A WHOLE YEAR!!!

I missed the date a little, but as of July 21st, Wiggles has been in her forever home for a YEAR!! WOW!

THREE MONTHS

Wooo wooo!

Three months in furever!

:)

Wiggles

It's been two months!!

Two months since I found furever!!!! Yaaaaaaay! Isn't it just soooo exciting??

If you have not seen them yet, please watch all my videos. Watch "My Big Video" last. You will be amazed. You might even cry (my FM always does when she watches it).

Keep in mind that I was in the shelter for 3 months and was on the euthanasia list for awhile before FM came to my kennel and said "You're coming with me, you deserve a chance."

In four months, I learned how to be happy. I smiled with my whole body instead of running off to hide. Is that a big accomplishment or what? I never could have done it without FM. Sad thing is, there are many doggies out there just like me. I sure hope that my story helps people consider fostering... not all dogs needing fostering are going to be as challenging as I was, but dontcha think living in a house with loving people is a little nicer than in a kennel surrounded by concrete and chain link where you aren't even guaranteed to go for a walk every day due to lack of volunteers?

Just think about it.

Oh hey, another milestone is that FM has been volunteering for over a year. Hoooweee, what a busy year that was! And in a few months, FM's first foster (Cole) will be celebrating his one-year annifursary of his adoption day. :)

Wiggles

OMD!

DO YA'LL KNOW WHAT FM JUST REALIZED??

I have been in my furever home for over a month.

Yeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaw!!!

Wiggles

Wanna know something interesting?

FM found out the road in which an animal control officer picked me up last December. It's in a rural part of town (aka horse or hobby farms everywhere). It actually wasn't too far from where FM used to board her horse. In FM's experience in the horse world, she's learned that farm dogs are generally not treated very well. She only knew of one that actually lived in a house (and it was the best behaved, happiest of them all). They usually run completely loose and sleep in the barns, they have ticks, mats in their fur, look ridiculously unhealthy, aren't altered, generally stay on property but truthfully know no boundaries (FM has seen dogs trotting down the middle of the road before in these areas). There was even one dog who almost got beaten with a thick stick because it bit someone who was stupid towards it even after been warned not to mess with it... they could not catch the dog so it was just chased around the farm and eventually locked in a bathroom!! How dumb can people be?

FM knows not ALL farm doggies are treated like this, but it's pretty awful... why should someone trust the care of their livestock with someone who can't even look out for their dog? Argh!

So that's the area that I came from, and FM thinks it makes perfect sense... it would explain why I am comfortable around other animals, especially dogs, but terrified of people. Maybe it's just that I never was handled much in my life, maybe I was handled poorly, maybe I was taunted and teased by meanies. Whoooo knows.

It just boils FM's blood to think of all the doggies out there who are treated with zero respect just because of the "purpose" they have... to be a farm doggie.

And don't even get FM started on farm cats!! Holy moly!


Anyway, just another interesting tidbit about me. The good thing is, I at least retained a lot of happiness and that is what saved my life... if my tail didn't wiggle the way it does, ya'll would have never heard my story or seen my cute face!!

Oh, that reminds FM... did you know that FM never really thought I was cute, and then one day it hit her, "Look at those ears, wow, she really is a cutie!!!" My ears had always been plastered to the side of my head because I was so nervous, but when I was comfortable and happy, they came up! Tehehehehe! :)

Silly FM, thinking I wasn't cute.... BOL

Wiggles

No news is good news

Right?

FM had a dream (nightmare) the other night that she showed up late to an adoption event and little ol' ME was there, looking for a new home again. Eeeeek!

Luckily dreams (nightmares!) do not always reflect reality! I'd very much like to stay with this family furever an' ever, thank you very much.

Anyway, FM has not heard anything from my new family in a week. She bets that I'm runnin' with my big sister in the evenings, relaxin' in a crate during the day, and cuddlin' with my whole family in bed at night. Aaaaah, isn't that a good life? :)

Yesterday was an adoption event at a church... they always host one at the last Sunday of the month. I had been to at least two (if not three, FM can't remember) of the events there. Well, FM doesn't go unless she has a foster to bring, so she skipped the event yesterday. But someone else told her that many people were asking about me... "Where's that dog? The really shy one?" and when they heard that I'd found a home, they were very relieved and said that they had prayed real hard for me. Awww, isn't that nice?

Happy tail wags,
Wiggles

An update already!

FM told my new family yesterday to call if they had any questions... and they called just now with a question.

I just love to eat my food REALLY REALLY fast and then snoop around at the other dog's food bowls and, well, if they move over I'll snarf their food too. So apparently my new sister is a really slow eater like Jasmine and I've been gulping my food AND hers in record time, before she even has time to get going at it. BOL. So FM told her to keep watch and to say "No" whenever I moved in.

Here's what I've been up to in the last 24 hours or so...

