Foster Fail

If you read my previous post you know that I have been trying my hand as a foster parent fostering a shelter cat. 

And as most people who know me ~ starting with the folks I know at the shelter, then my family, then my friends, then my husband predicted ~ I am indeed a Foster Fail. Let me explain...

In retrospect I think the seed was planted when I overheard someone reject her because she was 12 years old. That bothered me. I was pretty much a goner when she sat on my lap and would not leave. Then - stick a fork in me 'cause I'm done - when I felt myself tearing up. Gah.

So I filled out the paperwork, met the Animal Protection Officers at my home so they could do more paperwork and do a home inspection and my husband and I were off to the shelter to pick up our foster girl.

I have experienced this with my dogs and heard it from almost everyone who fosters/adopts a shelter pet ~ the transformation once they are out of the shelter and realize they are going to be in a real home with people who love them ~ well, the transformation is remarkable.

They relax.

They get familiar with their surroundings.

Listening to her puppy dog brother sniff on the other side of the door.

They start to play.

Nothing says happiness like a rat filled with catnip!

And they get to know their people.

I haven't worked in 3 days.  How can I with bundle of love laying on me??

And eventually they realize... I'm staying!!!

Yes. We were Foster Fails in less than 24 hours. Truth told I was the minute I decided to foster her. It took just a bit longer for my husband to admit it but the day after we brought her home, he said, "Do you think we should keep her?"  I said, "Well if everything works out with the dogs, I would like to. I just love her."  Him, "Oh let's adopt her. If we have problems with the dogs we'll just call Yukari." (our dog/now cat trainer and fabulous friend).  

Today I signed the adoption papers, paid a nominal fee and bingo bango ~ Kia is now officially part of The K Team.  (I'll be updating their Facebook page to reflect that soon!) 

Speaking of the K Team my friends have remarked they haven't heard much about them (Koko and Kizzie) since Kia came on the scene. The three of them have yet to have any visual contact ~ we're working up to that. Right now they are sniffing thru doors and sniffing blankets to become accustomed to each other. Now their food bowls are placed on blankets (Kia's food bowl on a blanket that smells of the pups and the pups' food bowls on a blanket that smells of Kia) on either side of the guest room door where she is staying. So far, so good! Soon we will be doing the feeding routine in the same spots but with a puppy gate between them. Won't that be interesting??!  *wink*

So it's official ~ Kia is ours. Why Kia?  (Pronounced Keye-a) Well first Puddy Tat doesn't suit her.  She's beautiful and deserves a beautiful name. Second ~ we kind of have this K theme going with Koko and Kizzie (Kismet). Third ~ I Googled the meaning of Kia to find that the definition is loosely based on Chinese origins meaning "Arise or come up out of." Perfect! She's out of the shelter forever!

As for Koko and Kizzie ~ see for yourself. I think they're doing ok.

Goofball.

Mohawk rockin'

So...... stay tuned as we introduce The K Team to their new sistah!

They Have Made Me a Better Person

I ran across an endearing article today on the Huff Post. "10 Things We Can Learn From Our Dogs That Will Make Us Happier and Healthier Human Beings"

Have a read.  It's worth 5 minutes of your time.

I laughed when I read the part about "I'll watch whatever you want to watch. It doesn't matter that I don't like Real Housewives of anywhere - I'm lying next to you and I'm happy."

Hand to God - Koko watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with me!

I found so much I could relate to in the article. I have had many beloved cats and dogs in the past but there is just something about these two. 

I think they came into my life at a time when I was searching for some meaning - and they gave me that. I had the time to truly devote myself to them. I have said it before and will continue to say it - these two have taught me so much. They have challenged me in ways I've never been challenged. They are goofy beyond belief and have made me laugh - deep belly laughs that leave me exhausted with joy. 

They have shown such sweet and unconditional love and affection. 

I only hope I can care for them as well as they deserve for the rest of their remarkable little lives.

It is because of them I learned about the abundance of senior dogs (and cats) in shelters who just want someone to love them and give them a safe home. And they are often overlooked in favor of puppies and kittens ~ despite how much they have to offer. (It has since become a passion of mine - finding homes for older dogs and cats.) 

It is because of them - and the loving care they both received in a shelter - that I myself became a shelter volunteer. 

It is because of them that I do all I can to promote dogs and cats, puppies and kittens on social media - hoping to find them the homes they deserve.

