The Changing Seasons – June 2023

For my June Changing Season post, I will spare you the tales of riding, hiking & running and instead will tell you a tale, or should I say tails, of two dogs.

I brought home two foster dogs this month.

Tucker was the first. Yes, he had the same name as my horse. I didn’t name him, but thought it was appropriate he come for a visit. He was a dog that was put on the urgent list and marked for euthanasia because he’d been there awhile and we didn’t know anything about him and he had zero interest from potential adopters during his stay at the shelter. I brought him here as a temp foster and he came for 5 days. He was a fun and playful dog full of energy, potty trained and doing well on crate training. He was dog friendly and loved affection. He had some challenges though, no one had ever taught him any life skills and he needed training and better socialization to get along in the human world. I got some notes and pictures in hopes that the shelter could market him and find him a home, but sadly, it didn’t work. 10 days after bringing him back to the shelter they had to put him down. There just wasn’t space to keep him any longer to wait for his perfect match. It was a sad day but I take great comfort in the fact that for 5 days near the end of his life he got to play with other dogs, run in a backyard, nap in the sun and know love and affection from humans.

The second tale is unfolding in a happier way. Tennie, came to the shelter with teats full of milk but no puppies to be found. She was sad and scared and timid in her kennel. She wasn’t showing well when adopters would walk through because she cowered in the back. When she looked up at me with her pitiful eyes, I made her a deal. She could come home with me and we would foster her as long as she remained a polite house guest. If she was good in our home and respectful to our resident dogs, I would work with her to find her forever family. She did amazing with us. Dog friendly, very trainable and a nice mix of playful and calm. She was here for a week and a half and is currently out on trial with a lovely couple. They have 5 days to decide if they want to keep her and they are currently on day 3. I received a very promising update this morning. I’m very hopeful this will work out for Tennie. If for some reason, it doesn’t, we will let her come back and continue the search. As long as she upholds her end of the bargain, we will uphold ours.

Thank you Ju-Lyn & Brian for hosting The Changing Seasons.