More Fosters - from Mom

Since Charlie we have had Punkin, who wasn't quite as impressed with Roxy but he was tolerant at least. Then we had another ginger kitty, Ember, with her brother, Chrome. Lola also loves playing and wrestling with the kitties! They've all been adopted. 

I haven't been able to foster since I put my house up for sale, but in my new house I'm hoping to make a little foster area in the laundry room or perhaps under a staircase. I definitely would like to continue to foster, that's for sure! Not sure how Katie, Steve's kitty, will appreciate that...............but we'll see! I know Roxy will appreciate it. 

Lots of pinterest ideas for fostering if anyone is interested, it's very rewarding, even if it's a bit sad to see them go, you're keeping space open to help countless others! I just think of it that way and it's much much easier.

Charlie, the First Foster with Roxy - From Mom

 Meet Charlie!

I wasn't sure how Charlie and Roxy would react to each other. Roxy loves cats, but sometimes she comes on a little bit strongly at first. 

I needn't have worried, they LOVED each other! In fact I've had 3 other kittens since Charlie and none have loved each other so much as Roxy and Charlie. Charlie was young enough that he would try to breast feed from Roxy!

Seen here and in the picture below, he would knead at Roxy and try to get milk from her, and she would lay calmly and quietly and let him do his thing. I felt bad for the little guy, but I'm sure at least being able to go through the motions comforted him, even if he wasn't getting any milk.

Roxy was constantly bathing him. He would wander away, annoyed after too much licking, and then slowly walk back, staring up at her with his eyes squinted nearly shut, knowing he was about to get a big ol' tongue bath!

They were the cutest pair, and even looked like they belonged together. I hope another one of the fosters is as happy with Roxy as little Charlie was.

 I decided not to rename this one, he was a Charlie! 

He went to a family with a little girl.

Fosters Before Roxy - From Mom

You have been a HANDFUL this last one year and 10 months. I used to foster kitty's before. Did you know this? I know you love cats but I needed to get you under control before I could resume fostering again.

I always want to remember these little guys, and what better way to keep them than with you?

First was the gorgeous Mystique and her litter of baby kittens. Mystique was a name I chose for her. She was quick, thin, soft and shimmery. I love when you get to foster them early enough to change their names or pick one for them, it's like a piece of you goes with them. Sure, they might change their name eventually, but I like to think they'd at least remember I helped them feel better, and readied them for their forever home. And she was adopted into a new home soon after she was done at mine!

This story ends in tragedy for her little kitties however. She was too young, disinterested in being a mom, and kittens too small to even see just can't survive without her. They went from wriggling, mewling, cuddly balls of fur, to no more, in under a day. I tried to rush one back, the last living one, to be saved by the humane society. They did what they could, but it wasn't enough.

I cried and cried. Is THIS what fostering is? I want none of it! This was too hard. How can people handle it?

But my circumstance was rare, especially for a first timer. A hard dive into hardening your heart from attachment, and maybe it helped me later on to be a better foster.

They Humane Society later called me, "The perfect foster parent," even though I hadn't even fostered many. They said most people who come in and try, end up adopting them, and losing a foster is hard for a place like that, because where will the sick or small go to be healed up enough to withstand the germs and busyness of a shelter? Sure adopting is great, but you can only adopt so many to where you can't foster anymore.

Onto a happier tail...

Next came Akuma and Sora. Akuma was wild, playful and fun. I named her monkey in Japanese. Sora, with her soft blue eyes and gentle nature, was calm and stoic, but sweet. She earned the Japanese word for sky. These were one of the most fun fosters I've had yet!

Next comes Anakin (Formerly known as PigglyWiggly, wtf kind of name is that?!). He was the softest most loving kitten ever! He just wanted to be held and pet. He showed curiosity about things, but wouldn't knock stuff over or be crazy about it, would just sniff, and move on. I loved him. I grew very attached. I would have kept him if not for the drooling.

You heard me, if you pet him for long enough to make him purr (more than 5 seconds), drool would begin to run out of his grateful mouth, and all down whatever part of your body he was leaning on. It. Was. Disgusting. But how can you NOT pet that face? LOOK AT IT!
 

