Trying times with Fostering

So Pup GJ is still with us until about August 8 because her owner is still in the hospital.  We are actually going to take her back on the 5^th, just to give us time to get back to normal.

This has been trying for us – she is very much a puppy.  She is not housebroken and usually doesn’t use the pee pads when she is in the bathroom overnight.  She has separation anxiety – from me.  When she is out and I go upstairs (we have a baby gate at the stairs), she just barks.  We keep her in the downstairs bathroom at night and when we aren’t at home and she has tore up the carpet from underneath the door and scratched the paint off of the door.

The housebreaking is going ok during the day.  We just make sure that we take her out every 1 ½ to 2 hours.  We’ve had a couple of accidents.

She nips like crazy – like I said, very much a puppy.

On the good side -

Theo finally warmed up to her at the 2-week mark and started to play with her.  Before that, it was basically running away from her (because of the lunging/nipping).  Now they really play.  It’s nice to see Theo play – he sounds SO mean, but as long as his tail is wagging, we know it is ok. Plus there’s a different growl when he is mad.  He’s even gotten in the play stance.

When Pup GJ is calm, she is really nice.  She will cuddle with you.  I’ve missed that.

The Latest Foster

We have a new foster! We picked her up on Tuesday, June 26.

We had been waiting for a call, but hadn’t gotten any - until about 2 weeks ago.  We got a call about 2 kittens, but time I called back, they had already found a foster.  Then there was an e-mail sent out about a dog that needed a foster. Right after that, we got a call about 2 kittens again. So I left it ou to the shelter to decide which one that we should take.

The pup was chosen for us as she needs a place for about 30 days.  She was tested with other dogs and did fine - and she is - it took a few days for her and Theo to figure out each outher’s roles, but it is getting better every day.

She is owned by a homeless veteran who is in the hospital and somehow the shelter got her.  She isn’t quite housebroken, but is pretty good about using pee pads. At first Theo was afraid of her - not sure what to think.  Now, almost a week later, they are almost at the point of playing together.

Adventures in Fostering

Last night Dan and I started a new foster adventure!

It's a special case for the shelter and the pup (about 1 1/2 years old Chihuahua mix) will be with us for maybe a month. Here's what we've learned so far.

1. Kittens are easier to foster

2. We DEFINITELY do not want a yip-yip dog

3. Theo doesn't care for yip-yip dogs (he's a little stressed)

4. Theo is a gentle dog and will stand up for himself (or guard mama) when the other dog is acting up.

5. We definitely have been set in a schedule and this is a (good) disruption.

We know that eventually we’ll get back into a schedule.  It’s a little stressful, but luckily we know we’ll eventually get into a schedule with the visitor.

Wish us luck!

We almost got one of our former fosters!

I always wonder how our former fosters are doing.  And since I have friends at the shelter, we were contacted yesterday that Lil' Pete was returned to the shelter due to allergies.

I was so interested in seeing him again!  He was one kitten I was really thought about keeping.  So, I left the scrapbooking crop I was at for lunch and then after lunch we headed up to the shelter.  The crazy thing was, I was working on his scrapbook when I got the text that he was back at the shelter!

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do - just visit or actually adopt.  With just getting Theo, it was a hard decision to just pass on the opportunity, but we (or should I say, I) decided that it would be better to get Theo used to everything before adding to someone to our family.

Plus, if we adopted him, we might not be able to foster anymore (especially if the kitten(s) are sick.

We so enjoyed getting to see him again and so happy that we got to see him again.

Fostering Day 4 and 5 (so far)

The kittens are definitely settling in.  I, on the other hand, need to stop playing with them and get to work!  Yesterday, I did TRY to work with them out running around and that didn't work out as well as I hoped.

The black kitten is definitely feeling much better.  I don't think he sneezed at all yesterday.  The black & white one is still sneezing quite a bit (in fits), and does get a little congested when it is about time for another dose of medicine (2x per day).

The b&w one also has some butt issues.  He scoots his butt across the floor which I looked up and I think he was constipated.  Today, he seems to have a little issue of not having a little control.  This morning I keep finding poop on me and then on the breakfast nook chairs - yes, they are climbing all over the place.

Sunday night they decided to start jumping up on the breakfast nook chairs and then yesterday onto the table and onto the top of the crate, so my whole afternoon was chasing after them to get down.  The chairs are now (cleaned and) in the other room so no more climbing.

They also like to get in the window sills of our family room.  Luckily, no climbing the drapes (yet).  Esa's ashes, favorite toy, leash, and collar are also in our family room, so they like to climb all over those items.  I'm sure Esa is loving it.  I can picture her playing with them in our house, trying to get them to chase her. Zed could have cared less about cats.  They probably would have gotten on his nerves.

Both are definitely bonding with us.  Yesterday morning as soon as I let them out, they came right up to me and gave me cuddles.  Same thing at night when they are winding down.

Babe
1988 - 2007

Having them in the house is definitely what I needed.  So many friends are shocked that we are fostering kittens, but they are the ones that have only known me for the last couple of years.  I have always loved cats and dogs.

Babe, my last cat, was in my life for 18 years and was through a bunch with me.  She was my one constant during losing my parents, moving to a new state, several jobs, and many, many roommates.

Fun stuff - I downloaded 2 apps for cats on my iPad.  Black kitten definitely gets playing it, B&W is slowly getting it.  B is much more active than B&W, so it makes sense.

I can't wait to post pictures of them.  Unfortunately,  part of fostering is no promoting them.  I haven't talked to the coordinator directly, so maybe next time I can.  I'll come back and post pictures after the fact.

In the meantime, I have been sending pictures to my friends and family directly on Snapchat and text.

Fostering Day 2

Today went pretty well - basically just hanging out with the kittens.

We did have one fail.  They have been getting into the (dog) toy box, which we thought was cute, until one thought that it was a litter box!

Yep - peed all over the toys as Dan was cleaning out the real litter box from the other kitten.  Then Dan brought the fresh litter over and he pooped in it (and a little out of it).  Poor kitty - meds do that too ya!

So, we had to pull all of Zed's toys out.  The plastic ones are getting washed in the dishwasher and then the rope toys are getting washed in the washer.  I had on my shopping list to get a big plastic container to put all the toys in, so that will just happen sooner rather than later.

The pee went right through to the bottom of the wooden crate and onto the carpet.  So had to clean the carpet and then just threw away the wooden crate.  They are cheap anyway at the craft stores.  I think Z had peed on it once.  At least it looks like there is a pee stain on the side of the crate.

So, lesson learn, once one has to go, the other one goes.  I had just said see if the other one has to go, but he couldn't wait for the new litter.

First Day as Foster Parents!

Dan and I have talked about possibly fostering.  Well, today it became a reality.

Yesterday the shelter posted that they were in immediate need for fosters for a couple of set of kittens.  I immediately called Dan and told him about them and asked if he wanted to try.

The kittens we requested only need a foster for 2 weeks since they are 6 weeks old.  However, they have an upper respiratory infection so they are getting meds.  Oh, and they are eating regular wet and dry food.

I figured this would be the best scenario for first time fostering.

So, this morning picked up the kittens.  I was nervous and excited.  It's been so long since I've taken care of a kitten - 1988 was the year to be exact!

Day 1 is in the books and they are doing well.  We have them set up in Esa's crate.  Plenty of room for them, their food, toys and litter box.

So far, so good for the foster parents too.  The kittens were good at taken their meds, have been using the litter box, and using the scratch pad.  Dan made a special trip to Petsmart on the way home without telling me to pick up some toys and a scratch pad.