Eat and Sleep and Sleep Some More

When foster dogs first arrive in foster care they have been through a lot - often some time alone on the streets, time in a loud and scary shelter, a long trip up to their foster home, and then the initial flurry of a new home, new dogs, bath, nail trim, vet visits and most of the time a spay/neuter surgery... Honestly, it really is amazing that they aren't a quivering snarling ball of fur considering all they have been through. Goodness knows that I would be a complete mess if I had to go through all of that.

So after all that is done - the bath, the surgery, the nail trim and microchipping - and things calm down to a normal pattern of everyday life, it makes sense that they crash finally and sleep a lot. That stress loads the body up with adrenalin and cortisol and it takes awhile for it to be eliminated from the body. Hobbs is in that phase now and he's sleeping a lot and finding laps whenever he can. I have a sinus infection and don't feel well so he's been a welcome little lap warmer. He is starting to be interested in playing a little but for the most part he's still recovering from all the changes.

Snuggling in for some snooze time while I work on this post

And when it is time for breakfast or dinner, this skinny little boy is making up for lost time. He scarfs it all down and enjoys every bite.

That may look yucky to you but Hobbs gives his kibble, pumpkin, rabbit pate mixture a two paws up!

It's always a wonderful process to be part of - to watch that first stage of healing both physically and mentally. And the next step is equally fulfilling: confidence and play.