This was not a foster, he was a stray. I caught him, and catching site of a dog, he escaped my grasp. I felt terrible. I twas obvious his fur was singed off on parts from a car, and he smelled so bad of exhaust and gasoline that the scent lingered on my arms after he was gone.

I stood on my balcony, irritated, looking on the neighborhood behind me, and there he was! I grabbed my bike, running haphazardly down the stairs, hopped on, and bolted after the stray. I cornered him, and rode home with him, riding my bike one handed. I'm sure people that saw me wondering why the hell I was riding my bike with a cat.

I cleaned him with dawn, and got the oil out of his fur, and made sure the burns didn't go to his skin. "You're Singe, from your singed fur," I named him. He held to my arm, gently trying to pull away from the bath water he was submerged in, but never hurt me. He took that bath like a champ! I gave him out to be adopted, and this bi-eyed door greeter of cats took a little longer than the younger ones I'd had to be adopted, but his good-natured greetings to anyone who walked into kitty city soon won over a helpless human, and he found his home.

Porch Potty Adventures - From Mom

Step 2 in Porch Potty instructions is to hug your dog! How precious! Tips and Tricks says if you're dog won't pee, try mixing half a bowl of broth and water, and then they'll have to pee after drinking it all!

Well she wouldn't pee. So I gave her another bowl. MISTAKE! From 11 til 2 something AM I had to take her out to pee multiple times. But hey she used it, which was the point. Now if I can only get her to poo in the damn thing! I do wish it were a little wider, if it were 4' x 2.5' instead of 4' x 2' I think it'd be a lot easier for her to sniff around on. Other than that I think this is going to be great! I love it! Roxy on the other hand...

Okay okay I'm awake! - From Mom

First Vet Visit - From Mom

It started out well, and then the old Roxy anxious panicked whining/howling/circling began! Oh no! I was losing her fast! So I thought, WWAD! What would Ashley do! Come on B&B training, come to my brain. CYCLES! She would do cycles and heeling and so I began doing that in the tiny room I had to do it in. Eventually she became so focused on me and obeying that she forgot where we were. She forgot this was scary and new, and when she was really calm, I had her sit on the bench.

The vet assistant walked in, and Roxy didn't even move. She whined a little, just curious at who this new person was, but stayed without any word or signal from me!

She was SO GOOD the whole time! The only time she tried to pull away was when they shoved a thermometer up her butt, but who wouldn't I mean really? The vet even said how good of a dog I have, and how it's so nice to deal with the sweet ones when there's so many that give the vet a hard time! I mentioned it was a lot of training and he should've seen her a month ago LOL! Roxy had a great experience, even though she was poked/prodded/stabbed/violated, she felt confident and calm and trusted me! And I was a happy mommy =).

Seriously, THANKS B&B!

Had to do it... - From Mom

MEH HEH HEH!

Welcome Back Soon! - From Mom

My awesome Bark and Biscuit trainer Ashley has Roxy for a board and train. I was supposed to get her back Friday, but she asked, with my permission, if a few more days of training would be okay because Roxy needs it! I love that Ashley looks out for our best interest! I know Roxy is a high strung little ball of excitement and energy. She wants so much to please you, but sometimes she tries too hard, gets freaked out when she can't figure out what you want, and falls over on her back as if she's saying, "I tried, please just love me!" It's so sad. If she were to just calm down and pay attention, I know she is smart enough to get it!!

Ashley is also teaching her to leave stuff outside! She's just so excited to go say hi to everything, that it can be annoying, and even dangerous when we're running or on my bike. This, among other things, Bark and Biscuit is getting taken care of! I miss her so much since I live alone, but this is totally worth it. And every picture she sends me of Roxy, she always looks so happy! A dog with a job is definitely a happy one. In the meantime I'm trying to take advantage of my extra time and get things done! I don't have a yard, so it's nice to be able to run some errands after work for awhile and take my mind off of my current lack-of-dog.

I made her a Welcome Back sign on the kitchen chalk board I made! Cuz...Roxy will totally appreciate it............she'll walk in and see that...and be like......wooofity woofin wooof! and I'll be like, "I love you too!"

