Friday Fix (8/24/2012) - First Foster

By Guest Foster

Our First Foster Experience 

We got our puppy on a Saturday after an adoption event. Wow were we happy to help. Thought we had all the digs we needed (we have two pups ourselves so toys are no problem) and then realized we had nothing at all (no bowls or extra padding for him to feel safe in his crate, no sound proof room, nothing). Needless to say the kids were excited to pick up our pup. 

Upon our return home our very spoiled dogs smell him before we even pull up to the driveway, I think they smelled him the day before. All wiggles and wags aside the three seemed to be happy as can be (after some sniffing time if you know what I'm saying). We decided to give him a quick name (no one wants to be known by a number...oh come here 123, just doesn't have a great ring to it) so Buddy became our first baby boy (quick and easy, doesn't mean it stuck). The name fits trust me. He doesn't listen, although he does a great job with going potty outside. Got to love owning a carpet cleaner just in case.

So we go to bed, he sleeps through the night (miracle of god) and all is well till Sunday evening. We decide we'll see how he does on a leash. Thankfully our dogs are pretty good on a leash so they should help him get around. We get out of the front door, half way down the street, and all of the sudden Buddy hears a "big dog bark". Faster than you can reach down to help him feel safe, he's half way out of his leash, back peddling ready to run. I get him gathered up, carry him a bit so he can feel safe, walk him some more, and of course another bark, same problem, same results I'm carrying him on his first walk. Get about three houses and put him back down. Finally coming home for the last half block to the house (less than a 15 minute walk mind you) a little tiny Chihuahua named Killer comes flying out to his backyard barking (yipping) at my three pups. My two other dogs are fine, walking along no problem. Buddy decided this is one he might take on. He growls as we walk by, tail held high. He gets home, happy that he stood his ground. Such a proud puppy who can take on all those little dogs...happy tails all around and a second good night of sleep. Such a great experience with our little Buddy, enjoy the pictures of him, he's a great pup and will be wonderful for anyone who is lucky enough to have this little Buddy (name is certainly optional).

Respectfully, 

A loving foster family

Thank you so much for sharing your stories - Christy Hess

Friday Fix (8/17/2012) - Foster

By Regina Lane 

As I sit here and watch our current foster puppies playing in our yard with my son and dogs, I realize how much there is about fostering that I love. I wonder about other fosters, why they foster and what they like about it. So I’ve put together a top ten list:

10. Puppy naps! There’s nothing better than a sleeping puppy on your lap.

9. To go along with 10, a great excuse why you can’t get your house work done. “Don’t want to wake a sleeping puppy.”
8. They wear the kids out, and the kids wear the puppies out. It’s a symbiotic relationship!
7. Three days out of my life, can mean a whole new life for a puppy.
6. Watching your full grown dog turn into a puppy again.
5. You never have cold toes with little, fluffy puppies laying/ playing with them.
4. I call this one the “Grandparent clause”. Fosters get to spoil the puppies rotten and then give them to their new parents.
3. A great chance to see if your kids will keep their word and take care of the puppy. What parent has not heard that promise? “Please can we get it, I promise I’ll take care of it. You won’t have to do anything.”
2. Watching my big, tough husband turn into Jell-o with a puppy in his lap.
1. PUPPY KISSES!! Nothing better than the sweet breath that comes with those kisses of pure love. 

I’ve been fostering puppies for Colorado Puppy Recue for almost five years now and love every minute of it. I started because my son really wanted a puppy. In his words “Mommy & Daddy have their own puppies why can’t I have one too?” So I decided to look into finding a program where we could bring puppies home and let him see how much work they really are. He learned really fast and I was hooked on the program just as fast.

Around 300 puppies have gone through my house. Of those only two have stayed. But the one question that I get asked the most by people looking into being a foster is “How do you give them up?” If truth be known most times it’s hard, but there are those puppies that I can’t drop off at an adoption event fast enough. But one of the great things about the rescue is that I can be a foster and a volunteer at the same time. What’s so great about that is that I get to see and meet the families that are adopting. Seeing the smiles and joy on not only the families faces but the puppy’s makes me feel so glad. That is why I do what I do. Just knowing that I have helped a family grow, or a single person become a family there is nothing better. Beside if I kept every puppy that I fell in love with then they would have a T.V. show about me. LOL

Kim's K9 Korner

Writen by Guest Blogger
 Kim Ortega, Executive Director of Colorado Puppy Rescue

I know I’m getting older, but really, where did March and April go? 

