Sunday, December 30, 2012

CHIEF GOES BACK UP NORTH

It's taken me a while to get around to writing this blog, in part because it was such a hard decision to send Chief back up North but also because it's that busy time of year when some of your normal day to day things take a back seat.   As you may recall, I had mentioned that there was an applicant for Chief and they met with him a few times.  Our final meeting was with a behaviorist/trainer who did an assessment on Chief.  I wanted the applicants to be a part of that process so they would see the things that would be pointed out in the assessment.  They came to the conclusion that as first time dog adopters that they were in over their heads with Chief.   They know Chief is such a beautiful soft dog for so much of the time but his fear of strangers in certain settings is not to be taken lightly.  He needs a confident person to guide him past his fears and his progress won't happen overnight.  I really admire how badly these applicants wanted to help him but also appreciate that they were willing to see the whole picture and know themselves well enough to not take on more than they bargained for. 

I have had many foster dogs come and go but this is the first time I've shed a tear.  It eases my mind though that Chief is going back to familiar people and a great environment where he can be the happy relaxed playful dog he is 100% of the time without the challenge of so many new people in the city.  After his assessment, it was decided that he could benefit from more time back at Turtle Gardens. So after three months he went back up north with his favorite TG person - Dave and I've heard that he has settled back in pretty well.   I really miss him alot!!  I also want to say that I still have faith that his ideal home awaits him...it just needs to be the right person or people.

Before he left I had to catch him in his candy cane bandana from Aunty Del.


(I love sideways glances)

Checking for squirrels in the tree ...as usual

New soccer ball stuffy makes a good chin rest

'Oh....but what's that toy over there?'

The next dog run will probably be in mid-January and I'm looking forward to jumping into a new year of fostering.  Thanks for reading my blog in 2012 and catch you in the New Year.

Friday, December 7, 2012

A BIT OF XMAS CHEER AND A GIFT IDEA

I saw on Facebook that one of the TG foster moms was having fun with dog pics so I put in a request for Chief a la Christmas and here's what came back:



THANK YOU POLLY ....you are way too cool to do these (and talented).  You deserve a great Christmas for all the amazing fostering you did in 2012.  

Okay but on a serious gift giving note, one of the daycare staff at Playful Paws does the most amazing artwork and her work with dog pics makes a very unique gift for the person that has everything.  Or you can shop like I do and get one done for yourself.  



To see more of her work on Facebook click here.

Here's what Playful Paws wrote up about Megan's work in their last newsletter: 
Being the fancy up and coming artist that she is, her artwork is also currently being exhibited and sold in several lower mainland Art Galleries - Place Des Arts in Coquitlam and the Seymour Art Gallery in Deep Cove (in both the Gallery Shop and the main gallery space).  Both Galleries will be featuring her work until Christmas, alongside other local artists - so head on out and support starving artists!

If you want to place an order, ask a question or just shower Megan with praise and admiration, you can email her at fivecornerscrafts@gmail.com

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

WHITESPOT + 1 DAY

As of today Chief is now my longest foster.  Whitespot was with me for 9 1/2 weeks and Chief has gone 1 day more than that.  Chief is, in quite a few ways, the easiest foster I've had.  He is fine being left alone and is really the first foster that I've ever left at home alone.  Most go with me and wait in the truck, except in the summer on hot days and then I find ways to work around leaving a dog alone.  I have left him alone while I went out to a movie and thought he'd be happier at home on his Kuranda bed rather than in the truck and he didn't bark when I left and the couch was warm when I came home.  He is affectionate and smart.  He learns new tricks quite easily as he is food motivated with no other distractions around.   He sits and waits at the door to go out and to come in, although sometimes his first reaction is to want to dart through it.  On command he can sit, lay down, shake a paw, high five, reach out for a nose to hand touch for a treat, sit/stay and he can now sit up for a treat.  I don't usually teach fosters too many tricks but Chief seems to enjoy the challenge.  He is also very good at sit/stay while waiting for me to hide his tug toy.

He is mostly walking nicely on a loose leash, he fetches the ball quite well and has pretty good recall.   We are still working on his leash reactivity with people and with dogs.  We can go for quite some time without any reaction as I'm learning to adjust my daily routine to accommodate his areas of concern.  As a result I'm noticing some improvements in him.  If he's worried he checks in with me sometimes, whereas before he did not check with me at all.  He is more easily distracted by me in times of worry.  So, if he sees a dog and starts to show tension I can take a step back and call him to me and he is more open to being diverted than before.  

