If Your Dog Could Talk..What Would He Say?!..Bandanas Say It All and Then Some!

I know, I know...before you start talking about how all those cutesy little dogs and their bandanas' are just more 'cute overload'..I'd like to introduce you to a new company I found while cruising the Internet.

The site, The Dog Perk - Products for People Who Love Dogs, sell products such as bandanas, T-shirts and other items for your dog. Their best sellers have to be these fabulous bandanas. They have the largest selection of bandanas I have seen in one place.  You can order bandanas for rescue dogs, fosters and funny sayings.  They also screen print custom bandanas for your rescue group too!  What a way to help make your rescue donations for a fund raiser!

You can also buy T-shirts for the owners to match your doggie's bandana.  One of my favorite funny T-shirts is one that says: 'I'm with spoiled (then an arrow pointing down!) This one is too cute...
The rescue bandanas are .99 each!  and the other bandanas are only $1.24 to rescue groups.

If you are an online seller looking for a great item to sell online; this is it.  While the economy effects so much of our life, we still pamper our pets as one of our 'stress relievers'.  We may cut out a couple trips to the movies, cut back on the sweets, etc. but nothing will keep us from spoiling our 'furbabies'.

According to analysts studying the outlook for pet supplies and accessories for the 2010 - 2011 season...pet supplies will continue to climb in sales.  This is such a large and growing area for online sales.

At The Dog Perk, you can enjoy Wholesale prices on the bandanas and make almost a 50% markup.  The size and weight are great for shipping.  No peanuts, bubblewrap, expensive shipping supplies needed.

I applaud The Dog Perk for a company who is setting up to support and help dog rescues and fosters.  They do a lot to help rescues and I for one will be supporting them.  Make sure and visit their site:

http://www.thedogperk.com/

You'll be glad you did!  I am so sure we are going to hear a lot about this company as it grows!  Make sure and share this with all the dog lovers in your life!

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Adopt or Foster a Rescue Dog in New Hampshire, Friends of Homeless Animals, INC.

I am presently a Foster Mom for Friends of Homeless Animals, INC. and live in Weare, NH.  Our primary breed is Boston Terriers but we do have quite a few breeds for adoption in all sizes!  Our motto is, Small Dogs with Big Hearts but now we also have the Big Dogs with Big Hearts too!

I've grown up with dogs as a part of life.  My aunts had a kennel when I was young and raised whippets.  They showed and trained just about every breed dog as well.  They had German Shepards, Mastiffs, Collies, etc.  Our family adopted a stray from the 'dog pound' as it was known when I was only 15mo old.  Dee Dee was a Shznauser mix breed and what a great dog she was...she treated me just like one of her puppies...

My mother told the story of me getting too close to the street and Dee Dee grabbing my diaper and pulling me back from the traffic.  Dee Dee was always there to lick my face when I was sad.  Growing up like this, it is no wonder I am a dog lover!

Our rescue group and adoptions are very strong in almost all of the NE states, except for NH.  I really do not see that many adoptions going through for my home state and don't know if it is because we are not advertised enough or people just don't know we are here...

I know when I first came to NH from FL, I had 3 dogs.  They were all over the age of 14 at the time.  Two of them have passed away due to old age.  I still have one fiesty little rat terrier named Sissy.  I really did not know there were as many foster dogs so close that needed my help.

I would really like to get the word out about Fosters needed especially in New Hampshire.  Quite a few of the people I talk to today, do not realize this rescue group is right in their neighborhood.  Another group have not adopted thinking the dogs were too far away for them. 

Both of these concerns need to be addressed...Our rescue group and many others are in your neighborhood, you just have to make that initial call.  Almost all dogs need to be transported.  We do a lot of this with volunteers, asking the potential adopters  to meet us if they can.  Dogs that come from a long distance are transported here by truck.  Believe me, where there is  will, there is a way!

If you are reading this blog and are looking for a great dog to adopt, please visit:

Friends of Homeless Animals-Rescuing Small Dogs With Big Hearts

Then take a look at some of the great looking dogs and puppies we have up for adoption on Petfinders.

We have a wide network of volunteers who foster and help transport these dogs to your location.  Please do not think a dog is too far away for you to adopt.

We are also in dire need of Foster Homes for our dogs.  With todays economy, there are more and more owner surrenders of family pets.  We are finding there just is not enough foster homes to handle the amount of dogs.  Many dogs are being put to sleep due to no place to go.  If you find it in your heart, please volunteer to foster. 

