Apprehensive Airie.

I'm Airie, a 5 year old Shih Tzu/Poodle mix. I honestly can say, after 5 years in my home I never thought I would be one of the dogs in this originally depressing situation. Email's about me had been going through www.nutsformuttsrescue.com for quite some time explaining that I was in need of a foster family, and urgently. My owner wanted to surrender me, at the time stating that she was sick and could not care for me. Unfortunately (yet fortunately for me in the long run), people respond faster to the emails of dogs in shelters that have an "expiration date"on their lives.... I mean I cant really blame them, I don't want anything bad to happen to my friends either- besides, I was REALLY REALLY happy in my home. I did not want to leave anyways... or so I thought at the time.....

.... That's when Kailey & Corey finally read my bio, and saw that my owner was "sick".  They felt badly for my owner, and they had successfully found fosters for the "expiration date pups" that week so they decided to take me. The picture above was the day I met Kailey & Corey, my new foster family. I only knew them for a short time, but boy was it packed with excitement. They have 3 crazy dogs, and I was an only child in my previous home! My original dad passed away last year leaving me with just my mom.... She liked me, but she certainly could live without me. This is the only reason why I ended up in foster care.

I had accumulated a lot of toys, and apparently my first dad had names for each one. He would say "Go get Squirrel" and every single time I would run and get the right toy just to please him! You can tell he loved me, and I was his dog when he was alive. My mom continued to let me sleep in the bed (like I had my whole life) but she decided to move, and not take me with her. Again, Kailey & Corey thought she was sick, so at first they felt sorry for her- that was until I was dropped off to them at the shelter. They realized she wasn't exactly forthcoming in her surrender application and when asked about being ill they found out about the move, and that being sick was not entirely true. In fact, it wasn't true at all, and nonchalantly she explained that she just did not want to take me with her and couldn't fess up to that through email.

I was all over my first mom the day she left me. I had a bad feeling and kept trying to jump up on her, snuggle her, and whimpered a little, then a lot when she finally walked out. She was not mean to me, but she did not care either. She just kept saying "oh stop Airie you'll be fine, good luck finding a new home" and she walked away from me without even looking back. My foster parents tried to pull information about me to help me transition but that proved difficult too. My original mom just did not care, that's all there was to it. I was crushed.

I spent the afternoon at the adoption center that day, since my foster family was volunteering until 4pm. Sad and confused, I  really did not do much that day except stare at them... afterwards, they brought me home. Corey & Kailey were a little baffled by me because they are use to dogs that need 24/7 attention and are full of curiostiy and life. Immediately they gave me a bath (I smelled of smoke) which surprisingly I enjoyed. This picture to the left was taken right after I got out so fresh & so clean clean! Although I was being really good, again, I was just exceptionally quiet & reserved. In fact I would just sit there beside them, staring of course, before me wondering why the hell I was here? I am 5  years old after all... I was pretty set in my ways, thinking my life was all figured out! Hoping that I was just being babysat, I behaved very well for them..

In fact, that night they took me to their own parents house where there is land so I got to run around with the other dogs .... this helped me get to know them more. They stopped sniffing & exploring me like I was a science project, and instead attempted to played ball with me ( I was still skeptical). I even got yummy treats from my foster parents like fresh veggies and organic meat based bones (not the icky processed stuff that gets recalled every other day in pet stores that my first family left with me). Corey did have to teach me some manners though since I got REALLY excited for these and kept jumping up on him! Roxie growls a lot when Corey is trying to teach me things, I think sometimes she thinks she is the boss. I learn quickly though, plus I'm an old soul so it was no problem for me to ignore her, sit with the other doggies and take treats like the easy going pup that I am.

 Even though I began to explore more... I still just did alot of staring... at everyone... taking them in.... still wondering what the hell was happening! All in all though I had an AMAZING first day. I am so easy, so it was that night that Kailey posted a photo of me to Facebook, wondering who would surprise her this time with interest in adopting me!  Like all the other dogs she has fostered, she was just hoping for one real honest inquiry about making my life better in someones home.  Boy was she in for it...she got TONS of messages that evening about me! In fact, I was only in foster care for a total of 5 days!!! Their second fastest adoption to date!

The first person to inquire about me was someone both Kailey & Corey knew pretty well, but had not seen in a while. The Basketball Coach from St. John Fisher College sent her a message saying that his wife saw the photo and wanted to ask about me. Once again that evening, they sat down and talked about how people never cease to amaze them.... you just never know who is willing to step up and help a life in need!!!

After a late phone call, and a decision to meet that week, we all went to bed that night.... I was still very confused, staring at the people before me. Since my foster family was told that I was crate trained, they did what they always do. They set up the crate by their bed so I could see them, and went about going to sleep since they had to work the next day.... This is when I shocked them. I had in fact, NEVER been in a crate my whole life- it was obvious. I had a melt down. I started howling, panting, breathing heavy, whimpering, peeing, screaming, panicking... it was a nightmare. I was terrified. It is SO important to never lie to the people who are trying to save your dog by taking them into rescue, just to make yourself look better, or avoid conversation. They ask these things to help us adjust, and place us into a family that is right for us! This could have had serious side effects on my health because of stress. If I kept that up, I would have gotten dehydrated and sick, and all because my foster family thought one thing, when the reality was another.

Kailey & Airie on adoption day

The next day, they were feeling terrible about leaving for work and knew that no matter what I had to be crated because #1) I did not know my surroundings, and #2) I was the first foster who was NOT smitten with the German Shepherd. Kailey & Corey know better than to leave any dogs alone with each other for an extended period of time that do not completely understand each other. It is like asking for trouble. So, back in the crate I went with my 3rd round of new blankets, and once more, an anxiety attack hit me. I was soaked when Kailey got home so I received yet another bath. As luck would have it- another volunteer that lives alone is close by and was willing to help out big time when it came to having to crate me during the day! She let me roam her house while they were at work, and I settled back into my easy going personality.

By the time I met my potential family I was relaxed again, having no accidents other than my time in the crate. In fact, I would bark at the door and paw it to go outside (plus I got really excited at the thought of a potential walk). Kailey & Corey told my potential family EVERYTHING there was to know about me in the short time they had me, including my crate terror. As fate would have it- they wanted to give me a chance! They were more than happy to let me try to roam the house, perhaps trying to gate off an area first to see how I did. Long story short, I now have a AMAZING new home that my family promises me means forever.

They took me in happily. I'm now adjusting to my gorgeous home with a big back yard, two kids to hang out with, my mom and dad, and another dog that's my sister! I still stare at my dog-sister apprehensively though, wondering what she is going to do next- but she is only a year and a half old after all, so I have to give her a break for being a hyper puppy. Plus she is not jumping all over me anymore now that the allure of me has worn off, and they rescued her too, right before me!

All in all, I am thrilled. I had no idea life could be this good. In fact, it was never very difficult to begin with so I am thankful that I was given another chance. A lot of people would consider me "flawed" because I am a "rescue"... but its NOT MY FAULT that my first family stopped caring, and gave me up! I did nothing wrong. I am finally playing again, showing my personality and really adjusting well. I still have an old soul, and my eyes show it all the time- but my toys have been re-named, and we are finding out that I'm so incredibly intelligent! I even play fetch again - they say the name of the toy, I bring it to them, and all is right with the world! ....



****Thank you to Rob & Leslie Kornaker. Everything happens for a reason- including meeting you two so long ago. Who knew that you would impact the life of this little girl, and that I would be instrumental in doing so. Nothing in the world makes me feel as good as it does to help great people like you, and sweet innocent dogs like Airie.