So Much Work - From Roxy

Okay. I think I'm finally understanding what these people want from me. They want me to be calm like a lot and around a lot of things, and to pay attention to them. When I get very excited, it is not good. I feel bossy and like I could just do whatever I want! Which is a great feeling, but my humans don't seem to appreciate it very much! Especially when we're outside. Then I feel really bad when I make them not happy. Plus I get so distracted that I wander too far! Instead let's all be happy, I can do this! I can listen to them! I like structure! Cuz sometimes I don't know what to do...and it makes me sad and nervous that I'm not doing something right. I'd rather we just all get along, and if I'm supposed to heel around a chicken, or come when I'm called, or not plow into you when we play fetch, then that's what I'll do!

I've been working for almost a week now with my other pack leader Ashley. Maybe that's why mom kept saying she'd miss me! I haven't seen her. Maybe she's not allowed cuz I'd get so so excited! 

Well I hope mom knows this is worth it, I love all this attention and work and I can't wait to show her what I know!

Ch-ch-cheee ... eese? - From Roxy

Oh dear this trainer is making me just sit outside my door! I can't even go anywhere and it makes me very nervous! I think she's waiting for me to 'relax,' as mom says. Maybe...maybe if I give her a smile...we may then go, yes?

You're hot then you're cold - From Mom

Roxy was going through one of her twice a year shedding extravaganzas! If you've ever been in my home, it's fairly clean all the time and I could NOT handle that fur everywhere!! So she got shaved...then the temp went from being 90, to 50! Dammit Utah! 

Roxy was very cold!

I felt so bad, seeing her all curled up the last couple days. I knew I had to do something, so I bought her a nice fleece hoody to wear outside, and a new t-shirt inside. I loved the hoody so much we had to take pics. She is much warmer now, and looking cute sporting her lion's tail. Apparently her hair underneath is skin-colored, so at least now she doesn't look naked.

My First Pack Hike - from Roxy

Some lady that keeps randomly stopping by when mom isn't home took me in her moving metal box today! She usually just walks me and makes me be calm and sit there a lot, but this time there was a one of those metal boxes on those rubber things that smell like a toy! And other dogs! And it WAS SO FREAKING EXCITING AND I WAS SCARED AND HAPPY AND OH JEEZ I WAS GOING SOMEWHERE! But she let me know that I needed to calm down cuz there is nothing to worry about, and I couldn't get too excited. With the other dogs here, we must be going some place fun! That always happens when there's other dogs in the moving metal box!

We went on a hike! Daisy and Nakia didn't seem to like me at first. I mean I tried to show them how fun and exciting it was that we were on a hike...but they seemed...quietly happy. It was strange. But being the new girl, I wanted to fit in of course. So I decided to relax too and then they liked me. I was having too much fun to be scared and wonder where mom was, I just wanted to fit in with the pack, and I did it. Although if mom were there, I bet she'd be proud. This new lady that took me is definitely the alpha of her pack! I should probably listen to her, then maybe I'll get to go again sometime.

Proud of You Roxy Roo! - From Mom

Roxy has been trying to make it to the Wolf Pack! What do I mean? Trainer Ashley Wolf has been working with her to be a calm happy pup that I can take anywhere. We have quite a ways to go, but it'll be nice to be able to take her on the bike (which she LOVES) without fearing for our lives when she gets distracted. She cries and 'talks' at you when there are other dogs because she wants too desperately to play when it's not always an option, like on a bike...going fast...down a hill...next to traffic...or in a car on a long drive to go camping, and we got miss cry baby freaking out in the backseat! No no Rox.

Roxy has made some huge progress however in the last few weeks. In fact just last night she didn't even freak out and cry in her normal over-excitement when other dogs are in the vicinity. You can see the dog circled in the background and she's just happily staring at the trainer asking what's next!

Very proud of you Roxy. Pretty soon we'll be able to go EVERYWHERE together without you becoming an anxious wreck! Can't wait.

Roxy Home Alone - From Mom

I was very curious as to what Roxy does when I'm not here. So I downloaded this awesome iSpy software (FREE!) that detects movement. Unfortunately the aduio doesn't work (yet!) but I was able to catch what she did. This was only about ten minutes after I left. I'm happy my little girl entertains herself so well!