The first thing I hear is...I could never foster!  This comes up frequently.  Actually, you can.  It is very easy to give up your foster dog to a good home knowing they will be looked after and loved and you will be able to help another dog.

If you are interested in fostering but have a few questions, please email me: chloeev@msn.com
I will be glad to share my experience with you!

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Please Vote for A Chance at Bliss and Help This Well Deserving Sanctuary!

A Chance for Bliss, Inc. is a unique non-profit animal sanctuary that cares for senior and special needs animals, as well as those others who are facing end of life circumstances. We are committed to the care and welfare of our residents on an extraordinary scale, and once at the sanctuary each resident remains until they make their transition, be that a matter of days, months or even years.

So many of these pets today are family pets that have lived their lives with a loving family and due to financial issues or illness have ended up in High Kill Shelters with no place to go, but be 'put to sleep'. 

It always seems the older dogs wait while the younger, puppies are adopted out.  A Chance for Bliss is a place these dogs can call home!

Please help these dogs by voting for A Chance for Bliss to win the Pepsi donation of $50,000!  This money will run their sanctuary for 1 full year!  This is a non-profit sanctuary and operates solely on donations.

Presently they are running at number 29 for the month, but with your help..they could make #1!  Please vote!

http://www.refresheverything.com/achanceforbliss

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Foster Homes Needed for Friends of Homeless Animals

I might sound like a broken record but in this work, you hear and see some very sad tales of animals ending up in shelters to be put to sleep for no other reason than the owners simply cannot care for them anymore.  As a result, we have so many dogs and cats needing homes with fosters and cannot accommadate all the requests we receive as a result.  This is not just a thought, it is reality...animals are being put to sleep by the thousands every day.

One of the rescues we receive quite a few of our dogs from has about 40 dogs now in her house.  She is to the point of closing her doors until she can find foster homes or adopters for all the dogs.  Every day that goes by, more and more dogs are abandoned and surrendered. 

If you have ever thought you would like to make a difference and help these wonderful animals from being destroyed..Please sign up to be a volunteer at a shelter, open your home to help foster animals, whatever you can do to help.  Even the smallest task needs someone to do it! 

Our recent message from Roie Griego, the founder of FOHA.  She sent this in an email to our group, the email subject was:  PLEA FOR HELP!

Greetings to all of our wonderful volunteers, adopters, and supporters,


FOHA is in great need of foster homes at this time and we are calling on our friends for assistance.

There are many dogs needing to come into rescue.

Just this week we have rescued more than we can keep track of and more coming - the economy has hurt everyone & the pets are getting hurt the most - in my over 25 years of doing rescue - this is the worst I have ever seen things in rescue!!!!

There are others waiting to come in as well, and always more coming in from shelters all across the country.

Because of your wonderful efforts, whether it be by adopting a dog, fostering, or volunteering your time and generous contributions, we have been able to provide veterinary care and give to our rescued dogs sanctuary in your homes until they are ready for their forever placements.

At this time we really need you to open your hearts and homes temporarily for one of our incoming dogs.

If you can not foster, please consider helping with other administrative and rescue tasks.

We can only continue to help them with your support!

If you are interested in fostering o rhelping in any other way, please let me know ASAP -

Thanks so much, Roie 401-234-4499, roiegriego@gmail.com

Please visit our web site and learn more about our rescue.  Friends of Homeless Animals, Rescuing Small Dogs with Big Hearts!

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Nikko Gets a Second Chance in the 'Nik' of Time! and What a Chance it is...

Nikko in his shelter photo

Nikko came to as an URGENT PLEA!  This dog needs foster now!  Our group, FOHA found this darling, Jack Russell terrier dog that was just a day away from being euthanized!  He was in a high kill shelter in Tennessee.  I have to say from what I've learned, the shelters are doing their best to try and help these guys in whatever way they can...  They are people just like us, and they hate to see these precious animals being put to sleep.  But until the crisis is over, they will continue to have way too many animals to save them all...

Nikko was found wandering the streets in Tennessee.  I believe Nikko may have ran away from his home.  He showed signs of abuse.  As he sat in the shelter on the cold concrete, he was shaking and terrified.  His photos showed the fear in his eyes.  He did trust people.  He had been abused by people he trusted. Now he was locked into a jail full of frightened, angry dogs who were being put to sleep daily.

