well, Chow left yesterday, and I got a very nice thank-you card and present as well. How surprised was I! I don't usually get gifts, nor do I expect to. Getting to foster great dogs is gift enough for me, and no, I'm not just saying that. You can be assured that present is going to go back to the dogs in some way. It might be fate that recently another California dog has been eating away at me... I really am trying to stay away.

This particular dog looks the spitting image of Alvin though. So, we'll see. What's one four pound dog more? If I have any part in it, I don't think I'll be able to let me be turned into cosmetic products (what most of the bodies are made into.. :( ).

Also, with Chow's adoption, and the next TG bus run for at least a couple of weeks away, I realized the next run would be after my year fostering 'anniversary' which is March 12, when Tucker came down to me to start my whole fostering journey. So, to give myself a little pat on the back, I decided to fiddle with a cool program.

These are my Year One TG Fosters!

I'll make another collage with all my fosters to date when I actually hit my real 'year' anniversary in just under a week, but TG is heart my rescue, and will always be my first commitment in rescue. To another great year of fostering with TG!

Emily Out

(PS: I've hit my capacity for pictures, so if you're looking back not quite a year, some of the pictures may be missing, this is my doing, and the computer isn't having a fieldday with your mind.)

Adopted!

Chow goes home tonight to her 7+ acre property and new big, goofy, active housemate. She's gone to her last day of daycare (or with me anyway), is having her two hour midday nap, and then we're off for a hike later on in the day.

I will be sad to see her go, but at the same time, I must admit to myself, I'm not a terrier person and in the last two weeks she's become a real TERRIER!

She's come a long way here in confidence, maybe even too far, and although I love her to pieces, I'm going to enjoy some peace for the next couple of weeks. They don't call terriers terrierists for nothing!

The girls get in trouble!

In other slight news, I decided to 'pick' my next TG foster, which we all know is a recipe to suddenly get them adopted. I had wanted to foster Toffee, a medium sized shepherd girl who could use some confidence building.

Toffee

And who goes and gets herself a really good application in Victoria?? Yep, you guessed it. Toffee. There are still a number of steps to go through of course beyond the application, but JINX!

So I'm going to keep my big mouth closed and not pick anyone until we get closer. Heck, I shouldn't even kid myself that I get to 'pick' anymore. Oh well, I know Yvette well enough that she'll know who to send, and who to stick away from.

Still, it would be nice to pick a dog and you know, foster them. But really, an adoptive home is what its all about!

And now to catch a nap with my Lemon-Zinger, and go for a long hike this afternoon.

The Day You Keep Refreshing Your E-mail Every 5 Seconds

Well, I decided.

We're going with Home #1: Linda, her family and Midas the Shep x.

I got really stinking lucky that I didn't have to send the 'heartbreak e-mail' to Cody and crew, as they were very nice and thoughtful and sent an e-mail just after I sent one to Linda that although they like Chow very much, that they think she would do best in a home with canine companionship. I agree, but it didn't make the decision easy! I kind of wanted to clone Chow and let both homes adopt her! But there is Mr. or Miss Heart Dog out there for Cody and crew. They're definitely pre-approved at TG :)

So, now I'm playing that waiting game of "Oh please say yes, that you still want her, that there isn't one of a million different little things that means Chow doesn't get her home. Please tell me adoption is close at hand." I never count my chickens. Rescue is less smooth than a pair of thining scissors.

Rescue's like a Pair of Thining Scissors

So, although I've been trying to do some homework all morning, I've more been obsessively refreshing my e-mail. I hate the 'not knowing'. This is the hardest part of rescue for me. Waiting for the answer that will give a dog their happily ever after.

I have every part of me crossed. I'm going to be a bit of a jittery, excited mess at work today. People things are so much more stressful than dog things!

You'll know as I know!
Emily Out