Spring Break

Spring break is one of the busiest weeks of the year for most pet sitters. It kind of hits me from left field. There is an errie quiet before the storm right before it. Then, it just sort of hits from out of nowhere. Some of my clients plan ahead, but others call at the last minute and my schedule fills up in an instant.

The funny thing is that I love spring break. It's like reuniting with old friends. My pet friends...Boots M and Boots P, Doug, Hilda, Candy, Anna, Zoe, Sampson...the list goes on. It is also a great time for me to remember how lucky I am to be paid for dog walking in beautiful neighborhoods with great dogs. It is a very exhausting time, but fun too.

Koko the Burmese Kitty

I just finished a pet sitting job caring for Koko, a 16 year old Burmese cat. I adored her not because she was sweet and affectionate, but because she was old and wise. The first day she talked at me and told me she was not happy about me being there...filling in for her people. It was obvious that she was not happy. As the days passed, I usually arrived to a hiding Koko, or a kitty that really didn't want to be bothered by me...she would hiss at me. But, after about the 4th visit, a break-though. Koko was hiding on me and I could not find her. Suddenly, as I searched the master bedroom closet, she gave me a very faint "meow". I don't think I would have found her had she not given me that sweet clue. From there on out, she accepted me. I had to put her ever so gently and stroke her chin just right. She purred very faintly and her tail swished. She stayed on my lap and when it was time to go and I put her on the carpet, she stretched out. These baby steps meant so much to me! I adore Koko.

Skippy the English Setter

Just when I said I was taking a break from fostering, along came Skippy. Skippy is an orange belton English Setter. He was basically being 'warehoused' in a no-kill shelter in Nevada for the past 7 months. Yes, I said SEVEN months. This is my beef against no-kill shelters. They just keep dogs forever sometimes. I don't believe in this kind of life for any pet. To top things off, poor Skippy fell through the cracks and was never advertised on petfinder.com Unbelievable.

Kelley Moore rescued him and brought him to me for fostering. He is a bright, happy boy who is happy to be stretching his legs again and chasing birds in the backyard. He is being shown to a prospective adopter today, so keep your fingers crossed. He is 2 years old and it's time for him to enter the next, happier chapter of his life.

Joey's New Home

Well, after a rough start to life, Joey finally has a place to call home. His new family picked him up on Saturday and are thrilled with him. They are getting a great dog. I thouroughly enjoyed fostering Joey and Frankie for the week they were at my house. They had tremendously wonderful temperaments for 7 month old Vizsla's that had never been named or had a collar on their necks...blank slates. They were well behaved and totally non-agressive. What joyful canines! Frankie is up in Montana being fostered and all reports are good there....just need to find a forever home for him too.

The Boise Boyz Are Getting Neutered Today - SNIP SNIP!

Meet Joe and Frank - The Hardy Boys! These rescues came to me because they've never been crated and I have a chain link kennel in my garage. They are really cute and silly. They are 7 months old and are leaving tomorrow...Joe to Sandpoint and Frank to another foster home in Montana. I'm a little sad that they are being separated as they've been together their whole lives. But, onward and upward into new homes and new lives, right? So, today they are getting neutered at All Valley Animal Hospital in Meridian, ID through the most wonderful SNIP program. I'm pretty sure this was their first trip to the vet...poor boys...it will be a most memorable trip for them! By the way, these guys were given to the rescue by a backyard breeder who couldn't sell them. They started out being $950. After 7 months....well, let this be a lesson to anyone thinking the puppy business is a profitable thing!

Pilots n Paws to the Rescue Again

As seen in my previous post regarding Alex, the wire fox terrier whose owner died...Alex spent only one week at my house before being adopted in Tacoma, WA. Poor Alex...this is what the past couple weeks of Alex's life looked like...Thursday - Flew from Phoenix to Reno and was boarded for 2 days. Saturday - Drove from Reno to my house in Boise. Tuesday - Got neutered. Saturday - Got a bath and flew to Tacoma to his new home. Monday - Haircut. Poor Alex!! Well, now that this little guy has gone through everything possible, mayb now he can relax! Thank you Reyna and Eric....my heros of the week....for flying Alex from Boise to his foster home in Tacoma, WA. You rock!