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!

Finders keepers

I found this cute reversible hat while walking Lucas in Duke Forest last weekend. It was a bit off-trail and no one was around. At first I walked right by it but then decided to check it out. I think I like it! It has now been washed and is ready for wearing.

Quote of the day

It's been a fantastically crummy week, but I found this quote and felt a little better. I've surely been pressing my emotional limits lately.

"In each of us are places where we have never gone. Only by pressing the limits do you ever find them."

~Dr. Joyce Brothers

Oliver pics

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

We miss you!

Today would've been Chris Reuther's 39th birthday. I still think of him almost daily and very much grieve the loss of him as I know so many others do.

As was written in memoriam on April 24, 2010, "The world lost a champion and we who knew you lost a wonderful young man."

Happy Birthday, Chris - we love you!



Christopher Glenn Reuther: January 3, 1973 - April 24, 2007

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.

Foster puppy

I will be bringing this cutie home in a few weeks - just before Christmas. His name will be Oliver. I can't wait! He is such a sweet puppy and I look forward to helping him find his forever home.

Lucas officially a Glazener

Lucas' adoption was finalized on the 5th. The adoption coordinator always takes a photo of the dog with his/her new family on the day of the finalization so here's our new family portrait! Zoe and I are happy to officially have him as a part of our family.

New BFPA additions

Puppies!

I went to visit Annie and her six puppies last night in Chapel Hill. Annie is the most loving, sweet dog - even around her brand-new babies. Annie was named after little orphan Annie, so we're throwing around ideas about using names from the musical for the puppies. There are 4 girls and 2 boys, so my votes are: Molly, Pepper, Tessie and Greer for the girls and Oliver and Drake for the boys.

They haven't even opened their eyes yet and are all eeps and grunts, "swimming" around in their bed until they can walk!

Annie



Two of the four girls



All six puppies: the boys are on the left and the girls are on the right.

Ridiculous mosquitoes

Is anyone else noticing these huge monsters at their house?! They are constantly swarming by my back door, and there is no standing water or any other obvious attraction other than my two doggies and myself. I've always been a tasty attraction for mosquitoes - maybe my blood is super sweet?

The one plus is that they are very slow-moving, so thwacking them with a shoe is pretty easy - I think I've successfully swatted at least 2 dozen in the last four days. But still, what gives?

I'm curious about whether this is a localized problem to North Carolina - or is it even more localized to Durham - or even more localized to my house?!

Strangely enough, I have not experienced a rash of mosquito bites on myself. Perhaps that is due to the colder temperatures and my being more covered up when outside. However, that situation brings up an oxymoron - WHY are these mosquitoes persisting in the colder/often freezing weather?!

I'm not exaggerating - at any given time there are at least a dozen of these pests flitting around by my back door. Would love to hear if anyone else is experiencing such an unwelcome mosquito infestation.