Sunday, November 23, 2008

Foster count up to 73

Since Sammy's 64 foster companions:

Sasha from CBBR, 2007

2008:

Kittens Buttons, then litter of four Contessa, Keeley, Kissimee and Sugar Pop

Puppies Chuckie, Moonbeam and Skye

Sunday, November 18, 2007

All the animals

Sammy’s 64 Foster Companions – 50 canines and 14 felines

PAWS Chicago:
2001
1. Sage
2. Sammie (suburban group Strays)
3. Yogi
4. Charlie
5. Otis
6. Jonas

2003
7. Tyson
8. Alice
9. Kirby
10. Tazz
11. Norbert - fostered the longest (3 months)
12- 14. Puppies Helen, Bea and Howie
15. Perry (puppy)
16. Athena
17 Comet
18. Tanner
19. Buzz

2004
20. Greta
21-22. Puppies Paducah and Milford
23. Ozzie
24. Rupert
25. Skippy
26. Patsy
27. Paris
28-29. Puppies Vienna and Venice
30-31. Puppies Slate and Steel
32. Olivia

2005
33. Bobby
34. Captain
35. Champ
36. Mugsy
37. Lucy - hurricane Katrina, tied with Norbert for longest foster

2006
38. Ella

2007
39. Onyx
40. Mattie

Cats:
1-4: Jackson, Jason, Jada and Jagger
5. Vienna
6-7. JoJo and Webster
8. Kit Kat
9. Minny

5 kittens for CACC in 2005: Tabitha, Smokey, Magic, Puff and Boots

2006 - 10 Dogs for CBBR:
River and 7 puppies (Zep, Paco, Ari, Laura, Mugsy, Donny, Rudy); Lovey; Betsie

2007 CBBR - post Sammy
Sasha Oct. 14-28 She arrived the day after Sammy died, and was a great comfort. She was so scared but the sweetest dog imaginable. She was adopted by a wonderful couple who have another dog, and her new name is Katie.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Welcome to the Foster Dog Cafe

I have fostered a total of 65 dogs and cats since 2001. I have done the majority of fostering for PAWS Chicago (39 dogs and 9 cats). I have had some wonderful dogs that I was crushed to give up. Others could not leave fast enough - and they didn't! I endured hundreds of dollars of damage to my home and belongings until I learned the mantra "A good dog is a tired dog" and the importance of proper crate training. You're really not doing your dog a favor by letting it loose in the house before it is ready for that responsibility.

This blog is devoted to my late dog Sammy, who was kind enough to share her home with 64 of those animals. I always introduced the new dog, saying, "This is ____ and he/she is temporary. You are permanent." She understood that. She also wouldn't dignify the silly question "Can we keep Onyx?" with a response. Onyx (black sharpei mix, PAWS dog #38) came as close as possible to being the "perfect" foster dog. But Sammy had to be the solo permanent dog in this house, and she was.