Forever Foster Dogs

Sometimes dogs come into care and we try really hard to find them the perfect home. But we see that the dog has been so hurt, physically and/or emotionally, by the lives they had prior to coming into our care. And a forever adopted home just seems to not be possible. We know there are lots of good people out there but not all are able to take on a dog that may never be that perfect loving gregarious dog they want or need.

Miss Emily is one such young lady. She quivers with fear and is just so afraid. Loud noises, a “Shh” done with too firm a voice, a hand reaching out to her. It can cause her such emotional pain and she shakes with fear and will actually get physically ill and vomit at times. Physically she is in great health. But her spirit was broken. Sadly we fear her spirit is broken and will never fully heal.

Healing has been happening in tiny steps and each little moment that is good we consider a gift. We are so thankful for the life Emily has with an amazing foster mom and forever foster dog, Fluff. They have helped Emily not be terrified of absolutely everything. But there are days and moments when all she can do is cower and quiver – even though she knows her foster mom loves her with all her heart and we know Emily loves her foster mom and relies on her totally.

So we have made a decision to remove Emily from the list of dogs available for adoption. United Rescue Groupe has committed to caring for Emily through her forever foster who is committed to loving Emily forever.

While this means a long term emotional commitment, it is also a financial commitment to care for all the costs for Emily for the rest of her life. However, we feel it is the right thing to do for Emily. She will not need to endure the adoption events and meet and greets that cause her such tremendous stress and we can just let her love her Fluff and her mom. She and Fluff can hang out, watch the world do by without any stress and with abiding love. We hope you will join us in thanking her forever foster mom and continue to support us as we assume this long term emotional and financial commitment to Emily.

July 15, 2022 update

This was written as an update by her forever foster mom:

“Sweet little Emily has had a lot of hurdles to get to the place she is now. At first I had to feed her on her bed (her safe place) and gradually moved her dish closer to the kitchen which took months. There always has to be a pee pad that she can stand on as this too seems to be a safe place for her as well. If there is no pee pad in the kitchen she will turn around and run away. She now comes running into the kitchen when I tell her that her food is ready and always sits on her pee pad. While she is eating I have to ignore her and if I come anywhere near her she will run back to her bed. She still has issues going through doors. At the beginning I would have to pick her up and bring her to the door, now if I stand far enough away from it, but still where she can see me she will charge through the door. Coming back in she will never come to the door unless I call her and let her see where I am. Again, still leery of the doorway she charges through it and past me. If I bend over to try and touch her she turns around and runs back out. Outside in the yard she will run away from me or cowers when I come near her. But as soon as I pick her up she is ok. Another great positive thing is that she has stopped shaking when I hold her. Bedtime has gone from me picking her up and carrying her to the bedroom to me calling her and she walks to the bedroom and cowers when I pick her up. At one time she slept closest to the end of the bed and now she sleeps closer to me. I have tried to introduce toys to her but she is very afraid of them. Since Fluff has been gone (Fluff was also a forever foster with United Rescue Groupe who passed away January 2018) I have seen a change in her but because my friend drops her dog (Vana) off every day she has gotten better and even barks when ever she sees her. She sometimes meets Vana half way when she comes through the door. She still has no idea what playing with other dogs is because when Emily starts to run Vana thinks she wants to play and starts to chase her. Emily drops and cowers until Vana walks away. When company comes over she will always come over to me to pick her up. Emily has come a long way and has learned to trust me so I can say I have become one of her safe places when I hold her. The words that make her ears stand straight up are Food, Treat and Fluff.”

Please note:  we are very thankful that Emily has wonderful sponsors who cover all her food and treats each month and visit her regularly to bring her food to her.  They have been an incredible blessing and have been delightfully spoiling sweet Emily.  They also have a timid senior dog and she has become friends with Emily and the visits provide socialization opportunity for both dogs which is wonderful.