Where's Aly?

[Sudilar]

What an adorable little family you have there, Aly. Maybe Lolly's a keeper?? I am so happy for you. Lolly fits right in.
Sue

[Daisy's Mom]

Lolly is adorable! I can definitely see some happiness in those pretty brown eyes. She and Reece look like they have been best friends forever! Reece is a very good boy to cheer up a sad old girl! And Aly, you are such a caring, wonderful person. The world needs mroe of you! This might be one case where cloning is okay? If we cloned a million Alys Good luck with Lolly!

[Gio]

A warm welcome to Lolly, she is so lucky to have found you Aly. I'm sure she will adjust in no time.

Big hugs to her (to Shiloh and Reece too of course).

[Tanya&Fritz]

It looks like they're really getting along well! Great news for everyone. Did you get to see your sister? When is Reece's surgery? Also, I want to know the same thing as everyone else: Is Lolly a keeper?

[aly]

Hi guys. Lolly is a definate keeper in my heart but I am not sure if I will be able to keep her in my home. I will definately foster her as long as needed but I keep imagining something happening like what happened with Harley. She is fine with the cat right now but she is also not completely comfortable here yet. When she starts to feel this is her territory, problems could arise. There have also been a few subtle signs that she might turn into a cat chasing dog. If I adopted her and had to go through everything that I went through with Harley again, I would never forgive myself. I have not tossed out the possibility of adopting her but I am being extremely cautious with it. I tried to tell myself not to get attached to her but who was I kidding. I was attached to her by the time we got in the car to leave the shelter.

Lolly has got pretty bad seperation anxiety due to all the recent trauma in her life. Hers isn't quite as bad as Reece's was but she has major issues when people leave. My sister spent the night with me last night. When I went to school this morning, she told me both dogs stood at the door whining for a long time. Reece is used to being crated when I'm not home so I expected him to do that. Lolly also whined at the door when my sister went to take the trash out and again when I went to get lunch. She cannot stand to see people leaving. I'm working on crate training her so she'll feel safer when I have to leave.

The relationship between Lolly and Shiloh is strange. The introduction was as smooth as anything. I just walked Lolly in, they smelled each other and then went their seperate ways. I felt very comfortable with letting Lolly off her leash within 5 minutes. Shiloh was a doll, not one hiss or anything. She didn't even go hide or sulk at all. After Lolly was here for a few hours, Shiloh walked over to the couch and put her two front legs on it to get up and sniff Lolly. Lolly stared at her out of the corner of her eye and then jumped up and ran away. Whenever Lolly is walking and she sees Shiloh, she'll make a wide circle around her or start going in the opposite direction. I think she is just scared of Shiloh right now. Sometimes when they are laying on opposite sides of the room, Lolly will just stare at her. Shiloh stares back wondering what is going on with that crazy dog. Lolly will stare intently at Shiloh like she doesn't trust her at all. When Shiloh is playing, Lolly will go investigate and sometimes she'll start barking (she has a LOUD bark). Just now Shiloh came up to smell Lolly again and Lolly retreated behind my chair. I am glad she's being submissive right now instead of aggressive with the cat. The thing that worries me though is when I'm petting Lolly and she sees Shiloh walking, she'll growl and bark a little bit. Their whole relationship is on pins and needles. I could really see it going in either direction from here, good or bad. I want to say good because Lolly is a really sweet girl but I don't want to make any assumptions yet.

Shadowe is going to move to my sister's apartment for a little while to get some peace. I think there's a bit too much commotion right now for her. I know someone who may want to adopt her so I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

Lolly has stopped correcting Reece and they get along really well. Most of the time they are ignoring each other but they do play. Reece would like to constantly play but he knows he has to do it on Lolly's terms.