* Been really affectionate towards both my new pawrents.
* Been gettin' along great with my new sister
* Met 2 neighbor kids and their dog, did OK but was obviously leery with the kiddos... however, my new pawrents are optimistic that I'll get better with the kids.
* Hid for the first time at their house in the hallway (I hid immediately for a WEEK when I came to my foster home) when my new dad's dad came over. But guess what, he likes me!
* Been jumpin' up on my new momma (I only do that to people I LOVE)
* I was doin' my wiggle dance while my new momma talked to my FM.
* Slept well through the night (most likely at the end of the bed... a cozy ol' family sleepin' together!!!)
* Drank water sloppily, gettin' the floor all wet.
* Giving lots of kissies!!!!!!

And probably some other stuff that FM's forgetting...

Generally, just doing WONDERFUL BEYOND FM'S WILDEST DREAMS!!!

I'm adopted!

Yay for me! They came to Petsmart to get me and to pick up some supplies for me. Finally, FM handed over the leash and let them get on their way into the checkout lane. Then we left the store, I walked right out there with my new family, pulling a lot, actually, and when we all piled into the car. My new sister, Savannah, looked out one window, and I looked out the other. FM could see the outline of my cute ears. I sure looked happy!

FM was worried all night about me, hoping that I was doing OK. I think I will really like my new family. They are really nice and I think they will do lots for me. I don't think it will take a month for me to come around to them, maybe just a couple of weeks. They have a really nice doggie (my new sister!) although I'm way more energetic than she is. I'll sure keep my new family entertained! I hope they're ready for it, BOL.

~

You would not believe how many people said that I was not worth saving, that there was no hope for me, etc. It took a handful of people who saw potential in me & gave me a chance to get me where I am now. December 16, 2006 I was found on a rural road south of the city by an animal control officer. Most likely I was a farm dog, which would explain my love of other dogs but fear of humans. While in the stray building at the shelter, I caught the attention of shelter staff by my happy wiggling dance in the kennels whenever they walked by. They could tell that I was shy, but happy & alert. Whenever my kennel door would open, though, I scrambled off in a fearful retreat. I had still left an impression with these shelter workers, though. They are the ones who have to decide who gets a second chance and who doesn't. Thankfully, they took me from the stray building and put me in the adoptable building. December 29, I was spayed and medically worked up for adoption. But I spent 3 months in the kennels, and no one ever took a second look at me. I was just the "fluffy, fat, shy dog" and all people could see when they looked at me was "work & time" -- things that a lot of people are not interested in giving a dog, can you even believe it? Well, unfortunately the shelter staff was no longer interested in keeping such a dog in the limited adoption kennels. So my FM jumped in and told them not to lay a finger on me, she'd take me in as a foster.

And that's where, over 4 months that seemed more like 4 years, I transformed from the fat dog into the athletic dog, since I finally was getting good exercise. From a fluffy dog I became a sleek dog, thanks to the Furminator. And, the longest transformation was the most important... I changed from a very scared, shy dog into a confident and trusting one. I unleashed an entirely different personality than what anyone ever would have guessed if they saw me in my kennel at the shelter. I was happy, playful, smart, mischievous, and energetic. That shelter-to-home transition was very rough for me. I found a corner in the family room and drug all my toys there for company, but wanted nothing to do with people. Teaching me how to sit was a major breakthrough and bridged trust between me, and other people who asked me to do it and followed up with a treat that I new was coming. Each time I went out to a new adoption event, FM noticed a new level of confidence around strange people. At first I didn't even want to walk around people. Then I could sit down and let them walk past me. Then I let them approach me. Then I let them reach out and touch me. Then I took treats from them. Then I did tricks for them. Then I was able to mingle around them with ease, as long as no kids chased me or no one suddenly reached out for me.

And look at where it's gotten me! I'm off in a new home, who would have ever thought it would happen?? I'm so excited! FM still worries and frets about me. But I think I will easily capture their hearts, and it will be like I was always part of their lives!

I'M GONNA FIND OUT WHAT "FUREVER" MEANS!!!

THEY JUST CALLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to my furever home Saturday afternoon!!!!!

FM is already crying out of sheer joy for me!!!!!!

Now we just gotta hope it sticks! FM's going to reiterate that I will take awhile to adjust, but with proper love and attention from my new mom and dad, I'll be a sweet & funny dog for furever!!!!

OH MY DOG I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY FOUND A FUREVER!!!

Adoption pending!

I want the phone to ring! I want the phone to ring! I want the phone to ring!

FM says it might not ring for an entire week, though. OMD!

Because, guess what, I have an application in! I met a really pawsome couple and their really sweet lab. I loved them all! We went for a walk together an' everything! FM says they asked a lot of questions about me.

They want to think about it for a little while longer. OMD I can't wait for the phone to ring. I hope they still want me!!!!!!

Wiggles