I’ve lived in Colorado since I was 10 years old.  The saying “April showers, bring May flowers” has always been wrong here.  My experience is that we get wind in March and April and big storms in May.  Along with the storms comes the thunder and lightning.  My dog Raisin is terrified of loud noises to the point that I wonder if her head will explode.  She is now 14 years old and there isn’t much I haven’t tried to make her more comfortable.  Recently, I noticed that PetCo carries a new item called ThunderShirt.  The packaging says that it’s the best solution for dog anxiety.  I’ve decided to give it a try.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

Speaking of wind, I have been worried about the volunteers and fosters that come to my house for intake.  Last year my husband hired a tree trimming service that was doing a lot of work in our neighborhood.  They seemed to do good work till it came to our house.  The end of the story is that they left a large hand saw very high up in our tree.  I have always worried about that saw falling out and seriously injuring someone.  Today, we hired a company that finished the job.  Our tree looks bare but I feel so much better knowing that we wont have limbs crashing through our roof or a saw decapitating  our friends.

A few weeks ago CPR launched a new credit card system.  It’s the type that plugs into your cell phone and swipes the card.  It’s awesome!  We no longer have to pay for an internet service, or have a dedicated printer (with the expense of ink & paper), or a laptop dedicated to the job.  It seems to be a bit more expensive for the merchant account but the ease and mobility is nice.  I think that in the long run, we will be saving money.

We are down to our last couple of bags of puppy food.  I know, how could that happen?  But, every year about this time we have an issue.  I understand that we have made an appeal to the PetCo foundation for a donation and I am hoping to hear a positive result soon.  It may not come soon enough.  So… if we need to make the expenditure of puppy food we are looking at other ways to make up the difference.  One way is that Pfizer a manufacture of vaccines and animal health products has a shelter program that we are trying to qualify for.  If we are accepted, we can purchase our vaccines for a much reduced price.  Also, we qualify for a Colorado sales tax exemption.  I am working on our exemption so that when we do have to make purchases, we can save on the sales tax. 

Our travel expenses have increased also.  Really? You say.  I know our fosters and volunteers are feeling the burden also.  We have some outstanding volunteers that have had to cut back or discontinue working with us because of the costs.  Last month, Volunteer Regina submitted for a grant from PetCo that would fund transportation expenses.  They asked for new and innovative ideas from organizations.  We think that in these hard times and expensive fuel prices, supporting the costs of volunteers and fosters travel expenses would be a great service.  We shall see if they are interested in supporting our efforts.  Thank you Regina.

Last year Volunteer Rhonda was instrumental in helping us acquire a large donation of pet supplies.  Collars, leashes, etc.  Now, we need to make that donation work for us.  Please let me know if you have contacts for garage sales or flea markets that we can attend to sell these items.  I’m open to all suggestions.

I understand that Volunteer Christy has been hard at work updating our data base.  It won’t be long now that we can launch our empty plate dinner fundraiser.  In the past the empty plate dinner has been a great source of donations for the rescue.  This year I would like to see those funds used to replace both our plastic travel crates and our black wire crates.  As your know they are well used and the harsh cleansers that we have to use have taken there toll.  Thank you Christy.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone for a great year so far.  Everyone of you are such a great joy in my life.  It was a year ago this week on the 28th that we lost one of our dear friends Linda Griess.  Many of you remember her, as I do.  Please know that you are a part of something important.  You are wanted and needed.  You have a purpose and by being a part of Colorado Puppy Rescue you are making a difference.

Friday's Fix

Kids and dogs go together like peanut butter and jelly. A boy's adventurous best friend and a girl's cuddling confidante. This Friday's Puppy Fix is dedicated to kids and dogs. Have a great weekend!

Cellmates



A game of tag

Puppy love

A puppy pose

They're both smiling.

They're off to save the day.

Kids always have tasty fingers.

Some down time.

A homework helper.

Bench Warmers

Bath time entertainment.

Friday's Fix

Is there anything cuter than puppies climbing over each other for food?

From the 2008 Foster Calendar

Week two of vacaction and our second week without puppies. I thougt I'd start Friday's Fix. Normally I'd share some of the best photos (and volunteer puppy favorites) from the week's adoptable puppies. Today  I'm going to share some of my All-time favorite CPR foster photos. Enjoy!

This pup was working hard with his foster mom at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum.

After a hard day of play.

CAR RIDE!!!!

What hole?

You want it? Come and get it!