Posts Tagged ‘foster dog’
EMMETT: FINALLY ADOPTED
On January 23rd, Tim and I adopted Emmett, our foster dog of 7 months. If you’ve been following along, I’m sure you think “It’s about time!” I happen to agree.
Not only has Emmett blossomed into an affectionate, well behaved and happy pup with us, but he and Shamus, our Newfoundland, are the best of inseparable friends. Long before Tim and I fully committed to keeping Emmett, the dogs demonstrated loud and clear what it was that they wanted – to be together always. See for yourself in the video I shot two weeks prior to signing the paperwork. (If you can’t see the video, visit “Best Friends” on YouTube.)
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DOG RESCUE: FOR BETTER OR WORSE
Of course, dog rescue is a “for-better-or-for-worse” proposition. Unfortunately, when Emmett’s adoption plan went into action, “for worse” was the greater part of our reasoning.
Emmett’s behavior had unexplainably shifted over the course of several days. He watched out of the corner of his eye as we passed him in his bed. Nights became unsettling for him and he walked through the dark with his back hunched like a cat. His fur would stand on end, even while his tail wagged, and he’d bark at nothing in particular in an empty room. Something was very wrong. Emmett’s trust in the safety of his environment had waned. Tim and I felt like we failed, like Emmett was regressing. We needed answers.
WHERE TO GO FROM HERE?
Breaking the situation down into manageable parts, we first filled out the AnimaLovers‘ adoption contract to proceed as a solid family unit. We have been Emmett’s family, the only long-term support he has ever known, and he needed to feel that he belonged with us no matter what. Next, in an effort to explain Emmett’s odd behavioral shift, we combed back through the previous week’s events hoping to uncover the mystery.
THE FORENSIC TIMELINE
About a month ago, Emmett’s foot pads had become deeply rutted and slightly discolored. He was placed on over-the-counter fish oil supplements based on a picture I brought to the vet. Concerned that there was no discernible change several weeks later, I took Emmett for a follow up exam.
Abhorring this visit after a previous bout with staples, Emmett pulled me back toward the car once we reached the front door. When we did finally get inside, he would not allow the techs to see his feet without significant coercion. Leaving with meds in hand, a precautionary measure to treat any possible issue with the least amount of stress to Emmett, we came home. Relieved to be back, Emmett bounced around as usual with Shamus.
One day later, Emmett’s behavior began to change but I couldn’t put my finger on what was happening. I wondered if stress from the vet visit had caused some previous insecurities to resurface. Two days later, Emmett grew more frenetic. Questions arose and we watched vigilantly. Taking stock of his environment, we noted that Emmett’s food had changed. The brand was the same but the flavor was new. Could this be an allergy? Was he was sick? In pain? Was there a tumor pressing on the behavioral center of his brain? The following day, Emmett’s personality deteriorated into a ball of nerves that could no longer be attributed to the dog we knew and loved. We called the vet to hurry him in for a full blood work-up and x-rays.
MYSTERY SOLVED
While the majority of veterinary journals make no mention of this, and the vet who originally treated our boy was unaware, another vet at our clinic knew of some rare, yet undesirable side effects associated with the medication Emmett was on. When his anti-yeast and ear meds were mixed with an antibiotic, she said it was possible that the drug or the combination of several had likely made Emmett “crazy.” There was no way of knowing if he was hallucinating or simply feeling anxious, but we took him off that questionable drug and one other immediately. We also returned to the original flavor of food to cover all bases. The following day, we had our Emmett back.
FOR THE BEST
While this wasn’t the most joyous or ideal way for Emmett’s adoption to come to fruition, we have no regrets. When push came to shove, we knew we belonged to Emmett and that he belonged to us – long before bureaucracy, semantics and a medical mystery entered the picture. I suppose, after dragging our feet in our formal commitment, the Universe whacked us hard over the head to remind us of our undeniable truth. We all belong together.
Firmly rooted in the commitment of our bond now (as I always was, eh-hem), we are certainly a merrier bunch for it.
Welcome home, Emmett.
We’ve always got your back.
Love,
Kim, Tim, Shamus and the birds
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When the email arrived, Tim came away from his computer with such a sad face that I thought someone had died.
I was at the table writing holiday cards while festive music played softly in the background. Shamus, the Newf, was romping in the snow and Emmett, our foster of six months, was resting in his bed by the fire.
“Somebody is interested in Emmett,” Tim said.
I felt sick.
Tim sat down.
We wrote more cards. We took in the holiday scene, the romance of it. We saw our boy so content in the other room. We each shed a few tears while the other wasn’t looking.
