Lots to catch up on!

It has been forever since I have written a good blog.  Life has been busy!  I am going to briefly list the things we have been up to and add a lot of pictures for everyone to enjoy.


First, we rescued a new foster dog and found her a forever home about a month later.  Her name was June Bug and she was the sweetest little dog ever.  She was a nine month old pit bull and we fostered her through Bully Paws.  This was our second foster dog through Bully Paws.  They have proven themselves over and over again to me to be a great rescue, and I love how dedicated their volunteers are.  We have found that when we find a great rescue, we stick with them!  June Bug had a cherry eye.  Wes and I raised money for Bully Paws to have it surgically fixed.  She also learned a lot of basic obedience while living with us and became best friends with Bella and Shiloh.  She was adopted into a really good home a couple of weeks ago.  Her new family doesn't keep in touch with me like my other foster's families do, but that's ok.  I know she is in good hands.

Right after June Bug's eye surgery

Then we had the earthquake that shook the entire DC region.  No major damage for us except for a crack in our drywall upstairs that checked out to be fine, and a broken door on Wes' dresser.  Many places sustained significant damage, however.  One of the buildings at Germanna Community College has been shut down indefinitely.  Many homes sustained structural damage and were deemed inhabitable.  The Washington Monument developed a crack.  The National Cathedral was significantly damaged.  Many buildings around the epicenter were badly damaged.  Brick buildings crumbled and fell on cars.  It was a shock to many people.

Shortly after the earthquake, we had several aftershocks that were felt near and far.  Our dogs were never bothered by the actual quakes, but Shiloh seemed to be able to sense them.  She would get whiny before one occurred.  It was interesting to see that.  She has also gotten whiny before Tanker's seizures.  I am beginning to think she can sense things that shake! 

I am an earthquake alert dog and a seizure alert dog.  You can combine the two and call me an "anything that shakes alert dog."  -Shiloh Bug


  Not long after the earthquake, we had Hurricane Irene come through and then Tropical Storm Lee.  We have gotten so much rain here, even before these storms, so they caused a lot of flooding.  We were lucky and did not have any flooding damage.  Wes and I sandbagged our garage and loaded up on things in case we lost power.  Many people did not fair out as well as us.  If fact, there are several families living in emergency shelters for quite some time in the area.  Our good friend volunteered with her crisis dog through the Red Cross.  She volunteered at the shelters daily to be with the families that had become homeless due to the floods.  What a blessing she is to others!

We have been volunteering a lot with the dogs.  Wes and I volunteered with Tanker and Topher for several promotion events with Veterans Moving Forward.  We volunteered at the 10th Annual 9/11 Memorial Events.  Wes and I are now scheduled to work at Snowden every Sunday.  Topher and Tanker love it!  Psychiatry is their best field.  They really bond with those patients and seem to anticipate them.  They especially love the children's unit at Snowden.  We hand out cards and stickers to the kids with Topher's and Tanker's pictures on them.  It's neat when we go back the next week to see some of the patients who are still inpatient to have TnT's cards at their bedside.  The dogs have such an impact on them.  Wes and I leave with a huge smile every Sunday because we know the dogs have made a difference.  Topher and Tanker are still volunteering as R.E.A.D. Dogs once a month at the library.  When we have extra time, we have been taking Topher and Tanker to Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital.  Topher and Tanker enjoy every place we go to, but I think Snowden is their favorite.

Topher being petted by a Veteran during an event at Quantico with Veterans Moving Forward.

At a Paws for Reading Day at the library.

Tanker is working as a R.E.A.D. Dog and listening to the children read to him.

Topher is listening to a good book by one of his readers.

Topher and Tanker sometimes get rewarded with chicken nuggets after they work.

At 9/11 Memorial Event

At Stafford Hospital

On our way to visit a patient that requested us to visit them in the ICU at Stafford Hospital.

At Mary Washington Hospital

Celebrating being alive on the 14th anniversary of my Traumatic Brain Injury and car accident by going out and helping others through therapy dog work.

At Mary Washington Hospital

We recently rescued an Australian Cattle Dog out of a high kill shelter in North Georgia and our friend, Michelle, transported her here on her way up to New York.  She is only about 10-months old and she is sweet as can be.  We named her Tango because she and Topher like to dance together.  We are training her to be a therapy dog as well.

Tango in front.  Topher in back.

Tango and Topher

Tanker, Topher, and Tango

Bella and Shiloh are getting really big.  They just celebrated their 7-month birthday.  They both weigh over 50 pounds.  They are doing really well with their training, more so on leash than off.  Off leash, they are all puppy!

Of course the cats are doing well.  They rule the roost!

Wes is very busy in school.  He is taking a World Religion class and learning all kinds of interesting things.  Next week is his last week and then he will get his Associate's Degree from the Community College of the Air Force.  Way to go, Wes!


There is never a dull moment in The Foster Zoo.  Between rescuing dogs, therapy dog work, training dogs, school for Wes, and life in general, I have hardly had anytime to write.  I have started a new page on Facebook under The Foster Zoo.  I post a bunch of pictures and updates on there from my phone.  Feel free to follow us.


Here is an updated picture of The Foster Zoo. (minus the cats)  When I get a good picture from the front, I will redo the blog picture.

Wes and I are enjoying life.  We enjoy having a purpose that we share.  We look forward to volunteering with the dogs every weekend.  We love being home with our zoo crew!  Life is good!