Paws and Prayers Rescue Blog

There is no way to tell the story of Russell from beginning to end as a short story. His story is far too long; and far from over. So I will do my best to keep it as short as possible. I'll divide it into chapters so it doesn't have to be read all at once. The 7 chapters of Russell's Story will be posted semi-monthly.

Melanie, victim of BB gun shot wounds

From August of 2011 to September of 2012 our family fostered fifteen dogs for Paws and Prayers. Most of them, ten to be exact, were Beagles or Beagle mixes. Each had its own level of affection that made it easy for us to get attached to them. From the extreme response of jumping in your lap and licking your face, to a simple nudging of your hand for a gentle pat on head, each had their own distinct personality. Each also had challenges that needed to be worked out. These included, but were not limited to: two “diva” Beagles that barked loudly at every dog they saw, a Beagle puppy that only pooped in his cage, a Beagle that had to spend hours a day hiding and retrieving toys all over the house, a German Shepherd mix that needed to sit in your lap every minute, a Redbone Coonhound that was scared of me and most likely had never been in a house, and a small Beagle with a dislocated hip and twelve BB’s from a gun scattered throughout her body (including one in the neck). Each dog was adopted to a loving home.

On Sunday, September 23, 2012, the Paws and Prayers voicemail system received a message from Russell’s owner. Most voicemail messages are sent out to a group e-mail system that transcribes them into print for easy retrieval. Every person in the group can see the transcribed messages. Most never apply to me and I delete them after just a glance. As I was glancing through a transcribed message, I saw Russell and S’s name. I stopped immediately and was shocked to read that Russell was in the care of the Humane Society of Greater Akron. S wanted to know if I could get him out. I called her and found that Russell had been staying with a friend of S’s. That friend, who lived alone, needed to be taken to the hospital and Russell was taken to the Humane Society for care. S wanted me to get involved because the Humane Society needed proof of her ownership of Russell and how she had adopted him. She had never gotten him a license for 2012. S also told me that she had been living with her daughter because of frequent hospital admissions and recovery periods that prevented her from taking care of Russell properly. Her daughter could not have pets at her house. I told S I would help her any way I could.

On Monday morning, September 24th, I called the Humane Society to inquire about Russell. I was put on the phone with a Humane Society Officer who related to me a story I was not prepared to hear. It seems the Humane Society Officer was involved in removing Russell from S’s neighbor’s home because of “deplorable conditions." The neighbor also had two other dogs, two cats, and a bird that also needed to be removed. The Officer stated that there was little chance any of the animals would go back there.

When I told the Officer that I had fostered Russell last year, his first question, much to my dismay, was: “How much did he weigh the last time you saw him?” I told him that Russell weighed about 33lbs, but should have weighed about 25-30lbs The officer told me he weighed about 60lbs now! I could not believe what I heard. They hadn't weighed him yet, but I could hear a woman in the background over the phone telling the officer that she could pick up dogs up to 50lbs and she could not lift Russell. The Officer said that Russell could hardly walk, had trouble breathing, and could barely get up after laying down. I wanted to rush right out there to get him, but I was at work, so I told the Officer I would pick Russell up the next day.

Russell, just over 60lbs, back at Beagle Bob's home

I called S and made arrangements to meet her with Russell on Tuesday at the Banfield Pet Hospital that Paws and Prayers takes their dogs and cats to. I also contacted Jen, the Paws and Prayers Executive Director, and asked her to come with me. I wanted someone to help me get to the bottom of what happened to Russell.

Early in the afternoon of September 25th, I arrived at the Humane Society to pick up Russell. I was both excited to see him and scared of what he might look like. I felt that his weight might have been somewhat exaggerated. It seemed impossible that a dog that small in stature could weigh 60lbs. When they brought Russell out to see me, my jaw dropped. He was huge! As I approached him and called out his name, his tail slowly wagged as he strained to lift his head up to look at me. The face, the ear, and especially the eyes were the same, but the rest was practically unrecognizable. I bent down and let him smell me as I gently stroked his head. He seemed to remember me. Most dogs that I have fostered usually don’t remember me after being adopted, especially if they were only with us a short time. Russell seemed to have at least a little memory of me. The scene must have been somewhat comical as I struggled to lift Russell into the back seat of my truck. He was very heavy and very awkward to lift.