Having asked Tim in early December if an adoption contract was in our holiday future (Emmett was the only present I wanted), Tim said he prefers to perpetually foster. I didn’t push the issue, promising to never back Tim into a corner the way I did to keep Bill, the first foster I couldn’t let go. While I want to make this a decision together at the right time, getting the first bite of interest for Emmett meant a real conversation was in order.
I know Emmett could make a great pet for the right person but, after talking it through, Tim and I are also sure that Emmett’s progress would revert in the face of change. We watched Emmett go back to square one for a full five days after spending just one week at the kennel. How will a new situation effect his sense of security? I also worry that Emmett’s nervous antics (he ate another cushion today) will incite anger with somebody new. The truth is, sometimes we get angry and we’re pretty darn tolerant. So yes, there are many questions about whether Emmett is adoptable yet or whether we can emotionally let him go.
The debate has not been settled for nearly a month, in part because the inquiring family never asked after Emmett again. Still, this is the moment of truth. As I see it, we have 3 options.
- We continue to foster and eventually send Emmett out into the world.
- We make a lifetime commitment to him.
- We ride this out and have the conversation all over again the next time a query arrives.
I’m opting for 2 while Tim opts for 3.
For now, I leave you with this video of what life with Emmett is like. Six months of our fostering experience has been condensed into less than 6 tasty and digestible minutes for your viewing pleasure. (To satiate your appetite for more ridiculousness not caught on camera, visit my previous post, “The Forever Foster?“). Perhaps you, dear reader, can offer some perspective. We’re obviously too in love.
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As we finish our Thanksgiving leftovers and drag out the many boxes of holiday decorations, Mother Nature is doing some holiday preparation of her own. She has sent a full day of gusting winds to whip up the last of the fall leaves and ship them out.
Shamus and Emmett turn their noses toward the winds of change and nearly take flight. The Newf tends to remain fairly grounded but I’m tempted to tie a rope to Emmett and fly him like a kite…
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Fall. ‘Tis the season for woolly sweaters, falling leaves, butternut squash, pumpkins …and gobs of apples.
This last detail is a treasured favorite among our dogs. As each sweet, succulent bauble dangles and then, at the peak of ripeness, drops from a branch, Shamus (our Newfoundland rescue) and Emmett (our mischievous, mixed-breed foster) come charging forth. “Gifts from the Great Treat God!” they must be thinking.
And why should humans be the only beings to savor the perfect apple as we devour a steaming, fresh-baked pie with heaps of vanilla ice cream on top? That thought has never crossed the minds of our pooches. They have shamelessly devoured mass numbers of apple treats during this year’s harvest (as evidenced by a recent increase in gastro-intestinal rumblings) with nary a care for moderation or just who those apples belong to. For that, I applaud them.
Sadly, as the season wanes, the gifts from the Treat Gods have become less and less frequent. Rest assured, with this new scarcity, the dogs have become more and more resourceful. Watch for yourself as Shamus and Emmett learn to live with less. It may have even taught them how to share… a little.
Shamus was adopted in March and we began fostering Emmett in July so it stands to reason that this behavior was born from competition, not to mention some odd canine vegetarian tendencies. Whatever the reason for the apple-loving season, it’s wonderful to watch the tradition of our original apple-loving dog, Bill, continue even though he has since crossed over the rainbow bridge.
Yes, Bill too loved him some tasty apples. In fact, he loved them so much that he’d perseverate over which one was absolutely perfect. Once he found his preferred pick, he’d find a spot in the sun and peel away the skin to reveal the sweet, juicy flesh beneath. Knowing that apples gave him the greatest joy, we’d buy them from the grocery store when the dog yard tree wasn’t in season – but he certainly loved those that came fresh from the tree most.
On that note, perhaps I should make some pie so I too can enjoy the last pickin’s of the season. As I do, I leave you with our favorite recipe. From our family to yours, have a wonderful Harvest Feast!
Apple Crumble Pie
Yeild: 1 deep dish 9 inch pie
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 35-40 minutes
Servings: 8 (or 4 if you’re us)
Ingredients:
1 (9 inch) deep dish pie crust
5 cups apples – peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup white sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup white sugar
3/4 cup all purpose flour
6 tablespoons butter
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Arrange apple slices in unbaked pie shell. Mix 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over apples.
- Mix 1/3 cup sugar with flour; cut in butter until crumbly. Smooth mixture over apples.
- Bake in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until apples are soft and top is lightly browned.
If you have any seasonal dog stories or favorite recipes to share, please do. We look forward to reading them!
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