6 months later... and Rescue sucks

I cannot believe that I have not updated anything since I have had Rosalee.  It has been such a roller coaster ride.   And this train is derailing.  Our adventures with Rosalee may be detailed later, but tonight the boys and I are having a pajama party.  We have always had pajama parties the night before we have one of our own dogs put to sleep.  Rosalee has had lots of behavioral and physical issues over the last 6 months.  Right now, I do not want to discuss.  But earlier this week, I knew that Rosalee and I were on the same page... fighting a losing battle.  She is in pain, lame in the hind end... She has been snapping at the people she loves most.  Her behavior has been so concerning to me.  I want to fix it.  But she has had such a shitty life.  She has every right to be defensive and pissy, especially when in pain.  But I cannot put my kids’ safety at risk.  Or mine, or my dogs.  I notified the owners of the rescue on Monday that I no longer felt safe with Rosalee due to her behavior and pain.  I asked that the rescue release ownership to me.  I wanted nothing more than Rosalee to be mine, in her forever home.  Not a foster, not a statistic of being a homeless pitbull that humans have failed, but a dog that found her forever place in a world that has not been kind to her.

Tonight, I had the pain of telling Jacob and Wiley that tomorrow will be Rosalee’s last.  Every parent wants to protect their kids from suffering yet here I am making their hearts break.  They knew.  When I told them I wanted to have a serious conversation with them after supper, Wiley said, “why? Is Rosie gonna be put down?”  I could only be honest. There were lots of emotions, of course.  Finally, I sat the boys down and asked them to finalize Rosie’s adoption.  They helped me complete her adoption contract. They signed her contract as her adopters.  And went and put their pajamas on.  Jacob brought both his and Wiley’s mattresses out to the living room so we can all sleep with Rosalee tonight.   As I type, my Hippo is snoring away on my lap.

I love this dog.  I have since she arrived in Wisconsin.  Her body screamed the plight of her shitty life before SPR took her in.  All I can say right now is that Jacob, Wiley and I love her so much that we will love her to the end.

Rosalee AKA Baby Hippo

This girl grabbed my attention when she first came into the rescue last October.  She was a rolely, polely girl full of sass and a huge heart for kids.  It took her a while to find her home as we are flooded with pitties that need homes everywhere.  She was adopted out in February locally.  I did a home visit with her adopters in April.  Decent people but kinda of clueless as to the fact that a girl like her needs rules and boundaries.  Fast forward to the August 2018 intake, where her previous foster, Nicki, told me that her adopters were going to have her euthanized because she hurt another dog.  The story kept changing as at first she killed the dog, but then in the end, it was a bit more clear that the “attack” was unwitnessed.  The other dog was very old and small.  Rosalee hurts his back end.  I could go on and on regarding everything this family did wrong when it came to Rosalee.  But ultimately, I could not accept that she was going to be euthanized so I contacted her adopters and brought her home.  She has been doing well with Jordy and Rayna.  We are still every cautious with Tinkerbell, our other foster, as she is so small.  Rosalee was a street dog for a long time.  She will always be on guard when meeting new dogs.  Slow introductions are a must.  I might create a post regarding how I introduced them in order to ensure that Rosalee was successful.  But she too has a the perfect home out there.  It might take some time to find it, but she will make their lives full.

Tinkerbell Strawberry. Piss and vinegar with a little bit of sugar.

 

This little girl needs to catch a break.  She has had two failed adoptions, one lasting only 12 hours!!!! People talk a good talk about understanding adjustment periods but Tinkerbell is a dog that requires you to respect her adjustment period.  She is a small dog that does not like to be picked up.  She will tolerate it if she trusts you.  And trust takes time, not just minutes!  Ugh.  Tink has been with us since early May.  I cannot believe that in four months no one has given her the time to become the family member she deserves to be.

Jessi, sweet as pie!!

This sweet girl couldn’t have been more perfect.  Jessi arrived in the April 2018 transport and we were blessed to have her for a little over a month.  She loved the boys so much that she was the first dog to sleep with them overnight.  She was a hard one to let go as she is what everyone wants in a dog.  But her day came and was adopted by the most loving lady. From a high kill shelter to the princess she was meant to be.  She is why I love this job.

Caramel... Little Dude. Adopted 3/27/2018

Caramel was a lucky little boy that had someone fall in love with him at the intake event the day he arrived from Alabama.  We were able to foster this little dude only for a couple of days.  The day the adopter’s application was approved, I called them and they were on their way to get him within minutes.  From over 2 hours away.  Lucky boy!

Intake Day

Finding the most comfy place at home.

 Adopt day good byes

 Meeting his new people

Hope joy

Can't win them all

Kamper.... surrendered back to the rescue

I am a few months behind.  Here is Kamper.  Kamper was returned to SPR by his adopter as being aggressive toward the other dog in the house.  Both were the same age and close to the same size.  We did home visits, did an emergency transport for neuters to Racine but the adopters wanted instant results.  So the agressively 15 lb dogs came to live with us.  Kamper did have some dominant tendencies and was a very vocal dog but not aggressive.  He thrived in this house.  It did not take long for him to find his forever home.  But because our rescue does not adopt over Christmas, Kamper was with us for almost two month.  

We got to open our home up over the holidays to Kamper.  He even got a present from Santa.

Adoption day good byes

Kamper’s new family.  He will be spoiled!  This was a feel good day.

Copper’s journey

Copper’s journey to his final home is complete.  He was adopted out by the end of October.  No big surprise and this guy was cute as a button.  But not with out issues. He was never publically released on Sandi Paws website as he had interest from a post RUFF Academy had listed.  His new owner seems prepared for his behavior and more than willing to ask for help when needed.  He will make all of us proud, I am sure.

Adoption day goodbyes

 Wiley came with for the first time for a one on one adoption.  That made it tough.  But he gets it.  Better than I give him credit for.

 Coppere’s new mom.  She will do well by him.  Be happy sassy boy!

Copper

Copper arrived on Friday, October 13, 2017. Copper was an adopter return after more than two years due to biting and behavior issues. He spent a couple of weeks with Rebekah from RUFF Academy in Sheboygan while she was completing his behavior assessment. Stay tuned...

Here and gone

Lyle was here for just one night and then he was off to Plymouth to make his new family extremely happy. Adopted 10/9/2017