The Slippery Slope of 2012

When I started volunteering for New Rattitude as Adoption Coordinator I had decided that I could also volunteer to "petsit" any dogs who needed a temporary place to stay until their permanent foster spot opened up. Sometimes a foster parent was on vacation when her foster dog was transported to WA or their previous foster dog might not have gone home yet and so I might have been needed to just hold on to their next foster dog for a few days until the spot opened up. I always made it clear that I was not going to be able to foster AND do the AC duties. My choices of what I was able to do have always been respected by our state coordinators and other NR volunteers. In 2011 there was a couple of times where it made sense for me to officially foster a couple of the dogs we were temping so I decided I better become an official foster parent just in case and so began the "fostering light" decision. LOL Well I had been told that fostering light could be a slippery slope but I held to the decision that I was not going to foster full time. Fast foward....one thing led to another and we proved the theory of the slippery slope and into full time fostering we slid. We could not be enjoying our selves more! It began with Gauge and we haven't come up for air yet. And in January of 2013 we will have not 1 not 2 but 3 foster pups, and I mean puppies! My husband and I look forward to 2013 full of fostering, and ACing, temping and pet sitting adopted NR dogs when their people go on vacation at times too! Yup the slippery slope is real and it is quite the fun ride!!!! We are so blessed to be able to help these dogs along their way and although each dog has a special place in our hearts and saying goodbye to them can fell a little weird at first, it is all worth it to know these deserving dogs have the life they should have had all along. Second and sometimes third chances do exsist and our lives are fuller for knowing and loving these dogs.

Luke was our first official foster boy. We fostered him before starting this blog.

Here is Luke with his sister Leia The cool think about this adoption was Luke and Leia are siblings and they were able to be adopted together, given a special circumstance by NR for an adopter to adopt 2 dogs at the same time. They have  fabulous home in Alaska where they both continue to sleep together and run on the beach and are dearly loved by their people. This is such a happy story.

Because each dog were in separate foster homes and before being in rescue had never been apart, they had really been missing each other, this was their reunion before they were put on the plane to make their way to their forever home in Alaska. It was such a great morning watching them reconnect.

Gauge the first time we met him, he now enjoys boating/fishing and going for walks in E WA with his human companion who adores him.

Mingus (right) with our dog Birdie, he now lives in Seattle and actually has a fan club and is a shop dog where he will never be neglected again. His mom knew what he needed and boy did she provide it for him, lots and lots of human and dog interaction, coupled with her love and devotion to him.  He is a happy boy.

Oskar was with us the longest time, 6 months, but we didn't mind at all having him as part of our family until his mom came along. He got to go on a plane to OR for Christmas and meet his human grandma who also adores him. He has a big extended family now with dogs and even a bunny. We could not be happier for Oskar and his mom, who is a special special woman who loves black dogs and she has made all of Oskar's dreams for a forever home come true!

Oskar and his big brown eyes.

Little Vespa the tri-pawed sweetie, enjoys life with her two wonderful moms and fur sis Elphie, in Renton, WA. Vespa shows everyone that tri-pawed dogs are not disabled and she has a special place in her mom's hearts and we could not be happier for her.

Vespa and Elphie on their mom's bed where I hear they like to play and play in the pillows!

Chevette, what a doll. This congenial little sprite is now enjoying her forever life with Jake aka Sammy who is a NR alumni and his parents in E WA. 

Mingus takes Oskar his BFF for a Walk

We found out Mingus was going to be with his mom for a long day and so she put out an APB to Mingus' fan club that he would be available for walks and visiting. Oskar asked us if we could go take Mingus for a walk as Mingus is Oskar's BFF and they hadn't seen each other in a while. So off we went, hoping it would not be raining too hard and to our delight it didn't rain. Oh yeah Skip went too!

Mingus is excited for us to get Oskar out of the car.

Huuuuurrrryyyyyy Uuuuuuupppppppp....

Mingus was our Greenwood tour guide and led the way.

Ahhhhh it's nice to be with an ol' sniffin buddy.

Gaze into my eyes......you are getting sleeeeeppppppyyyyy.

I just like you to know I am adorable...

Oskar wanted to go up every flight of stairs he came across. Curiosity IS his middle name.

