It's time to go home.

I've had a rough few nights, so I put off writing this for most of the day after I found out. Now it's time for bed, and I'm ready to spill the beans.

Memphis will be adopted on Saturday. The family that met him wants to adopt him, and they even adopted another Beagle recently! Memphis will have a friend! I was a little worried about the lack of a canine sibling, but now there's nothing to worry about!

I feel like I've had Memphis for years. I guess it's just that he ended up fitting in so well with my dogs. We've gone through a lot together over the last couple of months, and I won't fail to admit that he tried my patience more often than not. But it was when he snuggled up with me and wedged his snout under my chin that I forgot everything that made me irritated with him in the first place. This dog has a heart of gold and is going to teach this family a lot about loving a dog unconditionally. Bittersweet, as always.

Peace, Love, & Paw Prints

I am a dog person. Accept me as I am.

*Sighs* Isn't it funny that a simple comment can irritate you so much?

I realize that I have a lot of dogs. My friend made a comment that upset me today. In reference to what someone else said, Friend X said, "Well, you do have a lot of dogs. You always have the issue of figuring out what to do with the dogs when you go out of town. Like what are you going to do with them when we go to the horse show?" I responded with, "My dogs make me happy. I wouldn't be a happy person without them."

It's just annoying that there are VERY few people that understand. You would think that Friend X would understand... since she's my best friend. Accept me for who I am. Deal with it. I realize that I have limitations on where I can go and for how long since I have to make arrangements for my dogs. While I hate to send my horse without me, if it came down to it, I'd happily stay home with my kids.

My dogs are my life. My life practically revolves around them, and they have fulfilled my life and more ways than one. If you don't like the fact that I worry about my dogs more than the typical person, then just live with it. This is my destiny.

Peace, Love, & Paw Prints

"The more people I meet, the more I like my dog."

It's been about 1 month and a 1/2 since Memphis entered my life. He's doing really well and looks great! His esophageal diverticulitis is being managed with soaked kibble and canned food with even more water mixed in. It needs to be nice and soupy to slide down his throat without getting caught in the sac in his throat. It's so nice to finally see him at a good weight! It's hard to gain weight when you're throwing up your food so much! Now we are vomit-free and looking rather handsome these days!

He's been a total joy to have in my life. We've had our difficulties with potty-training... but I tend to give him the benefit of the doubt considering that he gets a lot of liquid through his food and might really just absolutely have to go. I try to be diligent about picking the water bowl up an hour or two before I leave the house, and he seems to do much better as long as I am on top of it! Plus... more than likely... Memphis spent the majority of his life in a kennel of some sort and just doesn't quite get the process of going outside all of the time. He's getting much better, though, and I'm confident that he'll catch on eventually.

Memphis does great with my dogs and cats! He loves the company of other animals... but is just as content to snuggle up with me on the couch. That's what he's doing right now! Memphis has a family interested in him and even got to met them last week! It went well from what the rescue tells me... and I'm just waiting to hear the final word. The potential adopters are in the process of moving, though, so he'll still be with me until the end of the month if they decide to adopt him. I'll miss him when he finally does go... but I'm always ready to open up my home for the next foster.

Peace, Love, and Paw Prints

I am not whole without my dogs.

Honestly, I don't even know how long I've been fostering Memphis. It's been a month? Maybe longer? I'm really not sure. He's been a joy to have in my life so far. As a shelter dog, we've had a little trouble with potty training. What do you expect from a dog that spent time in a shelter where there was nowhere else to eliminate other than his confined area? Apart from our troubles with that, Memphis is an intelligent dog with a huge heart.

However, he does have Esophageal Diverticultis. It can't be fixed... but it can be managed. As long as his kibble is soaked, mixed with wet food, and has more water added, Memphis is just fine! He's finally gained a little weight! Although it was only 3lbs, I'm happy! We recently visited the vet to check out his eyes, though, because he had some swelling. Turns out he has conjunctivitis and hookworms! Ew! Both are being treated, though, so it's all good.