Jen met me at Banfield about 15 minutes before S was set to arrive. She was as shocked as I was to see Russell’s condition. After I struggled to get Russell out of my truck, I started to walk him into the Banfield building. He could only walked about four or five steps and had to stop to catch his breath. He didn’t really walk. It was more of a waddle. The 30ft. walk from my truck to the door of the building took a solid five minutes. Along the way Russell lost control of his bowels twice. It was pitiful.

Stairs were quite the challenge for Russell

Once inside Banfield, we took Russell to the scale to get weighted. He could not go up the five inch high platform without help. He weighed 60.5lbs! Jen began to tell me that Russell would most likely have a host of health problems from this obesity. She wondered if S was going to be able to afford the type of medical care he would need. We both were very anxious to find out how this had happened. While we waited for S to arrive, I told her I wanted to take care of Russell myself or at least help S get him the care he needed.

When S finally arrived Jen and I were shocked to hear that she had not seen Russell in over six months! Her frequent admissions to the hospital had prevented her from taking care of him and she had entrusted him with her a neighbor. A decision she seemed to regret. S told us that she was glad Russell was not at the Humane Society any longer. As she gently petted his head, Jen and I exchange glances. Both of us knew that Russell should not go back to her. I couldn’t come up with the words, so I was glad when Jen finally spoke up and asked her it she would allow Paws and Prayers to foster Russell again. Without ever looking away from his face, she sighed and agreed to release him back to us.

After S signed Russell over to us and left, Jen had a Vet take a quick look at Russell. His obesity had taken a toll on his body. He would need a full exam and blood work soon to determine how dangerous his health had become.

Because my current foster, Dotty, was being adopted that evening, Jen offered to take Russell to her house for the night and I would pick him up the next day. As I struggled to get Russell into the front seat of Jen’s car, I wondered how this had happened to this poor dog. I was very angry with myself for not following up enough with S to see how Russell was doing. I was, however, determined to do everything I could to get Russell healthy.

To be continued . . .


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Content By:  Beagle Bob

"Beagle Bob" Dietrich is a foster parent for dogs along with his wife Vicki and son Robert.  Bob is a full time Fire Fighter/Paramedic, Vicki is a high school math teacher, and Robert is a full time college student.  They have two Beagles, Mandy and Buddy. 

Images: Provided by Beagle Bob

Did you know, TODAY is National Hairball Awareness Day? That’s right…this special day dedicated to our furry feline friends is celebrated on the last Friday of April.

Now…some of you might be wondering why something so “yucky” gets its own day of recognition. The truth is, frequent hairballs are NOT a normal part of a healthy cat’s life. So, let’s get down to the root of this hairy problem…AND, how to fix it!

It’s no secret that cats shed their fur (one look at my house would confirm it!). What most people DON’T know is how hairballs are formed and what dangers they can cause.

What is a hairball?

A hairball is a collection of ingested hair (caused by the cat’s natural grooming process) which a cat may regurgitate along with mucus or bile. The ASPCA says, “During a cat’s daily grooming regimen, he may inadvertently swallow loose hair, which generally passes through the digestive system into the cat’s stool. Some hair can remain, however, and collect in the stomach or small intestine, causing the cat to hack, gag, or retch until he vomits the offending [material]. The hair that is vomited can appear matted or tubular in shape.” Hairballs are commonly thought of as a normal part of a cat’s life; however, most vets agree that if your cat hacks up more than 1-2 hairballs per year, it’s a problem.

Besides the “yuck” on my carpet, what are symptoms of hairballs?

