Lost... and FOUND!!!

   Early this morning, Dianne was walking Zoey, who got spooked by a simple manhole cover, and in a stroke of bad luck, Zoey pulled away & bolted. Zoey is FAST—Dianne wasn't able to see her for long, and she was gone like a flash. I got the call from her while I was out at the sports complex for The Color Run, and headed over to help.

   I stopped home to pick up my dogs, hoping if Zoey saw or heard them, she'd respond. We walked and drove around the neighborhood for 4 hours in 100+ heat, to no avail. I started out with the dogs on foot, then Dianne picked me up and drove us around. We saw a lot of her very pretty neighborhood in Olathe, a green heron at the edge of a lake... and Bev, who graciously came out to help in the search!

   The dogs were troopers, patiently riding from stop to stop in Zoe's cage, and then zonking out when we stopped at Dianne's house to cool down with some water. Taylor loved Zoe's bed, while Aki was happy just to have a nice rug.

   Kathy and her dog Rex went over there tonight to continue the search. (I had planned to, but was so exhausted from the heat that I accidentally crashed on the couch, and was awakened by my mom calling to check on me... thanks, Mom!)
   Kathy and Rex ended up finding Zoey, and she's okay!!! She was hiding just blocks from her new home, in a heavily wooded area, which is what we suspected. Kathy wisely brought a squeaky toy with them, and that brought Zoey out of hiding. What a relief!
   I somehow "knew" that we'd find her; it would be too awful to imagine something terrible happening to this girl, after she'd spent 10 months in a puppy mill, 15 months in rescue with MSIR (at 3 different foster homes), and had 5 surgeries to correct a genetic problem in her back legs. She just had to be okay. Dianne reported that she is safely back at home, drinking tons of water, with a huge smile on her face.
   Here's what I've learned from the lost dog experience—passing along in case it's useful (though I hope you won't ever need it):
- Call friends to help, especially if the dog knows them
- Bring treats, favorite toys (esp. if they make noise!), and a leash
- Canvas the area, and talk to everyone you see—you never know who will find the dog. Bring fliers with the dog's photo, name, physical description, & your cell phone.
- Put a sign in the dog owner's front yard, so that if someone finds the dog, they'll know where it lives
- Leave food at the house: front & back porch; leave back yard gate, garage door open in case they return
- ALWAYS have a collar, harness, and ID tags on your dog whenever it is outside (esp. this time of year when they could be spooked by fireworks)
- Get your dog microchipped in case its ID is lost
- Call nearby animal shelters & animal control to alert them
- TRAIN your dog to come to you; it could save their life
- Stay calm & have faith!
and...
- Have a glass of wine available once the ordeal is over!


Here is an even more comprehensive list I found online. But our instincts led us to all the main ones—at it worked—yeah!!!

Shiba Love

   My friend David questioned where HIS drawing was, after he saw the one I did for Zoey this week (David adopted Scooter from me over a year ago, and I hadn't started surprising people with these standees yet). So I mailed this to him today... Can't wait 'til he gets it!!!
   And on a side note, if you type "surprising" on an iPhone, you get... this. I could do without your creativity, Autocorrect!!!

Prancer

   A tribute to the lil' dog who prances with her front paws when she wants your attention! Here is Zo-chan on MSIR's page, looking happy as ever!

   She loved hanging out on the deck with my pups. They really helped her adjust to being a normal dog. When she first arrived, I wasn't able to get photos of her, as she was nervous if you focused your attention on her. But look at her now, relaxed and happy!

   And speaking of "relaxed and happy", here she is in her brand-new home! Dianne reported that she was settling in very well in the first 24 hours. Sure looks like it... 9 months in a St. Louis puppy mill, 15 months in foster care, and 5 surgeries later, nothing can stop her. GO ZOEY!!!

Matane, Zoey!

   Zoey just headed off with her new family, & I couldn't be happier. The best day of fostering is always the day you get to see them ride off into the sunset with wonderful people who adore them. I always strive to place them with people who will care for them as well or better than I could myself, so it's never sad to see them go. It's not さようなら (sayonara—good-bye), it's  またね (matane—see you later)!

Congratulations, Zoey-chan!!!

Here's how awesome & funny life is

   This morning I reminded myself that in order for Zoey to get adopted, she really needs to get more comfortable in the outside world and with walking on leash. So I walked all three dogs for about an hour this morning, up to Strang Park. It was hot, so we took our time. Zoey pulled and resisted a little at first, tail between her legs with nervousness. But as we walked, she steadily improved.

