» Dog Adoption http://www.bestfitpetsit.com Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:20:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Update on Lili and Her Puppies: A Happy Ending For All! http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/update-on-lili-and-her-puppies-a-happy-ending-for-all http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/update-on-lili-and-her-puppies-a-happy-ending-for-all#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:14:55 +0000 Valerie http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/?p=1124 Back in March 2011, I found Lili as a very frightened stray who had just had puppies. The thing is, she had hidden her puppies so well, that we couldn’t find them. Close to a week after finding Lili, we finally managed to find her puppies….hidden INSIDE a tree! Read the full story here:

Lili and Her Puppies

Below is an update on how each dog is doing in their new homes!

Lili

Lili is doing great in her new home! She was adopted by Jimmy and Rachel right here in Lawrenceville. Jimmy saw Lili while she was at adoption day at Red Bandanna in Suwanee. He took a picture of her and a Georgia Humane adoption application and went to show his wife, Rachel, the dog he wanted to bring home. She agreed and they haven’t looked back! Rachel says that Lili is now a “spoiled suburban dog.” She has a Jack Russell brother and a Chow sister and is loving life! She still has some of her street dog traits, but she is getting more and more used to the spoiled life and is very playful and loving. Below are a couple of pictures that Rachel and Jimmy provided me with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bernie

Out of all four of the puppies, Bernie stayed with us as a foster dog the longest. He is so sweet and loving, I wanted to keep him. The problem was, our dog Josie attacked him pretty badly once and I’m just not willing to take that chance. So, for months, we lived in a “divided home.” We had it down to a T and it wasn’t a big deal, we just took the dogs out in cycles instead of letting everyone out at once. We were taking Memphis, our Catahoula Leopard Dog (until we decided to adopt him), and Bernie (and Lili until she got adopted) up to adoption day at Red Bandanna in Suwanee and we had a lot of people oohing and ahhing over the dogs, but no one had filled out an application.

One day, I made a joke to my sister, Laura, after her foster dog Skipper got adopted, that she could take Bernie. Our nieces, Maddie and Grace already knew and loved Bernie from spending time with him here at our house with Denny and me. Laura, who never fails to surprise me with her easy going attitude, said “Okay, cool!” A week or so later, I took Bernie to Laura’s house. He started as a foster dog, but Laura, her husband Chad and the girls were pretty sure that he was a perfect fit as a permanent furry family member. They adopted Bernie officially and have not regretted it for a minute. He is just as sweet and wonderful as I knew he would was! Pictures of Bernie below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maizie Mae

I was doing my best from the get-go to make sure these puppies and mama were getting as much attention as possible. I posted them on Facebook, Twitter, and anywhere else I could think of, and of course, we had the awesome Georgia Humane Society backing us as a foster home, providing the dogs with vet care, blankets, etc. and Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen helping us with food when needed. A fellow pet sitter Facebook friend of mine knew that a good friend of hers had recently lost their beloved dog and that they were considering adopting a new dog. She shared Lili’s and her puppies’ story and Diane, her husband Roc, and sweet daughter, Laura gave me a call and set up a time to meet the puppies when the pups were only 5 weeks old or so. They came over and immediately took to Maizie, filled out an application and waited patiently until she was old enough to get all of her shots, get spayed, heal and come home with them! She is doing really great in her home, and is extremely spoiled and happy and loved on. She is scared of her own shadow, which seems to be a trend with these puppies, but loves to play with her human “sister.”  Below are a couple of pictures that Diane provided me with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tonka and Willow

