We “own” a National Champion Border Collie (in Disc Dog competition) - Jeremy grew up with Australian Shepards, and I grew up with Shetland Sheepdogs. So we have a love for the Herding Dog. Especially Borders, Aussies, and Shelties. With such a busy schedule, we barely have time for our own dog… so we can’t have the responsibility and long-term commitment of another full-time dog.

The answer? We really enjoy “fostering” dogs a couple times a month. Basically, we get dogs from Adopt-A-Rescue-Pet here in Las Vegas and babysit them for a week or two. We clean them up, figure out how they interact with adults/kids/dogs/cats (and our bird!), write a detailed report for the prospective adopting family, and give them back! ARP then takes them to the PetsMart on Lake Mead/95 on Saturday and Sundays for adoption.

It’s hard giving these dogs up  - we always get attached… but we also feel a great sense of accomplishment when “our” dog gets adopted. Fostering is a little bit like being a grandparent - spoil ‘em and send’em home with mom and dad!

Anyway, I thought I’d share some (snapshot) photos of the dogs we’ve fostered.  I’ll try to keep this blog updated with our current foster dog right on top.  Yes, I’m a photographer but it never occured to me to take any photos of our previous foster dogs (a case of Doctor, Heal Thyself!), so a quick note on each one will have to do! I promise to take pics of every dog from now on!

February 1, 2009

We didn’t think we’d have a dog for this week, but are happy to have Jonas!  Jonas was rescued by Adopt-A-Rescue-Pet and they asked us to take him for a week so we could get a “personality profile” on him. We are calling him a Border/? mix because he’s rather large. He POSSIBLY is a mix of Australian Shepard especially based on his markings and his body language, but he definitely has the Border body, face and tail. All I can say is Jonas must REALLY miss his family, because while he is extremely calm and quiet, VERY gentle, and VERY loving… he tends to just wander around, seemingly looking for something. Jonas probably hasn’t been taught “manners” but that can always be trained. Bottom line, he is a great dog. He’s ready to adopt now, but we’ll keep him until Saturday and try to work on a little bit of obedience.

Las Vegas lost dog adoption and fostering.

Las Vegas lost dog adoption and fostering.

Las Vegas lost dog adoption and fostering.

Las Vegas lost dog adoption and fostering.

Isn’t he just ADORABLE??   You know you want to go to PetSmart on Lake Mead/95 on Saturday morning to adopt him!

January 26, 2009

While I was at ARP at PetsMart on Lake Mead, right after Bosco was adopted, a family brought CoCo in. (UPDATE!  CoCo was adopted on Saturday and went to a great home!) It was a heartbreaking story, they had him for a little over a year and were just forced to move. It was impossible for them to take CoCo with them… so we took him for the week, just to get a personality profile on him. Let me tell you, CoCo is an absolutely EXCELLENT dog. You’ll see by the pictures below that he pretty much made himself at home within just a few minutes. CoCo is a papered Miniature Australian Shepherd. He is completely potty-trained, gentle, a little hyper, and a total lap-dog! He loves taking walks (is leash-trained), and loves riding in the car. He sleeps right at our feet all night. He doesn’t chew, but does bark at knocking and when excited.

Anyway, here’s our newest couch-ornament:

Dog Adoption in Las Vegas

Dog Adoption in Las Vegas

Dog Adoption in Las Vegas

January 20, 2009

This is BOSCO. (UPDATE: Bosco was adopted by a great family with 1.5 acres, another herding dog AND HORSES to chase around!  He hit the jackpot!) He is 8 months old and is either a Border/Aussie mix or purebred Aussie (tail not docked). Bosco was rescued literally hours before being put down at Lied. He has a slightly runny nose so they marked him as “unadoptable”. ARP convinced them to let him live. This dog is amazing! He does not show any signs of abuse, but is a little skittish, probably due to being scared for the last week. He’s coming around quick, though!  Absolutely beautiful, with a nice calm personality. I am sure he will be adopted within a couple hours of being offered for adoption.

Adopt a Dog in Las Vegas

He even has the bi-colored eyes that people love so much!

Adopt a Dog in Las Vegas

Adopt a Dog in Las Vegas

Late December 2008 thru early January, 2009

I am SO mad at myself for not getting any photos of the two puppies we had for about 3 weeks around Christmas. These Aussie/Border mix pups were 6 months old and had been neglected (but not abused). They were a handful… chewing especially. And we don’t think they’d ever been in a house. But, after just a couple days, they were sleeping in our bed! Desi, the male, was a tri-color and more fuzzy/rough. Lainey, the female, was mostly white with black spots and more smooth. Both were extremely lovey and wanted to be lap dogs. Desi was adopted within just a couple hours, by a family who already owns an Aussie, and Lainey went to a new foster home for a week and was adopted MINUTES after being released for adoption. My understanding is that a couple families actually nearly came to blows (not kidding) over who got to take her home.

I do have a pic from AaRP, so here’s Lainey:

Rescue Dog Adoption Las Vegas

Mid-December 2008

After begging by our son, we took home a Chiuaua for a week. We aren’t really “tiny dog” people but this little guy really grew on us. A total lap-dog with attitude! Extremely gentle, and not shaky/skittish like other little dogs. Rocket was adopted on the first day, too!

November 2008

I do have a cell-phone pic of Lucas. We can’t say that Lucas was a “cute” dog. But, he got cuter the more you looked at him! He was mostly white with dalmation-type spots and a black head in the shape of a Border’s head. Not sure exactly what mix he was, but he definately had Border in him. A little spastic, but not crazy. He was already well-mannered, so a bath and a little basic training got him ready for adoption, and he was adopted on the first day!

Here’s LUCAS!

Las Vegas Dog Adoption

November 2008

What can we say about Remy? He was probably the most dirty and mal-nourished dog we’ve fostered. Remy was probably purebred Border. But, he was still a very loving dog who “owned” our house within about an hour. It seemed (to him) like he’d been there forever. THREE baths, and a LOT of food for a week, and he was a new dog - absolutely gorgeous! The folks at ARP couldn’t believe it was the same Remy! Of course he was adopted… ON THE FIRST DAY!

July thru November 2008… unfortunately we were just TOO busy to foster during this time. Sports and wedding season, you know!

July 2008

Hiccup was our first foster dog. He was a little puppy, probably purebred Border. He was very young, 4 or 5 months old. Dirty and skinny, but that was taken care of! He housetrained in a couple days and really felt at home. We’ll remember Hiccup for his “hops”. That dog could JUMP! From a standing start one morning, he jumped straight up onto our bathroom vanity! Hiccup was adopted within a few hours of being offered for adoption.

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