Moon's First 24 Hours in Foster Care

The last 5 months have been tough on Moon. Not only did she end up in a Central Ca high kill shelter 5 months ago, but she was also pregnant. She had two puppies, who also are in foster care with New Rattitude PNW, but she and her puppies faced euthanization. They were all 3 rescued from that ill fate and taken into a foster home where Moon could raise her puppies. Somewhere along the way she got a broken leg so she had to spend 7 weeks with a splint on. She finally got the splint off and we volunteered to foster her for New Rattitude. As luck would have it 2 other foster parents, one in Yakima, WA and our foster parent in Amity, OR volunteered to each take one of Moon's beautiful white puppies to foster. Moon and her puppies had a two day transport to get to their new foster homes and although the puppies, now 5 months old, did just fine, the transport and transition was much harder on Moon.

We took Moon for her first walk with the pack today. We knew we would be going slow and also we wouldn't be going as far as we normally do. We let Moon set the pace and although Sunbeam could have gone 100 times farther, Moon was the navigator and we all respected her comfort zone.

Moon has most likely not had a harness and leash on before or at least she had not had a good experience with it. The most important thing was for me not to pull her or let the leash tug or put pressure on her at all. Moon is super sensitive emotionally and physically and we wanted her to have a good experience so she can go for many more walks on the trails and enjoy being with our pack.

In no time flat she was walking and her tail even came out from between her legs. She forgot being frightened and she started sniffing and even prancing. She liked walking beside me or behind me. Once in a while she would freeze. I would walk toward her and let her lead me and once I let her know she was the pilot, she would unfreeze and go back to enjoying herself. It warmed our hearts and I can honestly say she has been a different dog since our walk today. The pictures will show you what I mean.

Here is where Moon felt most comfortable the first day she was with us. She liked having her crate inside the bigger crate so she could either sit out and watch us in the house or she could go inside her smaller crate when she felt she really needed a break.

Here is Moon on her first hike. She had a lot to get used to, the car ride over and then the harness and leash.

As you can see she was a bit unsure but she did really well for the first time. We just went very slow and she got to let us know if she wanted to go forward or not. We only went about 3/4 of a mile and it took about 45 minutes but it didn't matter! We just wanted her to get out and smell the air and be curious if she wanted.

 In these videos Moon goes between feeling confident and curious to feeling nervous and apprehensive, you can tell by her tail position. This might have been her first time on a walk we aren't sure so we think she did really super!

 These next pictures are so telling. On the car ride over to our walk with Moon and the pack she was trembling and panting and very nervous. Although we normally crate our dogs when in the car we allowed her to be in my lap on the way over because we knew we would not be able to get her out of the crate when we got there. She would have been too scared and we were not going to be able to reach in and get her, and also I don't believe in pulling a dog out of a crate if they are afraid, this sets up a trust issue with the dog and person, so she rode in my lap on our way over.

After our walk we drove to a boat launch to look at the river and Dave asked me to put Moon in his lap. She had not been too sure about him so far but after the walk she had stopped her trembling in the car and seemed to be more ina curious mode. I can see the change in her whole demeanor.

I just love how curious she was.

Looking much more confident.

Now there is a smart smart girl, you can see it in her eyes. All this from a simple walk?

 Once we got home Moon was remarkedly more comfortable in the house, she was still cautious and we have a ways to go but in 24 hours we both were amazed by this sweet girl's progress. She had gone from walking around the house in the morning with her tail tucked and under she could barely even go potty when she needed to this tail position just hours after going for a walk.

And then the most amazing thing happened, Moon and Sunbeam started to play! I was so surprised and elated! (pardon the loud back ground noise in the second clip, my husband was watching a youtube thing with a loud engine racing)

After Moon and Sunbeam played together for quite a while, Moon got into a chair instead of her crate in a crate. I would say our first 24 hours with Moon has taught us how brave and resilient this special girl is. We are so happy to have her in our home and to have the privilege of helping her on her way to her forever home.

I am so tired after my first day in my foster home......