Carolyn‘s name has been mentioned several times in my blog articles because she is as crazy as I am when it comes to animal rescue. No, crazier. She was there for me when I was driving over to where Lili was a stray and feeding her until we found her puppies; we couldn’t take Lili out of there knowing that puppies were there somewhere. Carolyn went to feed Lili and look for the puppies when I was out doing my Spring Break pet sitting visits. She also came and helped with them when we found the puppies and brought them to our house. Her daughter, Elora, knew that one of these puppies was going to be hers, but I’m not sure Carolyn knew that from the beginning. Well, after knowing and loving them all, they decided to adopt Willow (the black female pup) and foster Tonka (the brown with black muzzle pup). I don’t think it took that long before I got a text from Carolyn saying that they decided to adopt Tonka as well. Both dogs have been through obedience training and are as spoiled as can be. Tonka, like Maizie Mae, is afraid of his own shadow, but Carolyn is a pro when it comes to socializing dogs and is doing a fantastic job!  Below are pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog.” – George Graham Vest

]]> http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/update-on-lili-and-her-puppies-a-happy-ending-for-all/feed 0 5 Reasons To Avoid Buying Pet Store Pets http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/5-reasons-to-avoid-buying-pet-store-pets http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/5-reasons-to-avoid-buying-pet-store-pets#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:25:28 +0000 Valerie http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/?p=968

The puppy in the window may be "on sale," but you'll be paying much more in vet bills than you can imagine!

5 Reasons to Avoid Buying Pet Store Pets

1.      Do You Want To Support Puppy Mills?

For one thing, responsible and ethical breeders would never sell any of their pets to a pet store. You want a responsibly bred pet for many reasons, but health being among one of the top reasons. Poorly bred dogs will cost you lots of pain, tears and money. Pet stores look at pets as merchandise and have do not give a hoot about the integrity of the breed. These puppies almost always end up with early age arthritis, hip dysplasia (I’ve met dogs under 1 year old with arthritis and hip dysplasia), giardia (a harmful parasite that is difficult to battle), personality disorders, etc. Find out more about puppy mills at the Humane Society’s website. Here is a good article on the connection between pet stores and puppy mills from PetSide.com.

2.      The “Guarantee”

Pet stores will guarantee that they will take your pet back and give you your money back when you discover how terribly ill your new pet is. What they won’t tell you is that they will not take the pet to the veterinarian for care. They won’t “waste” the money. They will pay to have the pet put to sleep, the end.

3.      House Training

The puppies in puppy stores are kept in small cages and never see grass, dirt, tile, carpet or anything other than a wire bottomed cage that they use the bathroom on whenever they feel the need. This makes it very difficult to house train these dogs and many of them have bathroom issues for the rest of their lives.

4.      What Will Your Pet Look Like When He Grows Up?

When you have to buy a pet because of the breed (I HIGHLY recommend adopting a pet through wonderful agencies such as Georgia Humane Society), if you buy from a store, you will not get to meet the parents of the pet. A reputable breeder will introduce you to the mom, siblings and possibly the dad of the pet. This will give you a good idea of size, temperament, and looks of your new pet. If you ask to see the mom of a dog in a puppy store, they will probably laugh at you.

5.      No Socialization at a Critical Age

Puppies in stores are often removed from their mother and siblings at far too young an age.  We’re talking 4 to 5 weeks old. Reputable breeders insist that the puppies stay with the pack until at least 10 weeks old. This is something that true caring breeders care about because this is a critical age for puppies to learn canine manners and basically how to “speak dog”- their own language. Imagine if you weren’t taught what to do and you were just thrown into the world without any knowledge of what is right and what is wrong. You’re just expected to know. This is very cruel and unfair. Also keep in mind that these pups in the store have been very minimally handled by humans and can stay shy and fearful for life.

There are many other reasons not to buy that adorable puppy in the window- one more is that the breed on the paperwork may not be the puppy you end up with. Puppy mills are not careful about who breeds with who, as long as more puppies are coming to be sold. Your beautiful little German Shepherd puppy could have Maltese, Shih Tzu or any other number of breeds mixed in.

Before you go and buy a puppy from a store or a breeder, please consider the fully bred  dog (or mutts) being fostered with rescue groups. There are so many wonderful dogs out there that need homes! In my opinion, mutts are the best “breed.”