We are currently working with an applicant towards a possible adoption.  We are taking our time though in order to ensure they understand who Chief is, what his needs are and how to manage him.  They have now had him for a couple of nights stay and they definitely see the beautiful soft side of him and they have also experienced his leash reactivity as well.   We will work with a trainer to assess Chief and afterwards will decide on the next step.  

Sunday, November 25, 2012

SUNNY WINTER WEEKEND



I love sunny winter days.  I've had the flu bug that's been going around but that didn't stop me and Chief from getting out and about on the weekend.  Since I haven't been letting Chief off leash in too many circumstances I found that he'll fetch a ball really well so I take him to the fenced and gated field by the airport and throw the ball for him to burn off some energy.  Here's a quick video of him:




He'll fetch the ball quite a few times in a row but will occassionally get side-tracked by a really good smell. Of course this never happens before I throw the ball, only once I've successfully launched it further than ever with the ball chucker, he then decides smelling the grass is better than bringing it back.  Once you gage his level of interest though you can pretty much figure out when not to throw it unless you want to fetch it yourself.  




Chief coming when called (without the ball)...he's got good recall.

So many good smells, so little time.

Sorry for the short blog but my chicken soup is on the stove waiting for me.  Will write more later and fill you in on Chief's overnight visit with an applicant. 

Here's a few pics from around home though:

Waiting, with his tug toy, for
dinner to be served.

Don't tell his friends but Chief lets me tuck him in
on his own bed at night.  It gets cold at night so I
lay a dog blanket across him...I hear no complaints.


Thursday, November 15, 2012

IT'S BEEN TEN DAYS SINCE MY LAST BLOG

I've been busy in the last week or so and haven't taken the time to blog and haven't had my camera handy for any new pictures either.   Chief has had little or no applications but we met with a really nice couple the other day and they are interested in meeting up again to learn more about him.  The timing of Chief's adoption is a very difficult thing.  Adopt him too soon and put him at risk of sliding back into old behaviors, but also don't want to hold him back from his future home if they can continue the work with him.  Thankfully it's a decision both me and Yvette can discuss together...it's not on my shoulders alone. 

One of the hotspots for Chief was the walkway from the parking lot at daycare to the building. It's a very narrow pathway and we run into people and dogs in space with no place to duck out and even though Chief can go through the door and be completely fine with all the dogs inside, the excitement of daycare itself (he gets excited to go in and to come home) and the meeting on leash can cause Chief to react. If left to his own devices he would lunge and bark and possibly bite.  But after this long of fostering him I know most of his weaknesses and can plan ahead and prevent reaction.  So when I walk the pathway with him I hold his collar rather than his leash.  This means I'm not switching from holding the leash to his collar...which could alert him to my anticipation of a problem, just by making that change.  So we go in and out assuming we will run into someone.  A week ago I put a muzzle on him for the brief walk to and from daycare, but this week I haven't bothered with it as he is getting used to just briskly walking past everyone and he sometimes puts out a tiny bit of a worried whine but for the most part is becoming less and less reactive to it.  Knowing that I have a plan in place gives me the confidence to handle him with good energy and working through these challenges flows into his behavior elsewhere.   Chief is more relaxed now in so many more situations that used to be a problem.  He has dealt with a few visitors at my place including my niece and my sister.  My niece is in Grade 9 and she came to stay overnight as she was going to work with me for the 'take your Grade 9 to work' day.  She loved Chief...he cuddled up with her on the couch and he followed her around...if she went upstairs so did he and then back down again.  He seemed quite excited about having an extra person in the home.  My niece told me that I should keep him.  

He is a very rewarding foster so far.   Now that I know most of what triggers a reaction from him we've had little to no reaction to anything in over a week now, which feels like we're in the home stretch.  He is ready for his home in so many ways.  Does he need just a bit longer with me to build a stronger base for someone else to work with him?  Chief will help me decide that in the next while as I put him through some more carefully planned challenges.

I promise to take my camera with me in the next couple of days and post something new soon. 

p.s. Is anyone else finding that the squirrel population has multiplied recently?  Chief is on high alert for any squirrel intruders in my little yard, as the traffic has been quite high and he knows those tracks are pretty fresh.