When I saw the photo of Nikko, I could not help but feel the tug at my heart for this little guy.  Without a foster to step up that day..my little friend was going to be put to sleep.  Luckily for me, I had an open space for Nikko.  When Nikko came to me, he was terrified of everything.  He got off the transport and cowered. He was so hungry and thirsty as they all are due to the traveling, but he would not accept food or water for quite awhile.  I'm sure what was going through his head was, what is going to happen now?

Nikko stayed with me for about 3wks.  He learned a lot in that short amount of time.  He was not housetrained, he at first acted like he had never been in a house.  He did not know how to get in your lap.  He did not know a lot about being in a loving environment.  He mistrusted my husband and never stopped barking at him every time he came into a room.  My husband is a big guy and I believe Nikko mistook him for his abuser.  Even though my husband would feed him and bring him treats, pet him and do whatever he could to earn Nikko's trust, Nikko never trusted him.

A wonderful angel, inquired about Nikko.  She was looking for a rescue dog and wanted to fnd the one with the saddest eyes to become her new dog.  She had adopted one before from the dog shelter.  The one she adopted was the dog that cringed in the corner, not the ones that came and licked her and was friendly.

I call Nikko's adopter an angel because Nikko had so many rescue dog issues.  We were working on his problems one at a time and taking it easy to build his faith up with humans again.  I never changed the pic's on the web site to new pic's of Nikko in my home.  The pic's on the site were the ones from the shelter.  The sad eyes, the cringing dog.  I left it this way because I did not feel Nikko was ready for adoption.

When I received the inquiry on Nikko, I wanted to make sure she understood I did not think he was ready for adoption and I made sure to tell her my impressions of Nikko.  Her answer was, I have worked through issues before with my other rescue.  I do not mind working with a new dog.  I will take a dog with whatever he comes to us with...good or bad.  

Nikko met his Angel this past Saturday.  Not only did he meet her, he met her mother, her fiancee and his new grandma's cats!  We all had such a wonderful meeting, Nikko was completely at home with the family.  Even the cat hissed at him one time and that was it..no problem. 

I believe the flow of love, acceptance and caring was felt by Nikko.  He knew he was at home with a very loving and caring family.  I am so very proud to say, Nikko has found his 'furever' home and I really think he makes a beautiful picture with his new Mom, Dad to be and grandma!  Even the cats seem to accept him in..disdainfully to be sure, but accepting, nonetheless!

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My Dearest Little Lucy..I Love Lucy!

Lucy and her 'fur' sister Allie, human sister Brie

I've had another foster to come to us and never even got the chance to post her on my blog!  She arrived by transport Saturday night...and Sunday morning we had an application for the dear sweetie pie!

Lucy's story is probably one of the worst I've heard since fostering.  I've heard all the stories of dogs being stray and picked up with mange, etc.  That in itself is evil enough.  People have to learn that domesticated dogs cannot live without humans feeding them.  You cannot just dump a dog on the streets and it will survive on its own.  Cats have much more of a chance than dogs do at survival. Dogs usually end up eating dead animals on the road, etc. and then getting all sorts of diseases that will kill the dog....but that's another post..back to our Lucy.

It seems Lucy was a backyard breeders dog.  He began breeding her when she was much too young. I do not think she was quite a year old.  She had seven pups to deliver.  She delivered 3 and then the 4th puppy became stuck in her birth canal.  The owner took her to an emergency vet after she was in labor much too long and had started vomiting and having a temp. The vet advised a cesarian to try and retrieve the pups still yet to be born.  They knew she had 4 more to deliver. 

The owner refused and took the Lucy home with the pup still stuck in the birth canal.  Lucy suffered through another 12 long hours of labor before the owner brought her back still in pain and vomiting.  Remember this momma dog was still a puppy herself.  She only weighed 9lbs at the time.

They performed the surgery and found Lucy's female organs had been torn with the ordeal of labor.  The vet stitched her up the best she could and advised the owner, do not attempt to breed this dog again, it will kill her.  It was approximately a year later the man brought Lucy back to the vet, where it was apparent he had tried to breed her again.  This time the owner could not afford the vet bills and Lucy was surrendered.

