"Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen."

Where to begin?  It seems like so much has happened since the last update... though that wasn't that long ago.

Lonnie, my last foster dog, is now living the life with another foster family.  K9 Justice League arranged this situation so I could foster a dog from Paws of Hertford County when it was time for the pull.  Lonnie will be at his current foster home throughout the week... and another foster family during the weekend.  This will be good for him... because he needs exposure after the life he's lived.  It'll be good for him.

I still have Lars.  He had a meet and greet... and the current dog of the house wasn't really having it.  They got along well outside in the yard, but it was a different story once they were inside.  I'm in love with him.  He's going to be hard to let go.  First of all, I love brindle dogs.  I think they are beautiful.  Secondly, he's a Pit Bull.  Strike 2... in a good way.  Strike 3?  He's the best snuggler in the world.  Not to mention the fact that I had him his first night in the rescue.  I know I can't adopt another dog, though, so that makes it a little easier.  He's just going to be hard to see off.  I really do adore the pup... and I really don't like having puppies that much!

We made our trip to Paws of Hertford County on Wednesday afternoon.  I rode with my fellow foster mom and had a blast!  We got there and took a tour, and I realized how hard the volunteers worked with so little that they had.  While they have a few indoor kennels for the dogs, most of them are outdoors.  But... even outdoors in the heat... the dogs seemed happy.  They had baby pools to play in... people to pay attention to them, and seemed quite content.  We got to see the cat/kitten room, too, and they seemed quite happy.  It was clear that the volunteers were working hard to take care of the animals there.

We went to an outdoor yard full of about 10 dogs.  Those were the dogs that needed our help the most... some of which who had been there the longest.  I didn't realized that choosing would be so hard.  One of the K9 Justice League creators was there and in charge of who came home with us... but she was also counting on us to figure out which dogs we thought would do best in our houses.  Tessa was the first dog that caught my eye.  She was a sweet soul... but we soon found out that she wasn't good with cats.  In my house, it's necessary to be good with cats... considering the fact that I have four of my own.  I also really liked Theo, a mix that probably needs to have his eye removed.  Then came Perseus.  I had looked at pictures already... and Perseus hadn't been one of my picks.  I'm a black dog girl... a Bully dog girl... a three-legged dog girl... one-eyed dog girl... not a yellow Lab mix girl.  But little Perseus was thin and sweet and happy-go-lucky.  Perseus and I hung out for a minute... bonded... and that was that.  He came home with me as my new foster.  I didn't know the decision would be so hard... but I was truly picking a dog for my dogs... not for me.  If it were up to me, I would have picked some random Pit Bull... but when you have as many dogs as I do in a house, you have to pick your new dog for your dogs, not for you.  Perseus (now Bentley) came to my house nervous and not so sure about all four dogs in my house.  Soon enough, Bentley and Lars were best of friends.  I was proud of my three dogs... accepting my new foster without a blink of an eye.  Even my cats are used to new dogs coming into the house!

Bentley wasn't thrilled about spending the night in the crate alone.  Once I dragged the crate into my room... he was fine.  He just wants to know that he's with people.  He's been doing well with house-training.  He seems to understand that.  At first, I was worried about training him.  He really didn't seem to comprehend the idea of "sit."  He's just hungry... and wanted to jump up on me all of the time.  Tonight, though, Bentley figured out how to "sit."  I figured that I'd try "down" once he got "sit."  He got it!  It'll take some consistent work... but he knows what he's doing.  He's still young... so I can't expect much... and who knows what he lived through beforehand?  He's truly a sweet dog.  He doesn't have a mean bone in his body.

So... I've got a house full of dogs... and I can't express enough how thankful I am for the Paws of Hertford County and K9 Justice League for doing everything they can to save the lives of dogs.  I'm glad to be a part of it, too.  And I wish that more people would put their selfishness aside and try to foster a dog.  Yes, it's hard to give up a dog you've put your all into... but it's even better to know that you just saved a dog's life... and opened up a space for another once that dog is adopted.