   We stopped to rest at the park, and I sat on the bench and gave the dogs attention as they laid and rolled in the grass. We were in no hurry, and were under a huge, shady tree in the center of the park. This gave us a 360 view of all the other walkers, joggers, kids, and dogs, though our sitting area was quiet. And Zoey's fear shifted into curiosity, then contentment. She settled in and laid down with my dogs, eyes blinking gently and no longer vigilant to the other activity in the park On the way home, her tail went back up, and she walked much more confidently. I felt like a million bucks, and thought to myself, "She has come a LONG way since May 19... She's about ready to be adopted!" It felt like a huge win. I am quite proud of how well my dogs have instructed her... and they do deserve most of the credit!

*** FLASH FORWARD TO THIS EVENING ***

   I attended a dinner tonight for our local Japan-America Society. It was at Sama Zama (the new One Bite), and I talked Kelly into joining since neither of us had been there yet. We arrived about 15 minutes late due to a soccer game Kelly was watching. No big deal.

   But if we hadn't arrived late, we may have been sitting at one of the big tables rather than the "kids' table" (a 4-seater off to the side). This ended up to be significant. Patty introduced us to our dinner company, Mindy and Eric. I'd heard of Mindy for years, as she teaches Japanese in the Olathe district, and have been at some of the same language competitions in the past, but had never met her. She and Eric are both awesome & we had a blast talking with them.

   At one point I mentioned my dogs (they're Japanese, after all), including Zoey, my foster pup. And they mentioned that fellow Japanese teacher Dianne was looking for a dog, as she & her husband lost their 18 year old mixed breed last fall. Mindy was telling us that she & Dianne just returned from Japan two weeks ago, and saw Shibas all over, and they had both fallen in love with them. I showed her a photo of Zoey and she said, "She looks just like Dianne's old dog!" I gave her my card with my information on it, but wasn't expecting anything.

   BUT apparently as we were all on our way home, Mindy texted Dianne to tell her about Zoey, because Dianne called me before I had even pulled in to my driveway, to see how soon they could meet her! And... Long story short, Dianne and her husband Jerry just left my house. They loved Zoey, and showed me some photos of their old boy, Boomer, and he looks a LOT like Zoey. (Larger, but with the same pointy ears and curved tail, and SAME coloration!)

   They are experienced with dogs and enjoy daily training. Sounds like Boomer had a very active/smart personality & they loved the challenge of keeping him engaged. We still have to go through the application process, but I think they'd be a FANTASTIC home for Zoey and they sound like they want her.

   I'm going over there to do the home evaluation tomorrow night, and they're going to try to get the application done before then! Unbelievable. So, so excited and hopeful that this is the perfect home that little Zoey has been waiting over two years for. That would be sweeter than tonight's かき氷 (Japanese snow cone)!

Spa Day!

   Today everybody got a bath... first Aki and Taylor, and then Zoey, who emerged with an even more brilliant and fluffy white coat. I put them outside to dry in the warm sun. They, of course, wanted to come right back in. Sorry, gang!

 Then it was Kismet's turn.

   Don't let the forlorn face fool you. Once she got over the initial shock of the sound of the sprayer, she did very, very well. And looked adorable and hilarious. She didn't like the bath, but she liked being toweled off and she forgave me for the whole ordeal about 0.8 seconds after she was done. The damp kitty followed me all over the house afterward, purring and seeking more attention.

   As you can see, she wasn't traumatized. She is extra-soft and fluffy with a brighter, peach coat, and she smells like lavender. I thought Atom was a ham, but she might be the snuggliest kitty I've ever seen.

    Lest you think she's all good, though, she does like to torture Aki. The dogs are not allowed on my bed. Kitty is. Kitty knows this, and is exploiting it to taunt the dogs.

    While Aki stares at her with her, "Are you freaking kidding me?!" expression...

Kitsune!!!

   I finally posted a few photos (and a video!) from Mary Jane & Kit's visit to our house. A good time was had by all...

Meet Kit

   My friend & fellow MSIR volunteer (Midwest Shiba Inu Rescue) Mary Jane came over this afternoon to show off her new puppy. Kitsune ("Kit", for short) came into rescue and is what's affectionately known as a "failed foster"... MJ couldn't let him go! She got a real gem: he is friendly and confident, but not dominant, and plays very well with others, as these images can attest. My mom and I, and my dogs, had a blast getting to see him!

Back it up, there, Kit... beep beep beep

That's better, but hold still, willya?!

