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Post by lpyrbby on Jan 16, 2009 20:35:53 GMT -5
Well, the potential foster home for Topanga isn't going to work out. Topanga needs time to herself before being given the option to sleep on the bed and have daily long interactions with other dogs and the potential home was straightforward and honest with us that she wouldn't be able to keep them separated. Kudos to her for that! But, she's back to the drawing board now poor soul. She's got to get out of that shelter within the week I think, otherwise, we're all just prolonging her misery...
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Post by DiamondTiger on Jan 17, 2009 4:04:42 GMT -5
She really does need to get out ASAP. As of yesterday morning (and all throughout the day) she would actually come to the front of her kennel and greet me with a wagging tail and a kiss. The volunteers that I posted about in "Sweetie's" thread managed to set her back by days. They took her out for a walk and when I made my rounds to tuck everyone in and make sure we were prepared for the cold night, poor Topanga sat shivering with her head down in the back of her kennel and wouldn't come to greet me or anyone else. I wrapped her in an extra blanket to help calm her and keep her warm, but her demeanor wasn't a result of the cold. She did like the way I bundled her like a burrito tho.  I hate not having separate areas to place dogs who need "Rx" stimulation and care. As it is, all of our healthy dogs are housed together and it makes it really hard to monitor who does what with whom. I've got a sign on her kennel that says "Employees ONLY", but some people pay no mind to those things and it really irritates the piss outta me. |
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Post by DiamondTiger on Jan 20, 2009 12:00:01 GMT -5
Seriously.... are y'all ready for this? First a little update... Last week Topanga started showing me that she really does WANT to trust and that she's starting to relax with those of us who spend more time with her. She would come to the front of her kennel and wiggle the tip of her tail and she'd give me kisses. When I'd sit in her kennel with her she gave me a vicious tongue bath and all seemed right in her world. Fast Forward to this morning after my 2 days off that I actually TOOK off because Nick's been sick so I've stayed home with him and haven't gone anywhere. So I get to work this morning and I'm making my usual rounds, greeting everyone, etc. I get to Topanga's kennel and she WIGGLED her ENTIRE body up to the front of her kennel and greeted me as if I were her long lost friend come home... she missed me and wanted to show it. She gave me mucho kisses and she actually smiled. You can imagine how THRILLED I was for her to be doing this. Okay, so the inside kennels are being cleaned now and believe it or not it's snowing here so I have her in the office with me because her delicate hiney won't sit on the cold concrete floor outside... she's picky like that. LOL!! Well, I decided to see if she'd relax with the camera a little bit more since I've been spending more time with her here over the last week... and... well, you be the judge.     And last but not least... and I know it looks like poo but it's treats. LOL! She's letting me know what she thinks of the Wellness Bars I gave her. LOL!  |
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Post by lpyrbby on Jan 20, 2009 15:08:14 GMT -5
Man she reminds me SO much of Cyrus with that underbite of hers!
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Post by bamapitbullmom on Jan 20, 2009 15:09:56 GMT -5
LOL @ that last one! Hee hee! Fabulous update, Kat! There is an obvious difference in her eyes and a much more relaxed body language. What a difference some time and trust makes. Her coat is gorgeous, too.  |
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Post by DiamondTiger on Jan 20, 2009 18:08:57 GMT -5
Her coat is gorgeous, too. Seriously! And you should FEEL it! Talk about sooooo soft. OMG, I laid on the floor with her today too, just to see if she'd get up and move away from me like she's done before... I had another "behaviorist" in the room too and she said it looked as if Topanga was looking to see when the "hammer would fall", but she didn't move. She actually laid there with me letting me stroke her and massage her face and around her eyes. Then she snorted, gave a small sigh and closed her eyes and started snoring. Do ya know how happy that makes me? I'm sure you do. ;D Our potential foster home for this girl has let us know that she is willing and able to put a crate in her big walk in closet in her bedroom (which she uses for nothing else according to her email) and that she'd like to try working with Topanga after all. I *think* that if this girl will do EVERYTHING we ask her to do, and seeks / follows our guidance, this would be good for Topanga. She does have 2 other dogs, one is a temp guest, and we can help her work on Topanga's insecurities with other dogs as well as long as this girl will take things slow and at a pace that this beautiful girl feels comfortable. Her reactions to different sudden movement and noise isn't NEARLY what it was a week ago either. She gets a little spooked, but recovers quickly where even last week she'd go into shut down mode and be ready to go back to her kennel. She's becoming more and more curious about things in the office and today as people were coming and going, Topanga was actually initiating interactions with them... she even went as far as checking out the exterminator and his can of spray. Major step for this girl!  |
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Post by crystalbbr on Jan 20, 2009 22:26:13 GMT -5
What a great update!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy this girl is relaxing and doing so much better!
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Post by RealPitBull on Jan 31, 2009 10:10:44 GMT -5
Somehow I missed this...I am SOOO thrilled over the Topanga update! WOOHOO!
