Day Seven: Happily Ever After

To follow Olive's Story from the beginning:

part ONE

part TWO

part THREE

part FOUR

part FIVE

It happened quick. Quicker than IDOG likes for it to happen. BUT you my readers inquired about this girl in droves. You filled out applications, donated money & overwhelmed the system. You Tweeted, IG'd & Facebooked her picture to the ends of the earth. YOU found this sweet girl a home.

This past Thursday when the meeting was set for Olive to go to her new home, I did one of those ugly cries in the shower. I. Could. Not. Stop. Crying. I felt so much guilt. I felt like I was abandoning her. I felt like I had finally started to gain her trust & I was going to leave her. I was literally sick. 

Then Friday came. It was a miserable day. I watched the clock. I paced. I tried to stay busy. I packed her a bag of her new favorite things & loaded up the car. 

Can I just say that what happened next was nothing short of a gift. When we got to her new "home", Olive walked in & made herself right at home. I was astonished. She fit right in like a missing puzzle piece. In fact, when I turned to leave, she did not even follow me out. She looked me in the eye & smiled her trademark smile. She was telling me that my job was done.

And it was.

~XOXO~

Please consider donating or volunteering with IDOG. They are an international organization. They do good work. I can vouch. So can Olive.

PS. Due to privacy issues, details of Olive's new home can not be disclosed.

And they all lived Happily Ever After

THE END

Day Five: Houston, We have PLAYTIME!

Today I leave you with Sweet Olive's first playtime. It has taken her 5 days to start playing. I can't imagine what happened to this sweet, sweet girl's soul that made her stop living life for 5 days. Thanks to your prayers & well wishes, she is starting to feel safe again.

If you are interested in helping Olive, please fill out an IDOG adoption application, consider fostering or donate. Just don't turn a blind eye.

I will continue to post daily pictures, information & video of this sweet girl named Olive. My prayers are that you will help me to find her a forever home.

Be sure to read Day One, Day Two, & Day Four.

~Christy~

If you are interested in adopting Olive, please email Jo-Anne Cousins, rescue@idogrescue.com or fill out an adoption application at IDOG.

Day Four : Do as I say, Not as I Do

I am probably the worst doggie foster parent in the world.  You see, when you agree to foster, you are given this very handy document of instructions. 

{paraphrase}

1. If the dog is coming from a shelter, you should keep in mind that he may be contagious, so it is wise to place the crate in a position where your own dogs cannot stick there noses in – perhaps another room, at least until you have had a chance to get the dog cleared by a vet. (If your own dogs are fully vaccinated and healthy, there is very little risk, but do not take unnecessary chances. 

2. DO NOT allow the dog to move around without a leash or long line for at least the first couple of days.   

...and so on and so on. It's an excellent guide ;) 


Things that must NOT occur during decompression

• Meeting people outside the foster family 
• Meeting other dogs or other animals 
• Taking the dog to unknown environments (Petsmart, Parks etc)
• Taking the dog for walks outside the established safe environment of your back yard
• Activities that require extensive handling of the dog, like grooming 
• Unnecessary trips in the car
• Long period of time petting and touching the dog 
• Demanding obedience commands such as “Sit”, “Stay,” “Down,” 
• Being allowed to wander in the yard unleashed or unattended 
• Being allowed to wander within the house from room to room 

I think I have broken every rule.

1. I should have never "introduced" the world to Olive until after she had a vet visit & clear health.

2. I should not have introduced her to my animals & the neighbor's dog.

3. I should have never started obedience commands like sit & come.

4. I allow her to wander the backyard with minimal supervision (my backdoor is open).

5. I allow her to wander the house (when I am home & with her).

I could go on and on.

My point. She has done BEAUTIFULLY in spite of all my short comings. She is adapting, she is learning to trust & she is slowly relaxing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today's progress of Olive, my first IDOG foster dog & the sweetest foster dog ever. Please consider adopting this baby.

1. A clean bill of health from the vet!!!! Negative heart worm, fecal, ear mites etc. (but she does have 2 ear infections that I am treating).

2. This is happening. Yes, her new family can blame me.

3. Still no potty accidents.

4. Walks on a leash.

5. Loves the car.

6. When I am home, she is my shadow. When I am away from the home, she is in her crate. I also crate her at night.

7. She did not eat dinner tonight :(

8. She still is not playing or chewing bones.

I will continue to post daily pictures, information & video of this sweet girl named Olive. My prayers are that you will help me to find her a forever home.

Be sure to read Day One & Day Two.