Our rescue took Lucy and posted her on our web site before she arrived in NH.  She had three people interested in adopting her.  She was so fatiqued, hungrey and worn out from the trip, I advised everyone she needed a week to gather herself together and strengthen herself. 

The following Saturday, Lucy went to meet her potential 'furever' family.  She was a big hit with her furbaby sister, Allie and her human sister too!  They all had a blast as the two dogs tore around the house playing like the road runner and Wiley Coyote!

Lucy had such a short stay with me...I did not even get a chance to get photos of her beautiful face! She had one blue eye and one brown eye.  She was a delicate Boston Terrier, weighing in at only 15lbs.

The family who adopted her wrote me an email the next week to share some pic's of Lucy.  The pic's mean a ot to me and I just adore seeing Lucy with her new family!

Because Lucy went to her new family so quickly..I was able to help a Jack Russell Terrier mix.  He was from a shelter in Tennessee.  More on his story in the next post...

Please enjoy these photos of Miss Lucy as I came to know her!  What a terrific little girl!

                                          Lucy with her Dad!

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Please Help This Little Dog with a Big Heart!

Orie Lee


Organized by Friends of Homeless Animals, Inc.

Please help Orie Lee get better!

Orie Lee is a sweet 9-year-old Boston Terrier who had a rough life! She has an oozing wart on her neck and to make matters worse, at a recent vet checkup it was discovered that she has firm, irregular masses in 3 out of 4 of her left mammary glands, and in one of her right mammary glands. These are suspicious of malignant mammary cancer, although benign mammary tumors can occur. The vet has recommended we investigate this further and to do so we need at least $500. Would you please consider helping Orie Lee so that she can find her forever home?

I met Orie Lee at one of our Meet and Greet Days at Petsmart in NH.  She has to be the most loving little Boston!  She gave me kisses just as long as I would hold still for her..what a character, she is so loving.

She deserves everything we can do for her! Thank you in advance for your help!


To go to Orie Lee's Donation page, please click here:  Orie Lee
To see Orie Lee's Petfinder profile page:   My profile

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Top 3 Rescue Dog Myths

Even though I've just started fostering, though my research I think I have heard it all now..and the more I hear, the more I don't want to be associated with the human race!  There are so many many myths circulating about rescue dogs that just are not true.  These myths actually keep great family dogs from securing a loving, secure forever home life.

Myth #1 - It is dangerous to adopt a rescue dog. Most are dangerous, that's why people dumped them.

In today's society, this myth should never be uttered again.  More and more today, most shelter dogs are owner surrenders due to 'cannot afford anymore', 'cannot pay vet bill', etc.  These dogs range in age from 1yr to 15yrs.

Now, imagine your family pet.  You've had him for 15yrs and really love this dog but suddenly find yourself without a job and children to feed.  This is a situation I would hope you have family that could help you out, or neighbors, your church, etc.  Some people do not have those options.  They are forced to give their beloved pet up in order to make sure their children can eat. These people have no choice.

Then, there are the other people who just grow tired of the dog...its old, doesn't play anymore, we want a puppy. The new fad is another breed, etc.  These people take their dogs to the shelter to be euthanized because they just don't care.

Are these dogs dangerous? Absolutely not.  They are the victims of our times, bad choices and judgement by people who have no right owning animals.

There are a few who are strays and have not been domesticated.  These animals have no future in rescue. The rescue actually meets the dogs, sizes them up, asks questions about the dogs to learn more and if they displayed agression in the shelter, they probably will not be rescued.

Myth #2 - Most rescue dogs have hidden illnesses and you take them home and later face huge vet bills.

Most rescue dogs before even going into foster care are taken to the vet and have a very rigorous exam. They have all shots, are neutered or spay, if injured, mange, etc. are cured and if need special diets the vet will prescribe for them.  The rescue dogs are probably the best and most well cared for dogs I know!  They are kept on their heartguard, flea and tick medicine, dental appt.'s, etc.   They also are given the best dog food to keep them healthy. We would not take all this care for the dog and then feed them food scraps.

Myth #3 - Rescue groups do not tell you about all the negatives of the dog, they just want you to take the dog without disclosing all the 'bad' along with the adoption.

This is the one that probably really bothers me the most!  We foster these animals in our homes.  If you love animals, you know how bonded you can get to an animal.  My animals become members of my family.  I would never 'push' my animals off on anyone. 

