Two Transports & The Home Show

In my last post, I commented on the lack of transports I've done lately...yeah, I should know better than to say something like that! Last week, two dogs were awaiting intake to the rescue group, so I got to take both from Mansfield to the vet in Fort Worth. And when I use the phrase, "got to take" as opposed to "had to take," it's with good reason. Even though transports involve me loading a stinky dog (who may not be a model passenger) into my car and driving him/her all around the metroplex before unloading him/her at the vet's office, I love doing transports. I feel like it is such a privilege to get to spend even a little bit of time with these dogs. It was explained to me when I first started working with the rescue group that the person doing the transport is important because, often, you are the first kind face the dog has seen in a while (if ever). And these dogs never, ever cease to amaze me. They usually haven't had the easiest lives, they are scared, they are sometimes in pain, and yet they always let me (a total stranger) pick them up and take them to an unknown destination. I have never so much as been growled at by one of these dogs. They have the most trusting and beautiful spirits, and getting to be the one who is with them during the very first phase of their new lives is really amazing.

Fletch was happy to be sprung from the shelter!

My friends Jonathan and Nick have decided that it's fun to help me name the transport dogs (and I always need help!) so they made it into a contest. So far Nick is winning--he picked the name Fletch for the cute boy from the shelter. The second dog of the week already came with a name, so the contest is on hold until I have to name another one!

Yesterday, the rescue group had a booth at the Fort Worth Home & Garden Show. Mr. Bear went with me to do what he does best: look cute and gather donations. The Home & Garden Show is one of Mr. Bear's favorite things because he gets attention from all kinds of people and kids...he just soaks it all in. And speaking of dogs who had a bad start in life but are now extremely trusting, Mr. Bear decided to roll over onto his back in the middle of the aisle at the Home Show and offer everyone who walked by the chance to rub his tummy.

Here he is with one new friend (and future professional dog groomer?) who came at him with a dog brush. Mr. Bear was in heaven!

"Um...who told you to stop?"

Mr. Bear had a great time, gathered lots of donations, and went home exhausted. Another successful Home & Garden Show!

Adoption FAIL

Brax met a potential adoptive family the other day. Usually, when one of my fosters meets a potential family, it goes like this: Family meets dog. Family loves dog. Family either a) professes their love for dog and practically begs to adopt him, or b) goes home, thinks it over for about 1.5 seconds, then sends me an email professing their love for the dog and convincing me why they are the perfect family for him. When Brax met his potential adopter the other day, I was convinced that this is what would happen again...the woman was young, no kids, had lost her own golden a few years ago and is just now at the place where she is ready for another dog. She also has experience dealing with thunderstorm anxiety--a perfect match!

Or apparently not. After she met him, she sent me an email saying she had also met another dog within our rescue group and realized that the other dog was the one for her. Braxy got rejected. The logical side of me is fine with this--the potential adopter picked the dog she felt was best for her, and she is giving a home to a dog who needs one. Brax will find the right home. The emotional side of me is feeling sad for Braxy. Fortunately he didn't know what was going on, so he's not feeling rejected and sad, but I am an over-sensitive weirdo, so I'm feeling it for him.

Braxy Update

I have officially become the world's worst blogger. I am not proud of myself for this, so I am going to try to be better. So let's see...what dog-related news do I have? Actually, not very much. I have a new job within the rescue group of mailing out tags and heartworm preventative to all of the foster homes, but I don't think tales of me standing in line at the Mansfield post office would make for very enthralling summer reading, and I don't have any fun pics of me licking stamps, so that would make for a somewhat dull post. Transports have also been on the slow side. I guess there are not very many dogs from my neck of the woods getting turned in to the rescue group, which is a good thing.

I still have my foster boy Brax to keep me occupied. Braxy is doing very well, and we actually had a breakthrough last week. Brax HATED the car at first and would freak out every time I had to take him somewhere. Even trips to Starbucks were no fun for Braxy. But all of a sudden, it was like a light switch went off--he realized that rides in the car are fun, and that the destination of the car ride is never going to be anywhere terrible. Now any time I open the door into the garage, he bolts to the car and tries to get in. A small triumph, but so exciting to me nonetheless.

Braxy is also chugging along through his heartworm treatment--we had a vet appointment yesterday, and he got a great report. He should be able to resume somewhat normal activity in two weeks, which means he will be ready to go to his forever home at that point. Now, we just have to FIND him his forever home!