Hairballs can also cause constipation and decreased appetite. They can also cause upset stomach or general gastrointestinal discomfort, which may in turn cause vomiting of the hairball or of mucus or food.

Why are hairballs dangerous?

The ASPCA stresses hairballs can be indicative of several things. First, it may indicate that your cat may need tweaks to her diet. By improving diet—and thus, coat and skin health—you can help reduce your cat’s ability to efficiently move groomed hair safely through her digestive tract.

Second, hairballs may block the esophagus or intestinal tract, causing surgery to correct. In rare cases, they may be symptomatic of serious disease such as inflammatory bowel disease or even cancer.

Lastly, it can indicate a behavioral issue, such as obsessive-compulsive type activity.

How can I prevent hairballs?

As we’ve already said above, a good diet can make a HUGE change in the amount of hair your cat has a potential to ingest. Look for a high-quality food; some brands have hairball control formulations that may be of benefit. Some pet stores also sell hairball lubricants or food additives which may help lubricate the digestive tract.

Some types of cats are more prone to hairballs, such as long-haired breeds. Brush your cat often—if long-haired, brush daily—to help decrease the amount of hair he may ingest during grooming.

If your cat shows tendencies to groom herself excessively, try distracting her with a new toy or by initiating playtime activities. This strategy has the added benefit of spending quality time with your favorite feline! 


Below are sources and resources containing helpful information and valuable tips for keeping your kitty healthy and hair-free! 

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/hairball.aspx 

http://www.furminator.com/Blog/National-Hairball-Awareness-Day.aspx


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Content By:  Jocelyn Alexander

Jocelyn Alexander is a rescue foster for dogs and cats, as well as a Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS).  She has a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever named Dixie, who is a registered Pet Partners therapy dog and Canine Good Citizen; and Chloe, a 10-year-old tuxedo cat who rules the house with a velvet glove.

Images:  1, 2, 3

Daffodil

Spring is upon us in Northeast Ohio, and with it comes the prime time for gardening (FINALLY!).  When planting your vegetation—or even keeping houseplants or floral arrangements in your home—it can save your furry friend’s life if you know which ones can be harmful or even deadly.

We at Paws & Prayers have compiled a list of common toxic plants for pet parents to be aware of. While the list is not exhaustive, you can find a complete listing at the ASPCA poison control site.


Aloe Vera  

• Vomiting, diarrhea, depression, decreased appetite, tremors, change in urine color 

Azalea

Azalea/Rhododendron 

• GI upset, drooling, loss of appetite, diarrhea, colic, weakness and loss of coordination, stupor, leg paralysis, recumbency for 2 or more days
• Dogs and cats may become comatose and die if medical attention is not sought 
• Also toxic to farm animals such as horses, goats, and sheep

Begonia

• Oral irritation or burning of mouth, tongue or lips; excessive drooling; vomiting; difficulty swallowing

Daffodil

Hosta

• The bulbs are the most toxic part of the plant
• Vomiting, salivation, diarrhea 
• If large amounts are ingested, may cause convulsions, hypotension (low blood pressure), tremors, and arrhythmias

Hosta

• Vomiting, diarrhea, depression

Ivy 

• GI upset, abdominal pain, increased drooling

Tomato plant

• Excessive drooling, decreased appetite, severe GI upset, depression of the central nervous system, confusion, behavioral changes, weakness, dilated pupils, slow heart rate

Tulips

Tulips/Narcissus

• As with other bulbous plants, the bulb is the most toxic portion of the plant
• Severe GI upset/irritation, depression of the central nervous system, drooling, loss of appetite, convulsions, cardiac arrhythmias

Several plants found in floral arrangements can also be hazardous to your pet’s health, causing symptoms such as GI upset, loss of appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea. These include carnations, baby’s breath, chrysanthemum, and gladiola. And YES, although the ever-popular holiday poinsettias are a commonly known toxic plant, the symptoms of ingestion are not quite as severe as most people believe, and are mostly limited to vomiting and diarrhea.