First of all, all adopters go through a very rigorous adoption process.  This is to make sure they are seriously interested in the animal.  We also want to make sure and tell the potential adopter everything we can to make sure the dog is a 'perfect fit' for their home.  It does us no good to place a dog with an adopter only to have them call us back and say the 'dog just isn't what I thought they would be'.  Now, the dog has been uprooted from his foster home, went to another home where he might have picked up bad habits or worse than that...been abused, and try to work him back into the system.

No, the best way is to make sure everyone knows exactly what temperment, physical limitations (if any), training the dog has BEFORE the adoption. We also make sure the household the dog goes into is a match for the dog.  We would not take a high energy dog and put it into a home with an elderly woman in a condo.

I fully believe these myths are circulated by people who do not fully understand the Rescue dog adoption process.  It may be kept alive by puppy mill owners who hope the majority of people will still want to buy that cute little doggie in the window at the pet store.

Being a foster, I do hear people who give me compliments for helping these animals.  I really don't understand because I don't see myself doing anything out of the ordinary. I basically am at the right time and place.  But without my adopters,  I would not be able to help as many dogs as I have in my short time as a foster mom!  I truly love and cherish my adopters as they are very unique people who really care and choose to give these dogs a second chance at life!

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Meet Justice a Golden Retriever Spaniel Mix, Who Has Not Seen Too Much Justice in His Short Lifetime!

Meet Justice..he is my new foster from TN.  He appears to be a Golden Retriever Spaniel Mix.  I want to say he may even have Afghan in his background due to his wide, feathery black ears.  Justice came to me as a twice jailed reject.  Poor Guy!

Justice was originally adopted in Tennessee by a family. They took him home and due to him wanting to come inside the house, (think about the cold weather during March!!), the new owners took him back to the high kill shelter and said they did not want him any longer, he kept wanting in the house!

He is a young dog, believed to be about 2yrs young, he stills chews on your hands and has sharp teeth. He is very easy to train but you have to be consistant with him, he is like a rebellious younster.  He loves to play, play and more play! His favorite pasttime is running in circles at top speed around my .5 acre front yard.  He loves long walks after breakfast, and tennis balls.

He does not like school buses (he barks), I think he was with a family and maybe the child went to school on athe school bus.  He does not get along with cats. He chases cats. I am working on a 'leave it' command with him now to stop the behaviour.  He does not get along well with smaller dogs. He tends to use his size to his advantage.

It is very apparent Justice has had abuse in his past. People who did not know how to cope with a dog probably locked him in garages, outside, etc.  He is very mistrustful of people. It is taking awhile but I feel as soon as he learns that not all humans are going to try and hurt him, he will become a very loving, loyal and great dog!

Any high energy family with lots of room for Justice to run would find him a loving family member.  He really is a sweet dog.  I would not suggest him around little children but having older children would be a plus! He needs someone to throw frisbees and tennis balls as fast as they can and all day..his energy is endless!

To see Justice's profile on Petfinder.com, go to:  Friends of Homeless Animals

UPDATE: May 15, 2010 - Justice met with a potential adopter in Rhode Island.  This family had 2 boys, ages 9 and 7, just right to play with this huge puppy!  They also have a former rescue dog, a Great Pyrenees who has lived with them for awhile.  The Great Pyrenees breed is a laid back, mountain type dog who does well in solitude...not necessarily needing the pampered, family way of life.  The family found they really wanted a pet to come in the house and cuddle and play with the family.

Well from Justice's write up, we all know the only thing Justice was looking for was a family to invite him inside and cuddle and play! What better match could be found?!

We took Justice to his potential new 'furever' home and he and their dog had a great time. It was almost no time before the two dogs began playing and having fun.  This is not easy for such a large dog as the Pyrenees!  Everything was all set for Justice and his new home.

Justice finally has found the justice he needed. He is now a part of a loving family and has a new brother he can play with and he will never have to worry about his cuddling again!

I am getting a new foster in this weekend, he is being fostered due to Justice's new parents. They are the heroes in my life.  The adopters who adopt our dogs, don't even know how many dogs they help when they find their special dog!  I always like to tell them the name of the new dog I will be sponsering due to their love and understanding of these wonderful dogs!

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'The Back Up Plan' starring Jennifer Lopez and 3 very talented Boston Terrier Rescue Dogs!