I care not much for a man’s religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.  ~Abraham Lincoln

]]> http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/5-reasons-to-avoid-buying-pet-store-pets/feed 0 Pet Rescue and Adoption Groups, Humane Societies, Animal Controls, and Shelters in Georgia By County, O-Z http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/pet-rescue-and-adoption-groups-humane-societies-animal-controls-and-shelters-in-georgia-by-county-o-z http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/pet-rescue-and-adoption-groups-humane-societies-animal-controls-and-shelters-in-georgia-by-county-o-z#comments Tue, 21 Sep 2010 00:28:05 +0000 Valerie http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/?p=905 Pet Rescue and Adoption Groups, Humane Societies, Animal Controls, and Shelters in Georgia By County, O-Z

Oconee County

Oglethorpe County

Paulding County

Pickens County

Pike County

Polk County

Putnam County

Quitman County

Rabun County

Rockdale County

Screven County

Spalding Counding

Stephens County

Sumter County

Talbot County

Taylor County

Terrell County

Thomas County

Tift County

Toombs County

Treutlen County

Troup County

Union City

Upson County

Walker County

Walton County

Ware County

Wayne County

Wheeler County

White County

Whitfield County

Wilkes County

Worth County

If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.  ~St. Francis of Assisi

]]> http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/pet-rescue-and-adoption-groups-humane-societies-animal-controls-and-shelters-in-georgia-by-county-o-z/feed 0 Pet Rescue Groups, Humane Societies, and Shelters in Georgia, Counties F-N http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/pet-rescue-groups-humane-societies-and-shelters-in-georgia-counties-f-n http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/pet-rescue-groups-humane-societies-and-shelters-in-georgia-counties-f-n#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:48:52 +0000 Valerie http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/?p=875 Pet Rescue and Adoption Groups, Humane Societies, Animal Controls, and Shelters in Georgia By County, F-N

Fannin County

Fayette County

Floyd County

Forsyth County

Franklin County

Fulton County

Gilmer County

Glynn County

Gordon County

Grady County

Greene County

Gwinnett County

Habersham County

Hall County

Haralson County

Harris County

Hart County

Heard County

Henry County

Houston County

Jackson County

Jasper County

Jeff Davis County

Jenkins County

  • City Of Millen Animal Control- 912-982-4211

Jones County

Lamar County

Laurens County

Lee County

Liberty County

Lincoln County

Lowndes County

Lumpkin County

Macon County

Madison County

Marion County

McDuffie County

McIntosh County

Meriwether County

Miller County

Mitchell County

Monroe County

Montgomery County

Morgan County

Murray County

Muscogee County

Newton County

If we cut up beasts simply because they cannot prevent us and because we are backing our own side in the struggle for existence, it is only logical to cut up imbeciles, criminals, enemies, or capitalists for the same reasons.  ~C.S. Lewis

]]> http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/pet-rescue-groups-humane-societies-and-shelters-in-georgia-counties-f-n/feed 0 Pet Rescue and Adoption Groups, Humane Societies and Shelters in Georgia, Counties A-E http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/pet-rescue-groups-humane-societies-and-shelters-in-georgia-counties-a-e http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/pet-rescue-groups-humane-societies-and-shelters-in-georgia-counties-a-e#comments Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:55:34 +0000 Valerie http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/?p=863 Pet Rescue and Adoption Groups, Humane Societies, Animal Controls, and Shelters in Georgia By County, A-E

Athens-Clarke County

Augusta-Richmond County

Baldwin County

Barrow County

Bartow County

Berrien County

Bibb County

Bleckley County

Brantley County

Brooks County

  • City of Quitman Animal Shelter-(229) 605-9810

Bryan County

Bulloch County

Burke County

Butts County

Camden County

Candler County

Carroll County

Catoosa County

Chatham County

Chattooga County

Cherokee County

Clayton County

Cobb County

Coffee County

Columbia County

Columbus-Muscogee County

Coweta County

Crisp County

  • Cordele Animal Shelter- (229) 276-2547

Dade County

Dawson County

Decatur County

Dekalb County

Dodge County

Dougherty County

Douglas County

Early County

  • City of Blakely Animal Shelter- (229) 724-7474

Effingham County

Elbert County

Emanuel County

  • City of Swainsboro Animal Shelter- (478) 237-4040

Evans County

Adopt me through Georgia Humane Society!

Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight.  ~Albert Schweitzer

]]> http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/pet-rescue-groups-humane-societies-and-shelters-in-georgia-counties-a-e/feed 2 Adopt A Dog- Memphis, the Catahoula Leopard Dog http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/adopt-a-dog-memphis-the-catahoula-leopard-dog http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/adopt-a-dog-memphis-the-catahoula-leopard-dog#comments Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:37:30 +0000 Valerie http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/?p=851 My husband, Denny and I decided to volunteer with Georgia Humane Society after having an awesome adoption experience with them. We adopted our dog, Josie, through them and they are the nicest rescue group that I’ve ever come across. My sister, Laura Fields, was already a foster home with them and she lives near the Paulding County Animal Control and had her eye on Memphis. Denny named him Memphis because he went to college there.

Memphis is any where from 6 months to a year old and weighs about 50 pounds. He still acts like a puppy, kinda clumsy and loves to chew on things. We keep deer antlers and Nylabones around for him and that keeps him out of trouble. We’ve only had one accident in the house, pee, and it was right by the back door. We must not have been paying enough attention. He is a very good boy, loves the other dogs, is fine with the cats and adores kids. My sister has 2 little girls, aged 4 and 6, and they cuddled and cuddled with him and he loved it.

Memphis is neutered and up to date on vaccinations. He needs a home willing to work with him on some training, particularly leash training and listening to his name when you call him. Besides that, this fur baby is absolutely perfect. He is crate trained, but we let him sleep with us.  If you’re interested in adopting or meeting Memphis, you can fill out an application on the Georgia Humane Society’s website, www.georgiahumane.com and you can come meet him on Saturdays at PetsMart on Howell Mill Road in Atlanta. Call me first to make sure he’ll be there- 770-363-0827. Below are some pictures of him.

Don't you just love this face?

I like walking with a harness much better than a regular collar

Memphis give Grace a big hug

Memphis and Maddie= LOVE!

Loves the fenced backyard!

“Better to light a candle for one lost dog than to curse the darkness of man’s indifference. Saving just one dog won’t change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog.” – Richard C. Call

 

UPDATE:

Sept. 29, 2011

Memphis was adopted and returned by one man who decided he didn’t have the time for him, and that was nearly a year ago. He became such a part of our growing furry family that we couldn’t stand to part with him, so August 15th, about a year after becoming our foster dog, we adopted him. He is now Memphis Pegg :)

]]> http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/adopt-a-dog-memphis-the-catahoula-leopard-dog/feed 3 Low Cost Spay/Neuter, Vaccinations and Veterinarians in Georgia http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/low-cost-spayneuter-vaccinations-and-veterinarians-in-georgia http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/low-cost-spayneuter-vaccinations-and-veterinarians-in-georgia#comments Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:39:28 +0000 Valerie http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/?p=717 From SPOT Society:

The reasons for spaying are compelling and well-known:

  • Overpopulation and the resulting mass euthanasia and neglect. There can never be enough good homes for all the puppies and kittens born, including purebreds.
  • It avoids heat cycles, unwelcome visitors fighting on the lawn, accidental pregnancies, unwanted puppies and kittens, inconvenience and expense.
  • Better-behaved pets – Spayed pets are less likely to spray or mark or roam. They are less aggressive toward humans and other animals. 85% of dog bites involve intact pets.
  • Healthier pets
    • Females spayed before their first heat cycle have 96.4% less risk of breast cancer. Spaying after the first heat but before a litter still reduces the risk by 84%. Breast cancer is four times more common in dogs than in humans.
    • Spayed females have no risk of uterine infection, or uterine, ovarian, or cervical cancer.
    • Dogs and cats have their own sexually-transmitted diseases, many fatal, and some potentially contagious to humans. Spayed and neutered pets are rarely exposed to these diseases.
    • There are many complications associated with pregnancy, having babies, and raising a litter – infections, emergency c-sections (very expensive), seizures due to calcium deficiency, etc. The risk of pregnancy and rearing a litter is far greater than the risk of anesthesia and spaying.
The reasons for neutering are compelling and well-known:

  • Overpopulation and the resulting mass euthanasia and neglect. There can never be enough good homes for all the puppies and kittens born, including purebreds.
  • It avoids fighting over females, trying to escape looking for females, and the resulting inconvenience and expense that results. Males can smell a female up to 3 miles away, and will often get in trouble out looking for girls. Most of the animals hit-by-cars and lost are intact males. Smaller dogs are often killed by larger ones.
  • Neutered pets are less likely to spray or mark or roam. They are less aggressive toward humans and other animals. Eighty-five percent of dog bites involve intact pets. And who can stand the aroma of Tom Cat urine?
  • Dogs and cats have their own sexually transmitted diseases, many fatal, and some potentially contagious to humans. Feline Leukemia, for example, is the leading disease killer of cats in our area, and is spread through fighting and sexual contact. Spayed and neutered pets are rarely exposed to these diseases.
  • Neutered males have no risk of testicular cancer. Prostate cancers, and other prostate problems, are very common in older un-neutered males.

LOW COST SPAY/NEUTER, VETERINARIANS and VACCINATIONS:

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion.  ~Dalai Lama

]]> http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/low-cost-spayneuter-vaccinations-and-veterinarians-in-georgia/feed 1 Rescued Puppy Mill Dogs Kept Cozy With ASPCA http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/rescued-puppy-mill-dogs-kept-cozy-with-aspca http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/rescued-puppy-mill-dogs-kept-cozy-with-aspca#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:56:47 +0000 Valerie http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/?p=486 The definition of puppy mill according to Wikipedia- A puppy mill, sometimes known as a puppy farm, is a commercial dog breeding facility that is operated with an emphasis upon profits above animal welfare and is often in substandard conditions regarding the well-being of dogs in their care. Similar types of operations exist for other animals commonly kept as pets or used as feed for other animals.

We’ve all seen the commercials showing these terribly sad, poor dogs and cats in cages with Sarah McLachlan as the spokes person. Most of us, anyway. Our hearts break when we see it and we know that this is happening all over America. What can we do about it? The easiest thing for you to do is do not buy a puppy until extensive research has been done on the breeder. There are a lot of puppy “stores” that will tell you that they do not buy from puppy mills, but ask them for the address of the puppy’s breeder and go there. You need to see the surroundings of the puppy and meet the puppy’s parents. Any breeder that can’t allow this or any puppy “store” that cannot give you an address has something very shady is going on.

There are so many wonderful, adoptable dogs that need a home. My Mom, Vicki Lunceford adopted a Lhasa Apso from Atlanta Pet Rescue, Sassy, and she is a puppy mill rescue. She’s coming around very well, but she has a lot of issues that my Mom has had to find answers to. Before rescued, puppy mill dogs are kept in small cages and never let out, sometimes more than one per cage. This makes it more difficult to teach house training and leash training, among other learned behaviors. Patience and understanding are required to adopt one of these  dogs, but to see the pride on one of these dogs’ little faces when something finally clicks is priceless.

Below is a story that I found on the ASPCA site about a few rescued pups that need a home and some that have been adopted.

The Lucky 34—Meet Our Puppy Mill Survivors

On February 7, 34 dogs who once endured terrible living conditions in a notorious puppy mill operation in Holly Springs, MS, were transported to the Big Apple in search of new forever homes. The dogs, many of whom are small breeds, are not the cute, cuddly pups often displayed in pet shop windows, but mothers and fathers who were used as breeding stock at the puppy mill.

