Big Week in Rescue!

Not only did we get the great mail from Scooter's new owners, (below) we also had the pleasure of meeting this gorgeous little BHT boy at the San Francisco airport and introducing him to his new parents.

It didn't take Oscar long to figure out that life had just changed for the better! Starting out as a stray in the mid-west, passing through the hands of two rescuers, he's now found the Real Deal here in San Francisco! He is an extremely handsome dog, with a temperament to match!

We had a great time meeting Oscar's new parents and his new canine sister, Cookie! Congratulations to Oscar on his new and wonderful home. And deep thanks to his new owners for adopting this nice dog!

Forpaws Got Mail!

Today this wonderful card came in the mail. This is a picture of Scooter, a great little guy who came from a situation in which his owners just didn't connect with him at all. When they surrendered him to a shelter in north/central California, he was in bad shape. He was terribly overweight and had an awful bacterial infection in his intestinal tract. Truthfully, it is good that I never met his former owners. Their ears would still be ringing with the sounds of my voice chiding them for treating this nice dog in this way.

But, this isn't about that. This is about the 180-degree turn that Scooter's life took when he came to ForPaws Corgi Rescue. He stayed with us till we were absolutely certain that he was cured and had lost a good deal of his excess weight. He still has some to lose, but his new owners are loving and conscientious and he will be a streamlined version of his former self in no time.

When they came from southern California to get Scooter recently, we were just delighted to meet them. SUCH nice people and exactly the home that Scooter had been looking to find. Today, this wonderful card appeared in my mailbox. It is so wonderful that I just had to share it!

This is the front of the card. A picture of Scooter on his way home.

Scooter is a dog that likes people much more than he likes other dogs. He was in foster care for awhile and became very attached to his foster mom. We always know when they've found their people when they do what Scooter did: The car door opened, he hopped in and never looked back. Instead he was looking anxiously at his new owners, asking when we were going to "go home." How do they know? I don't know, but I've seen it happen over and over with the rescues. Once their "people" show up, they know!

This is what the card said. The signature has been obscured to protect privacy. I don't really need to comment. The card says it all. Do you think Scooter found his home, or what?

Enclosed was a generous donation to ForPaws Corgi Rescue. Certainly we didn't expect this and I was overwhelmed when I opened the card. I called Scooter's foster person and shared it with her. We were both incredibly touched.

These are the moments that remind us why we spend the hours, why we persevere when things aren't going well - because when the dog finds a home, there is nothing like the rewarding feeling that goes with it. It is almost as good as the day when each my own dogs joined our home.

And I am reminded of the day when Bart walked up to me in 1997. The voice in my head was saying, "Oh, he isn't what I'm looking for at all." Then he sat at my feet, threw back his head and showed me the biggest smile imaginable. The voice in my head said, "This is Your Dog!" (Or was it really Bart talking?)

Over and over again, that voice tells me when a foster dog has found its rightful home. Scooter, you're just as lucky as Bart! Congratulations on a wonderful home and a wonderful life!

HUGE Thanks to S. and C. for giving Scooter the home he was meant to enjoy, and for your generousity. You've just given another wonderful dog a brand new start!

Warm wishes to you, and a big belly rub for the Scoot-man!

Why is Molly Smiling?

OH YEA...she's smiling all right!

It's because she finally found her people! That's right, Molly has been waiting in foster care for awhile for these folks to come along. And now they have! Christmas is coming early for this sweet girl this year!

This one tugs rather violently at the heart strings for me. Molly looks a LOT like my first rescue dog, and my heart dog, Bart. And it turns out that in many ways she shares the same temperament. While she certainly does have some corgi in her, her personality is more heavily influenced by the Australian Shepherd piece. She is more sensitive than the corgi and needs a more intuitive owner. With the wrong person, she could develop some very bad habits. Bart was the same way. 

But the reward if you are a person who finds the "connection" to a dog like this is far greater than one can imagine. Had I thought that I absolutely had to have a purebred corgi when I was looking for Bart, I would have missed out on the single most powerful relationship that I will most likely ever have with an animal companion. Molly has just as much to give - and now she has the chance!

Congratulations pretty girl. Thanks to your wonderful new parents, you're about to discover the life you were meant to live. You will take a piece of my heart with you when you go!

Pupper Update #19 - Checking in on Morgan & Pups

The puppies are now 14 weeks old. Dodge and Viola went home together and are they ever a happy pair! Normally we wouldn't place littermates together, but in this case Dodge derives a lot of confidence by having a confident, but benevolent female companion like Viola, so it works out well for them. They got an awesome home and their new parents are thrilled with them. 

Logan continues to thrive in his new home too. He was the first to leave the group. Since he lives nearby, he gets to visit his foster mom often! And Abilene (Abi) went home the day before Dodge and Viola. She found her perfect match - we were so happy for her!

Viola and Dodge's parents have taken a lot of photos of their new babies and have generously shared them.

Viola isn't exactly thrilled with her wellness visit, 

but the vet sure thinks she's cute!

Dodge was equally nonplussed - nice ears!

OK, so we were good for the vet visit. Can we go now?

Viola is much happier now that she's home with dad! 

This is the sweetest puppy!

And there's always housekeeping to be done!

Meanwhile Lucas and Kismet are still looking for that just-right home. Lucas was SO close, but things didn't work out at the 11th hour. And Kismet absolutely must have someone with experience raising a spunky, strong-willed corgi!

Kismet is maturing into an absolutely gorgeous girl.

She is one of the two girls that got to keep her full tail!

As expected, Lucas is a very handsome little guy. Definitely the flashy one in the litter. Now that he's getting older he is also getting bolder.

No longer the quiet slightly shy fellow, he's now in full-tilt puppy mode examining his world with gusto!