Apart from his "special needs", Memphis has been getting along swimmingly well with my animals. They've been having a blast! Love it!

BEST FRIENDS ARE DOG FRIENDS

When I took on Lyla as a permanent member of my family and all of those kittens, K9 Justice League and I decided that it was probably best for me to take a break from fostering... at least until the kittens were adopted and Lyla got settled into the groove of life. All of the kittens were adopted except for Gizmo. He's still hanging out with me. I'm not sure why there hasn't been any interested in him! He's a handsome boy with neat coloring and very sweet! I hope he founds a good home soon. I'll be relieved to be down to just my three cats! In the meantime, I trapped another feral male and had him neutered. Two left! I thought there were only two left BEFORE I trapped that male. I had never seen him before! Ugh...

Anyway, once one of the two remaining kittens had been adopted, I texted Jessica and told her that I was ready to foster again. I can't resist fostering! I love it... in spite of the heartache that comes with it. There's a lot of happy, too.

Memphis graced my life days later. He's a young Beagle with a goofy, sweet personality. I absolutely adore him. He loves to snuggle! He's great with other dogs, great with other cats, and just a very easy dog to get along with. Unfortunately, after is neuter surgery, Memphis started throwing up his meals. He only threw up immediately after he ate. I started soaking his kibble in water until it was mushy and mixed it with canned food. He started keeping all of his meals down. Long story short, I took him to the vet today. They took x-rays and did barium. He doesn't have any obstructions - which is kind of what we were hoping for, I guess. He has a sac in his esophagus where the food is getting trapped as it goes down. He is taking meds and eating mushy food that is elevated. We are hoping this helps... but it's sort of wishful thinking. I don't think it's going to be an easy fix. Worst case scenario is that it's Esophageal Diverticulitis. This may require surgery... and sometimes the dogs get aspiration pneumonia from the condition. Argh! Poor baby! I hope that we can figure it out... and that Memphis pulls through it all. He's curled up and sleeping in his crate right now. I think he's tired from a day at the vet!

YOU CAN'T SAVE THEM ALL

Well... I told my dad that I was probably keeping Lyla. He just reminded me that caring for dogs is expensive and that I "really need to think about the amount of dogs I have." Of course, I know this. I thought about it. Intensely. I racked my brain trying to decide whether or not I should keep her. Ever since the beginning, though, there was something special about her. A puppy is the last thing I wanted in my life. I'm a "boy dog person." Not a "girl dog person." Taking on a puppy typically means taking on an animal that is going to live for at least another 8+ years. I WAS NOT planning on this. But... sometimes... it just happens.

Brody and Lyla are two peas in a pod. They adore each other. Jackson has even taken to her. I've had her for so long... that I can't imagine living life without her. She's brilliant, sweet, and beautiful. She's the "little girl" I never had. Pink... a color I've always despised. Now all I can think about is buying Lyla pink collars, pink bowls, pink coats... She's an addition to the pack that is here to stay. I say this as she's curled up next to me with her head resting on my leg. Yeah... I think she's here to stay.

My dad also mentioned that I was being "distracted by all of the animals" in the sense of schooling, etc. I attempted to explain to him that they aren't a distraction. They ARE my life. I've always had animals, and this has always been the norm for me. It's not a distraction. It just IS.

WE'RE ON YOUR SIDE

Once again, I'm a slacker! Well, not quite. I'm just a little busy with everything.

The dogs are all doing well. I have four kittens left. Two or three more ferals to catch and have fixed. One of them might have a home come January 5th, so that's excited. Then the other boys need homes! I'm having trouble giving Tiny to just anyone, though. I would really like him to have a home with someone I know. I love them all, but he's just extra special to me.

Ummm, other than the usual with the cats and the dogs, nothing much going on. I tried to teach Lyla how to "roll over" yesterday, and she kept putting her paw on my hand and digging her nails into my skin to get the treats. I had just clipped her nails, so they were really sharp, and now my hand looks like I stuck in in a thorn bush. Ouch!