About The Foster Zoo

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We have decided to blog our adventures again. So much has changed since we last blogged. Bella and Shiloh both went to their forever homes and they are in wonderful families. June Bug got adopted. We quit fostering dogs after those adoptions because Tanker's epilepsy got bad. We quit doing therapy dog work because Tanker's epilepsy got bad. Tanker passed away June 9th, 2013. We adopted a senior border collie named Shania Tankerbelle in his memory. We still have our two cats, Sweet Pea and Little Bit. Wes has started rescuing pitiful bettas from Wal-Mart and we currently have seven. We have a camper. We camp. We have focused on giving our animals the best lives possible. We are The Foster Zoo Crew and we like to have fun.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

October 24th-October 30th

 We have been up to a lot this week.  Life is never dull in The Foster Zoo!  How could it be?  We have five dogs and two cats.  Plus, there are always rescues going in and out.  Life is busy!


I have been back to walking/jogging with each dog everyday.  I had to quit my daily walking after developing Cholinergic Urticaria, which is basically an allergy to body heat.  After a round of prednisone, an epi pen, and a lot of antihistamines, I have gotten it under control and am back to exercising dogs.  I hope I never have a problem with it again because it was miserable.  Plus, the dogs were driving me nuts without their daily walks/training sessions.


Bella Bean

Tango

Shiloh Bug

Shiloh Bug

Tanker

Topher


I sometimes walk the dogs all together late at night while Wes is at work. 




I went to Delaware early this week with a friend who is from there.  We went to a pet store and I picked up a bunch of bones and treats for much cheaper than I can buy here.  Plus, everything is tax free in Delaware and this particular pet store had all the different kinds of bones and bully sticks that the dogs love.


Crossing the Bay Bridge over the Chesapeake Bay.  I love this bridge.  It is 4.35 miles and one of the world's longest bridges.  Plus, the Eastern Shore of Maryland is very pretty. 

The feed shop in Delaware had buffalo bully sticks.  They were expensive, so I didn't buy them.

They had hooves too, which I did buy.

Other side of hoof

I left with a variety pack, two femur bones, two hooves, two pig snouts, and a stuffed black Halloween cat toy for Topher.


Because chicken jerky is so expensive in the stores, I have started making my own for the dogs.  I have a dehydrator that used to be my brother's.  






As I wrote about last week, We had a a stressful visit at Snowden last Sunday.  Some days are easy, and some days are a little unpredictable.  That's what you get when you work in a psychiatric hospital.  I started researching canine massage and have been practicing it on Topher and Tanker.  I have already seen a difference in them.  I have a lot of animal rescue friends and a lot of therapy dog friends.  One of my therapy dog friends knows a lady who offers canine massage classes and she wants us to take it together.  Another one of my rescue friends put me in touch with a Canine Reiki Practitioner in Northern Virginia.  I plan on learning a little of both.  What better way to relieve stress in your dog while bonding with him?  I can't wait to see how our relationships grow as we learn new ways to relieve stress in our dogs.


Wes and I took Bella and Shiloh to the dog park earlier this week.  Bella and Shiloh were the only dogs there for the most part.  A couple of other dogs came and went.  They played well.  At the end, another dog attacked Bella completely out of the blue.  We had to take her to the emergency vet where she was sedated and received four stitches in her ear.  She is now in a cone and on antibiotics and pain meds just like Tango.  Tango is wearing a cone and on antibiotics because her incision became infected two weeks after getting spayed at the shelter in Georgia before we rescued her.  Between all of Tanker's medicine for his epilepsy, Bella's pain meds and antibiotics, and Tango's antibiotics and wound care, we truly feel like a hospital.  

























Bella chewed off the soft e-collar.  Within a few days, she has destroyed the hard e-collar.  Life is never dull with BS Adventures.  Fun fun all the time.


We dog sat Mystique (June Bug) this weekend.  June Bug was our last foster dog and we agreed with the new owners to watch her this weekend when she got adopted last month.  All of the dogs loved to see her and they had a blast over the weekend!  If you remember, we raised money for June Bug to have surgery to have a cherry eye fixed.  Her eye looks really good now and she is more beautiful than ever.





After about a week or so, Wes and I raised enough money for Buster to receive his first heartworm treatment.  Buster was the dog we rescued out of Louisa Shelter last month and he was adopted by our friend.  Buster is scheduled to go to the vet tomorrow and he will be there all day for treatment.  He has been on antibiotics and has been doing a little better.  He finally got an appetite and has put a little weight on.  Buster will have to wait a month before going in for his second heartworm treatment.  During that time, Wes and I will be raising the money for his next treatment.  We are raising funds through No Kill Virginia, an animal rescue organization we volunteer with.






We worked at Snowden again today and we had a really good day there.  I was a little nervous after having a rough situation with one particular patient last week, but that patient had been discharged and wasn't there today.  I have been practicing stress relieving massage on Topher and Tanker.  They did great today!  They were both relaxed and seemed to enjoy working with the patients, especially the kids.  We can't take pictures with Topher and Tanker with the patients, but I try to take pictures in the lobby, hallways, and outside.










Because it was such a beautiful day, we took the dogs to Amy's Cafe for lunch.  Amy's Cafe is a very dog friendly restaurant.  The waitress brought them water and we ordered both of them a hamburger.  They mostly sunbathed and slept while we enjoyed our lunch.




We ordered their famous crab cake sandwich with sweet potato fries.  Not the healthiest of options, but Wes and I have been doing really well eating a more vegetarian diet and we both have lost weight.  It's ok to splurge every once in a while.





Then we were talked into trying the BEST dessert and coffee.  We really ruined our diet with that!

Topher and Tanker both got a hamburger patty.

Tummy is full and Topher is sound asleep in the sun.


Mystique (June Bug) was picked up this evening and Wes and I have been resting ever since.  It's been quiet and peaceful.  We loved having Mystique here, but it has been a chaotic weekend.  All Bella, Shiloh, and Mystique did all weekend was play play play non-stop!  


We have a weekend full of therapy dog work coming up.  Topher and Tanker are working as R.E.A.D. Dogs on Saturday and we have our regular work on Sunday at Snowden.  We ordered vests for Bella, Shiloh, and Tango.  We hope to start getting them out to Lowes, the mall, and different places that allow us for practice.  The next several months will be busy with dog training and preparing the puppies for their Delta Evaluations next year.  It's nice to have some extra time now that Wes is done with school.  He finished his last class last week and will be receiving his Associate's Degree from the Community College of the Air Force soon.  In January, he starts back for his Bachelor's Degree.


Life is great.  Coffee is good.  And puppies are crazy.


Peace.  Love.  Rescue.