As I was making my final plans for Christmas I got an email from the foster coordinator to see if I could foster a chihuahua over Christmas...from Thursday 23rd to Monday the 26th.
I wanted to say yes, but needed to check with the 'Rents (My father and his partner Betty, who I will reference here as my step mom, short for Parents...) to see if they were okay with it. They knew I had looked into fostering dogs, but, knowing my father he would not enjoy a barky ankle biter! I also needed to check with my step sister because she was heading to their place for Christmas too, and bringing her cats. I am very fortunate that everyone said yes. So, I went to get Knots!
(I should note, the shelter provides collar, leash, food, meds, puppy pads, toys, and in this case a sweater because she is so little and it is so cold!)
I went to the shelter not knowing what to expect.
I got there and said I was there to get Knots and I happened to get there as the people who had transported her to Maine from Georgia were leaving and they said she was a real sweetheart. I had been told that Knots was a male, 8 year old chihuahua... but Knots was female!
She was so small! Oh my goodness... she was smaller than my cats! I thought that this would be interesting...me, not a tiny person, fostering a teeny tiny dog! And it was...interesting.
This is knots when we first got to my house. She clearly wanted human attention! And that ear that is folded down, is due to having had some issues with flea infestation which was addressed in Georgia before coming to Maine!
This little girl... loved being by my side. You will notice there are no photos of her outside. She was not a fan of the cold...which makes sense given that she was from Puerto Rico. We tried walking and after a bit of time she would lift one foot and tried to keep walking while looking up at me with her puppy dog eyes and when I would encourage her to keep going she would lift the opposite back paw and just look like the most pathetic dog you had ever seen... and of course I gave in and picked her up. She preferred being inside!
The first night I took her outside a few times... she wouldn't pee or poop and I was worried that something was wrong. he would eat, which was good, but drank very little water. I was grateful my other friends who foster told me not to panic if she didn't eat or drink or go to the bathroom the first night, that sometimes they are too nervous and have been too stressed... but that didn't stop us from going out several times.
As part of the foster training they ask that I use a crate, which they provide, to help the dogs get used to it. So that night after we had cuddled and it was time for bed, I got her set up in her kennel. I set up her kennel in the bathroom closest to my bedroom... I wanted to try to keep my bedroom for the cats, wanted the to still feel they had their space.
Knots did not like to be away from me. She cried for over an hour... and I let her... I felt guilty about that but also thought if I gave in and went to get her, it would reward her whining behavior. Eventually she settled and we all got some sleep... The next day we packed up for our three hour drive north to see the 'rents.
Knots slept in the crate on the way up except for when we stopped once...
We got to the lake, the 'rents' house, and Dad and B, couldn't believe how small she was!
I was amazed that after putting her down and letting her wander, she stayed with me. Dad said something like, 'wow she is already your dog.' I thought it was funny but it was true...throughout the weekend she warmed up to everyone else, but would come with me whenever I left a room...
She was quickly learning the faster she peed the quicker I would pick her up off the cold ground and take her inside to warmth!
This is her without her sweater...she had been mostly shaved, I believe because of the fleas... and so that she could get fixed. She looked even smaller without the sweater!
On Christmas Eve I dressed her in this Santa costume... I had seen it at a store for $5 and I couldn't resist, knowing how ridiculous Dad things it is for people to dress their dogs.
He did think it was ridiculous, but also thought it was cute! And she was cute!!!
She wasn't a fan of the hat, but seemed to be okay with the rest of the outfit.
This is one of the rare moments she laid on the floor...typically she was in a lap or in a blanket!
As I held her I thought she looked a bit like the big bad wolf. and said she just needed glasses...and Betty had a pair of small glasses on a snowman, so we borrowed them...
She was so tolerant! She just loved being held!
At night, at the lake, I put her crate at the foot of my bed and she did really well. I was worried that she would bark/whine as she had done the night before but she didn't. She whimpered a bit, but settled down and slept.
I had an ear infection while I was at the lake, so I rested a lot...and I confess, while I napped I did not put Knots in her kennel...and she loved it! She loved napping with me!
I left the lake on Monday, and thought I would be keeping Knots until Tuesday morning, but on my way home I got an email, asking if I could drop her off Monday night so they could get her ready to be available for adoption the next day. I was really sad.
On the way home I didn't keep her in a kennel, I let her sleep in the seat next to me. I had secured her leash using the seat belt so she couldn't wander while I was driving and she slept the whole way.
For fostering, I am asked to fill out a sheet about the dog that I have cared for... information about them like are they food protective, aggressive with the cats, have strong reactions to men, etc...
For Knots I said she was so sweet, but that I think she would do best in a quieter home. I wasn't given much of her history just that she was from Puerto Rico, had been fixed, and had been treated for fleas while in Georgia before coming to Maine. But... she seemed to relish the peace and quiet of the lake...
My friends thought I would keep her... and she would have been the perfect dog to take kayaking. She is so small she would easily fit inside the kayak with me and because she loves to relax, she would have just lain down with me... but... for me, I want a dog that will kayak with me, but also is a dog I can take for walks... and she is not that dog... at least not in the winter...
It was hard to drop her back at the shelter, much harder than I thought it would be. She is so sweet I wanted to have a guarantee she would go to a good home... but I know that is not part of my job. I got emotional after I left her, which surprised me.
I learned she was adopted the next day... which made me happy...
Be happy Knots! Your family is lucky to have you in their home!
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