Stalking Aki

The chase is on!

Aki's in the lead...

Kit is catching up...

And meanwhile, Mr. Tay puts the moves on MJ...

Kit: Let's PLAY!!!
Aki: Sorry, kid. We're pooped!
Taylor: Zzzzzzzzz

Westminster 2012

   I'm catching up on Westminster from earlier this week, and just got a glimpse of the Shiba. Tell me this isn't among the most handsome and charming breeds. They are active, impish, and delightful, along with being smart and full of style. Yet, one has never won Westminster. And frequently on televised dog shows, the Shiba (among others) is edited for time and never seen. No one would dream of cutting the Beagle, the Bichon, the Labrador, or the Poodle. (As if there would be rioting in the streets!)
   Unfortunately, networks pander to what is most popular, creating a self-fulfilling prophesy for the unusual breeds. It's a big deal when something "odd" wins, like 2011's Scottish Deerhound.  It's a shame that dog shows don't take the opportunity to provide education to would-be dog lovers. I bet most people have no idea that there are hundreds of breeds. (And yes, some of them nicer than a Labrador, sorry to tell you.)

   Here's the best of breed judging from this year's competition. 8 reds and 1 black and tan, no sesame (Aki's color).
   There are advantages to being a breed that few are aware of—they are less likely to be exploited by puppy mills. So given that our local rescue group is always good & busy as it is, with dogs being surrendered to them constantly, I should count my blessings. (There are currently TWO DOZEN in rescue in this region!)
   Despite that, I was delighted when they aired this new Purina Pro Plan commercial, with a Shiba puppy right near the beginning!

And Another Thing...

   ....that makes me insanely happy: when the people who have adopted my foster dogs give me updates! I really look forward to fostering again someday, once the craziness of my own life has subsided.
   Here is Raven, my most recent foster, and the Montgomery's. I ran into them at Shawnee Mission Park weeks ago, and was so thrilled to see how happy they were. I bet this photo made their Christmas card:

 LOVE this pic of Marissa & Raven!!!

   And here are Swifty and Scooter (Scooter is the lil' black and tan puppy I fostered this spring). David works at Hallmark, and I last saw him & his girls at Hallmark. Since Taylor was with me, it was a black & tan doppelgänger reunion! Clearly David loves Scooter as much as I did, and her sister Swifty does too!

   Renee and her family adopted Rosie & Boo from The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City and they have been our hiking and camping buddies. Proof that perfect dogs can come from anywhere... all they need is the right family to love them.

Kenobi Needs a Home!

    MSIR is helping to facilitate the adoption of a really big, really nice boy named Kenobi. The listing is officially through National Shiba Rescue, but I performed the evaluation on him a few weeks ago, and found him to be a gorgeous, friendly dog. With an experienced owner willing to spend some time training him, I do not believe other dogs would be an issue. (Heck, he didn't mind Aki & Taylor when he met them... not one bit!) Follow the link if you're interested!

Wild Saturday with Joni

   Today I woke up early & headed over to the east side of the city, to do an evaluation on a Shiba who is going to be surrendered to MSIR, so we can find a new home for him. Kenobi's owner made him sound like quite a handful, but he was exactly how I hoped he'd be: sweet and friendly (what a relief!). My dogs joined me, so that I could see how he behaved with strange dogs, and it was interesting: Kenobi almost completely ignored them, and even Aki, who puts *everyone* in their place when she first meets them didn't mind him, because he didn't challenge her alpha status.

   On the way home from the eval, I decided I'd reward my guys for a job well done, so we visited Stoll Dog Park for a while to get some exercise. It was around 80 degrees... SO much more comfortable than it has been lately, so there were tons of people & dogs there.

   Then I met Joni at her house (aka "Wild Kingdom") to meet her new puppy, Asher, and her older rescue dog, Kip, and to greet my old friend Wager. (I've always loved his look... possibly because he looks like a huge Gypsy.)
   We had a fun lunch at Jose Pepper's (mmm... fresh salsa & shrimp tacos!) and then hung out at her house with the dogs, the goldfinches and woodpeckers, and her friend Torch, the white-tailed deer. Many bucks visit the fence behind their home to use their mineral lick and get an occasional treat of corn. Joni gives them all names based on their racks (Shark, Broad Beams, Spike, Twisty, and more).

Here's Torch coming in for his little treat:

 

   And the birds—mostly goldfinch and woodpeckers:

   And the dogs. Mr. Wager:

And the new guy, Asher:

Thanks, guys, for such a fun day!