This page holds the stories of all the dogs we fostered in our home until they were adopted. If you fall in love with one who hasn't been adopted yet and you're in the Austin, Texas area, let me know! We foster all dogs through the Austin-based group Blue Dog Rescue.
If you can't adopt or foster, there are tons of other things you can do to help homeless pups and kitties find their forever homes. But the most important thing you can do is help put an end to the senseless killing of animals in overcrowded shelters -- spay and neuter your pets. If you're in the Austin area, Animal Trustees of Austin offers low-cost spaying and neutering services at their clinic on Cameron Road. If you're not in the Austin area, contact any area rescue group and ask about low-cost spaying and neutering services.
Tigger
Sprout
Riley
Mae
Phoebe
Nolan
Chimi
Naya
Yarrow
Update: Tigger was adopted on November 4, 2005, by Amalia, Brent, and their dog Lola, and they're all having a blast together!
"The most wonderful thing about Tiggers,
Is Tiggers are wonderful things.
Their tops are made out of rubber,
Their bottoms are made out of springs.
They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy,
Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun! Fun!
But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is, I'm the only one.
Oh, I-I-I'm the only one!"
Tigger is a 5-month-old Lab/Plott hound mix who also happens to be a ball of bouncy, pouncy fun! He weighs 35 pounds and will probably be 50-60 pounds when full grown. He's just about house-trained, and we're working on crate-training him.
Unfortunately, this fun little guy hasn't had the best start to life. A Good Samaritan found him malnourished and sick, wearing a collar and an electrical cord that had probably been used to tie him out. She got him healthy again and took him to Town Lake Animal Center. But with so many dogs coming in every day, he was going to be euthanized if he wasn't adopted soon. We picked him up on November 19, 2004, and now Tigger is safe and sound in our foster home.
But Tigger hasn't let this rough start get him down! He loves to play with the other dogs in his foster home. When the bigger dogs knock him down, he just bounces right back and keeps playing (because he is a Tigger, after all).
Update: Sprout was adopted on January 8, 2005, by the Stetson family, where he has 5 great kids to play with!
"Here comes Sprouty-Pants
Here comes Sprouty-Pants
Right down Homeless Pup Lane
He's got a bag that's filled with kisses for boys and girls again
Collar tags ringin'
Love he's bringin'
Oh what an adorable sight
So jump in bed and he will follow
For Sprouty is cuddlin' tonight"
Sprout is a 1-year-old, 55-pound American Bulldog mix. If you put your face anywhere near his, he'll shower you with sweet kisses and even a tiny love nibble here and there. And if you're lucky, he'll put one paw on each of your shoulders and give you a full-body hug.
Sprout is crate-trained and house-trained, and he just graduated with top honors from a 6-week training course at the Lee Mannix Center for Canine Behavior. He's got a solid recall (come), sit, and down, and he knows how to shake...both paws! He needs more work on leash-walking, but he's making very good progress. Sprout needs to be in a home where his family can continue to work on his training and reinforce all the great things he's learned.
Update: Riley was adopted on February 28, 2004, by Desiree and Gary and their 3 kids, and she's very happy in her new home!
What do you get when you mix the rotund belly of a potbellied pig, the vertical leap of a baby kangaroo, and the courage of a lion? A bundle of fun named Riley, that's what you get! Riley is a 4-month-old lab/spepherd mix. She jumps like a baby kangaroo when she gets excited, and she's fearless about most things including vacuum cleaners and hair dryers but not including shots at the vet's office. Even then, she only lets out the tiniest little whimper. Riley loves to play, especially with the other dogs in her foster home. She also tries to play with the cat in her foster home, but she hasn't learned yet that cats don't play like dogs. She loves any kind of chew toy, so she'll need a steady supply of toys to keep her happy. But after a satisfying rollick with her playmates and toys, she loves to curl up on your lap and rest until the next play session.
Riley is from a litter of 10 puppies. She was born on October 11, 2003, and came into our home on January 2, 2004. Riley is currently 20 pounds and will probably be 30-40 pounds when full-grown. She's house-trained, crate-trained, and learning how to sit. She's current on her shots and will be spayed in the next couple of weeks. She's doing everything she can to get ready for her new home!
Update: We decided to adopt sweet little Mae into our family on December 19, 2003. She came into our home the night of November 26, 2003, and we just couldn't bear to let her go!
Didn't your grandma ever tell you that the ugliest puppies are always the very smartest, friendliest, most wonderful puppies in the world? Mae's the living proof! She was found huddled with her siblings in a box on the side of the highway with one of those "Free Puppies" signs that make your stomach turn. After putting on some weight, getting wormed, and treated for fleas, Mae is strutting her true happy puppy stuff! She's a solid, healthy little girl, about 15 lbs and ten weeks old. She's ever-so-generous (okay, a little fixated) with the giving of puppy kisses and her tongue is a rather unique shade of lavender blue. She'll even plant a tiny paw on your face so you'll hold still for the face washing. Outgoing, confident, and friendly, Mae gets along well with the other (much bigger) dogs in her foster home and doesn't throw in the towel even when they cover her with slobber, dunk her in the water bowl, roll her in the mud, and bounce her around like a tennis ball. The sun is always shining for Mae, there are always exciting things to check out, and life is always good; she has just that kind of attitude! Mae is spayed and up-to-date on vaccinations and flea preventative.
