APPLESAUCE LOVES HIS HOME

Applesauce was in my home about a month-- not long at all!!   He was about as perfect a foster as you can have.  Housetrained, sweet, not aggressive, loves toys, eats well.  And he went through all his surgery and medical care like a champ.   I just love this boy.  💙

But, my goal was to find him a home.   He had so much interest!!   Not only is he cute, but he's such a good boy. 

He went to his new home and there were new beds and new toys for him. 

His first night, at bedtime, he wandered around a bit, but then found a bed he wanted to sleep in. 

The next day, the neighbors came over and brought him toys!  He danced around like he had been waiting for them-- he was so excited.   Later, he was on the couch and he made a game of pushing the toy off the couch so his new mom could get it.   Then, he carried his toys around snorting and happy. 

I'm so happy for Applesauce and his mom!  This is why I foster-- for happy endings like this.  😚

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

 I have had Pekingese for most of my life.  Cranberry was one of my Pekes when I began doing rescue 17 years ago.  (She was very proud of herself for climbing on the table.)

 Scooterbug and Cranberry probably thought I'd lost my mind when I began bringing all these dogs into the house.

 I began helping with applications shortly after I started rescue.   Reviewing them, hoping to find wonderful homes for our dogs.

 I was surprised with some questions we received-- and these questions revealed a lot.

 "Are they good with kids?"  This is a good question- because many Pekes are not good with kids.  They can't put up with their quick movements or grabbing or hugging.  Granger loves his kids.

 One question that can be annoying is, "How much does it cost?"   I've had this question a lot.  One question I've NEVER had is, "How much have you spent on this precious Peke to get them healthy??" 

 I have had people say, "They're older, can't you lower the adoption fee?"   Or, "I'm on a limited income, can you waive the fee?"   If you can't afford the adoption fee, we wonder if you can afford their care.  We have such incredibly low adoption fees.  They haven't changed in years.  We spend so much on some of our foster dogs, over $1,000 and up.   Yet, their adoption fee might be $200. 

 I asked other rescuers what question annoyed them the most and it was, "How much is the dog."   Some people say our process is too detailed, we are too picky.

 We have people who really want to be a dog mom-- or dad.  They fill out the application, and first, they have to answer ALL the questions.   If they put N/A to some of them, it's harder to evaluate.  Some people don't want to put their age-- but age helps us determine the best fit.   We don't want a dog to overwhelm an owner.  I'm older now, and a puppy can be too active for me.  I personally adore the seniors.   Maybe that's because I'm a senior, too.

 Some people want them for a gift-- a Christmas gift or to surprise someone.  This is a bad reason to get a dog.   A person having a dog should be THEIR choice, not one given to them.  They need to be ready.

 Sometimes, we get multiple applicants for one dog-- sometimes, we have SO Many.  And they all might be wonderful.   So, we have to pick one.   We keep a list of approved people, so we ask them later if they're interested in a new one who comes in.   It helps when they stay in contact with me.  We have a rescue committee who help make decisions-- and kindness goes a long way with us.  So, thank you to those who have been kind. 

We do the best we can.  We can't adopt everywhere.  We won't transport our dogs to locations that are far away.   We do not fly our dogs.   We are a Virginia and Maryland rescue and sometimes go a little out of our area, but that is our purpose-- to help Pekes in our area and find homes in our area.

We have found homes for hundreds of Pekes in need.  We hope to continue to do that.   (Of course, we will need new and younger people to start to help.  We can't do this forever without that.)   Our adoption process is one of the fairest I have seen.  Some people don't like it-- they think just because they SAY they are a good owner, that should be enough.  It isn't.  We need vet checks to show they are good owners.   We do home checks to make sure the home is safe and loving.  After all the time and love we give, these Pekes have part of our hearts.  We don't just place them anywhere. 

We want to know they will be cherished as much as we cherish them.  We want to know their care will continue the way we have cared for them.   We want as perfect a home as we can find.  We have found so many-- and also found great friends in the process.   And we have Pekes who will forever be in our hearts.  That is a blessing.  💜

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MINNIE

Minnie came into rescue two years ago.  What a little nervous girl she was.  

She has calmed down, and for the most part, is a sweet, calm girl.  She doesn't like to leave her environment, but that's okay.  She's content here.

She is getting older-- she turned 15 this week-end!! 

I have only had a few get to this age.  I know some of you have had dogs that are older, but 15 is a milestone! 

Minnie can't hear-- her vision is going, but she gets around well during the day.  At night, she wants me to carry her up the 5 porch stairs because she doesn't see well in the dark.  That's okay.   I can carry a flashlight in the yard for her.    (She never climbs the stairs to the second floor.)

When I pick her up, it always has to be on the right side.  She looks up at me, puts her left paw on my arm, and off we go.   She is easy going, but if Paddington tries to bully her, it's funny to watch how she can put him in his place.   😆  She may be 15, but she's still the Mama Dog here.   She has earned her spot, and she knows it.   Her health is good, so we hope she will have another year to celebrate- or more!   

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL.  

AFTER THE ADOPTION

Fostering means foster parents get to love many dogs.  We have them awhile and help them become healthy and whole-- and then we let them go to new forever homes.   

Some come to us and stay.  I talked about that in the  "forever fosters" 

 Some stay for health reasons, like Clara.  Mitsy/Mitzie was adopted once she was ready.  (She's doing GREAT in her new home.)

 Floyd stayed-- another boy who needed to remain with me.  He was deaf and has almost no vision, and was timid.  He lived with us over a year until he passed away.