These special pups have spent their entire lives confined to tiny wire cages, which inhibit natural behaviors like running, playing and even stretching. Trading the stark environment of a puppy mill for novel sights, sounds and sensations can be tremendously overwhelming for these sheltered animals. Simple behaviors like potty training, sitting on laps or even walking on a leash are challenging activities. Ample recovery time helps, so too does the dedication of a very special adopter—one who will provide lots of love and unconditional acceptance.

Think you have what it takes to care for one of these special pooches? Here are a few of the extraordinary puppy mill survivors who are just waiting for laps to call their own.

Clementine

Check out teeny Clementine. She’s a bit of a nervous Nelly, but who can blame a girl? Clem needs an experienced adopter—are you that pro? If you can help our little Miss Sunshine come out of her shell and experience the world with freedom and love, you may be the perfect pet parent for her.

Lugini

Lugini is a sweet and shy Chihuahua boy with lots of love to give. He just needs a little time to get comfy—after all, he’s seen a lot in his short life. Like most puppy mill survivors, Lugini is a high flight risk as he startles easily and may bolt. It is wise to always keep him on a leash or enjoy playtime in a fenced-in yard. While a true work in progress, this special munchkin is bound to make you laugh and smile.

For more information about adopting one of these dogs, please visit our Adoption Center online and for expert tips on living with a puppy mill dog, visit ASPCA.org.

JUST ADOPTED!

Buffy

Buffy is a sensitive girl from Mississippi—a true diamond in the rough. A sweet little Rat Terrier, Buffy is healthy physically but fairly damaged emotionally. She lived for years in a mill churning out puppies for money. While she needs a little extra time to warm up to strangers, Buffy’s true colors were recently noticed by a visitor to our Adoption Center. We are happy to report this tiny pup is happily settling in to her new forever home!

Betty and Wilma

These sugary-sweet sisters endured some rough times at the Mississippi puppy mill before landing in the Big Apple—and their lack of experience shows. Both tend to lag a bit behind on walks—like most mill dogs, they have never experienced walking on a leash. And neither of the girls are potty trained—also common with mill dogs who have been forced to relieve themselves in their cages for years. Despite these minor setbacks, these two sisters wowed potential adopters with their sweet-as-pie kisses and have recently been adopted!

We have enslaved the rest of the animal creation, and have treated our distant cousins in fur and feathers so badly that beyond doubt, if they were able to formulate a religion, they would depict the Devil in human form.  ~William Ralph Inge, Outspoken Essays, 1922

]]> http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/rescued-puppy-mill-dogs-kept-cozy-with-aspca/feed 1 Josie’s Story http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/josies-story http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/josies-story#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:33:37 +0000 Valerie http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/?p=416 We didn’t plan on adopting a new dog as quickly as we did after our sweet Sammie passed away. Ok, so I was definitely keeping an even sharper eye out for strays than I usually do, but that was really it.

I decided to write a blog on the rescue groups in our area. I was checking the links to make sure that they connected correctly. I started casually looking at all of the pictures and reading the little paragraphs that each rescue group puts down for each dog. That’s when I saw Josie (her name was Missy then)….I had to meet her.

My husband, Denny and I had a trip planned, so I contacted the rescue group, Georgia Humane Society, asked them a few questions about Missy/Josie, and told them that we wouldn’t be back in town until the next week, but that we would like to meet her.

Josie’s story before the rescue group liberated her is unclear. A kind soul from Georgia Humane pulled Josie out of  Carrollton Animal Control a while before we met her. We do know that she had survived a terrible virus, Parvovirus, that she had been adopted by someone who decided for one reason or the other to return her, and, she’s a happy-go-lucky dog who got along great with the other dogs in her foster mom’s home.

