Happy Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for so many things, including the many memorable experiences I've had over the past several years of fostering.  

The most memorable event may be the time I traveled to Washington D.C. with my foster puppy Bear so he could participate in Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl VI.  It was the first (and so far, only) time that one of my fosters has been on national television.  I never would have had that opportunity if not for fostering.  

Of course, fostering has not been all fun and games.  And even the fun and games can take a dangerous turn. The time one of my foster puppies got his head stuck inside a Jolly Ball dog toy was very memorable.  I am mostly just thankful that I was eventually able to get him unstuck and he was not hurt.

Some of the most memorable experiences are not the special events, but the foster pets themselves.  The ones who take the longest to get adopted, like Scribbles, are the pets that I will never forget.  And at a time like Thanksgiving, I am reminded again how thankful I am that Scribbles finally got a home!

And then there's this guy.  Do you recognize him? This is one of the first pictures I ever took of him, when he came to my house as a foster puppy in December 2009.  Although I've tried really hard, he's never been adopted.  He has, however, provided me with countless memories over the past two years.  In spite of the challenges, I am still thankful that I took him home from the shelter.  And I'm going to be even more thankful when he is finally adopted!

I hope you've had a great day and have also had time to reflect on what you are thankful for.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I am grateful for my family, my friends, my country, and my pets.

I'm grateful for the couple who took in Gretchen as a foster dog when she was out of time and had no other chance to be saved.  I'm also grateful to the rest of the rescue volunteers who save all the dogs and cats just like Gretchen when they have nowhere else to go. 

I'm grateful for the family who adopted Gretchen, and I'm grateful for all of the other people who adopt dogs and cats - especially those who adopt the ones that are older, disabled, shy, difficult, or otherwise hard to place into permanent homes.   

I am grateful for those of you who share your life with me through your blogs.  I'm grateful for each reader that takes time to read my blog and share in my life as well.     

I'm especially grateful that you don't turn me into the ASPCA when I post pictures like the one above.  

I'm grateful for my cat Merlin, who was yesterday's DogTipper Cat Of the Day!  I'm very proud of him.  Regardless of the fact that he did nothing to earn this honor, and regardless of the fact that they have so few submissions of cats right now that I believe anyone who submits their cat will quickly see their cat become Cat of the Day as well.  I'll pretend he would have won in spite of the competition from thousands hundreds dozens of other cats.   

From Remi, me and Noelle - Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Remember Joker?  He's the little pit bull puppy that was dumped on the side of the road.  Someone felt compassion for him and took him to their home.  They gave him food, medical care, a safe place to stay, and then they searched for a loving, permanent home for him.  What a great example they have set for their children, family and friends.   

And this puppy?  He has a similar story.  This is Petey, and he was found alone in some bushes, abandoned by his people.  Someone found him, felt compassion for him, and brought him to PetSmart so he would not die alone in the bushes.  Then an All Paws volunteer took him into her home, gave him medical care, affection and love simply because she felt compassion for him as well.  Now, like Joker, Petey is available for adoption and looking for a forever home.  And in the meantime, the nice family who saved Joker from the side of the road is taking care of both Petey and Joker.

These are two lucky puppies.