Able, now named Milo. found a forever home with Missy and Doug.

He now has a sister named Gracie.

They love to run around the yard, take walks together,

and play “Chase Me!”

They are cuddling together and getting along wonderfully!

Sunday: Abel is not very interested in food, treats, toys or playing yet.  He walks very well on a leash (he knows who is boss).  In fact, he makes his foster sister, Gracie, look like an amateur walker.  He follows us around wherever we go.  He ate all of his food at dinner – this is the first time since he came home with us!!  A sure sign he is settling in nicely.  We went on a short car ride to our softball game – the little kids there were sure excited to see two good looking schnauzers!  Abel and his foster sister, Gracie, LOVED the attention from the kids.

Monday: First day of our “real” schedule (i.e. going to work and crating the fur kids) – Abel is very curious about everything.  He is very calm and walks slow and steady around the house trying to figure out this new life.  Gracie tries very hard to get him to play, but he just looks at her.  He comes when you call him and the majority of the time if you ask him he will sit on command.  He had an excellent “first” day and was excited to see us.  We went and saw another fur friend (a cockapoo) named Abby and Abel was VERY curious about her; I would say at home Gracie is much more curious about Abel than he is of her.  He sure liked Abby though!

Tuesday: Abel picked up a couple of different toys today!  We were so excited to see him break out of his shell just a little more.  He loves to be scratched behind his ears and he will even roll over on his back to get his belly tickled.  He still will not sit in your lap, but he will lay next to you.  He is still very curious and will follow us from room to room.  He loves his crate (it is definitely his safe place) and will go in it to lay down even when we are giving him “free time” in the house.  He has had no potty accidents inside – a very big feat for us!

The Story: A person called us saying she is moving and needs to place two of her schnauzers with us. She stated a friend would take her two youngest ones. She had six dogs in all. She also said that she has 2 – 13 year old dogs that she will keep because she knows they are too old and no one will want to adopt them.

The Plan: She will drop of the two younger ones at a friend’s house and then drop the other two off at the veterinary my clinic to be groomed. 2 days before this happened she called and said the friend did not want the other two, though she thinks she has a place for the puppy. We had to get another foster family and soon.

That day: My husband will take two home and we could get one dog groomed because one foster family is not able to groom. It was getting close to closing and the clinic closed in 1/2 an hour. I thought the most we could do is a bath at this point.

We looked in her van and noticed all the dogs were in bad shape. I asked her, which one was the sweetest as that is going to a foster family with a very submissive female schnauzer. Abel went with me. The other two went with my husband. She offered to follow him home.

At the clinic: I got Able on the table and noticed his condition was far worse than I thought. I had to groom him and there was no way a family could take him home yet. He had feces all over his underside, matting on his entire body, and tons of hair that needed to be cut off. He was pretty good about it and it seemed he knew I was getting all those hurtful things out of him. His paws were caked with feces and painful, his ears were red with fly bites, and I was in shock. After he as shaved, I concluded he was a breeder dog. Being intact, the way he acted, he was not a family pet, and I wasn’t sure the foster family could handle an intact breeding dog as they don’t act the same as our dogs.

I called my husband back and told him asked him what he thought of the other two males that he took. He said they need grooming. He said we are keeping them because they need us.

If I would have known they were breeding males, I would have been more prepared to discuss this with the foster families. If this person were honest to begin with, this would have been a much easier rescue.

Soon: Missy and Doug came to pick up their cute little Gracie from grooming and to foster Able. Gracie was from a breeder surrender also and one of the three puppies MSPMS Rescue we had for adoption 1 year ago exactly. We talked about breeder dogs vs. house pets, what problems to expect, and how to train them to listen to you, so they can learn how to act in a house. Funny thing is Able reminded me of Gracie’s Dad Jack. Strange coincidence?

That afternoon: I went home to find the other two dogs were in worse shape than Able was. They were two very smelly dogs.

Grooming the two: The older dog Ace, I was able to groom myself. My husband then gave him a bath. Now, the youngest Axel screamed like I was killing him and finally my husband had to help hold him. The mattes hurt, he had never been groomed before, and he had no clue we were helping him. We got his body off in one piece of fur and had to call it quits because it started raining.

That evening: We mostly played outside with Scooter who would get the two boys to chase him and it was funny. Scooter had a great time and they got very tired. You could tell they felt so much better, they were happy, and playful.

In the House: We had to supervise them with leashes on so we could grab them if they marked. Everyone wanted to hump each other and we were snapping our fingers a lot. Dinnertime went fine and there was no food aggression. They acted as if they never had been in a house. Axel got caught under the end table and our lamp and radio almost went down. It was caught just in time. Chasing our kitties in not OK! They were scolded for that. They respond and stop when we said, “No.” Marking was a big issue and we had to watch them very carefully. Just observing them, I could tell they were not used to walking over things and around things. They were very clumsy and mostly wanted to look out the window.

Outside again: They did not want to come in. One would hide in the corner of the house and the other tried to run from us. That is why the leashes are a good thing to keep on at all times for now.

That night: I crated them and my husband ended up taking them out in the middle of the a.m. They were crying and not sleeping at all. They all slept in the living room for the rest of the early morning hours. One slept near my husband on the couch and the older one was on the floor. I found two small markings, much better than last night.

The Next morning: We all went out again. They are pretty exhausted from the whole ordeal last night. Corrie is coming to get her Axel soon and I am meeting with Kim later this afternoon, so she can get her boy, Ace all situated before everyone starts work on Monday. Kim will get the calmer one because she has an elder dog named Kirby she needs to think about. Corrie will get the playful one so Talis has a playmate.

The future: All need to be neutered, up to date on shots, and any health concerns will be addressed by our vet. For now, they have a soft bed to lie on, out of the filth, and will begin their new life with MSPMS Rescue. Each foster will posting Blogs about their foster dogs, how they are transitioning to becoming great family dogs, and we hope they will all find loving homes. Please follow their story to transition into having a life that dogs deserve.

Note: One year ago, we took in 10 kennel dogs; we did not think we could find enough foster families. How could we vet them all, spay, neuter, and afford this? Well we did it and they all found loving homes within 6 months. All those dogs are doing very well and are the most loving. These three will be just as lucky, I know it!

The Coordinator: Pam O’Brien will be on vacation until August 5th. If you would like to adopt one of the boys or other rescues we have, please fill out the application, and send it to her. Home visits will resume in a couple weeks and when she is able to go through all the new applications. Have a great summer! I look forward to reading about their new start to a new life and seeing pictures.