3/4/06: As a foster home for a rescue organization, I believe our job is to (1) get the dogs safe; (2) get the dogs healthy; and (3) learn about their personality to be able to intelligently talk to adoptive families about the dog’s likes and dislikes to ensure a happy match and a forever home for your foster dog. Today, with the help of many wonderful RAGOM volunteers and another rescue organization, Brody and Shannon took their first step into rescue. They were transported from a farm in Iowa to their foster home in the Twin Cities and tonight, they are safe. Brody (3 year old petite intact male) and Shannon (4 year old spayed blonde female) have lived the last year of their life in a kennel run with a doggy door into a barn stall. Their original owners dropped them off with somebody they knew for what was supposed to be a week visit. They never came back. It is now a year later and the people that had the dogs were contacted by a rescue group and happily agreed to surrender the dogs to RAGOM. What we have been told is that Shannon lived the first year of her life in a house, Brody lived the first three months of his life in a house. That is all we will ever know about their past.

Tomorrow, they will start the second step in their journey as foster dogs. They will visit the vet. Shannon has a very bad case of diarrhea and I believe a urinary tract infection. She has obviously had this condition for a while as she has dredlocks down her back legs from the matting. Brody also has diarrhea with a little blood, which I am assuming is from an irritated intestinal lining. He is scheduled for his neuter on Tuesday. Both will be brought up-to-date on shots, microchipped, heartworm tested and given appropriate medications.

The third step will then begin. It will be my job to learn about these beautiful animals’ personalities and to share with you what I learn. The little bit I know so far is that they met all three of my dogs with no problems. Brody, as an intact male, did think that he would like to know my females a little better. They, in no uncertain terms, told him that weren’t in the least bit interested in his advances, and with a bit of a sheepish look, he hasn’t tried again. Shannon also did the meet and greet with no problem. They loved the opportunity to run free around my backyard (first time in a year) and both came when called as they seem to enjoy people attention. I’m keeping them separate from my resident dogs for the rest of the night, giving Brody and Shannon both some time to get comfortable and relax in their new environment. Both Brody and Shannon are people friendly and gentle dogs. Both submitted to my taking them into the shower and getting their baths. They are now quietly sleeping in a section of our house. They seem to really enjoy each other’s company and would probably love it if we can find a home for them that wants both animals. I’ll know more as the week goes on.