 Max and Kai Kai were never adopted, so we kept them.  My goal is to NOT keep my fosters.  Otherwise, I can't keep fostering.  (But, I'm so glad Max and Kai Kai stayed.)

 Chumley was an exception -- my granddaughter fell in love with him.  He is the happiest boy.  He's almost 15, and deaf now.  He's been here five years and his tail still wags all the time. 

 Clara is another who is staying for health reasons... but when a foster DOES get adopted, how do I feel?   After putting a lot of time and energy and worry and love into each one, I miss them.   For the first week, I worry about them.  Are they doing okay?  Do they miss me?   Are they looking for me?   Are they adjusting?  Are they playing and happy and loved and ........  ARE THEY OKAY? 

 I know every foster parent goes through the same thing when their foster is adopted.  We miss them.  Applesauce was adopted yesterday-- he was one of the sweetest fosters I've had.  There's not a mean bone in his body.   I'll miss him-- but he went to a wonderful home.   Maybe I can have a break before another foster dog comes.  Some changes may be happening in our home, so a break would be nice to get some things done.   But, when one is adopted, it does mean I just might be able to help another.  That's what we foster parents do-- help the next one.   I will miss Applesauce's happy face and personality.  I'll miss his wagging tail.  But, he will be so loved.  Happy Adoption sweet boy!  Don't forget us.  💙

THE 2020 PEKE PICNIC

 We have had a picnic every spring for years.  We had so much fun!!!

 If we could have had the picnic this year, Mattie would have come.  I know she would!

Her sister, Gracie would be there, too!  Smile Gracie.  Everyone would love you.  💜

 Rosie Too would have come to see all the dogs that have been helped by our rescue.  So many PVPC alumni come and we who have fostered them have so much fun kissing them and seeing if they remember us. 

 Yum Yum lives in Australia so he would really like to be there-- it's a long flight though.  Come on, Melinda, you can do it. :-)

 Teddy Bear, would you behave if you came?  I'm not sure.  You can be cantankerous but I know the right home is out there. 

 Clara wanted to meet all of you who love her.   She is so special and I wanted you all to see how precious she is.  Sadly, because of COVID-19, we had to make the decision to not go forward with a picnic this fall.  If things change by next spring, we will have one then.  It's just not our normal year without a picnic!!   We miss all of you!

TIME OUT IN OUR LIFE

I'm trying to find things to do during this time out in our lives.   Holding Clara is easy.  It means I can just stop and rest and kiss her head.

We visit the vet, we go outside, we sit on the porch.   We walk around the yard-- all of us.  All the dogs.  Clara just has her own pace.

Callie Hound is entertaining, wiggling and happy.  She's so excited when I get her toy to throw. 

I know there are things I can get done, since I'm not doing the normal things.  For one, this could be fixed.  (Done.)   Overuse! 

I can paint some things.  This is a highchair/chair,table that I'm going to fix up.  It's great for little ones, but we don't need it anymore.  I'm painting it up for another child.    Matt reorganized the garage, too-- but that wasn't by choice.  The shelf fell, with all the nail and bolt cabinets.  What a mess.  Now I can find all the things I need to use.  LOL   Paint brushes, screwdrivers, wrenches...

During this time, though, I wanted to do some bigger things.  I'm not home schooling right now-- school is out-- so I have some extra time.  So, I looked up these stairs, to the room over the garage.  It has attic access.  There are three walk in attics, so they are easy to get to.  One is small, so I don't use it, but the others are huge.  There's another attic above the second story, but you have to have a ladder for that, so we've never used it.  It's too hard to get to.   (I know we are lucky to have so much storage.)

I went into one of the attics and pulled out all the "paper" boxes.  The boxes that have paperwork that has dates on it like 1983 (I know some of you weren't born then), 1995, 2003.....  You get the picture.  This is old stuff that probably doesn't need to be saved at all.  I pulled out SO many boxes.   I even found two boxes of school things from when I taught third grade.  That was a long time ago.  Why were they even there??   I wonder if I can use some of it if we do partial or full home schooling in the fall.  (My grandkids here will be in 4th grade and kindergarten, so I need fun things to do.) 

I quickly went through all the boxes.  Some could be tossed because they had no personal information in them.   Old college books, notebooks, things that made me wonder, "why did we save this?"   The boxes of "junk" went to the dump yesterday.   And I was lucky-- someone came over and offered to throw the book boxes into the huge containers.   How nice!!   I was in my yard clothes, ready to mow the yard, so I must have looked pathetic.  I didn't think going to the dump required getting dressed up.  LOL  Now, I just have the shredding to do.  Or maybe I can burn it in an old grill, a few things at a time.  I can roast marshmallows while I'm doing it.   😃

Maybe then, I'll relax like Granger in his box.  He LOVES boxes.  Maybe I'll take it easy-- or maybe I'll come up with another project, like painting the room all that stuff is in.  Yep, that's what I'll do next.   We will be using our guest rooms later this summer, so I might as well get them ready. 

I WILL take breaks to hold Clara.  And take Applesauce to meet his new mom.   I'll visit my daughter and grandkids (who are in my "closed" group), and relax a bit.   

What are you doing during this time out in our lives?  Do you have projects?  Tell us what they are.  You can encourage us and give us ideas on things we can do to make this time good.  To make this time not just one where we sit and do nothing.   Are you doing things?  Are you reaching out to others, staying in touch, doing things that make you happy?   Let us know what they are.   We are all in this together.   💛