Tag Archives: fostering

Shih Tzu Prelude: Past, Present & Future?

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We were getting ready to do the work we need to do to get ready for the shih tzus when Kelsey and Todd, the newlyweds who live next door, came over. They brought us a bottle of wine for watering their plants while they were gone, and we ended up spending some time talking about their wedding and looking at pictures of the wedding and reception on Facebook.

We told them about finding Rosie on the bike path, returning her to her owner and our upcoming fostering and possible adoption of Candy, Flower and Dottie. I have to admit that I have some worries. Will these three shih tzus ever be as sweet, adorable and loving as Rosie had already become when she went back home — only two days after we found her?

Although John and I haven’t progressed as far on the home improvements as we need to, I wrote Delores to tell her we would be ready for inspection Thursday. I know July 4 is a scary time for dogs, so I am hoping they have a few days to settle in before the noise begins.

Delores said that a couple of people have called about Candy. That’s understandable. This little shih tzu has such a sweet face. When she told me that, though, I thought, “They haven’t met her, so they probably don’t know that they are in for some work.” Just hope it’s rewarding work!

Shih Tzu Prelude: Puppy Mill Dogs Foster Home

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Foster Home Problems

When I discussed Candy, Flower and Dottie with Delores at BFF Rescue, she explained that the shih tzus had had trouble adjusting — Flower and Candy in particular. The 2-year-old shih tzus, in fact, had both gone to different foster homes, but they had come back to Barbara’s. The person who brought Candy back after only a day said she was worried because she wouldn’t eat. Flower was at her new foster home for a few days, but that person said she wouldn’t play with her dogs and wasn’t adjusting.

Delores’s daughter-in-law, Barbara, was fostering the three shih tzu half-sisters. Barbara had set up an exercise pen for the girls to give them a feeling of security while they adjusted. They were allowed to leave the pen, if they chose. However, only Dottie usually chose to do that. She seemed content at her foster home. Delores said she got along well with the other dogs at the foster home and with the cat. She also said that Dottie followed Barbara around the house, sometimes slept with her and her husband and often jumped up on the couch and sat between them while they watched TV.

Flower and Candy were happy to remain in their exercise pen. Early in the morning, Barbara’s husband would let them outside into a dog run to give them their morning exercise. They went through the garage to get to the run. Often, on the way back in, Candy would slip off into the garage to be by herself in hiding.

Pet Adoption Process

I told Delores I wanted to see the dogs, particularly Candy. She stressed that she was really hoping to place Candy and Flower in a home together. She said she thought Dottie would be okay on her own. I thought about it quickly and said I thought it was possible that we might take two dogs, even though we had only ever had one dog, and I didn’t know how difficult it would be to get used to two at a time.

Delores explained to me that I would need to fill out an animal adoption form before seeing the shih tzus. I filled it out and emailed it back to her after John got home from work and signed it. She gave me Barbara’s number to call her and arrange to see the shih tzus.

When I told John what Delores had told me about the dogs being puppy mill dogs, he was a little concerned. He told me that dogs from puppy mills often have lasting scars from the trauma. He warned me that they might never be like other dogs. I admit that what he said concerned me, but I insisted that I wanted to go see them. He said he would keep an open mind.

I called Barbara and arranged to visit with the shih tzus the next day.