Don’t be left unprepared in the event of any type of poisoning, whether it be hazardous chemicals, foods, or plants. Make sure you—and every member of your family—know how to reach the closest emergency veterinarian, and have the ASPCA’s Poison Control number (888-426-4435) prominently displayed in a common area, such as your refrigerator.

Being vigilant and knowing what symptoms to look for can help save your cat or dog’s life. It’s always better to be safe rather than sorry, and a consultation fee for the ASPCA Poison Control Center or your vet is worth it to make sure your pet is A-OK! 

Here are some helpful sources and resources to review: 

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/ 

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/?gclid=CJyj_qXnvbYCFc9AMgodSlAA0w

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/24-common-plants-poisonous-to-pets.html

http://www.animalhealthfoundation.net/news/item.html/n/20261gclid=CJ2yxYzqvbYCFY1aMgodZH8ADA


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Content By:  Jocelyn Alexander

Jocelyn Alexander is a rescue foster for dogs and cats, as well as a Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS).  She has a 4-year-old black Labrador retriever named Dixie, who is a registered Pet Partners therapy dog and Canine Good Citizen; and Chloe, a 10-year-old tuxedo cat who rules the house with a velvet glove.


Images:  1, 2, 3

This sweet 9 year old calico was all set to be our Pet of the Month for April.  Just before publishing this post we learned that Brownie had indeed found her furever home at our Petsmart Chapel Hill Adoption Center.  We're so excited for Brownie and her new furever family!

Please take a moment to check out Brownie's friends who are still in search of their furever homes.

Thank you.

Volunteer of the Month for March is Dori! Dori is one of the most selfless people you will ever meet (if you’ve met her you know). While working, taking care of her 3 children and her own pets, she always as 1 or 2 foster dogs. She’s been known to have a foster cat too! She takes the dogs that need us the most whether it is a dog that has severe food aggression or helping a dog through heart worm treatment. She provides not just a place for the animals to stay, but also works with each dog so they are ready to go to their furever home. Dori has become a mentor to our new foster parents. Despite all she does concerning her own fosters she never hesitates to put aside time to help her mentees. She accompanies them to meet prospective adopters, answers question after question and never once acting like it bugs her. Dori always shows praise when a animal has a successful adoption. She continually follows up on animal's adoption, sensing something was wrong, offering to help the family see that animal gets the care that they need, and as a last resort when all options had been exhausted she will got get the animal, She believes and emphasizes how important it is to always follow your gut instinct. Not only are her mentees very fortunate to be paired up with her for guidance but so are all volunteers with Paws and Prayers. Dori is a great advocate for animals and P&P is lucky to have. Congrats, Dori!

We can't reinvigorate our Volunteer of the Month recognition without YOU, our supporters! Have a volunteer you'd like to nominate? (Yes, fosters are volunteers, too!) Click here to complete our quick, easy survey with your nomination and why they deserve to be Paws & Prayers Volunteer of the Month! Please have all nominations in by the 20th of the month you're nominating them for. Winners are announced at the start of the following month. Thank you!

There is no way to tell the story of Russell from beginning to end as a short story.  His story is far too long; and far from over.  So I will do my best to keep it as short as possible.  I'll divide it into chapters so it doesn't have to be read all at once.  The 7 chapters of Russell's Story will be posted semi-monthly.

By August of 2011, Russell had been with us for seven weeks. During that time I had forged a pretty strong bond with him. He continued to progress in his house breaking, but refused to go outside when it was raining. We had to practically drag him down our back steps and make him stay outside until he went to the bathroom. As the summer was winding down, we went on one last camping trip. Russell was now trained well enough to be let loose in open grassy areas without having to be on a leash. My two Beagles can be trusted for short periods of time to run loose, but Russell was, and still is to this date, the only foster we could trust not to run away. It seemed, however, that my wife would return to her job as a school teacher and my son would return to high school for his senior year with us only having fostered two dogs the entire summer.

