News from Midnight

I heard from Tucker and he asked me to update you on his life the last two weeks since he has been in his forever home. Tucker said he is having a blast. He gets lots of attention and he does not have to share his Kong toys! He likes to drape himself over his Mommy's and Daddy's laps so he they can massage him. Tucker had to make friends with a new Doctor since he lives in Raleigh now. The Doctor told Tucker's Mom that she had never seen a dog so happy to be at a vet clinic. Tucker was trying to get into the back of the Vet clinic whereas most dogs try to head for the front door. The Doctor said that ARFP did a great job taking care of Tucker.

Sounds like Tucker is as happy as ever. I have been a little sad since Tucker left. He was so nice to me and was great company. I hope my forever home has a doggie brother or sister that I can hang out with. We did get a new foster dog last week but she cannot play right now because she is going through heartworm treatment and therefore has to stay quiet and crated most of the time. Belle was rescued from a rural shelter where she had been for a few months. While in the shelter Belle gave birth to two still-born puppies. She got really depressed after that and gave up the will to live. Fortunately, ARFP came along just in time and rescued her. Like Tucker, Belle tested positive for heartworms, but unlike Tucker she does not seem to have other health issues, so she should be ready for adoption in July. Belle doesn't know what kind of breed mix she is and our foster parents cannot figure it out either. Check out her pictures below and let us know what you think. She is a petite girl weighing in at less than 20 pounds.








Both Belle and I are available for adoption. If you want to meet either one of us email our foster Mommy at jhart@dbcradio.com.

Crossing the Finish Line and Passing the Torch

Drum roll please...I AM DONE WITH MY HEARTWORM TREATMENT...I bet you thought this day would never come...there were a few times when I myself was wondering. It has been almost 9 months, but who is counting? One thing I know is that without your prayers, words of encouragement and financial support I might not have arrived at this point.

A special family has been following my progress and they have been waiting patiently for me to be ready for adoption. That time has come now and they still want me to come live with them and be their boy! It is bitter sweet because it means I am leaving my foster Mom and Dad and moving on. I guess it is kind of like graduating from college and knowing you are starting a new chapter in your life but you will always love the people who helped you accomplish your goals. But I am also excited. I will gets LOTS of attention because I will be the only dog and my new Mom and Dad are home a lot and when they aren't they will take me with them--woo whoo! I have always liked riding in the car even when I was going to the Doc almost weekly. I have been coaching my understudy for the last 3 weeks. Midnight will be taking over my blog. Midnight is an poodle mix kind of like me.

MIDNIGHT



Midnight is 4 years old and is a sweet dog who gets along with everybody. I really like her. I am sure she will not be in foster care as long as I was because she is healthy. If you want to review her resume click here http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=13621729.

Before I left I showed Midnight the best way to get my foster Mother running around the yard like a crazy woman and waving her arms pleading "no!" Here I am showing Midnight how to look for stinky stuff in the yard.


Here I am showing her how to apply the cologne...


Here I am showing her how exactly you ruin a recent bath and grooming from my friends at Downtown Hownds...


Midnight and whoever she turns the reins over to will keep you updated on me. Thank you for giving me a second chance at life.

Entering the Final Leg of the Marathon

Sorry I have not written for so long. I have been concentrating on making it through my heartworm treatment. For the most part I have handled the treatment well. I felt kind of puny for awhile and had to start taking a bunch of medicine again, but I plowed through it. I think I only have about one more month to go. In case you have not figured it out by now I am a stubborn and very determined little guy--I want to be in ship-shape for my "forever home." I have an excited feeling building in me that it will not be long now. I love my foster parents and I know they love me, but there are many other dogs that need to be rescued. I did over-hear my Foster Mother say that my 8-month-long roller coaster health battle has shaved a few years off her life. I think that I have made life interesting and kept her on her toes, but I do think she has more gray hair than she did when she first rescued me.

Some of you have asked what will happen to my blog. Well, I am already interviewing dogs who are interested in taking over the editor's position. I do have a couple of requirements...my name and picture should remain prominent, plus a periodic update on my post-adoption activities should be published. The new editor(s) will have big paws to fill so, I will be very thorough. Reference checks will be part of the decision making process.

Life has been super busy for the ARFP volunteers and and foster parents. I cannot believe how many puppies and dogs need homes. The lucky ones get rescued by ARFP. If you want to look at some of their adorable faces (of course they are not quite as cute as my face) and read their brief stories, you can go to http://arfpnc.blogspot.com/.