Now I gotta get the audio fixed for even more excitement and fun.

Calm Training? - From Roxy

HEY THERE! Er, I mean...hello. Mommy is rewarding me for be calm...and ignoring me when I'm jumping at her! So I'm learning pretty quickly to just sit nicely and I get so many pets and treats! Soooo many pets...I get so so many....SO SO SO SOOO MANY PETS IT'S SO AWESOME!!! Ahhhh! OOPS um! Ahem. It is really nice. The pets. The treats are good too. She gave me real meat today...I was starting to think something was wrong with her I mean she rarely eats it...it's like the best thing in the world. It makes me happy! Soooo happy so SO SO HAPPY I GET SO HAPPY WHEN I oh oh AHEM. It makes me glad.

And I am more relaxed since this calm training. I mean...I personally don't understand why people don't like me greeting them with lots of kisses all over their hands and standing up in front of them while they're trying to carry things...I mean anyone would love that! But, mother knows best I suppose. And it is making me less anxious about other things too! Yay!

Pack Training! - From Mom

My awesome friend got a new job at a doggy place that has the coolest daycare ever! They go hiking and train the dogs while they watch them! Roxy gets to start that tomorrow and she is super excited...or at least she would be if she knew. But she'll know soon! She'll get to run outside with tons of dogs! Dog parks are great and all, but hiking with so many of her furry friends will be a great social and physical challenge for her and I'm looking forward to having a tired, social pup at the end of the day.

No Roxy, sorry, Dexter can't come. Your boyfriend is going to have to sit this one out! But don't worry you'll get to lick each others faces soon enough I'm sure.

Singe the Cat - From Mom

Interesting week. Roxy spotted a stray greaseball of a cat across the street. I tied her up and the cat approached me happily. After picking him up and heading back, he randomly went ballistic and ran off! I felt so bad. I searched and searched. Finally, Roxy and I head in, I go to my balcony, angry at myself for letting the poor thing get away, when I see a white flash round a corner on the street behind me! I hopped on my bike and I chased that sucker down until he was tired and then I catnapped him! I AM THE CAT MASTER!!

I bathed the motor-oiled up cat with Dawn like they do with the oil spill animals. Got MOST of it out. His face had burnt fur and scrapes and a tiny chunk out of his ear, so I called him Singe. Since his fur was Singed off and all in a few spots.

He was the most cuddly cat ever, let me bathe him easily, hold him like a baby, and let Roxy lick his face once in awhile. He is at the Humane Society now after I fattened him up a bit, and will be ready to be adopted soon. If anyone wants a cuddly kitty, let me know and I'll try to get in contact with them! And the coolest thing about him, he has two different colored eyes! I was glad I got to have him for a short while.

My New Dress! - From Roxy

Mom got me this new dress and I must say I just look astounding in it! I am not one to brag but this pit across the street...well let's just say, he liked what he saw. I kept my lady-like cool, strutted past him with merely a glance...well maybe I was pulling a teeny tiny bit on my leash...and maybe I was perhaps whining and whimpering rather loudly just a few times...but that doesn't look desperate right? RIGHT?!

Biking! - From Mom

I am just thrilled to announce Roxy LOVES BIKES! I took her out, slow and careful at first, and she ran next to me like a champ! We went all the way to the park, then I let her run around with a dog for awhile and road our bike back. It was so much fun, she looked so happy the entire time. She really does have a big smiley face when she's happy.

Let's show 'em a smile!

...Not what I had in mind...Let's try again...

GOOOOOOOOD GIRRRRRRRRRL!!!

Use the Force - From Roxy

My mom is pretty obsessed with something she calls Star Wars...there is this little green fellow with awesome ears on there and he moves stuff...with his MIND! I'm a tad bit embarrassed to admit but I don't have opposable thumbs. DON'T LOOK! How rude! I'm self conscious about it okay?

Anyhoo this little green wrinkle bucket with the awesomely large ears closes his eyes and stands in front of this lake and lifts this big giant toy out of the water! All he has to do is concentrate and use the Force! So I'm going to practice on Force opening the front door!

One day...it will happen...I just have to focus...