Fostering Has Taken a New Turn

At Lady & Paws, our fostering has taken a new turn. But before I tell you about that, let’s celebrate that all my puppies (and their mama) found wonderful homes!

Not long after the puppies arrived, I spotted a post on Facebook. It was from a local woman who was trying to help a friend with her dog. The friend’s life had (in her words), ‘taken a left turn.’ She was pregnant, and she and her dog were now homeless. She had an opportunity to move into a shelter program, but couldn’t bring her dog.

I’ve seen posts like this before and read all the statistics about how sometimes people will forego entering a shelter program because they would have to give up their dog. Most of the time, I scroll past, feeling that there’s nothing I can do. I’m too busy helping other dogs.

But after visiting so many shelters and meeting so many dogs who end up there because of a housing crisis, I paused, read more, and commented, “I might be able to help.”

This interaction led to my conversation with the person who needed help. She turned out to be smart, educated, and bewildered by her situation. As I listened to her story, I realized for too many people without the safety net of family, this could be them.

Ann (I made up that name, it’s not hers, because while I think it’s important to share this story, I also know this isn’t entirely my story to tell.) had been offered a spot in a wonderful program in a nearby town that offers housing, childcare, counseling, and support through the birth of the baby and for two years after. Ann told me she hoped she wouldn’t need their help for two years. She seems determined to take care of herself and her family, which includes her sweet dog, Diamond.

Ann has ten years of experience in her field and had already secured a job via a placement service (although they are not offering her maternity leave, so she’ll be starting out all over again once the baby is born this fall).

We talked about her dog, Diamond, who is a seven-year-old pitbull. Diamond was thin and had multiple wounds. Ann had left her with a friend when this odyssey began and that ‘friend’ didn’t take care of Diamond or feed her much. Diamond would need to be spayed and vaccinated (Ann sent me her vet records which indicated she was due for pretty much everything). For now, she was living in the back seat of Ann’s car (in 95-degree weather), and the night we connected, they were in a park trying to reach someone who had said they could crash on their couch for the night.

The spot in the program would be open the next day, but Ann had nowhere for Diamond. Because she didn’t have an address in our county, she couldn’t surrender her to one of our shelters. Her last address was in West Virginia, and I know too well that a dog like Diamond surrendered to a West Virginia pound just across the state line from us, would fare well. As a senior pitbull-type dog with health issues surrendered by her owner, she could be euthanized upon intake.

I talked to Nick and he agreed that if we decided to help, we’d have to be in this for the long haul and understand that there is the real possibility that things might not go the Hallmark-movie kind of way. We might be stuck with this dog. Or Ann might not be telling us the whole story about her situation or the dog.

We decided that we would take that chance. Not helping Ann and Diamond didn’t feel like an option.

So the next night, we drove thirty minutes to meet Ann at the little house the program had assigned her. She was waiting there with Diamond, still in the car since she wasn’t allowed in the house.

Diamond slurped my face through the window upon introduction. She was rail thin, covered in bumps, with mile-long toenails, and a big pittie smile on her face. She had a laceration on her elbow and several on her neck, plus a two-inch long skin tag trailing from one foot.

Ann held Diamond while I vaccinated her. We talked for a few minutes and then loaded up Diamond, the food Ann had for her, plus a big basket of toys Ann kept for her in the trunk.

We brought her home and arranged for her spay surgery a few days later. While she was under anesthesia, the vet removed the skin tag and a tech also trimmed her nails. Restoring her nails will take some time and regular trips to a groomer since Diamond is not a fan of the procedure. I dewormed her and she quickly learned that having her own crate with a comfy bed is a good thing.

We can’t take many walks because while her skin issues have improved, her pads are incredibly thin and tear and bleed if she walks on pavement or rough surfaces for long. This is a new one for me, so I’m still trying to figure out how to address it. She does love car rides and every person she meets.

It’s been a month, and last week, Ann came for her first visit with Diamond. She wore a shirt that said ‘dog mom’ and was grinning at the sight of her pup. Diamond was excited to see her too, and they had a nice long visit. When she left, I promised to bring Diamond to visit her soon. I’m determined to help them keep their bond. And I know that means regular visits. As much as I’m enjoying Diamond, I don’t want her to think she’s my pup even if she is here for a very long time.

Thankfully, Diamond is excellent company, mostly napping on her bed or chewing on toys, but also interrupting my work occasionally by shoving her head under my arm, insisting I stop and pet her. She’s quiet, except for occasional outbursts when Hazel (the foster cat) stares at her for too long.

I don’t know how long Diamond will be here. And I am not thinking much past Ann having a safe delivery and finding her way back from that left turn her life took. When she’s ready, Diamond will be too. That’s the way I hope this story ends, but I know it might not.

And that’s okay. For now, this dog is safe.

Until Each One Has a Home,

Linda