Monday, November 5, 2012

PROGRESS AND AN OVERNIGHT GUEST

I don’t know why there are no applications for Chief.  Everyone that meets him really likes him.  He is a great looking dog for starters and once he gets past the uncertainty of a new introduction with someone he is really a big suck who loves attention.   He is making great progress in all areas and is eager to please with the right motivation.   He is walking really well on leash, rides well in the truck, hardly ever barks at anything (not even when someone knocked on my door yesterday).  He plays well with other dogs and has good recall. 

CHIEF - ready for his close-up
On Thursday night we had a visitor.  Mattisue (now shortened to Mattie) came for an overnighter while her family went out of town.  When she came to me I was at dinner in Richmond with some friends and I put her in the front of the truck and Chief was in the back.  When we got home I took Mattie in the house first and then brought Chief in second.  They wagged tails, did the appropriate sniffing and then really could have cared less about each other while we set about putting food down for them.  After dinner we went out for a walk. It was a pretty rainy night, so out came the raincoats.  They both looked so cute I had to catch a photo.   They walked really well on leash together too.  I love walking two well behaved dogs!



Back at home to watch a bit of TV before bedtime and they both wanted on the couch.  Chief was a bit growly as he didn’t seem to love sharing his side of the couch so he was awarded with getting pushed off.  Back up on the couch a while later he was much better and later in the evening even tried to initiate play with Mattie.  She was settled in for the night and didn’t want much part of that though, so Chief left her alone. 

'Gee your hair smells terrific'

Mattie is such a cutie and with her
hair grown fuller she looks more like a pup
 
Mattie went home on Friday night and boy was she happy to see her family again.  After that me and Chief headed out to New West for a ‘growly class’ put on by Shannon (http://www.yogadog.ca/).  She had invited us knowing it might be a good fit for Chief to work through introductions and she was right.  It was at the Bosley’s store in New West and each dog was down a different aisle while the dogs, one by one, went past each aisle and they had to learn to relax and reduce their stress.  It was the perfect controlled environment for me to work with Chief as the dog park is just full of too many excited dogs, having fun and not always in control. 

On Saturday we went for our first off leash walk with a friend and her dog that Chief already knows very well.  We went to Annacis Island to a stretch of path where you’d never find another soul or dog, especially on a rainy weekend.   Chief had a great time ripping off some built-up energy and at the end of the walk the two dogs chased the ball.  The ride home consisted of Chief sitting up at the back window pretending to look out, but his eyes were closed and his head was bobbing as he fought to stay awake.  I love a tired, happy dog!
 
'can I come in yet?'
Today, I was thinking that I can’t believe that after so many times of asking Chief to not come through the door at the same time and push me aside, that he still tries to do it, and I think ‘why can’t you stop yourself from that impulse?’...and on the same day I was thinking that I wish there were certain foods I could keep in the house and ration them out for myself.  If I get a container of popcorn kernels I can pretty much guarantee that I will eat a bowl of popcorn every night until the container is gone.  After each night I think “okay, that’s it, I will save the popcorn until weekends” but by the next evening I’m standing at the stove making some.  So I suppose I really do understand the difficulty of controlling yourself from doing something you really want to do, no matter the consquences.  Me and Chief are both works in progress, and I will be extra patient with him.
 
p.s. I'm typing this after Chief patiently waited at the door for me to take his picture (mind you I wasn't trying to go through the door at the same time) and I am popcorn free tonight. (for now)

Sunday, October 28, 2012

SQUIRREL SIGHTING

I have a very small fenced yard area and upon returning home Chief has been excitedly running the perimeter with nose to the ground.  He can smell a fresh squirrel track but up until today hadn't seen the critter yet.  Timing is everything and we've gone outside for his business and no sooner do we get back inside then the squirrel runs along the fence and up the tree.  This has happened quite a few times where it's waiting until we're gone to show itself.  Chief was excited enough without having seen it and he even watches from inside, checking out the tree branches.  Well, today he finally got outside in time to see the squirrel on the fence.  No barking or anything crazy but he's now on the watch even more.  His pee breaks take alot longer now and it took until noon before he'd stop watching the tree so he could pee (and he'd held it from bedtime, the night before).

He's not a huge fan of the wet grass and he uses the garden wall as his catwalk to get around to find his 'perfect spot' and also to go on squirrel patrol.   Today was a nice day out so he just used his walkway for a better vantage point of the tree.