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Post by DiamondTiger on Feb 1, 2009 6:08:45 GMT -5
Oh... I've got an even better update than that! ;D I'm trying REALLY hard not to get my hopes up too high, but I can't help it this time.
I got an email the other day from a woman who has no pets, her kids live with her mother down the street while she's in school... they have a quiet house and the kids (who are 7 & 13 visit often). Well, this woman surfs the net when she's taking a break from her studies and she's been wanting to foster for a while now, but has been afraid that once she starts... the rescue will pawn dogs off on her and guilt her into taking more than she can handle. She was surfing the net the other night, looking at all of the dogs in need in our area... many of them closer to her than Topanga. She came to Topanga's petfinder profile on our shelter's site... and she was drawn to her like nothing she'd felt before. She emailed me and asked for more information about Topanga and asked me if she could come and meet this sweet girl in person.
I told her all about New Hope and our fostering program, and I gave her directions to the shelter and told her what our hours are. I asked her to fill out a foster application on our web site and explained the process and told her we'd go from there. Well, we didn't get an app from her so I really thought that she would be another one to get our hopes up and then flake out on a dog in desperate need. Nope! She wasn't! She showed up at the shelter yesterday with her 13 yr old who was super stoked about meeting Topanga and they were both SO nice. Stellar foster applicants in my opinion. I did an interview right then and there... we brought Topanaga out of her kennel and into the grassy yard where she instantly took to this child... it was seriously love at first sight. (Topanga is great with kids... of all sizes.) Topanga really adopted THEM! She wanted to go home with them right then and there... tried to follow them to their car when they left and everything which is something that Topanga has never done before. Usually when someone new comes in, she'll sniff and check them out... then right back to my side she comes. Not with these folks tho, she was theirs whether they wanted her or not! LOL!!
So anyway, the woman asked me then what the next step would be to get them approved because she definately wants to help Topanga. I explained the foster application to her again and she was so eager to get things moving so they could take our sweet pitty girl, she sat down IN MY OFFICE and submitted her application! So Alicia will be doing her home visit this afternoon and hopefully, if all goes well today, I'll be meeting Alicia tomorrow with the LOVELY Topanga and sending her off to her new FOSTER HOME!!! ;D
Fingers crossed all that things go well today and that we don't hit any bumps or road blocks, because I really don't want our girl to spend one more night in this cold noisy shelter when there's a nice warm home with a big soft bed waiting for her with people who truly care and WANT to help this sweet little lady.
This woman told me that she cried herself to sleep that night after sending me the first email, because Topanga's soulful face that spoke to her through the pictures on petfinder brought back memories of her own past and that she just knew that she could help this dog if we would give her a chance.
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Post by purplepaws121 on Feb 1, 2009 17:30:46 GMT -5
what a story!!! wow, i'm so happy for Topanga!
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Post by lpyrbby on Feb 1, 2009 17:43:36 GMT -5
Everything is good to go If we're lucky, Topanga will get sprung from the shelter on Tuesday |
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Post by bubsy on Feb 1, 2009 20:00:36 GMT -5
Great news!!!
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Post by crystalbbr on Feb 1, 2009 21:58:30 GMT -5
Oh this is so wonderful!! I hope we get some pics of Topanga in her new foster home too to see!
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Post by RealPitBull on Feb 3, 2009 16:16:28 GMT -5
Everything is good to go If we're lucky, Topanga will get sprung from the shelter on Tuesday Here's hopin' she's on her way to her new life  |
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Post by DiamondTiger on Feb 3, 2009 17:53:20 GMT -5
Mrs. Topanga left the shelter today a very happy girl. When her new foster mom and the girl showed up to pick her up, the girl went out with me to get Topanga. Well, Topanga rememberd that kid and man did she ever get excited. She was bouncing and wiggling her butt and when I handed the leash to the kid they took off running towards the office... just a "girl and her dog". I have a strong feeling that Topanga not only found the perfect foster home, but that she's actually found her FOREVER home. ;D Don't quote me on that and I'd LOVE to have these folks as fosters for years to come. But if they do decide they never want to part with this sweet girl, I can so live with that because she's another rags to riches story that makes your heart smile SO big that you can't help but cry crocodile tears as you say "good luck princess". |
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Post by bamapitbullmom on Feb 3, 2009 22:46:40 GMT -5
AWW!! Please keep us posted and I know you will! Hugs to Topanga!
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Post by lpyrbby on Mar 29, 2009 17:33:37 GMT -5
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snipe
I Love RPBF!
Posts: 421
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Post by snipe on Mar 29, 2009 17:55:19 GMT -5
although she is taking her time, she looks SO much better.
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Post by crystalbbr on Mar 29, 2009 19:08:39 GMT -5
The pic with the kids is cute!
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Post by purplepaws121 on Mar 29, 2009 21:39:54 GMT -5
she looks great!!! she's so pretty
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I look forward to learning much here