Come on Mingus, let's see what is up this one!

Oskar has the prettiest brown eyes...

A cool motorcycle for any cycle fans out there.

We had never heard of an Ural before. Made in Russia!

Visiting Mingus, The Happy Tail Just keeps Getting Better!

We are beaming from ear to ear. As foster parents it is impossible not to get attached to our foster dogs, but the joy of seeing them in their forever homes replaces any tears or loss we feel when it is time to say goodbye. Mingus is one of those dogs who gets into your heart and stays there. He went to live in his forever home about 8 weeks ago and he has been busy settling in with his fabulous new mom. He is a dog who had been given up and moved around much too much for his young life but that is not his story anymore. Now he has a new story, and a fan club! Mingus gets to visit his mom's coffee shop frequently and when he does everyone in the neighborhood and beyond comes to visit him. He has such a fan base that his mom says he needs his own public online calendar just so his admirers will know when and where he's available for petting. When we arrived he was in full Mingus greeter mode, ready with love and affection to offer old friends. He is clearly in his element and his mom has been instrumental in helping him to be all that he can be AND to take off the weight he had gained in his previous home. He looks great and his confidence has flourished! It's only happy times for Mingus from now on. What a privilege it has been to foster parent him. We can't wait to visit him and his wonderful mom again!

Hey Mingus remember us?

I think he remembers...

Oh yeah that's the spot foster dad.

Of course we had to bring Oskar in to visit, they are old buddies!

Greeting sniffing..

Tail wagging.

Mingus keeps his eye on the door most of the time, he needs to know when it's time to greet and offer himself for petting.

Oskar wonders what they are looking for.

Mingus teaches Oskar the fine art of being a greeter.

Oskar catches on quickly!

Skip came to visit Mingus too.

He would rather sit with dad and leave the greeting job to Mingus :)

Mingus shows off his svelte and healthy new body. So handsome!

This is a very good friend of Mingus' who sometimes stops by to take him for a walk. He also has had a sleepover and play-date with him and his wife. They love Mingus so much they plan to adopt a rattie of their own. Good job Mingus as New Rattitude's ambassador!!!

Mingus also greets four legged visitors in a polite and mannerly way.

That's the spot.

Skip continues to be most comfortable watching from a distance.

Here Liza and Mingus sit for a treat. Good dogs!

Liza is taught a lesson. You never know when someone will drop by so it best to always keep your eye on the door and be ready.

Picture time!

Until next time Mingus, we love you.....

Mingus has landed.....

Here is Mingus with a new walking friend, Bella, from his new "hood"

Sweet sweet special boy Mingus has been living in his forever home now for a little over 3 weeks. His mom has been so wonderful in keeping me posted on his "paw"gress. The first couple of days were just a little bumpy, but because we were all aware of Mingus' history, of being given up quite a few times in his first short three years of his life, his new mom and I knew this was to be expected and he would just need time to understand that he is in his forever home and he can just relax and trust that he will never be given up again. As his foster mom I could not be happier with his adoptive mom and all that she is doing for him and with him to make him feel like the special boy he is in her heart. Mingus gets to spend a lot of his time with mom and that is what makes Mingus a happy boy, to be with his person.

 

Mingus' first sunset of his new forever life......

Because Mingus needs confidence building and his mom understands this, she has been taking him with her when she goes on her own adventures and what could be better than for Mingus to go surfing? Here he is showing off his new life jacket! Proud boy.....

I love this "Happy Dog" picture of Mingus with his mom at the beach!

And this picture brings tears to my eyes. Way to go Mingus, you have landed in your forever home and we couldn't be happier for you! Many thanks to his mom for adopting him from New Rattitude!

Mingus getting ready for the big day!

Our foster boy Mingus will be spending his last night with us tonight. He is going to his forever home tomorrow morning and we are very excited for him to have his person. This is what makes it all worth while! When the pups we cuddle and love and shelter can be adopted and live the rest of their life with their new family.

Unfortunately my camera battery died so these are the only pics I got of Mingus taking his bath. He was such a great sport and seemed totally comfortable getting a bath in the sink. This is him on the counter after getting toweled off. He is so cute! We love you Mingus....