I had heard about this new movie but really didn't know the plot. Then when cruising the Internet today, I ran across this post, "The Back Up Plan" stars Rescue Dogs. Wow, a beautiful picture of a Boston Terrier was with the story.

It seems, three rescue Boston Terriers used in the movie, 'Hotel for Dogs', (great movie! I hope you saw this one!), are starring with J-Lo in this new movie, coming out, April 24, 2010.

I really think this is great idea to spotlight on my favorite breed and show how intelligent they are! I truly hope it sparks interest in the breed but does not create a fad such as the poor Chihuahua or Dalmation craze. Please remember there are plenty of Boston Terriers that need good homes, not just for a temporary craze but for responsible owners. Whatever happens, I hope we do not see more temporary Boston Terrier breeders.

To read the story please click here to go to: Zoom Room

Looks like a wonderful story line along the same plot lines as 'Hotel for Pets'. We really do need to get information out to the public...Please don't Buy, Adopt.

Too many beautiful dogs are being put down daily while puppies are being bred in the most horrible conditions in Puppy Mills. Please do not buy puppies from a pet store. We may not be able to catch all the people running Puppy Mills, but we can try to educate people about where they come from and the misery these dogs come from...

Please go to: United Against Puppy Mills to learn more about where those cute little puppies come from. Most have hidden health issues because mothers are bred to sons, etc. and the puppies are not kept in sanitary conditions.

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Cocktail Shaker - or Shaker as his Friends call him!

Shaker is my youngster! While the other dogs in my household are 10yrs and over, little Shaker is only 2yrs old. He is the youngster that keeps all of us on our toes! He is so loving and playful, we all get a kick watching him play. He is also a Boston Terrier.

He is so happy to be alive and he shows it everyday. He gets up in the morning, looks for Squirty. They each touch noses, give a little kiss of assurance and then the games begin, time for a friendly little tussle before breakfast.

Then it is time for a great outside run around the house. Then its inside to harass a cat or two, find his ball or stuffed toy, then just as suddenly as all this began, his head goes down and he's asleep again! I keep joking I think he has narcolepsy...but according to his breed this is not unusual. He just runs out of gas and has to recharge!

Shaker also likes to love and kiss...A Lot! He really gives the big, wet sloppy kisses. He really is a character. Shaker would do great in a household with children, preferably older children that can throw a frisbee or ball.

Shaker and Squirty both have taught me a lot in the short time they've been here. Dogs are funny that way. They take so little and give so much.

Find out if a Boston Terrier is right for you, read all about the breed: Boston Terriers

UPDATE: Shaker now 'Domino' was adopted this past weekend by the most perfect adopter I could have ever imagined. Her friend described her as a 'Dr Doolittle'! She has worked with animals and been a part of the Humane Society for over 30yrs. She is now a dog trainer and has various other animals to include a 23yr old cat and cuckatoo!

Domino was reported with a back leg that was smaller than the other. I believe he must have learned to walk on it that way because he made full use of his leg. If you did not know, you would not notice unless you were looking for it. Well, Domino's new Mom wanted to be sure he would be able to walk with her and her other dog on a 2mi walk, 2x daily. I am proud to report he did and handled it well with no problems. He is adjusting into his new home by giving everyone his famous, sloppy, Boston Terrier kisses. I am so proud my precious found such a great home!

Just this one adoption has allowed me to pick up a new dog from a high kill shelter and rescue him. He is a terrier mix and is shivering and nervous inside the shelter. This dog was a owner surrender and you can see the confusion in the dog's eyes. He probably can't understand why he is laying down on cold cement to sleep when he had a perfectly good home. HE did nothing wrong. Usually cases like this are due to a new baby, moving, owners are just tired of the dog, etc.

Squirty - Friendly, Loving, Boston Terrior Mix

I am so blessed to have my first foster dog to be Squirty! He is a dog from Missouri that ended up in a shelter when his elderly owner passed away. He is a mixed Boston Terrier and Beagle mix. You would think a mix like that would be really a hyper dog! To the contrary, Squirty is one of the best behaved dogs I've ever known.

Squirty, 10yrs. old, came to us from another foster who had to give him up. Squirty at first was a little nervous about his new arrangements. I have two dogs of my own. A Shih-Tzu/Dachshund mix and a Rat Terrier. Both are older dogs, over the age of 12yrs.

Squirty has actually helped my dogs to mind their manners! They had gotten a little lax about begging for food, etc. When Squirty came in and did not, they started following him and not beg as often.

