So I got up this morning and after bringing Harriet and Parker outside to do their business, they came back in and hopped up on the couch and Parker just plopped right on top of Harriet and they snuggled for some time and I took a few pictures that I thought I would share.

In other big news, yesterday Harriet started following Clementine (our Vizsla) around which was good, because Clem had been trying to get them to play for days now! Clem is very vocal when she plays and I think that turned them off at first, but Harriet was having a great time. Parker hasn’t participated much in playing yet (the only time I saw her playing was when Cassie was here), but she is happy to just be next to someone at all times. When Jolie & Clem think they hear something outside, they tend to bark and now Harriet has joined in…. she has such a cute little safety growl and bark.

There were no messes in the house yesterday so I’m going to see if they will go outside on their own today (without lead). They know how to use the dog door, but they just seem hesitant to go outside. Not sure if they think they won’t be able to come back in or if the temperature is a bit cold, but they definitely like the warmth! They did go out on their own yesterday when I went out to the garage and they were curious where I went. That was a big milestone! We also had a friend stop by with their Wheaton terrier and the meeting went well.

Do I sound like a proud mama yet?

Just wanted to give everyone an update on Parker and Harriet:

In general, they have been just wonderful. They slept quietly in their crates last night… not even a peep. Actually, we haven’t heard them bark yet! They are both very food aggressive with all of the dogs (including each other). We feed them in their crates, and that seems to work quite well as that is their safe haven. Both will not go outside on their own yet. Harriet will go pretty willingly on lead, but Parker struggles a bit. Once they do their business I take them off the lead and they run right back into the house via the dog door. They seem to like the warmth inside. They had their first taste of peanut butter (I presume). Harriet didn’t know what to do at first, but once she licked my finger, she just wanted more. Parker is going to the vet on Monday and will get a quick checkup as well. We finally figured out why she has such a granny lip. Her teeth are ground down further than Harriet’s and she is missing her bottom teeth!

When I took Parker out a little while ago, I came back in and the trash was knocked over (which we had put up high). You can tell they were scavengers. They have been jumping up on the counters when there is food around (meal prep time, etc), but they both respond well to a firm “off” and they don’t seem to be too sensitive in that respect. We had a friend stop by yesterday and both of them came right up to her and in-fact Parker nuzzled with her on the couch. Both LOVE to cuddle. Also, I had to bring two extra dog beds into my office because both Parker and Harriet decided they needed to be next to me while I work and poor Clem and Henri didn’t have a place to go! The pack order is quite clear here: Jolie, Parker, Harriet, Henri & Clem.

Also more pics posted here:
http://www.sstrixie.com/pics/furry_friends/fosters/?mode=1&offset=12&limit=12


I took Harriet to the Vet today to just get another good once over. Here is Harriet’s report card:

1) Harriet is between the ages of 5 and 10 (I was thinking on the 8-10 year range).
2) She had some hard lumps in her lower teet which was a bit bothersome to me. The doc said it felt like scar tissue, but to just monitor it for any growth or abnormalities.
3) Her ears are still a bit dirty, but no yeast infection, so we will keep cleaning them as often as she will let us.
4) I noticed she was swaying sometimes and not always walking in a straight line and the doc did a balance test that looks like she may have had some past damage to her sciatic nerve or a broken bone that never healed correctly.
5) She was extremely willing to let him clip her toenails.
6) She has numerous scrapes and nicks and small scars all over her body, but she is a tough old bird.
7) She would not take the panacur this morning with just yogurt, so we will try something else at dinner time.
8) Also, Harri rode extremely well in the car without a crate. We have a dogseat and she sat the entire time. She couldn’t jump in it… but she climbed right in and sat the entire way and did not seem to be scared at all. She also made some doggie friends at the vet ;)

This is my favorite picture thus far of Harriet:
http://www.sstrixie.com/pics/furry_friends/fosters/?show=IMG_2947.JPG&mode=1&offset=12&limit=12

This is my favorite picture thus far of Parker:
http://www.sstrixie.com/pics/furry_friends/fosters/?show=IMG_2956.JPG&mode=1&offset=12&limit=12

Just brought the pups back up here from their long ride from Arkansas and all are doing well. Parker (formerly Lexi) & Harriet (formerly Ozzie) are amazing. They have explored the inside and outside of the house and other than a large incident of Harriet relieving herself the entire length of the house, they are doing great. Both are comfortable inside and outside of the crate and both are just sweethearts. We are looking forward to seeing them grow more and more trusting over the next few weeks. Both are a bit scared (they don't want to go outside, and seek the security of their crates) but they LOVE to be scratched and petted and loved. We had everybody on the couch last night to watch a movie and everyone ended up snoring...

Here are some pics from the initial meeting with our dogs (Jolie - Pointer, Clementine - Vizsla, & Henri – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel):
http://sstrixie.com/pics/furry_friends/fosters/?mode=1&offset=&limit=12

We are amazed at how sweet these dogs are despite the horrible conditions they were in. The folks from the Illinois Bird Dog Rescue obviously gave these little ones all of the love and support they needed to get them here. Our hats go off to you.

Well, thankfully I finally have something else to put up on the website except for that GWB picture!! !

We have two very scared new pups coming up to us over the next few days from the Arkansas Boat Mountain dog seizure.

We will be fostering them until they are able to be adopted out to another New England family.

In other news... we are looking at a new house to purchase that has 6 acres of land. We realized that if we want to continue fostering dogs, that our fenced in yard and daily walks and runs won't be quite sufficient. We have an offer in to the folks, but are still waiting to hear back from them (as they are wintering in Florida or somewhere warm and cozy).

We'll keep you updated on how the new pups are doing when they arrive. We are so excited to be able to help out where we can.