A Match Made in Heaven

As I mentioned in my last post, I had seen an updated picture of Dolly, because my friend, Linda, is now fostering her -- post bath and grooming appointment.  Dolly looked so different to me, that I wasn't sure Linda was actually fostering the same dog I had transported.  I thought there might have been a mix-up.  It's amazing what a shampoo, a good brushing and a flattering haircut can do.

Dolly Before

Dolly After

Now for the BEST news of all!  After only a few days, Linda decided to adopt sweet Dolly, and was immediately approved!  So Linda and Dolly are happily creating their lives together.
 
And on Friday, May 25th, Dolly visited our workplace.  We closed early for the Memorial Day holiday.  It was a quiet pre-holiday Friday, with many employees on vacation, so Dolly was able to visit for about an hour before the office closed.  It is so gratifying to see one of my transports doing so well.  Dolly loves people and is an easy mark for a belly rub.  Or rather, most people are an easy mark to her, and that belly rub.

Here's Dolly at work.

By Linda's desk

Guarding the Project Drawings

  

And here's Dolly visiting with a couple of co-workers.

 

Happy Reunion - Dolly and Andrea

Dolly Training Kris

And finally, here are Linda and Dolly at home together.  Dolly is still a little unsure about what her life holds, as she has been through so much.  But she and her feline siblings are getting along peacefully, and Dolly just loves to be around people.  She looks a heck of a lot happier now than the day I picked her (and Andrew) up from their long transport ride!  We are confident Dolly will soon settle in completely, and will live a happy life forever with Linda.  Amen!

The King is Alive!

On Saturday, May 12^th, I was able to pick up a last minute transport, for King Arthur, a Collie mix. I went on this transport alone, since it was so last minute. King Arthur was surrendered by his family (circumstances unknown), and was fortunate enough to get on another big transport coming our way.

On my last transport, someone had told me about a hammock style seat protector that works great in the back of cars. I was told I could get one at Home Goods for $12. I was thrilled, as I felt the style would not only protect my seats, but would also help prevent dogs from trying to come up into the front seat while I’m driving. Even though I had it on my list of things to do, I had not yet gotten to Home Goods, so on Saturday morning, after committing to King Arthur’s transport, I managed to squeeze in a quick trip to Home Goods amongst my other errands.

$22 later (what happened to $12?!!?), I arrived home and got it untangled and installed in my back seat. There are straps that go around the back headrests, and two to go around the front headrests, which results in a hammock-looking cover from front to back. Perfect!

King Arthur and his driver arrived early, but I was waiting for them. Like many dogs before, he had no interest in relieving himself, despite a 15 minute encouragement session and walk. His driver had left and I continued to coax him, extolling the virtues of tree trunks and light poles, but he just didn’t listen. I finally gave up and we walked toward the open door to the backseat of my car. King Arthur seemed rather joyous to be getting into the car, and sure enough – in he jumped.

Only he scurried underneath my wonderful, new hammock protector, and plopped himself comfortably on the floor behind the passenger seat. He peeked out at me, I suspect because I was laughing uproariously. I think he may have thought he’d gotten a real looney-tune driver on this leg of his transport.

Na, na, na, na, na.

I was no more successful at coaxing him out of the car to relocate him to the top of the hammock protector than I had been getting him to pee on that wonderful light pole I’d told him about. After chuckling and coaxing for several minutes, I once again gave up, closed the door and we headed for Lenape Park in Sellersville, PA, to deliver him to Debbie. King Arthur contentedly slept on the floor and never moved a muscle, other than his eyes to peer at me. Probably wondered if I knew where I was going.

Debbie, her mother and her daughter were delighted to meet King. Or Arthur. What does one call King Arthur for short? King? Arthur? Artie? They all agreed that KA was the spitting image of a previous dog they had, only KA had black spots on his face. KA seemed a little wary about the park and all the attention, but he definitely showed huge interest in the kids’ baseball game, and stood ready to catch a ball if it came his way.


I hung around for awhile as Debbie cheered her son on at his game, and KA sniffed, wagged his tail, and checked everything out. Debbie said she wanted to be his foster, with the hopes he might become her family’s forever companion. Although the jury’s still out on that, King Arthur ended up in good hands.

I finally said my goodbyes, and headed out of the park –straight to a nearby McDonald’s – because I had to pee!

 



Dollywood Update

Dolly, pre-grooming

As you will recall, on my previous transport, I drove Dolly and Andrew, and Dolly was going to her forever home, but needed a good grooming.  She got the grooming, lost her “punk” look, and now looks like a completely different dog!  I know because I saw pictures and thought there had been some mistake, because the pictures I saw didn't look anything like the ragged little Dolly I had driven.  She was much less shaggy, with a much smoother coat, and looked sleeker.  I hope to share a current picture of her soon on my blog.  Trust me -- you won't recognize her.  But I know it's Dolly, because I trust the photographer.  It's my buddy, Linda! 

Dolly didn’t get to stay in her forever home.  Sometimes it just doesn’t work out.  The other border collie in the household is much younger and full of energy, and harassed Dolly to play too much.  With Dolly being 5+, she just isn’t interested in playing so much, and the situation was not fair to her.  So her almost forever mother reached out to Almost Home Dog Rescue (for whom I drive most of the time), and they agreed to take her back and find Dolly a foster home.

When Linda heard that Dolly needed a foster home, she stepped up.  She had already made up her mind to start fostering, so Dolly was a great dog to start with because she's so calm, and is purported to get along okay with cats. 

Linda received Dolly a week ago Saturday night, and everyone is doing well.  When I say everyone, I not only mean Dolly and Linda, but Linda’s three cats, who have been introduced to dogs of late.  So far, they keep to themselves pretty much, but one ventured out to inspect Dolly within 24 hours, so maybe new friendships will be born.

Linda has survived her first week of fostering, and is extremely committed to helping any way she can.  Dolly misses Linda when Linda's at work, but I'm very sure Linda misses Dolly even more.  Could this be a permanent match made in heaven?  I guess only time will tell.  But in the meantime, I'm proud to call Linda my friend!

Exotic Name, Exotic Dog?

Lorelei just arriving home with
Linda at her side

Linda, the monster I've now created, took on her second transport and overnight visitor, Lorelei.  Lorelei?  Sounds so exotic.  I expected a glamorous, girly-girl dog, with a flower collar, not a purple harness.  Wrong again.

But Lorelei was as gentle as a flower, albeit tired from all the riding she had to do with all those other dogs on the large transport.

Lorelei found a favorite toy and took it onto the couch to play with.  But soon, the TV caught her attention, and since she'd missed the previous episode, she decided to pay close attention -- just so she could talk about it the next day at the water cooler.

Another source of entertainment was trying to spot Linda's kitty cats.  Thankfully, she was tall enough to see over the baby gate and didn't have to look through the bars.  But where were those darn cats? 

Here kitty, kitty, kitty.

Lorelei enjoyed a peaceful, restful night with Linda, and then went on her way to her destination the following morning, which was to a foster home, where she hopes her forever family will find her soon.