Lizzy Lemon

Russell’s luck changed around the middle of August when I was contacted by a family that was interested in adopting two dogs from Paws and Prayers. The family consisted of a single mom with a twelve year daughter and ten year old son. They came to a Saturday adoption event and met Russell. The son fell in love with Russell’s big brown eyes and floppy years. The quiet, somewhat introverted boy seemed a perfect match for a dog that was in no real hurry to do anything.The daughter fell in love with Lizzy Lemon. She was a Dalmatian mix that was high energy and always eager to get attention.The mom decided to adopt both.

I had mixed emotions as I said goodbye to Russell, giving him a hug and kiss.I was glad he was finding a home, but wished I could have gotten him house broken better and tried harder to see if he had it in his heart to show some of the love I felt was in there.My wife and son were not all that sad to see Russell get adopted. The thought of having to worry about him peeing in the house after the busy school year started was not something they looked forward to. They both knew that I had grown very fond of Russell and assured me I had done as well as I could with him.
Four days later I got an e-mail that Russell was being returned. It seemed that Lizzy Lemon and him had gotten into a short fight and frightened the son. The mom felt that it would be better to only have one dog. They chose Lizzy Lemon.

I had mixed emotions when I picked up Russell at the Paws and Prayers office. I knew that my wife and son would not be too happy, but I was determined that I could work with Russell to make him a better dog. He seemed happy to see me, wagging his tail and running to me when he saw me enter the office. I gave him a big hug and kiss on the top of his head, assuring him that I would find him a better home.

When we arrived back at our house, Russell seemed glad to be “home." As soon as we got inside, he started running around, crying, and wagging his tail. He had never expressed that much emotion about anything. It was the first sign I had gotten from him that he could have an emotional bond with a home. We seemed to have turned a corner.

At one of the first adoption events I took Russell to in early July, I had met a woman who really seemed to like Russell. She told me that she had recently lost her dog after he was ill for a long time. She liked Russell, but was not ready for a new dog. She left me her e-mail address and told me to let her know when Russell was adopted. I let her know of his adoption and subsequent return four days later. She came to the first Saturday adoption event after Russell’s return and decided she was ready to adopt him.

When the woman, who I’ll refer to as “S”, came to see Russell, it seemed like they would be a great fit for each other. S was a semi-retired woman in her sixties that lived alone and lead a quiet life. She rarely traveled, had a fenced-in backyard, and was looking for a laid back dog for a companion. She adored Russell and knew of all his good and bad traits. Once again, I said goodbye to Russell. I felt that this would be a better home for him.

 I followed up with S several times over the next six months. Russell was adjusting well to his new home. He still liked to pee in the house when it was raining outside, but S didn't seem to mind. She sent me some pictures of him relaxing in his new home. I was happy for both S and Russell.

In the early winter of 2012 a few of my e-mails and follow-up phone calls were not returned by S. When I finally got through, she told me how Russell had become a hero to her. S had been battling some health problems and was on some pretty strong pain medicine. A neighbor was trying to call S one day and could not get an answer. When she went over to the house, she found S asleep in bed. She would have left, but Russell crawled up on the bed and started to lick S’s face. She didn't wake up. The neighbor called 911 and S was transported to the hospital after an accidental mild overdose of pain medicine. S told me that Russell had never licked her face before. She felt he knew something was wrong and had to let someone know.

I finally felt that Russell had found his perfect home. He had built a bond with a person and would be cared for and loved for many years to come. I no longer felt the need to contact S on a consistent basis. I let her know to contact me with updates on Russell and, most importantly, if she ever needed anything to add in his care.

I actually felt pretty good about myself and my ability to find forever homes for these lost and forgotten dogs. Many months later I would change my mind about myself and my abilities.

To be continued . . .