Revolving Door

Mo the Schipperke was not here for long--only 4 weeks. He was adopted to a family in Raleigh that had had Schipperkes, so they understand the unique qualities of the breed--hee, hee. No sooner was Mo out the door than Scoop arrived--ahhhh a puppy... and like all puppies he has no respect for his elders. Can't you just see the mischievousness in his eyes?



Fortunately, since I was in the midst of heartworm treatment, Scoop was not allowed to torment me. When my foster parents weren't looking I would try to get him fired up (and therefore in trouble) by dangling my biscuit laden Kong toy his way. Honestly though, as puppies go, he was a really good pup. I just did not let on to him or my foster parents that I knew he was a special little guy. He was only at our house for 4 weeks--that seems to be the magic number around here lately. He was adopted to a family in Greensboro where he chases, plays, and teases his 90 pound labradoodle brother. I bet I know who the top dog is in that home.

Hanging In There

I am feeling okay since my first heartworm treatment Monday. I am getting lots of extra privileges this week. My Foster Dad worked from home most of the week so he could keep a close eye on me. Don't tell my Foster Mom, but he gave me lots of biscuits and a few graham crackers--yummy! I love graham crackers. If I continue to improve, I will go back to the Doc for a quick check up the week of March 9th. Then on March 30th, I will go back for my next Heartworm treatment. Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers.


Mo and Tucker before starting Heartworm Treatment

Back on Track

I am finally ready to have my first treatment for heartworms on Monday. I have fully recovered from my infection and am feelin' good. So good, in fact that I have been playing with a new foster brother who just arrived. "Mo" is a one-year-old Schipperke (my foster parents have two Schipperkes). When his parents divorced, Mo lost his home and ended up at an overcrowded animal shelter. The shelter called us and asked us the rescue him. My foster parents consulted me first, and I gave them the "paws up" on rescuing Mo. I have been having a blast with him. We play and wrestle on the floor and the bed, but we also like to sit around and chew on toys together. Here are some pictures of us bouncing on the bed the other morning while our foster mother was TRYING to get ready for work. Boy, did we have fun! The only bummer is after I start my heartworm treatment I have to be very still--no playing or wrestling and only leash walking for 6-8 weeks. I will update you later in the week to let you know how I am doing after my first treatment. Please keep me in your prayers for the next couple of weeks. Thanks!

Major Detour

My heartworm treatment scheduled for Monday February 2nd was delayed. I will save you the gruesome details, but suffice it to say that I got an infection at the site where my neuter was. Saturday morning when my foster mother got up she noticed that I did not look or feel right. She called the Doctor's office and they said come right away. The funny thing was she was still in her PJs, hadn't showered, brushed her hair or teeth, but she scooped me up and ran out the door. Fortunately for her they put us in an exam room immediately. She looked so disheveled that one of the vet assistants asked her if she had "the crud" that was going around, she said no that was how she looks when she first rolls out of bed. I think she looked as bad as I felt, which gave me a little chuckle.

We stayed at the vet clinic Saturday for a couple of hours, and of course, they wanted to check my blood AGAIN and take x-rays. They sent me home with lots of medicine. By Sunday morning I was even worse, so although they were closed, two Doctors met us up at Summerfield Vet (they are very good to me and ARFP). I had another exam and more medicine. Sadly, I was no was no better Monday, so I had emergency surgery, which I am happy to report was successful. I spent Monday in the hospital but got to go home Tuesday night. I am feeling SO much better--I can sit down now, which I could not do before. I guess you know what is coming next...this unexpected detour will mean that it will be a few more weeks before we can consider starting heartworm treatment. I am getting as famous for my delays as O'Hare. Thanks for your prayers and well wishes--I know they carried me over this roadblock. Keep them coming (if you don't mind, will you please include my foster parents in your prayers too; I think I shaved a few years off their lives this weekend). Fondly, Tucker

My Report Card--All "A's!"

I had to brag on my report card that I just got from my Doc. My Foster Mommy cried today when she got the report and wanted me to know about it right away, so she called home from her office and left a message on the answering machine to let me know about the wonderful grades I earned. For the first time, my liver values (ALKP, ALT & AST) are close to normal ranges, my kidney values (BUN and Creatinine) look good, my packed cell volume (PCV or red blood count) is good and those pesky blood platelets have stayed in normal ranges (so my blood will clot) even though I have been off the mega doses of Prednisone! Wooo Whoo!

If you cannot read this Report Card and my Doc's comments, here is what it says...

