Foster Journal
December 2002: Lucky's One Year
Anniversary
December 15, 2002
Amy,
It was a year last week that we got Lucky from you.
She is alive and quite well, except that lately she has been scratching
and chewing
at what we believe to be dry skin. We gave her a serious haircut to
see if that would
help but it hasn't. The next thing we try will be to get some dog shampoo
for dry skin. If that doesn't work we'll have to bite the bullet and
take her down the hill to the vet for some professional advice. I'm
hesitant to get her soaking wet in this weather but I guess if we pick
a warm day and keep her indoors for several hours she'll be ok. She
also has picked up a bad habit lately of running off when we let her
out to go to the bathroom. My best guess is that she's tracking wild
animals or maybe she's in love with the neighbors goat. Now we use
a leash instead of just letting her freelance. One day I let her chase
a flock of wild turkeys that was passing through my yard. That was
funny. I never knew turkeys could move so fast. I told some people
about it and somebody said that turkeys killed one of their dogs once
by pecking its neck til it bled to death, so I won't be doing that
again.
Danielle found a fascinating book at the local library.
You should definitely read it if you haven't already. It's called Dogs
that know when their owners are coming home by Rupert Sheldrake. You
can get it by request at any library in Allegheny County courtesy of
the RAD tax that those cheap bastids squawked so much about a few years
back. I sure get my money's worth for the extra 1% sales tax I pay.
(I have a season ticket for the Pirates). I actually seriously insist
that you read this book. Any animal lover should. Now I know my dog
Sam was just as smart as I thought he was. He died in 1978 and I still
miss him. I have tears in my eyes right now just from thinking about
him. There are times when I can't wait to die because I know that the
instant I do I will get to see my mother and Sam again. Like I always
tell Lucky and my cat Tigger, animals good, people bad. Whenever people
mess with my head I always tell my nonhuman friends over and over-animals
good, people bad. No, I'm not a psycho. No dog ever flew a jetliner
into a building or raped an altar boy or stole people's pensions.
Merry Christmas!
Dean
---
Hi Dean,
I'm glad Lucky is doing well. I have heard that
oatmeal shampoo can help with dry, itchy skin. I just bathed three
dogs yesterday (our two plus the current foster) with tea tree oil
shampoo, which is supposed to do the same thing. They weren't scratching
but they were all dry and flaky. It seems to have helped.
I'm surprised that you were able to let Lucky off leash
to go potty. I never trusted my dogs enough to try that (before we
got the fence).
I worry too much about cars. (Not much of a wild turkey threat here
in North Braddock.) =) I do let them off leash at the park, but only
when we are far away from traffic.
I am having a bit of a dilemma with my foster dog, Murray.
He was placed with a family for a few days, but he barked at their
grandmother and freaked them all out, so now he is back with me. He's
a really fun and gentle dog, and he gets along so well with *both*
of my dogs (which is rare). I have been toying with the idea of keeping
him. But I know that I can't. The thought of having three "full-time" dogs
is a bit overwhelming. But I need to find a really special family for
him (not one that will bring him back if he barks at somebody). Warren
says I have all the signs of becoming one of those psycho "dog
collectors" (you know, the ones you see in the paper with hundreds
of pets) because I don't believe anybody else is qualified to take
care of them.
I'll have to check out the book you recommended. It sounds
good. I've read a bunch of dog books but somehow missed that one. =)
And I definitely agree with your comment, "animals good, people
bad." I
have more animal friends than human ones, and I like it that way!
Thanks for the update on the pupster. Tell everyone I
said hi and Merry Christmas. And give Lucky some scratchies from me!
---
Amy,
Tea tree shampoo-we use that on our own hair occasionally.
MY GOD IT STINKS!!!! I have decided that I would rather itch than reek.
I guess
this time of year many mammals get itchy from the dry weather. Maybe
we'll try it on Lucky tomorrow. That smell is enough to make her run
away from home. We let her out in the back yard and she has never went
toward the front yard where the road is. Roadkill pets ain't cool.
Dean
December 23, 2002
I wanted to ask your permission to use some of the
information on your web site. I will be trying to start the forming
of a foster care network in my home town. After the first of the year
our town will be looking at the shelter in a whole new light. This
not being for the positive for our dogs I believe. I will be working
with our group to come up with a strong network that will benefit the
animals and realize you have a lot of information written in a nice
form that have been running around in my head also. So with your permission
I will use some of the information on your web site to come up with
a training packet and a powerpoint presentation for people who are
interested in becoming a foster home.
Thank you,
Laura
---
Hi Laura,
Certainly, I am happy to share the info! I hope it is helpful. Please
just include a link to my site and say that the info came from there.
Thanks a lot, and good luck!
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