It is because of them that I am a better person. YY

Hear That? That's Me. Helicopter Mom.

Since Kizzie came into my life my husband has called me Helicopter Mom. 

I tend to worry about every little thing. Like she'll slip out of her collar (this has happened). Or she will slip out of her harness (this has happened).  

Or she will fall in the water.

(This has happened.)

Helicopter Mom was taken to a whole new level when highly energetic, always active, always on the go Koko came into my life. I turned into the Queen of Helicopter Moms - the ruler of Helicopter Mom-dom.

I worry that he will fall in the water. Oh wait. He just jumps in.

I worry that he will run away. He does love to run, that boy. 

(He's on leash here.)

But he has run off leash twice. And those incidences scarred me for life. 

I am scared to death that he will escape - it's the adventuresome terrier in him.

I have a hard time trusting anyone else with them because I'm super vigilant. My husband has just kind of turned the leashes over to me and thank goodness ~ after 6 trips in a year ~ I completely and utterly trust our beloved dog sitter. You have no idea what a huge step that is for me.

So when I expressed to Yukari the other day (who knows all about my Helicopter Mom problem) that I worry about the shelter animals when they're adopted out ~~ are they going to safe homes? Are they going to get the care and the love they deserve? She smiled and replied, "Not only are you a Helicopter Mom to Koko and Kizzie but you are a Helicopter Mom to shelter animals, too!"

I'm hopeless.

I have found some really fun ways to help shelter animals. A number of businesses will donate to shelters ~ usually food/meals or sometimes monetary donations.  Here are a few I've found and enjoy:

These awesome rings came from The Animal Rescue Site  

Every purchase funds food and care for rescued animals. Y

This ring is here

This one is really fun because the paw portion of the ring spins!  

It's not only bling, but entertainment as well!

Unfortunately I don't remember where I got this bracelet but 

I know that the site also supports shelters.

It says, "The Road of Life is Sweeter When Traveled With a Dog" 

I got this fun tee from I Heart Dogs

(But, of course I care about cats, too!)

Every purchase feeds shelter dogs.

I have bought sweatshirts for me and things for my dogs from

 In the Company of Dogs

Chateau Le Paws supports No Kill Shelters across the country ~ 

enjoy wine for a good cause!

My little business cmh design LLC donates a portion of every sale 

to The Aurora Animal Shelter,

Best Friends Sanctuary, The Dumb Friends League and

St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital 

(but that's another story for another day.)

And because I like to support local artists and I love his work

I commissioned Sean Brown to make these custom pieces that 

can either be worn as pins or with adapters as necklaces.

This is Kizzie

This is Koko

Of course I love cats, too ~ an eyeglass case I bought in 

Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.  It reminded me so much of

my beloved A-choo I had to buy it.

I won't even start on all my Hello Kitty things...

So yeah, I'm the Queen of Helicopter Moms. The rest of you can relax. I've got this.

Two Little Monkeys

Returning home from the shelter I am always so incredibly happy to see my two little monkeys. They greet me with wagging tails and their little puppy dog dances .

Seeing shelter animals and the longing yet hopeful look in their eyes would be more than I can bear if I didn't know that good things do happen to shelter animals. I mean my two little guys - both adopted at age 6 - once looked out from behind the shelter glass with that same look. And their life turned out alright. 

They like to wait for their Dad to come home and have their special spots.

Their Dad likes to cook and Koko (on the left) has always liked being his "sous chef." This morning Kizzie (on the right) took an interest so we called her "sous chef in training." Koko is hoping this means a promotion for him. They were getting a lesson in handling raw meat.

Koko is all boy. He loves cold weather and snow.

Koko is all boy. He smells worms and bugs and rabbit poo on walks. And he chews with his mouth open. (Which - to be honest - is pretty hilarious.)

Koko is all boy. He likes to bug his little sister. Endlessly. 

Koko is all boy. He makes messes and doesn't clean them up.

Kizzie is kind of a princess ~ all girl. She likes to choose the most comfortable spot in the house. And then claim it for her own. For all time.

Kizzie is all girl ~ a real fashionista!

Kizzie is all girl ~ she eats like a lady.

Kizzie is all girl ~ neat and tidy keeping her toys in order.

But in the end ~ they are both adorable, both beautiful, both loving, both funny and sweet beyond words. I could not be more grateful to The Universe putting them in my life...

All boy. He just can't help himself.

Y