Archive for March, 2010
Pups at play video
Spring is here and the pups got to play in the BIG kids yard with my dogs, Hermes and Bella and our friend Abby (who is Willow‘s daughter). They had a blast and were tearing around for nearly an hour.
[flashvideo file=http://caninefostering.com/images/pups032910.flv /]
Brief update on puppy Ani
This note from Anialduln‘s new family… her new name is Ginger!
Hi Kristin,
I’m definitely planning on coming to some of the puppy playtimes, but I want to get Ani (now named Ginger) used to riding in the car with some shorter trips first.
She’s doing great — getting big fast. I’m taking her to the vet in a few days for her next set of puppy shots, so I’ll get an accurate weight check then.
She’s doing really well with her potty training. She seems to like sleeping in her crate; she’ll even sometimes go in there during the day when we’re up and around and she’s loose in the house.
I hope Fluffy and Ruffy are in good homes too. Do you think they’ll go to any of the puppy socializations on Saturdays? I’d love to see them together again.
Thanks for keeping in touch!
Fluffy puppy settling in as Newsa
Here is a note from Fluffy‘s new family. Her name has been changed to Newsa…
Hi Kristin!
Newsa has settled in just fine. Everyone loves her and she slept soundly on our bed all nite with the other pups. There have been no accidents…we did go out at 2 am though. Webster is beside himself with joy. I have never seen him so interested in a pup…so all is well here.Thank you again and I will check out the link and keep you updated…
Best Wishes,
NataLee, Steve and the pups.
P.S. Newsa says to say thank you to your little boy. She really appreciated all the love!
Baby moose video
Here is a video someone shot of a moose family romping round the sprinkler in their back yard!
2 more puppies coming
Fluffy, Ruffy, and Ani have left but now two of their siblings are arriving tomorrow afternoon! How cool is that?
They have been checked out and are healthy as can be (thankfully) and we hope that the stay at our house will be a brief 2 weeks.
SO, keep your ears open for anyone looking for a pup!
It was time for Brandy to leave us
Brandy: Sunbathing in April 2004
Brandyleft us just over a week ago. It was her time, she told me so in many ways. I could see it in her eyes, her behavior, her abilities, they all said to varying degrees that she was done. I’ll spare you the details of her declining health. She passed quietly in our home, with the kind and gentle assistance of our vet. Euthanizing Brandy at home helped to bring closure for our family and our pack. Bella, Hermes, and Lollie passed her one by one, sniffing her body curiously, knowing she was gone. Kristin and I wept as Ryan asked lots of questions. The vet and his assistant who made the house call were caring, compassionate, respectful, and professional – as they were when we put Sadie down five years prior.
I kept reading and hearing that when it was her time, I would know. And they were all right. The topic had been a frequent one in our home for months, increasingly so in the past several weeks as evidence mounted that Brandy’s time was near. I wavered as I took in the information she presented to me. I really wasn’t sure until I was sure, if that makes sense. But once I knew I didn’t hesitate or look back – it was her time.
I miss her but oddly not as much as anticipated. I guess I had a long time to think about her decline and had come to terms with it gradually. These past months I spent more and more time sitting quietly next to her, gently petting and stroking her head, neck, and back the way she liked. As Brandy aged, she was very reactive to sudden moves or any kind of jostling so I moved slowly and deliberately. She would relax and slowly lick her front paws and occasionally my hand or arm as I pet her. It was in those moments too that I knew she was ready. On her final day I came home from work early to pet her like she likes. She was stoic, guarded, with a long stare that seemingly told me she’s ready. My timing was perfect.
Brandy is gone in body but not of course in memory. I loved this poem authored and read by – of all people – legendary actor Jimmy Stewart on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The poem is called Beau, the name of Stewart’s dog:
