Rain, Rain, Oh Thank God

The rain! It finally came. I remember just a couple months ago I was bitching and complaining about there being too much rain, and now here I am sitting on my balcony enjoying the storm. Tomorrow the bushes will stop having that wilty ``PLEASE GIVE ME WATER`` look and the grass will be greener. And Callie loves the smell of fresh green grass! You can`t really tell from the picture but she`s actually terrified on the balcony right now. There`s a little festival going on across the road and when then rains started people started yelling and kids started dancing around. All the noise has Cal in a bit of a tizzy but I say she needs to take a little break from TV time in the air conditioning. 

The heat! It's maddening!

Could someone explain what is wrong with people recently? My only explanation is the heat is making people get all mad and crazy. Whatever it is, I'm over it!

Take a couple days ago. Ryan and I took Cal for a little walk by the water. Being down by the water is nice. The breeze makes everything so much cooler then anywhere else. Since Cal tends to want a little exercise right in the middle of the day when the sun is at its hottest, the breeze can be a life saver. There's also a little splash pad a little ways down the street.We went for a little walk and hit up the splash pad and were on our way home when a woman comes walking up and says: "You know, it's just too hot out to be walking your POOR dog right now!" As I looked from my soaking wet dog to this busy body of a woman choosing the most polite way to tell her to screw off Ryan thankfully took the high road, told her Callie was fine, and we were on our way. It was hot, yes, but were casually walking on a shaded path, giant water bottle in hand, with a soaking wet, happy dog.

And then a day or so later Callie and I were walking behind a couple and their yellow lab. They were walking kind of slow, taking in the sights, so we were quickly right behind them waiting for a chance to pass by. Callie got a bit closer to smell the yellow lab, and the jingle of her collar made the man turn around in panic. He was suddenly jumping around, pretty much kicking Callie out of the way. The lab hadn't reacted in anyway and Callie isn't one of those in your face sort of dogs so I was a little confused. As we went to walk around Cal turned to look at the lab, who again to the best of my knowledge didn't seem to care less, when the man had the audacity to say "Keep your dog under control!" My dog? My sweet, terrified of pretty much everything, dog? I slowed, I couldn't have heard him right. "Excuse me?" I asked in shock. "My dog doesn't like other dogs and your dog just came right up to him!" he answered. I'm sorry, but isn't that what dogs do? They smell each other, and most the time they can read each other well enough to avoid a fight while walking down a busy street. I was annoyed and thought of all the wonderful things I could have said to this man, but chickened out and just said "Wow. Alright then" and hopped my tone was enough.

And finally yesterday we were walking up to a cross walk, just behind a mother with her young, maybe 5 year old son. As we got closer to the lights I could hear this man yelling and carrying on about the lights and how they wouldn't change. He had been waiting SOOO long, the damn city needs to stop wasting money and fix things that matter. Traffic was thick (another problem for the city apparently), so he couldn't just walk across, to be hit by a car and wait in emergency for hours while he lay there dying. Yet the damn light just wouldn't change. As we got to the light the little boy in front of me walked over and said "It's because you have to hit the button. like the sign says." and he hits the button. All of three seconds later the lights start changing. 

Moral of the story: children always know better and most importantly, mind your own business you know-it-all lady sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. Sorry, the heat's getting to me too.

Camping

So over this wilderness thing

Callie and I like to adventure in some of the large city parks. I love to give her a chance to get off leash, where she can run and smell and just pretend to be a wild dog for a couple hours. I always kind of believed in letting a dog be a dog. Letting them make their own decisions. Cal has her own mind and doesn't need me dictating her every move but alas, the city can be a dangerous place for a dog without rules. 

My parents own a chunk of land a couple hours north. We try to make it up once a year at least and it's just great. It's in the middle of freaking no where but has a house that runs on a generator so there's lights. No running water but my stepmom is a miracle worker so the outhouse smells fresh as a daisy. A ways down the path from the house is a little two room bunkie on the water. No electricity there, but it is the only reminder of human kind on the entire lake - we're the only ones with access to the lake unless you have a plane. What this all means is epic freedom for the four legged members of our group! 

The little fisherman! 

We went up a couple weeks ago and it was great. Our last weekend with Rocket and a much needed break from the city. We spent our days down by the lake getting some sun and drinking way too much. One of our friends is a avid fisherman type and managed to catch us a decent sized pickerel for dinner. 

The dogs were hilarious. Callie was overjoyed when she realized my dad just cut the grass and spent her time rolling in the clippings. Rocket, this being his first taste of real freedom, didn't leave my side for the first little while. He almost had a panic attack when Callie and I took a swim. Then I started catching him going off on little adventures with Callie. Neither would go very far, but Callie would lead him off a few minutes at a time. Callie, I learned, has amazing bathroom habits and the only place she's do her duty was in the tall grass far from the bunkie. Pretty much the best dog ever, don't be jealous, lol. I always sunscreen the little patch on a dogs snout just after their nose, ever since our first foster, Beans, got a sunburn there. I quickly realized I also needed to lather it on Rocket's belly, it being nearly hairless and exposed to the sun when he lays down. The bugs were also terrible which meant bug spray for everyone. Even so we all ended up with an obscene amount of bites and were itchy for days. 

Rocket soon discovered fishing. My dad bought a pontoon boat and we went for a few rides. The boys would fish as we went, occasionally have us stop in the "good spots" for some real fishing. The first fish Rocket saw was pretty much as big as he was. The thing could have swallowed his leg whole if it wanted. Yet the little guy was MESMERIZED by the damn thing! Soon he was running from fisherman to fisherman as they caught their fish. We'd let him get a little sniff in, but soon he was trying to lick them and of course that quickly graduated into "I must eat the slimy creature" which just wasn't going to work for me. Even with the loss of his sniffing the fish priveledges he kept a constant watch on the rods. Soon enough every part of fishing was interesting to him: the rods, the lures, the tackle box, sudden splashes in the water. 

My thirteen year old cousin came up for the weekend as well -brag time! He just graduated from grade 8 and got athlete of the year! - and he's always excited about my fosters. He has a little Jack Russell himself so Rocket was a cool experience for him. The three of us were sitting on the front on the pontoon boat as we puttered along and Rocket became a little too interested in the way the water splashed at the side of the boat. As I said the words "Hey Jake, doesn't it look like he's going to jump in?!" Rocket jumped in. Well, Rock hates the water so we think it was more he leaned a bit too far over the side and then face planted into the water, but either way he ended up in the middle of a lake. Our shocked screams sent the Ryan and one of the other guys jumping into the water after him. But don't you worry readers, it didn't phase the little guy at all! After a good shake he was right back to fisherdog duty. 

Camp in 2009, Cooper, Callie, & Skipper

By the second afternoon Callie was over the whole camping thing. Maybe she played a little too hard chasing sticks in the water and rolling in grass, but all she wanted to do is sleep. On the boat she demand shade. She liked to sit up on the back and watch the world go by, but once we shifted direction and the sun was hitting her she was unhappy. Hence the picture of her wearing a hat, covered by a towel. She laid like that for hours.

The second night we slept up at the house with my parents. It was nice to sleep on a mattress but Ryan and I managed to get the only bed without pillows and blankets, which was fine since the house was a million degrees. I fell asleep with Callie at my feet, Rocket snuggled into my side and Ry to my back. I woke up in approximately the same position. Little did I know that Rocket was a bit of a player. Apparently as soon as I fell asleep he got up and adventured to each room, having cuddle time with just about everyone, and then ran back to my room before I woke up. 

After a few more hours at the lake we all packed up and headed home. The dogs slept the entire ride home. Rocket discovered the spot on the floor behind the seat where he could curl up undisturbed by Callie's long limbs. After baths all around (the dog-friendly bug spray was oil based and STUNK) we went to bed. Cuddles the next morning until Rocket's new mom came and got him.

Rocket's New Mom Visit

Ugh I'm terrible at this blogging thing. I meant to update last week about Rock's first meeting with his new family but I didn't. Wish I could say I got busy but lets be honest, I'm an unemployed bum at the moment and my only excuse is being too lazy to find a new picture of Rocket to put up. So much work!

But yes, Rocket met a woman last the Sunday before last. She was nice, little strange, but nice. She was driving a Volkswagen Beetle with little flower things on the tail lights. I only got a quick look on the inside the car and there was flower crap everywhere. Not to mention a bushel oh fake flowers on the dash. Sorry but that's just plain weird. 

She was nice though. Didn't talk much or ask nearly enough questions but what are you going to do. That just made me fill the awkward silence with non-stop nervous talking. Yay me! We walked around together, her, Rock, Cal, and I. Rocket is pretty darn attached to me and kept trying to walk between me and Callie (his usual walking position) and I could tell it was making his potential new Mama a little discouraged. I asked her to take him out for a little walk without us around and she agreed. Of course Rocket started to bark his head off as we walked away, but he stopped soon as we got out of sight. I made Ryan come down and we grabbed breakfast while they bonded. Finally we all met back up and she had decided she wanted him! We agreed she would talk to the rescue and if all went well (and it did!) she could adopt my little man.

She decided she would like to take him when she had a few days off to just hang out. I kind of wanted to take him to the cottage for the weekend as a nice goodbye. We agreed she'd pick him up this Monday after we got back and just before she went to her own cottage. So she took him away from me Monday, and it's been awfully quiet around here. A nice quiet. Peaceful. And best of all no pee to step in. But I admit, it was a little lonely when I'd stand up and not have him right on my heels. 

Frustrated, ugh.

My little man might leave me soon :-( 

Some good news! Rocket man has a potential adopter. I've been told she is a very nice woman, she passed all the interviews, and she even cool about his super-pee issues (which have gotten better by the way!). Yay for Rocket!! Hopefully the little man makes a good impression. I'd love him to settle into a forever home. With the year he's had, he totally deserves it. 

But you know, my start to the current rescue was bumpy. I decided not to write anything negative for a couple reasons. I mean, I didn't want to scare anyone away from fostering. With the right rescue fostering is an amazing experience. I also was a little scared someone from the current rescue would read it and get offended. Who am I kidding, I need to vent my completely one-sided story about the whole thing. 

I don't know, maybe I was just spoiled with my last rescue. All Breed Canine Rescue was amazing to work with. I say work with rather then for for because that's just what it felt like. I felt included in the organization. From the day I picked up my first foster I  felt they respected me and trusted my opinion about everything. I was involved in the entire process with my fosters: vet care, training, interviewing potential homes, deciding on homes. Everything was easy. I still keep in contact with some of the ladies for advice or just some good old dog-world gossip. 

I'm not having a good experience with this rescue. My first conversation with the main woman running the place went well. She was extremely nice and easy to talk to. Then I set up the home interview. 

Now I didn't do a home interview with All Breed. I chatted on the phone with the founder a few times and I spent some time with the woman who gave me Beans but even though I agreed to it, the home interview just never happened. I didn't really know what to expect. I mean, I had did a couple home interviews for adoptions before so I kind of expected the same thing. You know, everything looks safe, people look sane, current pets are well taken care of, etc, but mostly just being friendly and chatting about the dog, getting a good impression. But holy crap, the woman who came to interview us, lets call her Jane, was intense. It started even before she got in the door! I pulled the classic "Oh so sorry, it's a little messy, te-he!"(it was freaking spotless) and I expected a polite "Oh no worries, I'm sure it's perfectly fine." but no. I got a "Yah, well it's good to see what your really like anyways." Bitch. 

The moment Jane walked in the door she turned and said "Do you keep your toilet seat up like that all the time?" Shocked at being bombarded even before I introduced her to Ryan and Callie, I stammered that when we were gone we closed the door because Callie gets into the garbage. "Well you know they make garbages that have lids on them..." was the response, followed by a lecture on how dogs shouldn't drink from the toilet. I  told her I agreed, but Callie had never tried to drink from the toilet but that didn't stop her. Oh and for some reason it was necessary to leave the bathroom door open, can't remember why. 

I don't do well with being told what to do, especially if I think it's stupid, my own ideas are way better, and the person telling me to do it is a total bitch. So by now I was bubbling in anger and resentment. Thinking things like "I'm going to shut that damn bathroom door all day ever day you stupid know-it-all." Ryan was feeling pretty much the same thing. She walked up the hall and told us the dogs would need to be separated at meal time. I told her I got why she'd say that, but I have pretty strict meal time rules and it wouldn't be a problem. In one ear out the other I swear. I'm sorry but I get that you need to hit all the talking points you had planned but I mean commmeee on. If the person your talking to, namely me, seems to have a good grasp on what your saying, common sense would say drop it, and move on to a new topic. 

I can't even remember all the ridiculousness that Jane said. One thing I remember is me saying that sometimes I take Callie rollarblading and joked that she doesn't really enjoy it if there's not another dog to run along with us and I got chastised because Callie obviously didn't like it because she wasn't in shape, or sorry "Trained for that." Like really? My half sighthound, in obviously excellent shape isn't "trained" to run? Kiss my ass.

It was only about a half hour meeting but it felt like years. Oh and to top it all off when Ryan proudly stated we had taken in about a dozen dogs in our day she smirked and said "Yah, well I've done over a hundred." 

And that was just the first day! 

Everything went fine for awhile, until I asked if Rocket was going to be put on a flea medicine for the summer. I was then told that if I rrrrrrrrreally wanted he could be, but she'd have to ask the lady in charge of finances. That should have been my first clue. When Rocket started to have bowel problems it was a complete hassle. The vet they wanted me to take him to was way out of town. This is a HUGE city with hundreds of vets for god sakes! It would have been a 40 minute drive without traffic! When I suggested maybe there was a vet in town I could take him to I could tell I stepped on toes. Eventually we had to get a volunteer to drive him out to the vet because I wanted him taken to the vet but couldn't get to the vet on transit. It was just such a process. I had to talk to one woman, who had to talk to another woman, who had to call the vet and arrange appointments, and on and on. 

When Rocket's peeing issues got bad, it was decided Jane would come give me some sterile containers to take a urine sample and give me "pointers." I almost died. I'd managed to avoid the devil lady for awhile but now I had no choice. To top it all off I was sick and kind of grumpy. Jane tried to tell me that both Ryan and I had to be home, but to save Ryan the experience I said it wouldn't be possible and quietly suggested that it was unnecessary any ways. I understand she wanted to see us both interact with Rocket but I had no intentions of getting another off-based lecture, and I was already trying to figure out a way to keep her out of my house and there by being trapped with her again. I was outside about ten minutes before Jane was supposed to be here, making sure there was no reason for her to even enter the lobby. I took the containers, and even after explaining I knew how to get a urine sample Jane made sure to go over the process a few times. We talked over Rocket's behaviour and Jane asked me a few questions here and there. A lot of her suspicions seemed to involve Ryan. It was like she though Ryan was beating the pee out of poor little Rocket. I made sure to set her straight there, Ryan is pretty much Rock's favourite person in the world. Jane had basically no suggestions on what to do, just test his urine for an infection. Way to go oh wise one. She had some other suggestions though (of course): I shouldn't jog with Rocket and should watch his exercise because he's not "trained for it" (again, really? And he's a damn Jack Russel, without exercise he's be bouncing off the walls), Rocket's leash clip was too heavy (Oh my! How has he lived this long with such a torturous weight!?), he should wear a harness, I shouldn't put Rocket in his kennel to calm him down (even though its the only place he will be calm). I can't even remember every thing but let me tell you, it was stupid and very unhelpful. I did, however, manage to keep her out of my apartment and the visit short. I also let it be known occasionally her ideas were dumb - I was sick and a little testy about everything.

