Adoption Counselor

Today I made it out to Watermelon Mountain Ranch and had my introduction (& did my first adoption) to animal adoption counseling. I'll need some practice & more exposure but I think it will be neat & fun to do. I also walk some of the dogs at the Ranch. I should be losing lots of weight but for some reason (& I'm sure its not the New Mexican cuisine that is hampering the effort) its not coming off.

Now that I am getting more familiar with the Ranch, the staff and the animals there (they have a lovely cattery but I'm a dog person) it is kinda fun to go and play with the inmates. There are usually some puppies there to play with and always someone that needs to be walked & exercised. It's sad to some extent too - some are troubled animals that were "rescued' for horrible situations, one dog had been left in foreclosed house after his family moved out for something like 18 days... I mean, really... set him free or something, don't lock them up where they are most likely going to starve to death.

The people at the Ranch are super too - very much for the animals and their welfare above all else. It is just amazing to me that there are so many discarded animals (and just as many that are finding homes). Watermelon Mountain Ranch: http://www.wmranch.org/

Anyway, here's another picture of our foster 'pup', Espresso. She is starting to sit up more now instead of staying curled into a ball. Such a sweet-heart. We are taking her with us to Mom & Dad's, hopefully we won't traumatize her to much.

New Foster Pup... Espresso

Introducing our new foster-dog, Espresso - Pressie to us. She's a 1.5 year old chow mix they say, but we don't see a lot of chow in her, more shepherd we think. She actually reminds us of a black coyote to tell the truth - very lean and tall and just the way she moves. Bryan thinks she looks like one of those black police dogs, except she is kinda small.

She has been at Watermelon Mountain Ranch (WMR) for quite a while now, & she is so horrifically shy and timid - I think she has been "adopted" a couple times but is always returned because of her timidness. So far we haven't seen ANY aggressive behavior in her, but you must move very slowly and talk softly to her or she bolts, its better to just sit, then she'll come up to you. This will certainly be a challenge... She paces a lot if we are up and about but when we go in to watch TV she settles down nicely. Not sure if she is house broke yet or not... guess we'll find out tonight. I do know not to let her outside off-leash as she is too scared to come close to you again and it took me FOREVER to get her back into the house. :-(

Right now, she is trying hard to stay awake. She starts to fall asleep and fall over and that jerks her awake. Se just isn't comfortable enough yet (we just picked her up at 3:30 today) to trust falling asleep here. She keeps nodding off and leaning over then jerking back awake. Poor baby.

11/21 - Dutch was adopted!!

I found out today that Dutch, our little foster puppy, was adopted the day after I took him back to Watermelon Mountain Ranch.  I knew he would be adopted quickly, he was just too darn cute... I just wasn't sure if his skin condition would let him go out but we were diligent with his treatments and I guess he was cured.

YEAH!!!!!!!!  I'm so happy.