When we met Josie a week and a half later in Newnan, GA, she met Jake and Gizmo with puppy-ish excitement. Jake didn’t know what to think and Gizmo didn’t seem too happy either. She was extremely rambunctious, but we wanted to give her a chance. Jake tends to be stand-offish with new dogs and Gizmo is a bit bossy, so we couldn’t judge this on a first time meeting in a Petsmart parking lot!  We decided to “Foster to Adopt,” giving us the option of changing our minds if she didn’t fit in or if she wasn’t good with the cats.

Josie was great in the car, very calm. It’s about an hour drive, but we decided to stop at my sister’s house (Laura Fields of  BabySteps ) in Powder Springs to see how Josie does with our 5 and 3 year old nieces. She was super sweet with Maddie and Grace and got along fine with Laura’s elderly sheltie, Buddy (RIP, Buddy). Big score for Josie!

When we got her home, we followed the “rules” of introducing a new dog to your home for the first time. First of all, we took her, Jake and Gizmo on a nice, long walk. For more “rules” of introducing your new dog to your home, try this link: Dog Rescue Network.

After our walk, we brought Josie inside to see how she did with the cats and how her manners were. She was a little exuberant, but she’s practically a puppy (1.5 years old), and in a new situation. Our first mistake was leaving out all of the dog toys. We had a large container full of toys that Jake and Gizmo were allowed to play with at their will.

Everything was ok the first couple of days, but we noticed that Josie was giving Jake some pretty sketchy and sideways looks, especially around toys. Then, Gizmo was kind of throwing around a toy and Josie “jumped” on him. She didn’t bite him hard enough to make any marks, but it was loud and kind of scary. A few more incidents occured, mostly with Jake.  Josie could have all of the toys, and Jake would be playing with one. She would leave hers, run to Jake and bite his neck and grab the toy and take it to the rest of her toys. The last time this happened was about two months ago and it was over, get this, a pair of shorts. That’s when we started reading up and trying to figure out where we went wrong so we could fix it! We were starting to think that we may have adopted the wrong dog….we were completely off base.

We decided to pick up all toys and only let the dogs play with them when Denny or I had the time to be completely involved with their playtime. We haven’t had another incident, it was that simple. In fact, Josie, Jake and Gizmo play together like crazy maniacs (without toys) and not an issue has arisen. Josie’s progress was amazing and continues to be.

Josie here with Gizmo. He and Jake are her best buds now!

Here is a list of some of the books that we read to help us:

The Loved Dog, by Tamara Geller

It’s Me or the Dog, by Victoria Stilwell

Mine! A Practical Guide To Resource Guarding in Dogs, by Jean Donaldson

Be the Pack Leader, by Cesar Millan

The Dog Listener, by Jan Fennell

“It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are.” ~Unknown

]]> http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/josies-story/feed 5 Gwinnett County Pet Rescue Groups http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/gwinnett-county-pet-rescue-groups http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/gwinnett-county-pet-rescue-groups#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:18:11 +0000 Valerie http://www.bestfitpetsit.com/?p=284 The following blog lists several of the pet shelters and rescues in the Gwinnett County area, including Lawrenceville, Suwanee, Dacula, Duluth, Snellville and Lilburn. Whether you are looking for a certain breed or just the “perfect” pet for you, there are plenty of rescue groups and shelters in the area to find the pet you are looking for… and you’re saving a life. 90,000 dogs and cats die in Atlanta area shelters every year! Please, consider adoptions instead of purchasing a pet. If I’ve left any shelters or rescues out, please let me know and I will happily add it to this list.

Dacula

Canine Pet Rescue

Duluth

Cindy’s K-9 Angels

Companion Animal Rescue League

Lawrenceville

Gwinnett County Animal Control and Welfare

Gwinnett Humane Society

Society of Humane Friends

Lilburn

Alcovy Pet Rescue

Atlanta Boxer Rescue

Pets To Be

Snellville

Hightower Farm and Animal Sanctuary

Stone Moutain

Boston Terrier Rescue

Suwanee

English Springer Rescue America

Georgia Humane Society

Georgia SPCA

Southeast Pug Rescue and Adoption

“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.” – Anonymous

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