Jane visit two over and done with we got the urine sample in and tested. Nothing was wrong. I sent the main woman a email saying that although I was happy Rocket wasn't sick, I was a little bummed the problem couldn't be cleared up with a round of medication. I also asked her why some of the new pictures I had been sending hadn't been put up, and asked if there was anything coming up they needed help with because I wouldn't mind being more involved. I must have hit some buttons because I got an email back that was anything but nice. Boy, this woman has the "Bitchy but professional" thing down pat. Its too bad I'm upset but Rocket's problem is obviously an emotional issue that needs work. They didn't put the new pics up because the volunteers who organise the website thought all the old ones were cuter. And what do I want to do, I don't have a car so it's not like I can drive anywhere. 

I was kind of shocked. I read the email I sent over and over, looking for a way it could be interpreted that would warrant that response. I sent both emails to friends asking for honest advice and they were left clueless. I most definitely stepped on some toes. I get the feeling it's the kind of organization where "We do it this way because we do, okay? Just do what your told" and I hate that more then anything. For instance the adoption process seems excessive. I truly believe there's a fine line between getting the right people for the right dog and scaring people away. The process for this rescue is on the verge of scaring people away. I don't disagree with the steps I just think it could be done better. They do a phone interview, talk by email, then a home interview, a little more talking, then they meet with the dog, and more talking. A phone interview is great. Gives a good first impression and gives a chance to kind of talk about the dog and bring up any issues. I don't disagree with the home visit either, most good rescues to it. That being said, I think don't think it's completely necessary. With my last rescue home visits were always suggested, but only really done if I, or a lady from the rescue, needed additional information or felt uneasy. Sometimes I'd just do the home visit and first meeting all in one. Most the time if I felt uneasy I just wouldn't go ahead with the adoption. I just think the adoption process has to be people friendly while keeping the dogs best interest in mind. The family who adopted Keisha passed up a few rescues with too strict policies because they were uncomfortable sharing too much information. I mean sure, the husband was a specialist in online privacy contracts but they still had a point. They seem to be the perfect adopters thus far so it's unfortunate other rescues didn't give them a chance. The point is to get these dogs adopted after all. 

To top everything off they just need to be involved in everything. I was given Rocket's potential homes contact info so we could work out a time to meet up. I told the rescue I'd set up a meeting and tell them how it went. Today I got a message telling me I need to include the rescue in each one of my emails. Come on now, is it necessary to be included in emails like "So when's good for you?" "How's 11?" "Umm, no good, how's 10?" "Thanks great! See you then!" "Ok call when you get close." Fuck off. As I mentioned I'm not good with being told to do things I think are ridiculous. I'm kind of on the line of sending an email with the whole "bitchy but professional" vibe she seems to be so good at and/or continuing to just not include her in emails. I think I've talked myself out of the bitchy email but I'm definitely not including her in any damn emails. 

Wow, long rant, but I needed to get it out. I by no means think I'm an expert, or better then these ladies at dog rescue. I know this is my first dog with them. I can also rationalise and understand their side of things on pretty much every issue. But I still think a lot of it is unnecessary. Jane shouldn't be shoving her training opinions down my throat. You don't see me going up to people on the street saying, "You know miss, your boy dog shouldn't have a pink  leash, that's just weird!" No, I simply hope to myself they grabbed the wrong leash on the way out of the house. And I don't appreciate being treated like an employee when I'm the one doing them the favour. Needless to say I've picked out a new rescue with the help of some of the ladies from All Breed.