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.

Teddy the Chuckie Dog... my "Foster Failure"

So my mom says there is a term in Rescue called foster failure. I guess it's not a bad thing, but I suppose it defeats the purpose.... Apparently foster dogs comes into your home and steal parts of your heart in different ways. Mom says once in a while, a foster comes into your home and steals your WHOLE heart. That's when you decide your family is about to grow by one more furry body!

That's what I did to Kailey & Corey. My name is Teddy although Some call me Chuckie dog (grandpa and grandma). I am a purebred Papillion, which actually means "Butterfly" in French.

The photo to the right was taken the day they brought me home from Lollypop Farm. The morning I was whisked away from my original family I had surgery, got shots, my microchip and more. With all of the confusion and terror I was feeling, I was a feisty little thing.

I had a rough start, but it was one of those situations where my "foster parents" felt sad for the people giving me up. My original dad got very sick with Lou Gehrig's disease. It is a sad thing that takes your life away even while you are living. My original mom was so overwhelmed that she basically kept me in a crate day, after day, after day, because she had so much to do taking care of my first dad. A family member intervened and said that it wasn't fair that I was living in a crate. I was not getting fed enough and got really really skinny, and I was also having difficulty with potty time because I did not want to have accidents, but I am only five pounds and 12 hours in a crate was making me really unhappy and sick.

Corey had to carry me inside the house in a cat carrier because I was growling and nipping at him in the car when Kailey showed up. I was terrified and had no idea what was going on. At the same time they decided to foster me, they still had Lucy, the puppy mill Chi, and unlike her they decided instead of letting me wait to come out on my own they would remove me from the crate themselves. You see I was very snippy so they wanted me to know who was boss (even though I still try to be). Corey reached his hands in, and growling and grumbling out I came trying to bite his fingers off but I was just under a year old so my teeth weren't exactly deadly....  and he did NOT seem scared.

I immediately ran to Kailey's lap and stared at Corey in disgust. I did not know what to think of him. As she pet me, I relaxed (but barely) and she kept telling how I was the softest dog she ever touched. Once I realized there were other dogs there, I began to get curious. You see, I had a boxer in my old home that was much older than me and I loved her dearly. So, like all the rest of my parents foster dogs, I was drawn to Roxie...

I loved Roxie so much right away- In fact I still do! I love Bengal too but he ignores all of the fosters and is not interested in them, so immediately he did the same to me. I never got to know Lucy, even though I lived with her for a month, but Roxie made me feel safe right away and I followed her everywhere. In fact I really annoyed her and she growled at me a lot, but I did not mind it because I was still a puppy basically. I knew she was teaching me what to do, and what not to do when she would growl.

Roxie, Lucy (Foster), Teddy(Foster-failure), Bengal

I learned quick manners when it came to food and treats. I always wait patiently and stare up with my big eyes, ears back-. and when I finally get a treat I am very gentle and kind. I am even allowed to eat out of the bowl with Roxie and Bengal now at the same time (although it took them a while to let me)! All things take time... but I was persistent. I followed Roxie everywhere, nuzzled her when she would let me, and bite her lip when I want to wrestle. Bengal has grown on me too. A few days after I got there he walked up to me and took his paw and swatted me. I guess he has never done this before because Kailey did not know what was going on! All of a sudden we started wrestling like we were brothers our whole life and we still play everyday, any game we can! We do love tug of war though with a left over stuffed animal after we have ripped out all the stuffing! This is what got Kailey hooked and she kept teasing Corey she wanted to keep me!

Well, that's when I knew. I wanted to live with them forever.

They would introduce to me to people and I would bark at them, show my teeth, growling - I would even try to bite them. I did not want to go from another home. This is how I got the nick name Chuckie because when I met my Grandpa Wayne and Grandma Donna I hollered at them saying NO you cant have me, just in case they wanted me! Grandpa Wayne said "Hey, that's not a Teddy dog that's a CHUCKIE dog". I was just trying to make sure nobody wanted to adopt me from this place that I loved! Kailey knew she wanted me... but it was Corey I had to impress. I began to follow him everywhere, staring up at him with my huge eyes. He fought it, he did not want another dog.

When Corey would have a hard day I was give him kisses and curl up with him if he would let me. If he moved I moved, if he went to the bathroom I followed. If he was on the computer I jumped into the chair with him. At night I would wrap my body over his neck around his head when we would sleep. I love Corey more than anyone in the house, and I can tell when he is sad too, because then I put my teddy bear moves on full force. I wouldn't let him out of my sight.

After a while, it was just understood that I was not going anywhere. I had weaseled my way into this family of four, to make it a family of five. My big ears, pleading eyes, and coy way of pinning my ears to the back of my head when I'm in trouble to make my eyes look EXTRA big sold them. They love me ... Even though I am not a dog that they would EVER pick out on a normal day. Thankfully that is not how Kailey & Corey operate.My personality showed through, the way that i would wrestle like a mad man one minute, and gently give kisses and snuggle the next. Even though I am a "designer fu-fu dog"they call it, because of who I am I worked my way into their hearts and I am theirs, and they are mine.

That's the beauty of rescue.

.........Kailey always says that the best way she can describe how it feels for her to Rescue is by comparing it to how she found Corey. She didn't find her soul mate by picking him out of a line up. In fact- Kailey found Corey by pure accident. One day when she was NOT looking, there he was- Just like me. She did NOT want to keep him at first but he was persistent, loyal, and he grew on her and it is the best, most true love she has ever known. So now she goes with her gut and tries to tell people that Rescue is very similar... that cant just buy your best friend's because that never seems to work out quite right. We are already out there, waiting for you, and it's amazing when you find us!

****Thank you to the family, whoever you are, that gave Teddy up that day. I never like to see a dog leave their home, but he was meant to be ours, and we love him with all of our hearts. I pray every day for your family, and for your health. Even though I will never know you- you are special people.





WIKIPEDIA, PAPILLION, DOG,
The Papillon (from the French word for butterfly, pronounced: [papiˈjɔ̃]), also called the Continental Toy Spaniel, is a breed of dog of the Spaniel type. One of the oldest of the toy spaniels, it derives its name from its characteristic butterfly-like look of the long and fringed hair on the ears. A papillon with dropped ears is called a Phalène (French for moth). The small head is slightly rounded between the ears with a well defined stop. The muzzle is somewhat short, thin tapering to the nose. The dark, medium sized, round eyes have thin black rims, often extending at the junction of the eyelids towards the ears. The large ears can either be erect or dropped with rounded tips. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The long tail is set high carried over the body, and covered with long, fine hair. Dewclaws are sometimes removed. The straight, long, fine, single coat has extra frill on the chest, ears, back of the legs and the tail. Coat color is white with patches of any color. A mask of a color other than white covers both ears and eyes from back to front.