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Content By:  Beagle Bob

"Beagle Bob" Dietrich is a foster parent for dogs along with his wife Vicki and son Robert.  Bob is a full time Fire Fighter/Paramedic, Vicki is a high school math teacher, and Robert is a full time college student.  They have two Beagles, Mandy and Buddy. 

Images: 1, 2

I have wanted to be a foster for a long time, but we had an elderly dog that we didn't want to upset by bringing home dogs unfamiliar to him.  Toby had been with us for over 17 years and was our main concern.  Last September, as I lay beside one of the best friends I ever had in my life, his shallow breathing and lifeless body left me numb, it was time to let go and we said "Good Bye" to our beloved family member.  The next couple months we missed him terribly and had no desire to open up our hearts or home to another pet.  My mother, who lives with my husband and I, repeatedly commented "It's just not right without a dog in this house."  So we made the decision to get another dog, a Pomeranian, but for my mom, not us.  I started searching shelters and rescues for a Pom, which brought me to the Cuyahoga Animal Shelter where we found the perfect companion for my mom.  It didn't take long for her to melt our hearts too, and before I knew it, I was searching for a companion for our new family member.  I found a Pom listed on Paws & Prayers site and I filled out an adoption application.  We went to visit the Pomeranian listed and brought along Pepper to meet her.  It took no time at all to see it wasn't a match made in heaven and we wouldn't be adopting this one.

On the way home, I told my husband I really wanted to start fostering.  His only concern was my physical ability to handle it having Fibromyalgia.  I take care of my 87-year-old mother full-time, and with my illness, he wasn't totally convinced that this would be the best idea but with reservations he agreed - which he usually does.  I promised, if it was too much for me to foster, I would only do it once.  My next bombshell was that I wanted to foster puppies, though he thought I was insane, again he reluctantly agreed.  I filled out my application, and before I knew it, I was on my way to pick up three 11-day-old American Bulldog puppies that only had a 40% chance of survival.

3-week-old Male

3-week-old Female

From the day I brought them home, everyone wanted to know what are we going to call them.  Being the rational level headed person I am, I said, "no names" because once you name them then you begin to become attached.  Yeah right, I was going to have these pups for about 8 weeks, with no names and no attachment. Within the first 24 hours, one of the puppies became very sick and passed away.  That's when I knew it wouldn't matter whether these puppies had a name or not, it still breaks your heart!  I had lost "the little black puppy with no name" and I didn't know what I had done wrong.  Maybe my husband was right, maybe this not something I should be doing.  Soon I found out the whole story behind these pups and their mother, Malina.  She was found abandoned, emaciated, and dehydrated, so much so that no one realized she was carrying puppies.  She was then vaccinated, something that should never be done with an expectant mother, it can be deadly to her unborn pups.  Soon her 14 puppies were born, 10 days later after giving all she had to give, she sadly passed away.  Six puppies had already succumbed to the horrible situation some cruel and heartless human had placed upon their mother. There were nine pups left, to be divided between three fosters. After my first day of fostering, I sadly only had two left.

3am Bottle Feeding

Now knowing it wasn't my fault, I was determined my two unnamed puppies were going to make it.  But there was a problem, I was having trouble getting them to eat.  They had both lost weight within the first 24 hours, I tried everything possible.  When I wasn't feeding (or trying to) I was on the Internet searching to find out everything I could about feeding newborn puppies.  After trying different bottles, nipples, barrel syringes, I finally went to the store and bought regular baby bottles.  Much to my surprise IT WORKED!  Now all we had to do was be careful not to let the bottles flow too much so they wouldn't aspirate, make sure they were manipulated properly so they would relieve themselves, feed every few hours, burping regularly and we were on our way. These two pups, which remained nameless (despite many suggestions), immediately started to gain weight.  With a sigh of relief I, for the first time, truly believed "I can do this".

