Pictures: Azura snuggling with my foster sheltie

[Lis]

 At the beginning of the summer, I started fostering collies and shelties. 

After I’m sure they’re parasite free, I do what I call a bunny test. Azura is a very calm rabbit – she was even used as a classroom education rabbit at the shelter she was adopted from. Things are taken slowly (I’ve had a dog fail my first step – just being able to see the bunnies from another room), working up to (always supervised) interaction between Azura and the foster.

My current foster just had his final step of my test (with a verdict of “must be supervised with small animals, but good with them”). Here’s the adorable pictures that resulted.

 

They’re still napping like this.

[Muffinluv]

SQUEEEEE! SO CUTE

How did you get them to love eachother??!!

[Lis]

All I did was slowly introduce them. It’s up to the dog how to react. I’ve had three fosters so far – one who I couldn’t even allow in the bunny room, one who reacted by sniffing and then ignoring Azura, and then there’s Max, who wants to love everything, including the bunnies. He’s not allowed to love on Navi (she’s shyer and smaller) but was more than happy to try to snuggle with Azura.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Awww….that’s so sweet. I especially like the last one, they are so relaxed.

[jerseygirl]

Oh man, these pics are cute!!
I love seeing different animals getting along. Looks like the foster dog is smiling. : )

Lis, how long do you have the fosters for on average?

[Lis]

I’ve averaged about a month each. For Max, it was much sorter (1 1/2 weeks) because he had an adopter lined up already before I took him on; he just had to heal from his neuter and get tapeworms treated. We get another girl tomorrow, but she’s expected to stay longer – she’s a collie, and thus bigger, and she’s coming from a family who’s being forced to give her up because they’re homeless.

[Muffinluv]

I could never foster dogs, I would end up adopting them all D:
I would have so much trouble fostering rabbits for the same reason, but I would be more willing because rabbits don’t get out of Shelters as fast because most people want ‘Baby’ rabbits so the poor adults spend their lives in the shelter. I know that the same is for any animal, but its so much more easy to get super attached to a dog because they seek you out.

[jerseygirl]

Exactly right Muffinluv. ^

We get another girl tomorrow, but she’s expected to stay longer – she’s a collie, and thus bigger, and she’s coming from a family who’s being forced to give her up because they’re homeless.

That’s incredibly sad. : (

[Lis]

Posted By Muffinluv on 09/06/2013 10:16 PM
I could never foster dogs, I would end up adopting them all D:
I would have so much trouble fostering rabbits for the same reason, but I would be more willing because rabbits don’t get out of Shelters as fast because most people want ‘Baby’ rabbits so the poor adults spend their lives in the shelter. I know that the same is for any animal, but its so much more easy to get super attached to a dog because they seek you out.

Being a foster failure is a GOOD thing. I haven’t been a foster failure yet, but I know it will happen one day. 

Honestly, I’m suprised it hasn’t happened yet. I swear, my adoption coordinator is intentionally giving me dogs that don’t fit our lifestyle :p .  Just kidding there, but our first boy was too much puppy for us, and then with the shelties, well, I really favor the collie temperment. I grew up with collies, so they’re my perfect picture of what a dog should be personality wise. So I haven’t been tempted yet. Although if I get a senior collie who gets along well with the bunnies, it will be very difficult to give them up.

And, it turns out that that family who was giving that collie up is trying to work things out! The mom found a place for all 6 of her kids to stay, plus a place for her to stay with the collie this morning. They got her groomed this morning and promised us they’d seek care through PETA’s low cost clinic (our rescue is in Hampton Roads, where they’re headquarted). If it becomes too much, they still have our contact and will call us. We’ll also try to help out as much as we can.

[jerseygirl]

Oh that’s great news! I really hope they get some stability soon. I can’t imagine the stress. Makes me very grateful for what I have.

[Author]

Messages