Oliver pics by Jeni

My great friend Jeni of Jeni Dwyer Creative took these photos of my boy on Wednesday night. I don't think I could ever thank her enough - her work is amazing!

Oliver back at Chez Glazener

Yes, Oliver is back home with me as of last Friday. He's a much larger dog now, but still the same puppy I remember. He gives me the same look when I call his name, he has the same warm greenish-brown eyes and the same sweet as pie demeanor as always (hence why I always call him "sweet pie").

His last cardiology appointment was encouraging, too. His heart has changed very little since his initial diagnosis (severe pulmonic stenosis and a ventricular septal defect) and according to the discharge summary his "defects" are helping  his heart to harmoniously function efficiently.

Oliver also thankfully remains a relatively polite puppy - he only mildly harasses poor Zoe and did pretty well tonight with his old pal Cody (his beloved Aunt Jenni's cat). Thank you Cody and Jenni for allowing Oliver's intrusion!

Oliver and Lucas were fast bffs and pretty much play non-stop. I wish I had a yard for them to romp in, but for now the living room does just fine as long as I move the coffee table out of their way.

Cross your fingers that I find this sweet boy a loving home. If I could afford it and had the room I would keep him myself in a heartbeat. That said, he will stay here with us until we find him the perfect family. We love you Oliver!

Operation Oliver

I'm still unsure about when Oliver will be returning to Chez Glazener, but I've spoken with Michelle and preparations have begun! Thanks to awesome friend Kerry, I have TWO hard core wire, large and in charge crates (one for Oliver and one for Lucas). Both are set up close to each other.

Bedding is being washed, food and toys organized, and foster mama is determined to doggie-proof her house in time for the new addition.

Next on the list is having Oliver rechecked at the NCSU cardiology office, updating his meds and making sure I've got the supplies I need to keep him happy.

I've missed him so much and it will be wonderful to have him home again, but I'm still sad that things didn't work out for him with the Smith's. Again I say, not his fault - or anyone else's for that matter. Just bad timing. Stay tuned for updates!

Have you ever felt the need to make a case for someone - no matter how hopeless it might seem to the layman? If not, I'll introduce you to it now, as I proclaim again what a wonderful dog Oliver is.

He has a heart condition, yes. But he's still a vibrant, lovely dog at this point and has a good chance of surviving through to adulthood.

In my mind (which I know is biased) I keep thinking about how wonderful he is.

As his intermediate caregiver, I plan to give Oliver my undivided attention - all my love that he could ever want or deserve - and everything else coming his way as the cutest, most loving puppy ever.

Been a while!

I've been very preoccupied lately with Zoe's health, Oliver's care, and travel. I know I have very few readers so I don't feel that bad about my hiatus - haha!
The good news: Zoe is doing well - very well. She's seizure-free, keeping food down and acting like her normal bitchy self.

The bad news: Oliver's future is up in the air. I'm trying to be optimistic, but it is a hard thing to do.

Oliver is a WONDERFUL dog and deserves nothing less than the most loving home. I wish I could give it to him myself but I've already got my hands full and I would never regret adopting Lucas.

I'm trying to keep a positive outlook in favor of my sweet Oliver. I want nothing more than for him to find a loving caregiver. Should he find one said person(s) will be the luckiest pet owner(s) in Durham!

My girl is sick

Holding on to hope here, but Miss Zoe is not on the up and up. Poor girl had a seizure Monday morning and hasn't been anywhere near herself since. I'm wishing (hard) for some kind of recovery. I can't let her go just yet.

All Zoe fans please point your thoughts our way!

Donations for Doggies Please!

Looking for a few more donations:
Last Sunday I spent my morning as I do most Sundays - with an amazing group of compassionately dedicated volunteers who donate their time each week to giving chained dogs new, free lives. I've been volunteering with Coalition to Unchain Dogs for just over a year and it has been the most rewarding experience - I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I've made great friends and had tons of fun, but the pricelessness of the experience is witnessing previously confined animals realize what life can really be like. They romp. They strut. They jump, hop, skip and frolic. Please help us build more fences for these more than deserving animals. By following the link below you can watch a video of what the Coalition does and make a donation - even the smallest amount makes a difference! And of course you are always welcome to volunteer - we'd love to have you!

http://www.active.com/donate/ghr2012/tracey2012

Moot

Check out this poor little guy! Moot is soon to be taken in by the foster/rescue group I volunteer with: Best Friend Pet Adoption. I can't wait to meet him! He's only about 3 months old and was picked up as a stray.

According to those who have met him he's been just terrified since landing at the Nash County Animal Shelter. He cowers in the corner and completely tenses up if someone tries to touch him. I'm so proud to work with BFPA and I know we'll find him a forever home that will give him all the love he deserves! Welcome to BFPA Moot!

Oliver update

I got a message from Oliver's new family today and he is fantastic. He's up to 24 pounds and is almost completely housebroken! I always knew he would be a super smart boy. He just needed to find the right family to love him and I really think he has landed in the most perfect place.

