Truman

I got an e-mail yesterday with the subject: Be Careful What You Say, Some Darn Rescue Rep May Remember...

Alice was MIA for several days last month, and I was worried I'd made her mad. When she finally got back to me, she let me know she'd been trying to find a foster home for a seizure dog. I told her that we were a seizure-savvy home, and if she ever had another seizure dog to place in foster care that she should consider us.

Well... the foster home for that dog isn't working out. He's had two seizures (one grand mal) since he's been in foster care, and his foster mom completely freaked out. Plus, they're in the middle of moving so she can't handle the stress of a move plus a seizure dog. So Alice contacted me to see if we can take him.

The good news is that there may be a family that wants him, and they're going through a home visit check-up now. I can only hope and pray that home will take him because there are a couple of issues with him besides the seizures: he's 9 years old and he's a boy. And who wants a 9-year-old, male, seizure dog? He's going to be a tough one to place. Which means he will probably be with us for a long time (and I'll get attached and we'll end up keeping him, dammit!).

But... I said, yes, we'd take him. And asked her how we can get him? Brian's all excited about ME taking care of another one.

I have to wait and see how the home visit turned out with the people who potentially want him.

I told Alice if he comes to us, I'll take some really good pictures and write a résumé for him like we did with Eika.

Oh, yeah: His foster parents changed his name from Truman to Carlo. We'll be calling him Truman--his name for the last nine years! Why in the heck would they change it on him?

Oh yeah #2: he's not on seizure medication, but the first thing I'll do if he comes to us is have him put on phenobarbitol or potassium bromide.

Eika's Scrapbook Pages

So.... Eika's new forever family (we hope...) wants to come meet her. I'm not sure when yet since they'll be driving from California to Idaho and stopping by on their way through.

I made them some scrapbook pages of her time with us. I don't know if they'll want it or not, but I'm making it for them anyway.

I've already posted most of these pictures, but here's what they look like as scrapbook pages:

I bought some 8x8 refill pages, and I'm going to make a chipboard cover with her name on it. That oughta be cute!

Eika update...

Eika has been officially "offered" to the retired couple because she's so skittish around kids. The husband lives and works in CA and the wife is retired and lives in Idaho. She's not sure about Eika since she's not a cuddle bunny. Also, she's on her way to CA to be with her husband for a "few days" (I wonder how long that is...?). She told June (the Area Rep) that they're looking for an IG while she's there. So... Eika may not go to this woman at all. However, June told her she wouldn't "offer" her to anybody else until she made up her mind.

Since Eika IS so scared of kids, I don't know if the other home is going to work out either??? How long is this dog going to be with us??? Not that she's any problem at all--she's better than all four of our dogs put together. This sounds so mean: I just don't want her around much longer! Five dogs is too many to have to keep up with and feed and medicate.

Meanwhile, I recieved a check from IGCA yesterday reimbursing us for the money we've spent on Eika so far. Brian said "absolutely not!" We're taking care of her as a donation and we'll either send the check back or tear it up. They need that money for all the poor dogs who are in bad shape with broken legs and rotten jaw bones. Eika is, fortunately, in really good health.

Anyway, I'd e-mailed over the paperwork I'd gotten at the vet's office, but I only did that for her file; not to be reimbursed.

Eika's forever home...??? I'm not sure...

Okay... the Regional IGCA Rep (Alice) passed my name on to the Area Rep (June). June has two approved homes that may work for Eika... Maybe... Not I'm so sure... Both homes have one other IG.

First home: Mom, Dad, 2 kids (9 and 12); nice house; big fenced yard. Problems: Eika will be in a crate for 7 hours a day until the mom comes home from work--until their basement re-model is finished, and then the dogs will have their own room to stay in (but they'll still be by themselves for 7 hours a day...). Also, the Humane Society says that Eika is afraid of kids. Hmmm... not sure about all of this...

Second home: retired couple. Husband is in CA (with the other IG) working for most of the year and wife is in ID (is that the abbreaviation for Idaho?). Problem: she wants a young, lap dog, and June gets the feeling she'd really like a male even though she said she'd take either. Eika is young (3 years), but she IS NOT a cuddle dog; she does not want to sit in our laps, and she's afraid to be picked up.

I let June know that Eika can stay here until the right forever home is found and she can always come back to be a foster dog with us if it doesn't work out at either of these two homes.

Whew! The IGCA Rep Got Back To Me

I was soooo worried I'd made the IGCA Rep mad at me for some reason, but she got back to me yesterday. She had been busy trying to place a seizure dog in the right foster home, and that's all she was focused on.

She wrote a huge e-mail about what'nall they do when an IG is adopted out. Wow! It's as intense as adopting a child. They even do a home visit! This is WONDERFUL, but it's so hard, I'm sure most people just give up. Honestly, I wouldn't like somebody going through my house. And I'm sure breeders don't have all of those requirements; that it's just "show me the money" and they get a puppy. Rescue is cheaper ($250), but I'll bet most people don't think it's worth it. All of this means a dog is only going into the very best home, but also that there are still alot of dogs in the rescue program waiting to be placed since they're so picky! This makes me wonder how long Eika is going to be with us...

Where is that stinking IGCA Rep?????

So... we've had Eika since Tuesday. The IGCA rep (Alice) and I e-mailed back and forth several times on Monday and Tuesday (like I'm talking 10 times or more). Now, guess what? I haven't heard from her again since Tuesday afternoon! Where is she????

So, yesterday, I sent her an e-mail and asked her to e-mail me the qualifications adopters have to have before a dog is placed with them--to alleviate Brian's concerns. I hope I didn't make her mad for some reason. I don't think that's rude at all, but maybe it came across wrong? Still... we have this dog that we have to get rid of... before Brian gets more attached... yes, the quicker the better... please, please, please let her contact me today! We CANNOT have another dog (even though she behaves better than any of ours and she's completely potty trained).

Maybe Alice is on Spring Break or something? I can't believe she won't contact me any more without a really good reason.