The back of this sweater Bonnie is wearing says, “Dear Santa, Let me explain…” which is just perfect for her. I think someone at the shelter picked this out for her, because I didn’t even know I had it until today!
Casual Dog Xmas Portraits 2024
Category Archives: Foster Dogs
Foster Brothers for the Holidays
Shea got the foster brothers ready for their last vaccination at the shelter today. Leaving them there for a few hours was heartbreaking, as they did not know we would be back soon. I hope the next time I leave them (after they get neutered) will be when they’re going to their forever home. It’s great that we can help keep these two out of the kennels.
Everyone should adopt, not shop!
Of course, they were thrilled when we brought them back. I’m so glad we will have them for the holidays after what was a very dark year in many, MANY ways.
This was a spontaneous shot that Shea took of me and four dogs (the two fosters and my two babies) after a wonderful dinner he made for Hugh and me last night. I didn’t realize that all four dogs were up on that couch with me, but Hugh was there with his dogs off-screen. You can see a tuft of Buster at the bottom of this picture. The four on the couch with me were probably looking for a short break from Zin and Buster, who I always enjoy seeing.
December Dogs
We have Calvin and Hobbes as emergency fosters during a kennel cough outbreak at Humane Society of the North Bay.
Shea made me nervous running backward around the pool at our friends’ house yesterday, but it was adorable that the three dogs here wagged their tails furiously and followed him like the Pied Piper. Bonnie wisely kept out of this high-risk activity, but everyone was unharmed in filming this video.
In the backyard in the rain with the dogs, including the foster brothers. We’re all ready for the longer days after the solstice with more warmth and light.
Tender Foster Sibling Moments
Bonnie has her moments when she’s tired of her two foster brothers, but at other times, we have moments like this, which warm my heart.
Foster Adjustment
Bonnie is chipper morning with her foster brothers Calvin and Hobbes. It doesn’t last, but it’s nice while it does.
Calvin had no problem running up the stairs while following Snoopy, but Hobbes really needed some encouragement. When he was left out he made a scream that sounded like a witch’s cackle, so Shea tried to help him learn. Eventually, he just grew tired of being left out and now he runs up and down like nothing. This reminded me of building Bonnie’s confidence with the process, but she’s blind! This is Shea’s filming of Hobbes steps lesson:
Calvin and Hobbes wrestle with each other in the bedroom. Shea tried to capture them following Snoopy in lockstep, but they moved so fast!
Meet Calvin and Hobbes
We are emergency fostering these two brothers who were tied up and abandoned at the fence of the Humane Society of the North Bay yesterday. Calvin and Hobbes are lovely even though on the drive to the house with us they were extremely nervous. These poor pups had quite a dramatic day yesterday. I’m so glad they had the loving touch of the great staff and volunteers at HSNB. Shea is very patient with them while we keep them safe and warm until they can eventually find a forever home, but they are on a mandatory three-day hold. They are about a year old and very healthy from what we can tell. Look at their amazing eyes.
Here are all four of them on the couch with me. You can barely see Snoopy who is the only one with his eyes open.
You’ll hear me refer to them as Ernie and Bert, but we had to change their names since those were used so often recently at the shelter.
Grooming Former Fosters
These father and son dogs (who I named Peanut and Zorro) are with my friend Jeannette. They are technically survivors of the fire as well since they were fosters that she took in just days before the fire, and they were the ones I was helping her with when I was out of the house that morning.
Bonnie’s first Bath and Trim
Bonnie was very patient when I gave her a thorough bath and trimmed her all over. I’ll give her a real grooming once I get my grooming supplies fully replaced in a few days. I’m so proud of her for easily navigating up the staircase despite being vision impaired and getting a little more confident in coming down the stairs. Ironically she climbs the little hill in the backyard and back down without hesitation, but the carpeted stairs give her pause.
Bonnie Joins the Fold
Happy to be fostering a vision-impaired dog, Bonnie, who was in the HSNB shelter for about a year. Those who know me know I have a soft spot for blind dogs like the two I recently lost among the five that tragic day. Bonnie seems to have accepted me into her fold and her love of other dogs will hopefully soon be reciprocated by Snoopy, who is clear on his boundaries, but who is also more than tolerating her!
Dogs January 2024
Foster dogs (father and son):
Proud Pancho under the Piano grabbing a small Patch of sun today.
Two blind dogs and their bones (although Snowball was momentarily distracted from his):