I swear dogs have a better sit-stay for a squirrel
than they do for just about any other reason
On Saturday it was raining pretty hard so we went to No 3 Rd in Richmond and walked quite a ways along the main route trying to stay under the shelter of the skytrain line.  We weren't very successful at staying dry but we both had our raincoats on.  We had a good walk and Chief is doing really well on leash.  He is unconcerned with people and traffic around him.  Even the loud sound of the skytrain overhead didn't startle him. 


I've had Chief with me for four weeks now and he's starting to pick up more toys and play.  He'll entertain himself with a toy - throwing it in the air and then pouncing on it.  It's pretty cute!

Thursday, October 25, 2012

A QUICK UPDATE

Waiting at the door to go for a walk.

If you want a dog to repeat a behavior ....whatever you do, don’t brag about it.   I was just about to write a blog the other night about how good Chief is about leaving dishes with food on the coffee table alone.  He will go within a few inches of something on the table and I haven’t said a word and he air-sniffs but does not grab or lick at anything on the table.  All without a word from me.  I was really impressed with this.  But, when I went to my cousins for dinner last night they put a couple of dishes of snacks on the table – some veggies and dip and a bowl of chips.  He of course sniffed the veggies from a safe distance and then investigated the chips and no sooner had I just told everyone how good he’s been about leaving things alone on the table he made a move on the chips (apparently he prefers junk food to healthy veggies).  He was stopped in time and very easily, but darn it if dogs don’t want to make a liar out of you.  I also had pointed out that whenever I hold a treat in my hand after a couple of seconds he looks down to the ground like it’s dropped and he will watch the ground for a bit.  He looks quite funny the way he does it and seriously, he does this every time I hold a treat, but once I held a treat and told everyone that this is what he does, he kept his eyes on the prize and not one look down.  I think dogs must know when we want them to do something just a little too badly. 

Apparently you can't get the camera out either.  I'm holding a treat in my hand and if nobody was around and if the camera wasn't aimed at him he would be looking at the ground for most of the clip. 


Not sure if you noticed that I mentioned we went to my cousins for dinner with a dog that was having a hard time relaxing with new people and new dogs in smaller spaces.  Well, there were six of us there and my cousin's dog Walker.  Chief did great!  I went in there and at first asked everyone to ignore him unless he went to them for attention which everyone did.  He was growly at first with Walker but after a quick introduction he was good with each person and with Walker.  He went from person to person by his choice and got lots of attention and he played tug o war with Walker.  We let the dogs out into the back yard and Chief and Walker played really well together.  I haven't seen Chief off leash in a larger yard like that and it was amazing to see how much ground he could cover so quickly.  He is fast and agile.  Once back in the house Chief spent some time on the floor with my cousin playing with a stuffie.  That's the thing about Chief...so far I feel that he has always let me know when he's unsure about something so I don't have to wait and wonder if how he might react....he gives you a bunch of clues first and can be redirected.  And, once he gets past the initial introduction if he relaxes, he stays that way.  Basically once his mind is made up that you're okay...then you are okay.  He is a work in progress but we are making some really great strides.  He seems to do really well when I challenge him in a situation that is new to him but predictable to me. 

Sunday, October 14, 2012

CHIEF UPDATE


Chief is doing really well.  Back in 2011 when he was having problems in his adoptive home he was getting more and more reactive to people as well as dogs, when he was on leash.  He was also sensitive about being petted on his hind end.  He is now quite comfortable in meeting all people and passing people on our walk. He shows no aggression or reaction.  He is great with the dogs at daycare and was also good with all the dogs up North but on leash he worries when another dog approaches.  If pushed too far, to get too close to new dogs while on leash he reacts with growling.   We have a game plan for that though and his reaction is minimizing.  I walk him in places where I know dogs will be on leash and where there's lots of room so he doesn't feel too confined in having to pass a dog that he might be uncomfortable with.  I feel in time he will learn to get past these worries and be a candidate for off leash fun with other dogs that he doesn't know yet.  As far as his sensitivity to being touched on his tail, back legs, etc he is very accepting and enjoys a good scratch on the back as much as the front.   So all in all, Chief is getting back to the dog he wants to be.  