After making it through the first week, the pups were now being referred to as the "white one" and the "brown one."  Both were continuing to tip the scales in an upward direction every day. Late one night, or maybe it would be more accurately described as very early one morning, while feeding, I chuckled to myself as I noticed the "white one" had a very large spot on her back with an amazing resemblance to a rubber duck.  I thought we should call her "Ducky." Oh no, what had I done, I had named one of the puppies!  Well not the be outdone as I picked up the "brown one" I noticed he had a white mark on his chest, well I'll be, he has a lightning bolt on his chest and, from this moment on, shall be called "Bolt!"

The 'duck' spot!

Week two went by without any problems and we forged on into week three.  They were downing their bottles in record time and eliminating on their own with the knowledge that every day that went by these babies' chance of survival increased.  By this time I had settled into a routine, both the puppies and I seemed to be surviving.  Then it happened, the dreaded runs - with a drop, drop, here and a drip, drip there, and messes, messes everywhere!  I ran, not walked to my computer.  Was this serious?  Should I contact medical?  What can I do???  The common solution on most sights was pure canned pumpkin, so I gave it a try and by the next day they were having regular stools, and I am so thankful we live in an age of high speed Internet.

5-week-old Bolt/Jack Daniels

On Monday, the first day of the fourth week, I received quite a surprise.  One that would turnout quite painful. Ducky had a habit of gnawing on my hand while I was feeding Bolt, letting me know she wanted her turn.  Today was no different, except for the sharp piercing pain she was inflicting.  What the heck, she had teeth!  Where did they come from?  She didn't have them yesterday. What did she do, get doggy dentures just so I would feed her first?  Lo and behold, the following day Bolt had been blessed with a mouthful of finger piercers, too.  It was also this week I started noticing something else that was definitely a pleasant surprise, I was getting up at 6 a.m. to feed, feeling better than I had in the past couple of years.  Before the pups, I was lucky to be able to painfully pull myself out of bed by 10 or 11.  My days used to consist of me pushing myself to complete anything, pain pills every four hours and antidepressants.  Depression goes hand in hand with Fibromyalgia, with most of the time feeling useless and helpless.  I realized I had these pups depending on me, they didn't care if I was tired or in pain.  So I had to push through, I suddenly found myself with a purpose and a passion, I was loving what I was doing.  I wanted to keep doing it, for the first time in a very long time, feeling like I was making a difference.  The pain was still there but it was manageable because I had to take care of Ducky and Bolt.

5-week-old Ducky/Margarita

Now by this time of course I was getting very attached to my little furry buddies (because they had names now, ya know) how am I going to let them go?  Were my first fosters going to be a failure?  Funny though how things work out, I had to go to PetsMart to pick up more formula and there happened to be a Paws & Prayers adoption event going on.  I thought I would stop by and say hello, everyone was busy but I overheard one of our fosters talking to someone about possibly becoming a foster, when the person she was talking to said, "But how do you give them up?"  The answer our foster gave is one I will never forget.  She replied, "You grow to love each and every one of your foster dogs (ok, so I'm normal) but you love them enough to take great care to find them a wonderful home where they will be loved forever. When you have done that, you have room to save another dog in need, another dog you will fall in love with."  I left actually never speaking to anyone that day, but knowing, even though I had named them, I could let them go because I had the power of selecting what loving home they were going to, and because I loved them so much, it has to be a very special home.

Nap time!

The rest of the days just flew by.  I found out the rest of the pups in the litter had been named after Wine and Spirits.  So Ducky became Margarita and Bolt was now Jack Daniels.  And just a side note, which I will always take into consideration in the future when naming puppies, since changing their names to Margarita and J.D. they have been sleeping all day and partying all night!!  We have now been through gruel, worming, enemas, and high pitch wining at 3:00 a.m. and they completely have my heart. I take as many pictures of these guys as I do my grandchildren, they were always doing something cute and adorable. Now we have reached week six, these puppies which had a 60% chance of not surviving, had made it!!  I took them in for their first shots and I was just like a proud momma when everyone thought they were so adorable. I completely agree!

