My Heart Is Bursting

Being more healthy and able bodied has allowed me to do something I would have never dreamt of before. I have taken in a pregnant dog. We will help her whelp, raise her puppies till they can be adopted and will give them all love and attention. 

Now that I'm healthier and gone more (mostly to the gym or doing a Target pickup order), we had decided to get a second miniature pinscher. We adore our Max and wanted to get him a sister. We talked it over during the holidays and decided March would be a good time to start looking. It seems fate had something else in mind.

I swear, if you think you have control over the future you are just fooling yourself. That's why living in the now is so vital.

It all started with my husband and I watching a TV show called "Too Cute." It had been in our cue for ages, but I wanted something sweet and relaxing. So I picked their puppy episode. Over the next thirty minutes we watched little puppies and big puppies from birth to about six months. It was a sweet show.

The very next day I got on Facebook to message my son from my computer. I saw the non-profit organization I got Max (pictured here sleeping on my legs) from post this...

I didn't think a lot about the pregnant Mama other than she was cute and looked a lot like Max. I've never been a foster and it wouldn't have occurred to me that it was even an option for us to take her. I replied to the post that we would be looking to adopt a female and maybe one of her puppies would be a good fit when they arrive. My husband and I were open to getting a (note the singular there) puppy.

What a sweet face!

The following day I got a phone call from the woman who heads their Nor Cal division. She had been the one who selected us to adopt Max. She was calling to see if we would be open to fostering little Mama through her pregnancy. All of the other foster homes were full and the new applicants weren't great. The shelter she was at (three hours from us) was also full and they needed her out ASAP. I told her we would have to think about it and get back to her.

She had some people for us to talk to who had fostered pregnant moms before. That was incredibly helpful to hear some first hand experiences and to be able to ask questions.

This was a massive decision. It would mean an incredible sacrifice of money, time and sleep. The organization would pay her vet bills, but we would be footing the rest. I'm not a girl to "make do" or do things half ass. If we were in, then we would be all in. We chose IN.

In an hour and a half we meet our "Margo." We discussed it and we will be keeping Mama and one pup. I will help her through her labor and delivery and raise her pups till they can be neutered/spayed, vaccinated and adopted. I will help screen potential families and place them. We are calling on all of our family and friends for help as well. 

This is all thrilling and terrifying at the same time. Luckily we have an amazing vet to help us. She already has an appointment for tomorrow at 9am. A sure way to make her fall in love with me. Take her to the vet. ((gulp)) I'll be sure to bring loads of peanut butter.

A lovely volunteer picked Margo up this morning from the shelter and brought her to the woman's house who contacted me. She spent the day there having her picture taken endlessly (much to my gratitude) and is being delivered right to our eager arms.

I have everything ready for her. My fingers are crossed that we catch a break and she's potty trained. They don't know much about her as she was just found as a stray with no collar or microchipping. We're jumping into the pool blindfolded.

I'm hoping Max will be ok with this huge change. He came from a hoarding situation where there were 11 other dogs and 7 puppies. Wish us luck!

PS: I have since been told that "You are the most organized, efficient fosters I have ever worked with." I told her "That's me! I am organized and efficient. If I take on a task I'm all in." 

All about MAX!

Meet MAX! Max is my support animal. He is the best behaved dog ever. I joke that the second we leave the house and get in the car to go on some adventure (or just to the store) he turns into a stuffed animal. So quiet and just sniffing the world around him. At home he's a trouble maker who nips at our heels as we walk down the hall. I'm guessing to show his annoyance at being so little while we are so big.

The story of Max begins October, 2021 when I saw this...

click to make bigger

The second I saw that little face I KNEW he was meant for me. I just knew it. It wasn't love at first sight. It was more than that. Soul mate at first sight would be more accurate. I told my husband about "Ethan" (what a God awful name.) And he agreed we could apply to adopt him.

Our little man had been rescued from a hoarding situation along with 11 other dogs. I had been looking for a miniature pinscher due to their small size and less anxious nature than other small dogs. There were three other families applying for Max, but I won out in the end. Of course I did. We were meant to be.

Two weeks later we were on our way to bring him home. He was living in a foster home and she was sad to see him go. I think she would have kept him if she didn't already have cats and dogs of her own. He was a rolly polly little pudge ball. Like a round "potato." His first nickname.

The first time I met Max at his foster Mom's house.

Poor guy was twice the size he was supposed to be. We kept our fingers crossed he wouldn't die before we could get his weight down. He breathed very heavily and had a hard time going up and down stairs. We also quickly learned that he was deathly afraid of wood floors. Uh oh. It's a common thing for dogs but nothing we had encountered before.

Max also had acid reflux. I'm not sure if he had throat damage from being so obese, but he still has to take a Prilosec every day or he throws up at night. 

Our first days went smooth. Super smooth. He didn't know how to go for a walk and was scared of everything. But with love and patience all of that went away.

Coming Home!

We also learned that Max was not 3-5 years old like we had been told, but 6. I'm glad I didn't know that at the time however because I might have had second thoughts. 

I made all of his own food feeling it would be healthier for him and better for his digestion. I took over his weight loss and eight months later he hit his goal weight. 