Last week I got to walk on some new turf.  I went out to Mission and Chief and I went for a walk down by the river.  What a great place for a walk...wide open space alongside the river and all of the dogs we passed by were either on leash or if they were off leash just kept to their own walk.  This was really helpful in having Chief walk with other dogs without them getting too close before he's ready.   We actually were able to pass other dogs on leash within a few feet and he ignored them.
Chief in Mission

By the river and happy for a moment of shade.  What hot
day for October.
 
Memorial Park in Mission
 
Chief chillin in the park while I read a book.  This is his
version of giving me space....he tried to sit on my lap before he
settled on this spot with his head on my leg.
Chief rides really well in the vehicle. He either lays down or sits quietly and watches out the window.  He barked once at a dog outside the vehicle and also once at a motorcycle that came too close to the back bumper while in traffic, but he is easy settled and is learning to trust that he's safe in the truck and doesn't need to protect us from the outside dogs and guys with helmets. 

When I went to curling the other night Chief was completely fine in the back of the truck, waiting until I was done.  Not a peep out of him. He just lays down and waits.  I set him up with lots of warm comfy bedding and put his jacket on him so he'd be extra cozy.   Afterwards I went and got him out of the truck and took him into the curling club briefly to meet a few people.  He goes up to people easily and will sometimes lean in for a good pat. 

Yesterday afternoon I went to MacDonald Beach with Chief.  There were only a few cars in the parking lot and those people were down at the main beach. So, me and Chief walked on the upper beach area and down the back path.  He was on the long leash and he doesn't seem like he would go very far away even if he was off leash.  He comes back when called and walks pretty nicely on short or long leash.

MacDonald Beach...can you tell Chief is not fond
of the sit-stay for his picture


At home, Chief is quiet indoors.  On the first few days of him being here, he started to bark at noises of my neighbours coming home but he was easily corrected and is not so sensitive to noises outside now.  Other than that one time he actually hasn't barked at all indoors.  Chief thinks he is a lap dog and if allowed on the couch he will want to lay at least 10% of himself on top of you.  He'll flop down right on top of you completely if you allow him to but will settle for a chin and a leg resting across your leg.  He loves to be close and is actually a pretty comfortable cuddler.  With his desire to be close, this also means he doesn't have the best sense of giving you space.  He tries to stay equal to you in going out the door and walking around things so I'm teaching him to wait until I've gone through a door first or past something without him squeezing himself past me at the same time.   The stairs are now a game and he stays even or one stair back whether we're going up or down.  If he goes too far ahead I stop and he jumps back into place.  At the end of the stairs he waits for lots of praise and that's enough to motivate him. 


A couple of stairs ahead.  I'm waiting for
him to come back down a few more.


Wednesday, October 3, 2012

CHIEF'S STORY



Chief was rescued by Turtle Gardens in March 2011. He was described as having a loveable goofy temperament and he fit in well with the other dogs. He was adopted to a family with 2 sons and another TG dog, in the Lower Mainland and after 6 months or so some problems started to arise with Chief that they worked so hard to fix but they couldn't get a handle on it. They contacted Turtle Gardens and after much discussion, a very hard decision was made by the family that the best thing would be for Chief to go back to Turtle Gardens. He went back in December 2011 and has been waiting patiently for a new adoptive home since then.

Chief with his buddy Rico from his previous home.
Chief was returned because he had started growling at people even from great distances away, he had bitten someones arm in front of the family home when he had gotten loose, and the family began to lose confidence in Chief and became fearful of his reaction to people coming into their home and meeting people on the street. They had worked with more than one trainer and had even gone to have him evaluated for aggression. None of these things brought about the change that was needed.  Once you start to see the dog in front of you as an aggressive case it seems to be an image that the dog will fulfill.

