Spring has Sprung: New foster puppies in the Northwest

Spring has arrived and it seems like the shelters have had an early puppy season this year. All those late winter pups who were impulse Christmas gifts are now showing up in the shelters when the parents realize that there's a lot more involved in puppy care than buying a bag of puppy food.

While some would think, "Why do puppies need to be rescued? Aren't they the most adoptable dogs in the shelter?"  You are right, these dogs are highly adoptable but there're a couple reasons they need rescue. One, the sheer number of young dogs in the shelters we work with are so high compared to the number of local adopters that there is no chance they are all going to be adopted - no matter what their age. But the second reason is that once these puppies are in with the general shelter population, it is a race against time to get them out of the building before they succumb to the diseases that are common there. Puppies have underdeveloped immune systems and when you combine that with stress, it can be a deadly mix. Once puppies become ill, even if the shelter is one that can provide medical care, it can be tough for a dog to bounce back and fight the illness in the shelter. They often end up euthanized. Don't blame the shelter though. Blame the people who bought that Christmas puppy and then dumped it when the novelty wore off.

Sorry to be such a downer here. But I do have some happy news. Recently we learned of five puppies (all from different litters, some owner surrenders and some strays) who were needing out of the shelter that we work with most often, the Central California SPCA in Fresno, California. Our foster homes were full but it's pretty easy to talk a foster parent into squeezing in an extra dog when it's a cute puppy. (I hope my foster parents forget that they just read that.) I was able to find room for 4 of the 5 pups in the Northwest foster homes and the youngest pup, a 6 week old female who was a stray, I believe, will be fostered by a foster home on the NR CA team.

Sassy little Zuni

You've already met the first pup - our sweet and sassy foster girl, Zuni. Now I'd like to introduce the other 3 young members joining the Northwest New Rattitude pack, all who will be arriving late Friday night.

First we have Dotty. She's a short, spunky gal and is about 12 weeks old. We don't yet know much of her history but do know that the shelter really marketed her, including having a volunteer photographer do some "glamour shots" and then having her be the featured dog of the week on the local news station. She also was featured on the shelter's Facebook page and while several people commented on how cute she was, no one stepped up to adopt her and so a rescue option was sought. We're sure there will be no issues finding her a home now that she's in the Northwest. She'll be fostered in Bellevue, Washington.

Dotty

Next we have Inigo. This 16 week old little stray boy came into the shelter pretty road weary. We were contacted about him to see if New Rattitude was interested and it just so happens that I have a friend who is a sucker for chocolate Rat Terriers and agreed to take him. You will be able to follow Inigo's adventures in foster care on his foster mom's blog, A Day in the Life of a New Rattitude Foster Dog. He'll be fostered in Seattle, Washington.

Inigo

And last but not least we have this 16 week old, chocolate tuxedo beauty, Jewell. She also got her "glamour shots" taken and was featured on the shelter's facebook page but did not end up adopted. I happened to be cruising the FB page, looking for Dotty's shelter intake number and came across Jewell. Our CA volunteer Lynn checked up on her and she was not getting interest and needed rescue as well. So we found a spot for her to be fostered and she'll be joining our foster home in Amity, Oregon.

Jewell

So welcome these new kiddos quickly because I'm sure they'll be in their new homes in no time at all.