Foster Bichons; More Pics, Posts 7 & 8; vids #10!

[Freedom]

I picked up a pair of dogs to foster on Tuesday evening. The male, Buddy, is about 15 years, and the female, Cassie, is 12 years. Their owner died and no one in the family wanted them. The dogs were going to be PTS; I saw the notice on craigslist and sent it along to Small Paws Rescue (my Sugar is a Small Paws Rescue dog). The dogs were approved to come in to the foster program, and I was approved to be their foster mom.

The woman really didn't feed them properly at all, poor dears. She fed canned food only, Pedigree and Alpo, and gave them Beggin' Strips bacon flavor. She fed them 3 and 4 times per day. Both are about double their proper weight; Cassie at almost 30 and Buddy at almost 50 pounds. Buddy has some other issues going on, not sure what.

Unfortunately, neither dog tolerates cats! Both my bichons, Sugar and Lacey, are fine with cats, they ignore the cats and focus on the humans. So this is a disappointment; and the dogs will be going on to another foster home.

Here is Cassie:
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/Cassie.jpg

This is Buddy:
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/Buddy.jpg

And here are 2 short movies of how Buddy walks:
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/th_c8b0b0cb.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/?action=view&current=c8b0b0cb.flv)

Buddy goes through the middle, between Cassie on the left, and my Sugar on the right:
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/th_c76a9af9.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/?action=view&current=c76a9af9.flv)
In this second video, he can't get up steps, you have to go over and lift his rear end. He stumbles down and bumps his chin if you let him go down on his own, too. You can't tell from the vids, but his right rear leg is noticeably thinner than his left rear. His rear legs both shake, not sure if that is weight alone or another issue.

Away from the cats and my MUCH smaller bichons, these two are typical bichons, looking for lovin's and pets, and any sort of affection (they spent the past 3 weeks in the hous alone with family members stopping in to feed them). They give great butt wiggles to great you, poor Buddy tends to lose his balance and fall when he does that!

I will try for better pics before they move on; not sure if that will happen.
Sandie

[cyber-sibes]

I noticed those two on craigslist & wondered if you'd go get them! Awfully nice of you to help them out. Now these two are fosters, right? What about Lacey, is she permanent or a foster?

[Freedom]

Lacey is ALL MINE!!!!

I have been moving the foster kittens to other foster homes; 2 went this morning and I thnk the third goes this evening. See here:
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=130517&page=1&pp=15

Then the dogs go tomorrow. I need a few days of peace after this last 24 hours!!!

[cassiesmom]

Another Cassie! :) How wonderful that Cassie and Buddy were able to be rescued after their owner died. I hope they will go to a good home where they will be fed proper diets and receive affection and love. Freedom, you are an angel for doing this!

[Candy317]

What cutiepies despite their weight, glad your fostering these two :)

[lvpets2002]

;) ;) Awee how so cute & sweet they are.. Fostering Mmm.. Come on & adopt these two..

[Freedom]

luvpets2002, I just can't as they don't like cats. We have to keep them on leash even in the house and often we have to keep them in a room alone so we can get things done. It is not fair to the dogs.

They are going to their new foster home later today so I've been taking pics like mad!

Yesterday was a hard day, as it was pouring rain here until about 6 PM. So we couldn't even put the 4 dogs outside for a bit and give the cats a break. Once the rain stopped, we took them for a walk. I took Cassie on the same route I use for Sugar and Lacey. She is a bit slower than them, but she loved walking and sniffing all the wonderful smells. Dad took Buddy for a shorter walk, about 1/3 the route. He did great! He had to stop and "christen" every post, utility pole, and tree. Typical male dog, he he. Dad said there was one utility pole near the end of the route almost 1.5 feet inside from the curb. Poor Buddy was too tired to get up the curb but stared at the pole wistfully for a bit! Once they were both back home, they slept for half an hour! We had some peace, he he. Overnight was MUCH better. The first night, I got about 3 hours sleep. Cassie keep whining and barking. And one of them pee'd. This second night, they understood they sleep in that room alone (not a great love of bichons; they'd rather be with you) and Cassie called me at 5:30 to let them out. Then they went back in their room for the rest of the sleeping time.

Buddy on his first walk with Dad
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/Buddy-1.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/Buddymore2.jpg

Buddy yawning after checking out the back yard!
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/Buddyyawn.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/Buddyrest.jpg

More next post!

[Freedom]

Cassie is a spit fire and once back in shape she is going to be a wonderful pet!
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/Cassiemore2.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/Cassiemore.jpg

Then I wanted some of all four pups. Hahahaha. What an experience! First I got Buddy, Cassie and Sugar in the same general area
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/BuddyCassieSugar.jpg

Then I had to convince Lacey this was a good idea.
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/4dogwonder.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/4dogwonder2.jpg

Got a good one!
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/4doggotit.jpg

This morning I only did 2 walks. One the full route, with Sugar, Lacey and Cassie. Then a second shortened route for Buddy. What fun!

Cassie and Buddy will be going to a foster home in Connecticut this evening. There are no cats there, so they will be fine. I really wish it had worked out as they are wonderful dogs!

[k9krazee]

Thanks for fostering these two cuties! I hope they can find a great forever home.

I loved the pictures, especially the group ones!!

[Freedom]

I took 2 more vids of Buddy on his walk with Dad. The first one is leaving, then on his return. You can see he slowed down a bit.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/th_78216a15.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/?action=view&current=78216a15.flv)

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/th_4575f8b4.jpg (http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q57/sfsamm/Buddy/?action=view&current=4575f8b4.flv)

I never got them to the vet; their new foster will handle all that. I am still unsure if this is "just" his weight causing him to walk this way. I suspect there is more going on though.

Hope you enjoyed!

[pitc9]

Wow are they chubby!! :eek:
Glad you were able to help them!
I wish them the best of luck in finding furever homes!!
Great group shot of the 4!

[cassiesmom]

Look at the four white fluffsters! I'm so glad you got a picture of all of them before Buddy and Cassie go to their next home. I can see in that photo how chubby Buddy and Cassie are.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Oh my gosh all four pups together is soooo cute!!

I can't believe that Buddy is almost 50 lbs. :eek: Are Bichons prone to weight gain? Corgis are, and you wouldn't believe the number of people who have called my corgis "skinny" because they are not overweight or obese like a lot people let their corgis get.

It's so great you are fostering these pups. I hope they find great homes!

[Freedom]

Hi Pembroke Corgi -- no, bichons are not prone to weight gain. They were not fed and exercised properly. Poor dears.

Last evening Cassie and Buddy went to their new foster home, in Connecticut. It was a bit over an hour ride, and we met half way. I can't believe how attached to them I became in 48 hours! I felt like I was abandoning them. I wish them well.

Last Saturday, I woke up to 10 pets in the house. By Tuesday evening, there were 15 pets. This morning, back down to 10. It has been a whirlwind week!