As mom watches, Kissie and Lucas are working on their own version of pumpkin carving.

Fingers crossed that Kismet, Lucas and Momma Morgan all find the right homes for the holidays!

Elbee's Walk to Fight Canine Cancer

Today was a great day for Elbee! Being our couch potato, and our "little dog," (a 15-pound Pembroke), she often gets overlooked when it comes to outings that require exercise, but the K9 Walk to benefit canine cancer research was a nice chance to show off our most well-mannered dog. Given that there would be hundreds of dogs and Elbee gets along with everyone effortlessly, she was a perfect candidate!

 Here's what the T-Shirt looked like! And Elbee got a matching bandana, which she was wearing during the walk, and still is!

 We also told some of our dog friends about the event. All three corgis in this photo are ForPaws Rescue dogs! My own, Elbee, plus Guinness, (black tri) and Scooter, (red tri). And of course, my long-time friend, Jennifer, with her sweet yellow lab, Molly! In this first picture, Elbee has just come from visiting the Pet Food Express booth. They hand fed her a selection of treats and she is still smacking her lips!

 Here's the "nice picture," in which all of the people and all of the dogs are smiling!

 This was the first K-9 Walk to Cure Cancer in our area. We walked through Vasona Park, which is one of the most beautiful, and largest, parks in our area. I've run here many times and it was a beautiful morning.

 I liked this special moment between Dave and Scooter. Scooter has just found his new furever home, but Dave and his wife, Linda have been taking Scooter out for regular exercise while he's been in foster care. It has been a great help to the foster person and Scooter has definitely bonded with Dave and Linda. But then, Scooter will bond for a belly rub - a very cheap date. He's definitely one of the sweetest corgis we've had in rescue. Next weekend he meets his new people!

 Jennifer, modeling her "Woof" hat. These hats were giveaways at one of the vendor booths! There were tons of great free items for dogs and people who love them!

 Virtually everyone there was connected to a dog...or two. This little boy was more interested in the souvenier balloons, while his dog watched.

 I told you there were tons of give-aways! We ended up with three bandanas, including the one Elbee is wearing, plus three tennis balls, which made Sage really happy, and lots more!

Dave and Linda brought friends too. This team of six people was the third highest fund raising team! Great job!

 When we got home, someone was very curious as to why Elbee and I smelled like a gazillion other dogs!

Sage knew we had some cool stuff in that big Home Depot beach bag! And he also knew that some of it just had to be for him!

 Now we're talkin'...hand over that tennis ball - my favorite!

 MINE!

 Someone else was tuckered out - but still fashionable in her pretty bandana.

Elbee, you're the BEST little dog ever! Even if I did have to carry The Princess for part of the walk! Elbee will be 12 years old in January. She has definitely reached the point where she'd rather survey her subjects than scramble about among them!

Pupper Update #18 - Ears Up!

At ten weeks of age most of our ForPaws puppies now have real "corgi" ears! They look a lot more like little corgis now...cute!

Logan - has been adopted

 Kismet - still looking for that just-right home with that person who loves a spunky Princess!

 Lucas - We expect to finalize his adoption very soon.

Viola - has been adopted! She's definitely a "pick" puppy from a temperament standpoint. Her new people are getting a wonderful girl!

Abi - Well, one ear is up and she's working on the other - which will be taped if it doesn't happen soon. This lovely lady has found a wonderful new home!

Dodge - We think we have the perfect home for him!
And he is working on those ears!

Adoption information can be found on the ForPaws Corgi Rescue website

Pupper Update #17 - Ready for Adoption!

Pembroke Puppies - READY TO GO HOME! As of now, we have four of the original six available. Logan and, hopefully Dodge,  already have great new homes!  We are also looking for just the right home for their mother, Morgan.

Their story: When a small private breeder fell victim to the recession, lost his job and could no longer keep his seven nice Pembrokes, they were surrendered to rescue. We took a pregnant female, Morgan, whose puppies were born while she was in foster care.  Morgan, and the sire both both have lovely temperaments. Their offspring appear to be chips off the ol' block in that department! 

Here are the puppies (and their mom) looking for just the right place!  Ideally, we are looking for corgi-experienced homes in which children are minimally age 16, no more than two existing dogs, and no cats. To be considered, please apply through ForPaws Corgi Rescue.


(Litter birthdate: July 25, 2010)

Kismet - a.k.a. Spunkiest one in the litter!

This little girl needs an experienced owner who can keep up - and definitely a job to do! She's the smallest puppy with the biggest personality! Smart, happy and ready to to rock, Kissie would be

a great candidate for a performance home. She would love to be an obedience, rally or agility dog!

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 Lucas - the sweetest little boy ever!

A Classic Pembroke Teddy Bear, Lucas is confident, happy, active and affectionate - the textbook male Pem!

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Viola - the "softer" female.

Sweet, sweet sweet! This is the "easiest" female, but she is definitely still a Pembroke Princess. She's got enough spunk to boss a lab around and would love to have a buddy and plenty of activities to occupy her active mind! A really nice, well-grounded girl, Viola will make a great companion!

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Abilene (Abi) - the other alpha female (HAS BEEN ADOPTED!)

Not quite as much spunk as Kismet, this confident, sweet girl would also be happy with a nice male companion who was content to be her "pack." Also a dog for a corgi-experienced owner, this smart, busy girl and needs to be stimulated mentally and physically. Another good candidate for a performance home!

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Morgan - adult female (mom to puppies)

Morgan has a temperament similar to Abi's. She is not as much of an alpha female as Kismet, but she does like to call the shots in the pack. Morgan gets along well with other dogs, but should not be paired with another dominant dog, nor with cats.

She is smart, confident and affectionate - a really nice companion for someone who understands that classic female Pembroke temperament.