Squirty knows all his commands, and follows them well. He likes to please. He loves to run and play with his toys. He is definitely not ready for a rocking chair yet! His coat is brindle and white. He has the cutest white tip of his tail!

He has never met a person, dog or cat for that matter he didn't like! He enjoys going on walks, meeting other dogs and people. He is really good with smaller children. He is not one to knock little ones down.

Please take a look at his pictures and get in touch with Friends of Homeless Animals, Providence, RI, if you are interested in adopting Squirty or any of the other dogs up for adoption. Perhaps you've been wanting to foster for awhile and just didn't know where, who or how to contact. You can fill out an application to foster on this site as well!

UPDATE: Squirty was adopted shortly after being put up on this blog. He was with us not too long, but long enough for my husband to really bond with him. Squirty went everywhere with him in his truck! They also took long walks in the woods down to see the beavers at the dam. We will both miss him terribly but know he is now in the best Forever Home he could've ever gotten!

He was adopted by a woman who loves Senior dogs. She is single and her home is very low key for a low energy dog like Squirty. He now has a younger Shih-Tzu sister for company during the day and his new Mom is spoiling him silly!

As a foster we get a lot of thanks, but without our dear adopters..we would not be able to help more dogs. Our precious Adopters rock! The adopters see what we do in our dogs and love the dogs just as much as we do!

Friends of Homeless Animals, Providence, RI

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Fostering a Rescue Dog

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I have to first give a little background about myself. I am the one who always showed up at school with about 5 dogs in tow. I walked to school and as I walked the dogs in the neighborhood would come to get their pets and follow me to school! My brother refused to walk with me. He made me walk 20 paces behind so people did not know I was with him. He didn't want to be associated with the 'dog kid'!

I've had animals all my life. Usually, no more than one dog at a time. I've had several cats and dogs throughout the years. I always wanted to do something to work with animals. I never had the opportunity. I grew up, married and had children.

Now that I'm older and manage a business from my house, I have the time to devote to helping animals. My favorite breed came about due to a very special dog, named Bandit. He was a Boston Terrier I kept for awhile that belonged to one of my daughters friends. Bandit was very special to me. He had been kept in a cage and did not know how to live in a house. I taught him his 'house manners'. I also trained him to do tricks.

Unfortunately, our time together was cut short and Bandit was taken back and sold to someone else. I always held an empty spot in my heart for Bandit.

When I saw the 'Friends of Homeless Animals' of Providence, RI. asking for foster homes, I immediately applied. They specialize in the Boston Terrier breed in rescues. It was not even two days before someone was contacting me to do a home visit to become a foster. I know now why...

In these times, there are so many more animals being given up due to expense for upkeep, vet bills, etc. Family pets that have been with families for years are suddenly showing up in shelters at an alarming rate. These are the victims of these very hard times we are experiencing. A lot of them are being put to sleep. There just are not enough homes for all the animals. Now, more than ever is the time to make sure your pet is spay or neutered. Please do not let more pets come into this all ready over populated world of pets.

The foster parents and people who run Friends of Homeless Animals, are the most caring, informative people you would ever like to know. If the group hears of an animal being mistreated, or about to be put to sleep and they can help, they mobilize within a few hours to get someone to help the dog. I truly am blessed to be in this group of wonderful and caring people.

What can you do?

If you are looking for a puppy or dog, please adopt. Don't buy from a pet store. It is very likely the really cute little puppy may have come from a Puppy Mill. If you are not familiar with Puppy mills, please read this: United Against Puppy Mills

Also, know which breed dog is going to work for your lifestyle. Read about the breeds before adopting. Quite a few adopted dogs come back to shelters with adopters saying, 'I didn't know he would get so big', 'I didn't know he needed so much care", etc.

Try considering older dogs too. Some of the older dogs make fantastic pets. They are already trained and do not require a lot to ease into the routine of your household. Some senior dogs have so much love to give!

If you have room in your heart and home, consider fostering. It has some fantastic rewards! Seeing these dogs going to forever homes where they will be loved is just fantastic! Almost like seeing your own children going out in the world!

I have two fosters...Squirty, a Boston Terrier mix and Cocktail Shaker, a 3yr. old Boston Terrier, teenager who is full of hy-jinks! I will be posting pics and stories.

Stay tuned!

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