--PCV 39%

--Platelets 321,000 (yeah!)

J,

This is the best he's been on everything. We are as good as we can get to start treating him!

Sue

Looks like I will get my first heartworm treatment on Monday. I think I might be heading to Downtown Hownds (http://www.downtownhownds.com/) for a spa treatment on Friday. Hopefully Nicole will not take any more pictures of me in the tub. Thanks for helping me get strong enough to get my first heartworm treatment. Woofs and Licks, Tucker

Post Surgery Report

Whew, I am glad last week and weekend are over. I had a pretty rough time after my neuter surgery. I spent Friday night in hospital and my Foster Mommy picked me up Saturday. After we got home, she got really worried because my tail was not wagging, I would not move, and I was not interested in treats. She rushed me right back to the Vet, who determined that on top of being in pain from my surgery, I was dehydrated (I guess I did not drink enough while I was in the hospital). So they gave me some fluids, which perked me up. However, I still was not too interested in drinking over the weekend, so my foster Mommy had to give me fluids a few more times. I know she felt bad about sticking me with needles, but I did feel better each time after I had fluids. It took me about a week but I am feeling much better, so hopefully no more needles. My Foster Mom stayed home all weekend to hang out with me, and I even got to sleep in the people bed! Guess a little extra TLC can make things better. I heard the Doctor say that the next step is to start my heartworm treatment on February 2nd. Thank you for taking time to read my blog, and for your prayers and support. All my love, Tucker.

A new year means another trip to the Doc

I am back with my foster parents, so you know what that means, another trip to the Doc. I am beginning to wonder if they obsessive-compulsive. I had more blood drawn and finally got some encouraging news. My platelets have continued to increase so they are in a safe range. My Doc thinks it best to go ahead and neuter me since my blood has the ability to clot. I overheard them schedule the appointment for Friday January 16. I am trying to be brave, but I am little scared and I think my foster parents are too. If all goes well Friday with my neuter, then I will FINALLY get to start the treatment to get rid of the nasty heartworms. Please keep me in your prayers.

Christmas Week--hanging out with new friends

... I had just settled down for a long winter's nap...

When up on the sofa arose such a clatter, I sprang from my slumber to see what was a matter...

When what to my wondering eyes did appear but 2 new doggie friends, Tucker #2 (I am Tucker #1) and Kaylie, o dear...

While my Foster Parents were out-of-town I got to spend a week with another ARFP volunteer, Kathleen, her 3 dogs and her visiting parents. Needless to say, we had a rockin' good time. I got spoiled, got LOTS of attention and sat on any and every lap that was not in motion. I also sat on and across the "laps" of the Kathleen's dogs. I don't know if they quite knew what to think about me.

I know I am looking pretty lazy in most of these shots, but it was vacation after all and isn't that what one does on vacation--sleep in, lay around, get a massage, eat, visit with family and friends? I would not mind if every month had a week of vacation!

Mid December

Things have been getting better for me, even though I have to go to the Doc every 2 weeks and have more blood drawn. My platelet count is starting to climb closer to a "low normal" range which means I don't have to take so much Prednisone--yeah! My Foster Mother felt that it would be safe enough for me to go the the hair dresser for a professional styling. My Foster Mom had been trimming my hair, but I heard my Foster Dad say that I looked like I had a "bowl-cut." So I got to go to Downtown Hownds, where I got a professional wash, cut and style like the purebred dogs do. Nicole at Downtown Hownds took extra special care of me (like she does other ARFP foster dogs) while I was there. Although she insisted on taking a few candid shots of me in the tub (how embarassing).







"When is this going to be over?"

I guess it was all worth it because I sure did look and smell good when Nicole finished with me. A guy could get use to this kind of pampering!

Happy Thanksgiving (11/28/08)

I had a nice Thanksgiving although I did not get any Turkey or Pumkin Pie (I tried my pitiful look, but they are on to me). My Foster Grandmother came to visit and she really liked me. She took me on a couple of walks while she was visiting. She said that I was a great little walking companion. I had more blood work Thanksgiving week and my platelet count has dropped, so I have to stay on high doses of the Predinsone and go back again for a recheck in 2 weeks. I know I am sounding like a broken record, but that's the fact Jack! I am praying for a Christmas miracle that I can beat this and start my Heartworm treatment soon, so I can find my forever home. I have a lot of affection and devotion to give, and I am ready for my new life. However, this Thanksgiving I am focusing on what I am fortunate to have. I am thankful that I have a roof over my head, a warm place to sleep, lots of biscuits, and for kind people who donated money toward my medical expenses. Oh, and did I mention lots of biscuits? I am also thankful for my Doctor's patience in helping me tackle my medical problems. Finally, thank you for caring for me and for God's creatures.