The first time he slept like this we died laughing. 
It's a breed trait. Most minpins do it. 

Lucky for us my mom (who lives close) also fell instantly in love with Max and he with her. She takes him out for car rides, buys him "pup burgers" and walks him at our local cemetery. She also watches him on those rare instances he can't come with us.

It didn't take long for Max to start coming everywhere with us. He loooooved car rides from the first moment we got him. It took him a bit to feel comfortable out in the wide world however. But the more we took him the more he loved it. Especially safe in his sling with me.

Snug in his sling.

How I carry him now. A special front facing backpack.

It requires less arm strength from me.

Max also quickly proved himself to be an excellent service animal. He lets me know when it's time to rest or when I'm tired when I don't notice it myself and am engrossed in something or pushing it. He'll nudge me or just go to bed and wait for me to join him. And if I'm not doing well and in bed he stays by my side (unless Dad's eating peanut butter.)

Max is the smartest dog we've ever had. He's quick to learn new things. He just wants to be with us all of the time no matter what we're up to.

Smart boy solving a treat puzzle.

His first "pupachino" to celebrate hitting his goal weight.

We can't imagine our lives without Max. He's the funniest, funnest little bundle. His personality is enormous and I feel so privileged to be able to share my life with him. Love and patience have led him to grow into his own sweet dog-hood. We all fee lucky to have Max to share our life with us. I only hope he lives forever.

My husband likes to make pictures in my Sunday coffee.

This one is Max.

He's road trip ready!

Puppy Love

All animals are amazing, but my top favorite has to be canines. Dog's love you like no other animal on earth. They make you laugh, lower your heart rate, reduce stress, keep you active and give you the most unconditional love you will ever find. If you pay close attention there is much to learn from a canine companion.

We've been lucky enough to share our life and home with three dogs over the last 20 years. The first was Snack. Her "gotcha" anniversary is coming up next week. We got her from our local animal shelter. We were told she was dropped off in the night box, though who would ever let such a precious soul go like that is still beyond me. We figured she was about two years old when we got her and was a cross between a yellow lab and a basset hound. A more perfect dog there never was. She had endless patience for our son, was always hungry for a treat (or five) and gave us so much joy. She was with us for about 10 years.

Our second dog was an impulse rescue on my part. I really wanted a puppy bad (I blame hormones) so I went and adopted one without letting my husband know. Snack was wonderful with Sweetie. I think she might have had her own puppies at one time because her maternal instincts kicked in immediately.

I adopted Sweetie from the same shelter we got Snack from, but she was only three months old at the time. We now think she's part Whippet and part Rat Terrier, but I was told at the time that she was a Chihuahua mix. She's always had a tiny bit of a stinky temper, but she also lives up to her name.

Our third dog came along soon after we lost Snack. Lulu the 100% pure Basset Hound had been dumped in a friend's backyard by her son's roommates. Apparently he had moved to Mexico without his dog, so his roommates drove her all the way from San Diego to Davis just to leave her alone in the backyard. She HATED to be in a car the whole time we had her. Understandable given what happened to her. My husband saw Lulu's picture on Facebook with a desperate plea from our friend. We met her that afternoon and took her back home with us that night. It was a no-brainer. My husband LOVES Basset Hounds and Lulu needed a family right away. We were her 5th and last family.

Sweetie got along with Lulu just as well as she did Snack. They would play together and walk well together. Well, as good as a Basset can walk considering they are all part stubborn donkey. We had Lulu for about eight years before she passed. She was a ton of fun, but also enough work to make me swear off pure bred dogs for eternity.

Now Sweetie is 13 years old and into her twilight years. She has moderate dementia, but still loves going for walks. She also eats well and has never had an accident in the house. We love her to bits, even if she takes up our whole bed.

I find myself really missing that total companionship and dedication you get from a dog though. Sweetie is much more like a cat behaviorally now than like a dog. She likes attention on her terms when she feels like it. Her favorite pastime is just to stand and stare at nothing. -sigh- Not that big happy grin you get from most dogs.

My heart says I want another dog NOW but my brain says it's a bad time. We'll see who wins the battle. 

Missing Her

One of the hard parts of now working 40 hours a week is missing my dog Sweetie. I've had her since she was a 3 month old puppy. She's around 12 now. I saw her sweet face at the animal shelter. She was so small and curled in a ball in a giant cage. I just knew I had to save her and make her feel loved, safe and warm the rest of her life.

She has been my constant companion, especially when my chronic illnesses struck. If I'm in bed, she's in bed with me. When I'm up, she's right there. When I'm in the shower, she's in the bathroom waiting for me. My husband has a dog too and they do get along very well, but I'm her Mama. It's just always been that way.

I do what I can to make her cozy before I leave in the mornings. She jumps up on the couch on her fluffy pillow and I cover her with blankets. If she seems cold I tuck a hot water bottle right next to her. But then I'm gone for 11 hours. I miss her terribly and I know she misses me.

One of my favorite parts of the day is coming home, sitting on the couch with her tucked between myself and my husband and snuggling her. Yes, I'm the kind of person who kisses her dog. No tongue, but I can't help it! I hope you have your own rescue comfort animal too. I can't imagine my life without her.