Broken

Broken is definitely the right word in this situation. We love Luda. It breaks my heart to have to send her back and to another foster. However, there is one thing I cannot do – and that is aggression. I cannot adopt another dog out that has aggression issues. I would feel responsible if something ever happened to another small dog or worse, a child.

Ultimately it came down to Luda’s instincts are not to cry or yelp, they are to snarl and lunge. My dog was terrified and wanted nothing to do with her and I have to put my current family first. I know that my family and friends support this decision, I don’t feel the rescue community sees my view.

I am getting used as an example of why rescue’s don’t want to pull for fosters. I gave Luda an amazing loving home for three weeks – a solid two weeks after she attacked my dog and husband several times. I waited for the organization to find another foster home, she is not in boarding. I worked on her food aggression every day and we met with the rescue’s trainer.

I tried to do a good thing. Why is it that it always comes back to bite me in the ass? As much as I want to help euth dogs in NYC, I may never do this again. I think I’ll wait until I move to a bigger home, and then go to ACC and walk the cages and hand pick a dog to keep Port company. I have to be sensible, I can’t let my emotions trick me again.

I’m really saddened by how the poster’s on Urgent Part 2 flip flop quicker than politicians. I saw that one family offered their home to a dog, but when it didn’t work out, the hate messages started flying. Its happening to me as well. Today another person used me as an example why rescue’s don’t want to pull for facebook fosters. Its spreading mis-information about people that want to do good and that’s a shame because it discourages people to step up to the plate.

So I’m done, for now and maybe for a really long time. I want the best for Luda and I really hope she finds a great home.

Happy 4th and Update

I feel like I owe a long update to this blog about Luda. Luda is still at our home. We have had no further bad incidents of food aggression. Posh Pets sent us a dog trainer and we have been using her techniques to establish leadership and "own the food." In less than a week we are able to feed Luda, pick up her bowl and have Port and Luda eat next to each other. I still wouldn't leave Port's leftovers down and leave the house, but she won't go after them when we're right there.

Luda and Port don't play. Luda tries, Port ignores her. We had a friend's lab over and Luda very much enjoyed wrestling with the other dog. She is very dog friendly.

Luda loves towels. Its hilarious to watch her with the two towels on her dog bed. Sometimes she just gets very excited and flips her head around and does a little dance. Has she never had toys before? She is very playful with the toys we have around the house, so I'm not sure.

Luda's ears are getting better. Still absolutely disgusting, but I can see a glimmer of pink now. She hates having her ears cleaned, but tolerates it like a lady.

Luda got scared of the fireworks last night. We were out on the back patio watching them and when we came back in she was tucked in the corner of our spare bath and didn't come out for about 2 hours. Poor thing.

I would not put Luda in a home with small children. I think she would be fine with older kids as she's OK with everyone she's met, I just don't think she'd tolerate little kids pulling her ears and such. She's not a easy manhandler. If she doesn't want her belly rubbed, she refuses to roll over.

Some decisions are never easy

Luda's "pet me" pose.

We've noticed Luda has food aggression issues. So much so that she needs to be fed separately and she has gone after both Port and Hubby. Sadly we will need to find another foster home for her that can work on these issues.

We would be better equipped to deal with this if Port and Luda weren't grazers. My dog Port eats a bit here, a bit there and sometimes skips a meal here or there. He won't just eat when his food is put down. Luda appears the same way, although she'll at least eat some of her meals when they are originally put down.

My dog is completely thrown off, has not been getting enough food and its stressful for all of us. I hate this, I hate this, I hate this, because she is so amazing and has already wiggled her way into our hearts. However, I need to respect my husband's wishes and we need to find her another foster before week end. If you are interested, please contact me ASAP.

Call to Action: Look in your dogs ears

I was sitting with Luda on Friday night and happened to check her ear and thought, thats odd it almost looks like the skin is black. Holy macaroni! I have NEVER seen a dog's ears this bad. Sorry to be graphic, but I almost needed a shovel to get the gunk out there was that much.

There is no way that this much gunk accumulates in 10 days at a shelter. I realize its dirty, but this is pure neglect. I spent over 45 minutes cleaning out her ears with peroxide & q-tips and then a good scrub with ear meds & cotton balls.

I would encourage everyone who reads this blog - check your dogs ears. Its not hard. If they have brown gunk - go put a little peroxide on a cotton ball and wipe the inside. Continue for about 10 days and then you'll only have to check then about twice a year.

Day 2

Today was uneventful, in a good way. Hubby came home and walked Luda and left her out of the crate. I came home about an hour later and other than I could tell she was sitting on the couch (which we don't allow), she hadn't done anything wrong (I am paranoid about chewing).

She loves her kibble. She gets very excited about meals, and eats pretty quick. She makes a bit of a mess around her bowl, but we'll forgive her for that. Ha. One great thing, is that she doesn't seem as if she's been fed people food as she's not a beggar. Port comes running when he hears someone in the kitchen, but she seemed content.

I need to get some good pics of her this weekend outside, my camera and her coat color just don't agree with the lighting inside my townhouse. These pics just aren't doing this cutie justice.

To crate or not to crate, tis the question

Luda's trip home was uneventful, and so was her meet and great with our dog Port. Sniff Sniff - whats the big deal was the look I got.

After the brief meet and greet outside we got her immediately into the shower. Typical of a dog coming out of ACC, she smelled like a sewer. She walked right in and was a good girl. Afterwards, she was running and leaping around our bedroom like a bunny rabbit. She was obviously very excited to be clean.

Next we went downstairs to trim her nails. Hot Damn, I took off a decent amount and I think we'll need to do them again in a couple of days. Within 5 minutes she discovered the toy basket and again started leaping like a great dane puppy and running back and forth.

At this point it was after 11pm and the discussion started with Hubby - crate tonight?
Hubby "No"
Me "She's been drinking a lot of water"
Hubby "Come On"
Me "But its night one, what are the odds she'll make it all night on night one, what if she chews something" (In my defense I've had fosters eat Italian black leather boots, seven jeans, eagles jerseys, etc. Somehow they always eat my stuff, not hubby's)
Hubby "I'm not crating her"
Me "Fine"

Low and Behold, she spend the night on the doggie bed in our room and in the morning, nothing was chewed, rummaged, destroyed, peed on, pooped on. I even had to coarse her to get up to go potty at 7am. This is a fostering first for us. This dog is definitely potty trained.

She went out, did her stuff, ate breakfast and I left for work. The adventures resume when I get home tonight :)

Baby hit me one more time.

I guess as Brittney Spears would say - OOops I did it again. Another foster arrives today/tomorrow and her name is Luda. She's an older girl and you can follow her journey to her forever home here. Happy to report Sweety (now Lucie) is happy and has a sister and Bella is also doing well in PA.

For anyone that pledged money on Facebook, please donate to Posh Pets Rescue. Luda needs meds for her kennel cough.