He's scheduled to be neutered on March 14th and his cardiologist assured me that he should make it through the surgery just fine despite his heart defects. Fingers crossed!

After he's neutered he will be eligible to be adopted. I know his new family is anxious to finalize, so I assume it won't be long after his surgery that he becomes a permanent member of the Smith's pack. Provided that our schedules mesh I'm supposed to be in attendance for the event - fingers crossed again! I really hope it works out because I'd like nothing more than to be able to bid my sweet boy a farewell and officially usher him into his new wonderful life.

I stole the picture from his new mom's facebook page. She took it on their first day home together. Love you Oliver!

BFPA thanks you!

To the magnificently talented and generous photographers who have donated their time to photograph our pets up for adoption, I send you a HUGE thank you!!!

We at Best Friend Pet Adoption are dedicated to finding forever homes for all misplaced dogs and cats, and we certainly know that fabulous photographs can make a huge difference when marketing an available pet. Just check out some of the photos below and you'll know what I mean.

Thank you SO much to Brenda Scott (Brenda Scott Photography); Cheryl Gottschall (Gott Dog Photography) and Jeni Dwyer (Jeni Dwyer Creative) for donating your talents to help these wonderful dogs. You've all got a special place in our hearts for helping to make these animals' dreams come true!

Back to two

Oliver is doing well in his new foster/forever home so we're back to normal here at the house. While Zoe is generally indifferent to the comings and goings of dogs (as long as they are male), I think Lucas was happy to see the puppy go. It's not that Lucas didn't like Oliver, he just didn't like having to share my attention with two other dogs.

He is, however, more than happy to share the futon with Zoe.

Oliver has left the nest

I dropped Oliver off with his potential forever mama this afternoon and I must say I am heartbroken. I am so happy for him because I think this family will be perfect, but right now I feel like someone ripped my heart out and threw it across the room. He's only been gone for 6 hours and I already miss him so much!

I might be smiling in the pictures below, but my lips were quivering and I was crying my eyes out. Such a bittersweet day!

Thank you to Best Friend Pet Adoption for rescuing this beautiful boy, his litter mates and his mother.

Oliver leaves Saturday!

Oliver is going on an adoption trial this Saturday with a wonderful couple from Knightdale. I met the woman today at Bond Park in Cary and she is very excited to bring him home. I think this family is going to be absolutely perfect for Oliver. I know I'm going to blubber like a baby when I drop him off, but I'm so happy for my sweet boy!

The inevitable

It seems that Oliver may just have already landed in his forever home. This is not my choice, as I already have two dogs (one more than a handful) to care for, but most applicants have been scared off by Oliver's cardiology report. I love Oliver, and I am heartbroken that this wonderful puppy will likely be passed over just because he might not live to be over 10 years old. Perhaps I should target Irish Wolfhound lovers as those dogs rarely live beyond 7? That is a horrible thing to say, and I don't mean it, I'm just so sad that my beautiful Oliver is being shunned for his biological defects. He doesn't have any idea that he's sick and shows no symptoms as of yet. I love this damn dog.

Denial

Who doesn't have experience with denial? Yet it never makes dealing with it any easier.

I'm forcing a positive front, and honestly my little guy is showing me up big time, but I'm still on the fence.

Perhaps Oliver will happily confirm my belief that he's on the up and up - this pup is strong in every way!

The art of fostering

Open your heart to fostering and I swear you’ll never know what you’re gonna get. You might start with limitations, but as each homeless animal works their way into your heart you’ll find yourself completely taking back all the rules you carefully set in place.

Case in point is Oliver.

When I met Oliver at 3 days old I fell in love. I’d already sworn to all BFPA volunteers that I would never foster an un-housetrained dog, but one look at his face and cute birthmark (now obliterated) and I couldn’t resist. He became my boy from the first week of his life.

Oliver lives, happily, with me now – and where he’ll stay – until a willing and able person or family agrees to take him as their own.

He is an amazing puppy and I honestly think he will show us all that he has the strongest will to live!

Oliver pics

My great friend Jeni took some wonderful pics of my foster puppy Oliver on Sunday. Enjoy!

New foster: BFPA puppy Oliver

I brought home my sweet puppy Oliver last night. I couldn't believe how much he had grown since my last visit to his original foster home. He's already bigger than Bailey was at 8 weeks and he's currently "Zoe-sized" (7.5 lbs).



Here he is on his first morning without his mama and siblings. He's holding his own thus far!



Hangin' on the futon...



Shaking hands with the beautiful people (the lovely Jen)



Snoozin' on foster mama...so sweet!

Again with the puppies

At least I'm not asking for homes at this point - but if I could take these sweeties in myself I would!

More puppies!

BFPA rescued another pregnant dog from a high-kill shelter about a week and a half ago. Last Wednesday, Onyx gave birth to 10 puppies!

We're all having lots of fun guessing what the "mix" is. Onyx appears to be a pit mix, but the varying colors of her babies are very interesting. Any guesses?

The first pic is of a very pregnant Onyx.



The second if of mama Onyx and her 10 pups.