Hi there—Ava here! In case you’ve been wondering what happened to me, my previous foster had some things she needed to attend to. So I’ve moved to a new foster home where I’m the only dog and have my foster mom all to myself!

I am a sweet little girl who is looking for my forever family. I need to build confidence and know that my world is safe. If you give me comfort, patience, and guidance I will trust you and learn new things. Could you be that family?

I will throw myself in your lap and love you up with a smile on my face! I love belly rubs, too. Well enough from me—my foster mom wants to tell you more.

Hi, this is Ava’s new foster mom, and this sweet little peanut has quite the story.

She has been through a lot since coming into RAGOM’s care: she delivered 10 puppies, was spayed, got an infection (all cleared up now), and was treated for a tick-borne disease she had contracted in Oklahoma. And now she’s in a new foster home.

Ava is taking anxiety medication to relieve her overwhelming fear of the world around her. She may not need to stay on this forever, but for now it helps relieve some of her running and hiding behavior as she learns to absorb the noises and activity of a family dog’s everyday environment.

Because Ava was not socialized before she came to RAGOM she exhibits some of the fearful behaviors of a commercial breeding dog. Usually these dogs require another dog for leadership and guidance.

However, Ava has shown fear-based reactions to some dogs. So, for now she is the only dog living with me, and we are going to see how she does in a home as an only dog. She might do well with a second dog if it was mellow and not super active.

She would do best with someone at home with her most of the time for support; however, this could change in time. Ava might love to live with just one person or a couple. If there are children in the home, they must be 13 or older, as the noise and busy-ness of young children would be too much for her.

Ava does her business outside, but then wants to come right back in the house. She is crate trained and spends 8 hours in her crate while I’m at work and has done well.

She would do best with a fenced-in yard, but that is optional as long as someone is with her outdoors on a leash. Her fear could make her bolt or hide.

Ava is doing great with me; she follows me around going upstairs and downstairs and in and out of all the other rooms. She wants to be right by my side.

She will also sit on the couch with me for a little bit but would rather be by my feet. She sleeps soundly all night in bed with me and does not move around much! She is most definitely a snuggle bunny.

Dogs like Ava are a treasure. They grow to love you fiercely, as they have not ever been truly loved. Every milestone they pass will make you want to jump for joy and count your blessings.

Ava deserves to see the world as amazing and enjoy life, and we will keep you posted weekly with her progress. I know from experience as a foster that she will get there. It will take time and patience, but the reward for her and her forever family will be astonishing.

Hello RAGOM land. Ava is confirmed to attend Goldzilla this Sunday. She will be walking in the Foster Showcase Parade. We also have plans for a mini-reunion with her original foster mom and her puppies.

We hope to see you there!

Ava is eager for this business of being a mama to wrap up. She cannot be spayed until four weeks after she is done nursing, and we are busily trying to find homes for all ten of her babies. She has attempted to cut them off the milk supply since they were about three weeks old, but they are like ants on a melting Popsicle at a picnic.

Once Ava is spayed she can go to her forever home. Here’s what we’ve learned about Ava in the time we’ve had her.

She can be shy around new people and is slow to warm up to some, but when she chooses you to be her “person” she loves you unconditionally. As her foster mom, I have been that special person and she sticks to me like glue.

She loves to snuggle on the couch, and would probably enjoy sleeping in the bed right next to me if I would allow it. Instead she settles for the floor directly next to the bed. She will lay at my feet while I’m working on the computer or under the table while I’m eating.

Ava is part mountain goat. Just kidding, but we have found that she can jump out of a 4-foot exercise pen. If her new home has a fence, she will need to be monitored as she can leap a low fence in a single bound. The good news is that she is good on the leash and sticks close to her person.

Ava is smart especially when it comes to tracking down food. Back to that mountain goat aspect, she can climb up onto any counter to get at food that might tempt her.

Ava has free reign in our finished basement as that is where her puppies are currently housed. She has not gotten into any trash or chewed up anything other than knocking the puppies food bowl off a counter. She has also spent some time in a crate and tolerates that, although it’s not her favorite spot.

Coming from a hoarding situation with 15 dogs and living at our house with two other dogs, it is clear that Ava can coexist with other dogs. We have not found her to particularly engage with our dogs, but that could be due to the pregnancy hormones that have made her protective of her pups.

I think she could easily be an only dog or live peacefully with another non-alpha dog that didn’t want to play with her.

Hopefully we can make Ava available for adoption soon, after her puppies find homes and her pregnancy hormones are leveled out. She is ready for that special someone to call her own.