Lolly is scared of everything outside still. She's very anxious and jumpy. I totally understand why. The poor girl has been through too much. I have a strong suspicion that the man who previously owned her yelled and hit Lolly and Tootsie. I'm almost positive. When my sister dropped some chocolate on the floor and Lolly started running for it, I said "WAIT!" She hit the ground and rolled over like I was going to hit her. I felt really bad. Also when anyone towers over her, she'll get pretty scared.

Lolly is making a lot of progress. I love her with all of my heart and am having so much fun with her It is nice to have a girl dog around again. Don't get me wrong, I love the boys and girls just the same but its been a little while since I had a little girl



[ July 12, 2001: Message edited by: aly ]

[Freckles]

Aly, I'm a cat person and don't understand the sentence "Lolly has stopped correcting Reece and they get along really well". How does one dog correct another?

Also appreciate and understand your concern about Lolly vs Shiloh.

[aly]

The way most dogs correct each other is by a growl, bark, or showing teeth. Some dogs will nip too. When Reece first met Lolly, he kept trying to get in her face and play bow. This made her nervous so she'd growl a little and show some teeth. This alerted Reece to back off. He's very perceptive and learns fast when a dog doesn't want to play. He doesn't understand why any dog or human would ever not want to play with him though. After he figured Lolly didn't want to play, he went to all the humans in the room looking for some sympathy. They're both such silly dogs

[AdoreMyDogs]

Lolly is incredibly adorable. Her coloring looks somewhat like Graham's coloring. Best of luck with her.

[aly]

Help! I don't think I can give Lolly up.. even to a good home. I'm too attached. I took Mocha through obedience tonight and I was having seperation anxiety along with Lolly and Reece!

[Logan]

Oh Aly, that is why I can't be a foster parent. But I do know that we can not keep them all! You should play it by ear, and just see what happens. If a good family comes along for Lolly that you can get comfortable with, maybe you will change your mind. You know there is always another one waiting for you out there. But on the otherhand, if you're happy, Lolly's happy, and Reese and Shiloh are happy, maybe you should keep her! I haven't helped at all, I know, , I was just trying to explain that I understand!! After I found Dexter, and he stayed with me for that week or so, I cried and cried when he left, and I even knew I could go visit him. It would be wonderful if you could get some kind of assurance that a future owner would promise to stay in touch with you, but I don't think you can get that kind of guarantee.

Take it day by day, and let us know what you decide.

Logan

[RachelJ]

Aly, I think Logan is right on target with her advice. Just take it day by day. Hopefully one of the days you will know which is the best thing to do, for you and for Lolly (as well as the rest of your family).

[tatsxxx11]

Yes Aly, day by day! I too think it would be so hard to be a foster mom. Then again, that's being selfish, because I know that by doing so we are giving these needy babies a refuge until there forever home is found. But, like Logan says, if everyone is getting along, then, maybe???????? If you find the home that is just perfect, with people you know will love her forever, maybe it will be a little easier. How hard it is to have such a big, big heart!! It hurts sometimes! Thanks for being such a TERRIFIC person Alyson with a heart of gold! Love, Sandra

[aly]

Yes, it is so hard. I knew it was going to be emotionally hard on me but I would rather it be me taking emotional pain than her just laying in that kennel so depressed. At the very least I can feel good that a depressed dog who is scared of the world is coming more and more out of her shell right before my eyes. I have to be strong for Lolly and for the next foster, and the one after that, and the next one....

Its just this fox terrier in her that is making me think of Harley SO much and think that maybe it IS meant to be. I think the people at the shelter think I'm going to decide to adopt her. They were supposed to call me and give me information on where to take her this weekend for the off-site adoption location. They still haven't called.

[tatsxxx11]

Alyson, Lolly is so beautiful. Her timid expression and sad eyes makes me cry. I can only say this. I know she would know no better home or greater love, than with you. Please, please, tonight will you give her a big hug and kiss just under the side of her nose for me? Love to the beautiful Lolly girl. A beautiful home awaits you girl.

[aly]

Lolly has gotten pretty comfortable. Can you tell?