Better News (11/15/08)

My Foster Mommy took me to the Doc AGAIN yesterday for more blood work. I got better news on this round that my platelet count has increased. It is still low, but I get to cut back on my Prednisone which I am glad about. The only thing I can think about when I am on Prednisone is food, biscuits and of course water! I think my Foster Mother is confused about the water part...I want lots of water but not water to swim in, water to drink. She dunked me in the laundry room sink and covered me in bubbles--that was way more water than I was wanting.

Rub-a-dub-dub, Tucker in the Tub

Good News and Not So Good News 11/3/08

Sorry that it has been awhile since I have updated my blog. I have not had much to share lately that is good news, except that the little alien, Barney got adopted. Wow, that was fast. He was only in foster care for 2 weeks--that has to be a record. My Foster Mother tells me he went to a great home in High Point and now has an older brother who is also a Puggle. Here is a picture his new parents emailed us of Raleigh and Barney. Barney is even mimicking Raleigh while he is sleeping. I guess Raleigh doesn't mind having a "copy-cat" brother! I hear they play and run around like wild indians all the time.

The bad news is I had more blood work and my platelet count has dropped dangerously low. So now I am mega doses of Prednisone. Boy does that stuff make me hungry and thirsty! I hope this helps.

Barney--A New Foster Brother 10/20/08

My Foster Mother showed up Saturday with the funniest looking thing I have EVER seen. I thought it was an alien at first until I sniffed it and realize that it was a puppy--maybe a pug/beagle mix--I think his lineage is very questionable (perhaps THERE IS AN ALIEN in his family tree). His family lost their home so he had no where to live and was on his way to the animal shelter when he was rescued by ARFP--I told him that I ended up in an animal shelter it was very scary, so I am glad he did not have the same bad experience I did.

As far as little brothers go, I guess he is okay except everything I do, HE DOES--I find that a little bit annoying. I cannot even go the bathroom in peace without him standing right next to me. I think he has been so close to me a few times that I have peed on him--oops, hatin' it for him! If I explore around the yard, he has to. When I decide I want to come inside, he does too--agrhhhhhh. Are all little brothers copy-cats? Well, I guess he just needs a role model and what better one than me? I will try not to teach him any bad habits--he, he he. Perhaps he will get adopted before he learns too many wild and crazy things from copying me!

Another Trip to the Vet 10/14-15/08

I am becoming a regular at Summerfield Vet Hospital. I think they are going to give me my own parking space soon--that will mean that I just need a car. I hope my foster parents will get me a car. I think that I am smart enough to learn how to drive one. Susan at the reception desk at the Vet's office said every time she sees me my tail is wagging--"isn't that what dogs are supposed to do?" Here I am waiting to go back to have more blood tests and then up on exam table for my almost weekly bloodletting.

The results came back on my bloodwork and it was not too encouraging. I still cannot start treatment to get rid of those nasty heartworms--bummer. I have to stay on my medicine (which I take like a good boy becasue my Foster Mommy wraps the pills in something yummy) and then go back to the Doc in two more weeks to see if my platelet count and my liver are any better. Please keep me in your prayers. I am going to beat this!

Making New Friends...10/10/08

My visit at Aunt Sharon's is great so far! Yesterday I was on TV and then got to spend the day with Rerun. Rerun is a foster dog too. He is a one year old puppy with a German Shepherd head and really, really, short legs. He's funny! Rerun spent the night with us last night b/c he got to go on Channel 2 this morning as Pet of the Week. (If you want to see Rerun's debut click on this link: http://www.digtriad.com/video/default.aspx?mid=884664188). I'm taking my medicine really good and I'm eating like a little pig Aunt Sharon says. Here I am on Aunt Sharon's deck this morning...I wish it would quit raining and the sun would come out!

Sleep-Over...10/8/08

My Foster Mommy went out of town for a few days so I am on a sleep-over at Sharon's house. Sharon is the ARFP Executive Director (fancy title, but as far as I can tell she scoops poop, cleans litter pans and types on the computer). The cool thing about that is I got to meet some new dogs and cats, plus I got to be on TV again. I am really liking the celebrity life. If you want to see me click on the on this link
http://news14.com/content/top_stories/600277/big-puppy-adoption-event-scheduled/Default.aspx. Once again, I think I was the star of the show.