Update: Phoebe was adopted on December 6, 2003, by Lynn and her dog Buddy. On the first night, Phoebe climbed right into bed with the family!
Phoebe came into our home the night of November 26, 2003. She's a 25-pound, 5-month-old lab mix. She should be approximately 50 pounds when she is full grown. She won over her first foster mom at the shelter because she has such a sweet, calm (for a puppy!) demeanor. She's gotten along well with the other dogs in her foster home, is picking up housetraining quickly, and has been good with the cats she had met. (She still needs to get a little more used to cats -- when she sees our cat, her whole body wags in half!) If you look closely, you can see the cutest little freckles on her muzzle. Phoebe is current on vaccinations and heartworm/flea preventative.
Update: Nolan was adopted on November 23, 2003, by Kathy, Tim, their kids, and their dog Oreo. Nolan and Oreo should certainly keep each other entertained!
Nolan came into our home the night of October 12, 2003. He wrote this letter to Santa, which we thought you might like to read.
Dear Santa,
My name is Nolan. I am an 11-month-old lab mix. Right now I weigh 45 pounds, and I'll probably be 50-55 pounds when I'm all grown up. I have a black button nose and peaches and cream fur. Some people say I'm the color of a Dreamsicle and just as sweet.
I'm writing you this letter because there's something I want very much for Christmas. I want a family who will love me and teach me how to be the best dog I can be.
I've been a very good dog, and I think I could make a family very happy. I love to play, especially with other dogs. After I play, I love to snooze. I'm house-trained and crate-trained, and I need just a little more help to learn the basics like sit and down. And I think you'll like it when you pet me and you hear my signature happy grunts. I'm very curious about cats, but I'm learning to be gentle with the cat in my foster home.
Santa, could you find me a home where they would love a dog like me? I do require lots of chew toys to keep my mouth busy. Do you think that will be a problem?
I'll be waiting by the fireplace in case you find a family for me. And if you can find one before Christmas Eve, that'd be fine with me!
Thank you, Santa. Love,
Nolan
Update: Chimi was adopted on September 16, 2003, by Matt and his dogs Fritz and Mabel. On their first night together, Mabel and Chimi played for 3 hours straight, then had a good night's sleep with Matt and Fritz.
There's an awful lot of personality packed into these 25 lbs! Chimi is one of those red dogs of undetermined origin. Maybe a Viszla mix? Some Whippet? He was brought in by Animal Control to a rural Texas shelter, hanging outside a roadside taco stand, emaciated and unable to keep down food or water. He's bounced his way to good health, and he came into our home on the night of September 6, 2003. Ever since, he's been showing us what a happy, sweet little dog he is! Chimi (or Chimi Changa, if you please) is an exuberant little guy and will definitely need a fenced yard to run and play in. He gets along very well with other dogs, small or large. He is great with cats (just a little cautious with them). He's been good with the children he has met. He has been swimming at the lake and he's starting to like the water.
Chimi doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body and will even let his friends eat out of his food bowl with him! He is still learning to trust strangers, but he warms up pretty quickly. He smiles at you when you walk in the door and gets very attached very fast. He is very loving with people and loves to sit in your lap. He doesn't chew on furniture or shoes, but he will pull the stuffing out of an already opened pillow! He is still getting used to his crate (because he would rather be out there with you!)
Painting by Alicia VanNoy
Update: Naya was adopted on August 22, 2003, by a woman named Lesley, who is so happy to have such a sweet companion!
1 cup couch potato
1 cup sugar
1 bag of Hershey's Hugs
a dash of pepper
Mix above ingredients for a wonderful lifetime companion named Naya. Naya is a healthy 7-month-old German Shepherd mix, and she's been in our home since the night of July 18, 2003. She was found wondering the streets of Austin, but no one was looking for her.
An ideal day for Naya consists of 5 minutes playtime and 5 hours sleepytime. She's as sweet as can be -- she just loves to lean her head into you for a hug. Give Naya a rainy day and a nap with you, and she'll be in heaven. She also loves any kind of doggie toy. (And unlike some dogs, she doesn't just shred them to pieces!)
Naya's currently learning basic commands like sit, down, and stay and how to walk on a leash. She's crate-trained and weighs just over 40 pounds. She will probably be around 60 pounds when full grown.
Update: Yarrow was adopted on July 4, 2003, by Tracy and Stuart and their dog Lucky. Lucky is so happy to have another playmate!
Watch out -- I'm a licker and a looker! My name's Yarrow. I'm the first foster that Kelly and Erik took into their home. I met them the night of May 23, 2003.
I'm a 1 1/2-year-old, 50-pound Husky mix, spayed, healthy, and house-trained, and I absolutely love to lick bare human toes! You'll probably notice right away that I've got one blue eye and one brown eye. Kelly and Erik say they're beautiful. (Don't tell anyone, but sometimes I can use my eyes to hypnotize people and other dogs into doing what I want!) Speaking of other dogs, I just love to play. So I probably wouldn't do well in a home where there are older dogs who are pretty much set in their ways. Also, I'm very curious about cats, but I'm getting more used to them every day so I wouldn't mind being in a home with cats. Oh, and did I mention that I've been to 3 months of obedience school? I graduated at the top of my class! I just need a little practice to reinforce all the great things I learned -- sit, lay down, heel, and come.