I first met Chief at the dog run in April 2011 and I remember him being shy/nervous with ears held back on his head and such a sweet loveable face. When the family started having troubles I went and met with them and even took Chief on a few outtings to see how he could be with some more socializing.  I carried in my head the image of him from the dog run when I first met him, not the image of the dog who was starting to get into trouble and when I took him around to different places I could see he was still a great dog but he just needed to go in a different direction.   Here is what I wrote about him for his Petfinder bio back in 2011: Chief was adopted by a lovely family with another dog. Unfortunately it seems they missed some important signals that Chief was putting out. He was being a teenager and testing boundaries and also was dealing with being insecure. They were not providing him with the boundaries he needed. He was getting good exercise and basic obedience training but he needs more confidence building for his insecure side and firm boundaries and mental challenges for his teenager, cocky side. His 4 legged brother is very happy go-lucky however he alerts to dogs and people, etc with excitement and Chief picked up on this and becomes reactive to other dogs on leash. It appears he felt that nobody was in control of the situation and started to become too focused on people and dogs and would lunge on leash to keep them away. I have spent a few days with him introducing him to new dogs and to new people and he accepts direction quite easily. He greeted everyone I asked him to. He was hesitant but still went forward to accept being petted. When introduced to a few new dogs off leash he does not get aggresive but growls a bit because he is uncertain about dogs sniffing him in return. I believe if given the right home with someone who is dog savvy and a confident leader he will be able to appreciate meeting any new situation with confidence and will become a well rounded boy again. He really is a very loveable dog. He lives with two kids and they love him to bits and when I've spent time with him he is quite submissive and affectionate. He will make a great companion for the right person. He could live in a home with another dog again but would have to have a calm, very well balanced role model.

Chief did very well when he was back at Turtle Gardens.  He got along with the other dogs and started to become more relaxed about people approaching the fence.  I have had him on my list of dogs to foster for quite a while now, but there have always been other dogs that seemed to need fostering more.  Chief was no trouble up North....so he waited. 

When I saw Chief again at the dog run this Saturday I was very happy to see him again. I'd like to say he was excited to see me but he had become so attached to Dave while at Turtle Gardens that he spent his first bit of time at the barn at the end of his leash wanting to go be with Dave. Chief watched very carefully as the van pulled away and once it was out of sight he seemed to remember me.


Here's a picture that Piper took of Chief, at
the barn, right after the van left.
Chief has come back to town as a much more relaxed dog. He was comfortable with everyone at the barn and although he growled a bit at a couple of the dogs he has still come a long way to being more dog social.  He is such an amazingly affectionate dog.  I still see an insecure side of him but that's nothing that some confidence building can't cure.  I am spending my first week with him just relaxing, walking and working on trust.  He has gone to daycare and the first morning was apparently a bit rough.  He had hackles up but by the afternoon he was playing and has been doing better every day.  


When we're walking he doesn't seem to be afraid of very much.  The only two things so far that he's shown a worry about were the Halloween scarecrows in front of Save-On-Foods and the ceiling fans at home.  He barked his head off at the scarecrows so we moved along.  In the first couple of days he seems pretty relaxed but then all of a sudden would notice the ceiling fan and he'd stare at it like he was waiting for it to jump down at him.  I got up on the bed and moved it around and showed him there was no problem and he seems to be fine with it now.  More work with the scarecrows later...we have until the end of the month for him to make friends with them.

On the first night at my place he got up every hour during the night.  He'd get off of his bed, come over to me and stare and wag his tail.  I think he was probably getting up every time I tossed or turned and he must have thought that was the right time to get some attention or he was thinking it might be the signal of time to get up.  The second night was much better, he only woke me up at 3:00 and when I told him to go back to bed he went and laid down again but proceeded to wag his tail which of course was beating up against the wall....tap tap tap tap...'I'm happy you're awake'.   For the last couple of nights he has been lights out all night and no waking me up.  For which I'm very grateful - 'thanks Chief'.  

He is very mellow in the house and just lays down nearby.  As I type this blog he alternates between laying on the floor by my feet or on the couch.


Chief is a very loving dog.  He travels well in the car, is quiet and rarely barks, he thinks he is a lap dog and he actually finds a way to prove to me that he can be on the couch with me as a lap dog and we can both be comfortable still.  He is going to be an awesome and loyal companion for some lucky person.  I look forward to writing more about him in the next while and showing everyone how great he is and how far in the past his history is.  


Today...after work and dog daycare.  Chief is dying for
me to let him in the house, but nope you have to have
your picture taken first...so I'm getting the 'look'.
You got the picture can we go in now?

Sunday, September 30, 2012

THE FOSTER I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR IS HERE

Chief's story is a bit lengthy and I'm kinda short on time tonight.  So I just wanted to be sure to post that he came with the Turtle Gardens van yesterday and he's doing great!  I will write a detailed blog in the next couple of days I promise.  Here are a few pictures that Piper took at the dog run - first of Chief and then some of the other dogs that came to foster:  (thank you Piper for the amazing shots)



CHIEF


CARLIN


DELILAH


EMMETT


GUNNER


LIA

LIAM


LILY

LUCEE

MOJO

NINA


OREO

RUMI