It only gets harder

Cindy Lou. The dog that humans failed over and over. The toss away. Disposable. A nuisance. The day I picked her up from the most recent let down, she was so terrified. She shook, growled, and snapped. She had no reason to trust me. No understanding of what was happening. Within a couple of days, I had earned a bit of her trust and every day was better. And we developed such a strong bond. I was the light of her life (good for the ego) and I could do anything with her. So when adoption events happened she only cared about me. Very hard to find someone who wants dog that is scared, shy, and wants to bolt to the only person she trusts.  But, it happened! I showed Cindy a bit of tough love and disappeared most of the day at a mall event. It made people look at her and try to befriend her. And then something magical happened. A sweet, kind couple noticed this little broken dog. They saw her for what they could help her become. They took the time to try to understand her. They know that their patience will be rewarded ten fold.

So today I had to ask Cindy Lou to trust me one last time.  I didn't think it would be that hard but it broke me down.  I handed her over to her adopters and kissed her head promising her the life she deserved. You can't help but feel you are betraying them as you leave them with a complete stranger as they struggle to get back to you. How will she know that I am not abandoning her too?  Tough love, for me and for her.

Be happy, Cindy Lou.  I am trusting you to trust me on this. You will be loved and spoiled like never before.

Empty house? Only one day

Bahama pup left on Wednesday and Thursday it was discovered that one of the adopted dogs from last year was found on Facebook being given away. Ugh! I will never understand people. I am not even going to go there.  Friday, I went to go pick up Cindy Lou, a Chihuahua mix from her former adopter.

Cindy Lou is a basket case. She is scared shitless with no socialization. Not potty trained, but not crate trained.  Her adopter left her in the house with no boundaries and expects her to house train herself. I could go on and on but that would not do me or Cindy Lou any good.

Hopefully Cindy will find an adopter who will give her time and patience to allow her to develop into the dog she can truly be.

Potcake pups

Well, the first adoption event was not the presentation for the Bahamas babies. But never mind that, the following weekend was a mall event and there were so many people interested in these two girls it was crazy. Nassau left last Sunday right from the mall event and is staying in Fond du Lac. Bahama will now be Callie, short for Calypso, left on Wednesday with her adopter.  Bittersweet for sure. These girls are so lucky! Live happy and well, girls.

One at a time? Nope, this time it is two.

Max man left for his new home last week Sunday. Less than an hour later, I was on the way home with two pups given a second chance at life. These pups were a personal rescue of a friend.  She was in the Bahamas when she crossed the paths of these two pups. Needless to say, life was rough for them. After lots of hard work and dedication, they made it to Wisconsin. I received permission for intake into SandiPaws. They have been here a week. They are so much work yet have provided way more enjoyment. Tomorrow, they will go to an adoption event. I highly doubt that they will be coming back my home. Hopefully, they will be on their way to their new forever homes. I will cry. Both from happiness and sadness. It truly is not easy.

Nassau, the sensitive, reserved Pot Cake

Bahama, the brave underdog,Bahamian Pot Cake

Baby Baha riding in the stroller

 First day home

Fostering dogs

Since settling at the McHaney Acres, I have decided to take on fostering dogs for local rescue, SandiPaws. SandiPaws takes in local surrenders  but most of its work is focused on saving lives from high  shelters in Alabama. There is a great network of people down south that pull dogs from shelters and evaluates street dogs/strays for foster and adoption up here. I struggle to understand how our human species can treat such loving souls so poorly. But there are a special group of people that have such redeeming qualities.

My first foster arrived  couple weeks ago. His name is Max Man and his breed is best known as Alabama Brown dog.  But some of those dog breed analysts think he is a greyhound/plott hound mix. Personally, my vote is greyhound/boxer. Truly, it doesn't matter. He was scared shitless coming to Wisconsin after a year long stay with his foster in Alabama. She nursed him through heartworm treatment. His first days with us, he never left his crate. But only a few days later he started to settle in. Jordy, my personal dog loves him. The boys adore him and Harold says not much (that is huge). In two short days, he is going to meet his (hopefully) forever family that has a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and two 11 year old twin girls.  Right now, I am not sure if I am cut out for fostering. My heart for these souls are so soft. But I need to remind myself that for every dog that leaves adopted, another one is saved from a lonely life and death not knowing love and kindness.

To be Two Again

A strategically placed dog would make you think it is a normal day at the funny farm
But Jacob has decided he like to feel less restrictive, limiting himself to just his Packer hat and sandals for the morning.

So, in celebration, it was a year on 5/29 that Shaggy and Harmony came home with us. Here is a pic from the adoption day. What a long way they came. Both donkeys now love and seek attention. Both have carried riders and have gotten hair cuts with scary clippers. They keep the Percherons in line and harass the old horse. So much fun they have been.
Phil will be here a year June 13th. I haven't killed her but most importantly, she hasn't killed me. She has proved to be a handful and a sweetheart all at the same time. Has rightfully earned the name of Glue.

So what is up with our pasture? We have sandhill cranes and whooping cranes so the people at the International Crane Foundation has taken to spending hours watching our pasture. Well, the cranes must have told the swans and the pelicans how nice it is here. We had a lonely swan here for about a week in April, and then for the second year in a row we have been swarmed by these goofy looking birds. From what I can figure out they are American White Pelicans. Hopefully, there is not an International Pelican Foundation or we will have to start charging for parking in our driveway.

Jacob much enjoys summer evenings and prefer to spend them outside regardless of what kind of weather we are having. He is in charge of feeding the donkeys and the cats, a job which he takes very seriously.

And then just two cute black butts loving green pasture and a nice summer day.