~Christy~

If you are interested in adopting Olive, please email Jo-Anne Cousins, rescue@idogrescue.com or fill out an adoption application at IDOG.

Day Two

Today's progress of Olive, my first IDOG foster dog & the sweetest foster dog ever. Please consider adopting this baby.

1. She burps after she eats {such a doodle trait!}.
2. The vacuum does not bother her.
3. She is learning to not shy away from me & we are working on the "come" command.

4. She is entering her kennel with much more cooperation.
5. She ONLY USED THE BATHROOM OUTSIDE!
6. She continues to be my shadow. Lays at my feet & loves wearing the Thundershirt & lavender calming collar.

7. She does not like the squeaky noises that dog toys make.
8. She did beautifully in her crate ALL NIGHT LONG.
9. She is drinking more water today & eating great.
10. Her stools are solid.

11. Her ears are bothering her but I was able to clean them & medicate them.
12. She enjoyed laying on the floor with me. Loves to always be "touching" a part of me.

13. Belly rubs & under the chin scratches are her favorite.

14. When my doorbell rings, both my dogs bark like crazy. This "peaks" her curiosity but she does not bark or shy away at all the noise.
15. Thunder & rain do not bother her.

16. I have not tried to walk her on a leash...yet.
17. She will not chew bones or play...yet.

18. She seems sad.
19. Here she is interacting with Max. Not much going on, she's tired & her ears are bothering her.

Sorry for the random flow of thoughts, again. This will probably be the format I update with...

I will continue to post daily pictures, information & video of this sweet girl named Olive. My prayers are that you will help me to find her a forever home.

~Christy~

If you are interested in adopting Olive, please email Jo-Anne Cousins, rescue@idogrescue.com or fill out an adoption application at IDOG.

Day One

Let me start from T minus Day One.

I get a text message from Jo-Anne Cousins who is the Executive Director of IDOG Rescue Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Rescue.

She informs me of a Doodle dog that has been dropped off at a Houston, TX shelter. She tells me that this dog belonged to someone in an apartment who could no longer care for the dog. She believes that the dog is around 2 years old & spayed. Would I be interested in fostering? My problem was logistics. I could not go get the dog. So, in steps Samantha Zimmer, who picks up the dog, drives out of her way & delivers the dog to Danita Moonflower Wind Song. Danita keeps her overnight & we meet up in a busy parking lot the next day to transfer Sweet Olive to my care.

Now I give you day ONE.

• 1. She is "doodleish" with some terrier mixed in if I had to guess. Think "Sandy" from Little Orphan Anne.

  
  

  

  2. She does not shed. 3. She rides in the car like a pro. 4. She loves 9 year old boys (she is wet in this picture).

  
  

  

  5. She loves cats.

  
  

  

  6. She loves other dogs including 1 dominant Labrador male, 1 very grumpy female Beagle & 1 jealous female Goldendoodle. I believe that she relaxed a bit around the other dogs.
  

  

  7. She is hesitant. Cautious. Quiet.
  

  
  

  

  8. She is a shadow. Never. Leaves. My. Side. 9. She appears to be potty trained and can hold her bladder for extended times. 10. She will eat but is not food motivated. 11. She will not follow commands but will allow me to nudge her chin up & place her bottom on the ground for training the sit command. 12. I sat on the floor tonight and she came up to me, sat in my lap & allowed me to scratch her back, belly & face. 13. She gives kisses & has a set of very pretty pearly white teeth.

  
  

  

  14. The inside of her ears need cleaning but it will wait for tomorrow. 15. She HAD fleas & some evidence of hair loss from scratching. 16. She appears to be well fed. 17. She does not like to be alone. Whimpers in her crate but I will have her crate trained before she goes to her forever home.

  
  

  

  18. She smiles. 19. She did not like her bath at first. But after I started massaging her, she calmed down & allowed me to wash her.

  
  

  

  20. I have not seen her excited or playful...yet. 21. She is around 40 pounds (no more than 40 pounds). 22. If I would allow her on the furniture, she would be on the couch with me. 23. As I type this, she is lying at my feet. I can already tell that she is loyal & very eager to please.

  
  

  

  
  

  Sorry for the random flow of thoughts. It was just easier for me this way....

  I will continue to post daily pictures, information & video of this sweet girl named Olive. My prayers are that you will help me to find her a forever home.

  
  

  ~Christy~

  
  

  If you are interested in Adopting Olive, please email Jo-Anne Cousins, rescue@idogrescue.com or fill out an adoption application at IDOG.