Margarita's valentine to her furever family

Now comes the hard part, I had to post them for adoption online.  What happened next I never expected, within 20 minutes of posting them I had an application, and then another, and then another and they just kept coming.  The third application just jumped out as one I needed to take a closer look at.  My mentor, Dori, which by the way has been my rock, told me right from the beginning "Listen to your gut."  Well my gut told me I wanted to follow through with this couple.  I did the vet check and their vet absolutely raved about them and the care they took of their recently deceased 17-year-old cat, especially in her later years when most people would have given up, they did what ever they could for her.  I then spoke to the couple on the phone, is it possible I could have found the perfect couple that quickly?  Dori and I met them with Margarita and Jack, they were so great I wanted them to adopt me!  We left that evening knowing they were going to adopt one, but just not sure which one.  I had a strong feeling they had quite a connection with Jack.  I got a phone call early the next morning and Jack was going to be one lucky dog, he hit the JACKPOT!!  I am so incredibly happy for him!  They have no children, no other pets, and a fenced in back yard, he is going to be so spoiled.  I'll tell you more about them later, I need to tell you about Margarita's adoption.  My next choice was a couple that had adopted from Paws & Prayers a year ago from the Muppet litter.  We met, and though I think they are a wonderful couple, I just didn't feel there was a connection between them and "Rita."  Sure enough they called me the next morning and said the same thing, they just didn't feel the connection. Our next appointment was a single woman that had filled out an application for another dog which was already adopted, when she picked up "Rita" it was love at first sight, it was a done deal.  I was really happy for her, but now realization set in, in two weeks my commitment to these once tiny helpless puppies was about to be over.  I have found them both very special and loving homes.

Jack Daniels's valentine to his awaiting furever family

Now I promised to keep in touch with both of them, I told them I would send pictures to try to make the next two weeks go by a little faster.  I hear from Margarita's mom every couple days, always thanking me for the latest pictures. Now Jack's (now Otis) parents, that's a different story.  I send them a picture every day, along with a short note from Otis about his day.  They have emailed every day, they have spent at least 8 hours in PetsMart, bought crates, toys, food, they have him signed up for puppy classes, and have his first vet appointment scheduled.  They came to visit him, they brought him a new collar, one of his crates, complete with blankets they have slept with so he can have their scent, so he can get used to it.  They have both taken a week's vacation so they can spend his whole first week in his new home with them.  They also told me they have it arranged up to November 24th where one of them will always be there with him.  They left with a gallon of my water so they could slowly introduce their water to him.  It's hard to feel bad about them leaving, when they are going to such wonderful families.

In less than a week they will both be gone, it sure will be quiet around here at least for a couple weeks until the five unnamed puppies downstairs start coming into their own.  Will I be sad?  A little, but not for them, for me, I will miss them! Will I shed a tear? Probably, I'm emotional like that. What do I feel? Content and grateful, I learned so much through this journey, I gave my best, and I got back so much more. I now have hope, I truly believe this experience has saved me from a really bleak future and once again gave me purpose, I guess this time Paws & Prayers saved more than just our four legged friends. Thank you to this wonderful group for all your help and support, you've made me feel like part of the group!

Jack Daniels at 7 weeks

Margarita at 7 weeks

There was a delay between Donna penning this touching account of her first foster experience and our publishing it here for you to enjoy!  Magarita and Jack Daniels are well settled into their new furever homes and Donna is now keeping herself busy with Snow White and her litter of pups!

Jack Daniels, now Otis, with his new furever family!

Donna was recently featured on the front page of our local newspaper, the Akron Beacon Journal.  Click here to read the inspiring feature.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Content By:  Donna Schulman

Donna Schulman is a foster for dogs and puppies along with her husband Richard.  Donna is a full time care taker for her mother and Richard is an automotive painter.  They have a 7-year-old rescued Pomeranian named Pepper and three rescued cats Figaro, Charlie and Boots.

Images:  Provided by Donna Schulman