Monday, June 28, 2010

Doggy wash, mud play, AWESOME weekend

Happy Monday! Chilly here, hoping you had a fantastic weekend, as I did.
On Saturday my foster brother Guinness and I went to a dog wash, organized by Jennifer's friends at Dusty Paws Rescue to raise funds to help homeless dogs, like I used to be (well, I'm still looking for my forever home).

Many dirty dogs were in line waiting to be bathed and pampered by volunteers when we arrived. Everyone was so nice and I enjoyed all the attention and treats they gave me. I also loved every second of the full-service wash, 5 humans including Dusty Paws founder Diane scrubbed, rinsed, brushed, and dried me. They even dressed us in cool Dusty Paws Rescue orange bandanas.

But we didn't stay clean for long, less than 24 hours later, Guinness and I went to the park to play and got dirty wrestling in the muddy grass. We were having so much fun that the humans didn't even stop us! We were two dirty, happy dogs!
We also each got new collars because our old ones got muddy, like us :)

I can box like a champ! Maybe I'm part Boxer?

I got your neck- whatcha gonna do now Guinness?!?


Woahhh Guinness you mad Doberman!
When we're not playing, Guinness likes to "hold" my paw. He's a big goofball and I love him!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Our Pack Pitbull Rescue, HSSV and crate-training


Yesterday I went to a dog park social session for Pitbulls at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley (HSSV). Even though I didn't get to play with other dogs (because you need to be screened first to participate), I still had a good time hanging out with my 2-legged friends.

The session is hosted by Our Pack Inc.-a Pitbull rescue and advocacy group-and HSSV. It offers a safe, fun setting for pitbulls to play with each other, under the supervision of trainers and staff from both organizations.

It looked like great fun and we got to meet Marthina McClay, founder of Our Pack. She is just awesome and we all love her. Here are 2 of her dogs-Dexter and Posie-at the park, aren't they absolutely adorable?!?


I am working to be comfortable being inside a crate, which I don't care for at this time. But I do like the yummy treats it makes :) Foster human said we're going to take small steps and I promise I'll try my best. I'll keep you posted on my progress.
Ok time for a quick nap while foster human makes some collars on her sewing machine-I'm beginning to like the sound of this machine, makes me sleepy.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Sailboats and new friends



Hi! Chilly here, and I have so much to share about my grrreat weekend.

We went to a harbor on the Peninsula and since I'm a waterdog I loved it because it was surrounded by the Bay! I even got on a sailboat for a little while! Too bad I couldn't go swimming but my foster humans said they'll take me to Del Valle Regional Park where I can go in the water.

Yesterday Jennifer took me to her friend Judy's house where I met some new friends - Popeye, Phoebe, and Boomer - and we played fetch.

Popeye is just like me - a foster dog. Judy rescued him from Taiwan, where Popeye was born. They call him a special-needs dog because he only has 2 front legs. But don't let that fool you, he's fast and furious! I think if he had 4 legs, he may beat me at fetch.

Popeye gets around on this cart with 2 big wheels and a license plate that reads "4 Legs is Just Greedy"! He even has his own website and Facebook page too.

Ok it's time for a quick nap then I'm off to the park. Have a fantastic day everyone!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

If you throw, I will run! And new collar

I love to fetch, but I won't fetch just any ball, it has to be MY tennis ball, which I keep in my foster human Jennifer's car, right on the passenger seat.

Yesterday I went to the park with Jennifer and one of my foster sisters Sally - she was a foster dog just like me before Jennifer adopted her.
Oh boy I had a great time playing fetch. Sally doesn't know how to play, so I had to show her but I'm not sure if she got it, she just ran after me barking like a mad dog! Very well, she only has one eye and it has cataract so she can't see much. Here's a picture Jennifer took of us while we took a break from playing.


I also went to work with Jennifer. We were busy but I took a nap while she made some dog collars on the sewing machine for her customers. After I went to the post office with her to ship them out. Jennifer was VERY impressed with how good and un-stressed I was. She believes it's because of my foster siblings. I agree, I like having other nice doggies like Sally around.

Jennifer also made a new collar and matching leash for me. It's called Sunny, here a picture of me wearing it.


Ok time to go to work again. After work, Jennifer is going to her volunteer shift at the East Bay SPCA and I'm going with her. I don't care to go back but I am happy to see my favorite people!

Oh I almost forget, I'm so happy to be making so many new friends on Facebook. Thank you for being my friend and have a happy day!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

My foster home and battle plan


Hi I'm Chilly, and I suffer from separation anxiety, which is the reason that I became a possible candidate for euthanasia at the East Bay SPCA recently. It's really not my fault, if you didn't know, living in a kennel mostly alone in an animal shelter for almost 2 years can make you a little stir-crazy, and that's what happened to me.

I'm a 8-year-old rescue pitbull girl. I came to the East Bay SPCA when my first family gave me up because I was scared of thunderstorms. Yeah that was pretty lame, I mean who isn't scared of thunderstorms?!? But I guess that's how it goes sometimes. I was then adopted twice but returned both times, mostly due to my anxiety, which makes me stressed and sometimes exhibit some bad behaviors, like barking and destroying stuff.

I'm not that bad, really. I completed advanced obedience training and know many commands. All the volunteers love me and think I'm one of the best dogs they know. I am so obedient and sweet that they chose me to serve as the nonprofit's spokesdog in their many classes where they teach children about animals. I love to play fetch; I can play all day if you let me. But these days I don't get to play that often anymore because of my arthritis.

Anyway about my possible euthanasia - some volunteers were very surprised and sad when they learned that I could possibly be put down in several days. They were determined to save me and that's how I got out of the shelter and into my current foster home.

My foster human Jennifer and I go way back. She took me to my advanced obedience training class at the shelter a year ago and I impressed her totally. I was the most obeident student in that class and carried out my commands beautifully. She was very proud of me and has been since then. She shows me off whenever she has an audience.
I'm very happy to be living here in my foster home, but I still need a forever home to call my own. In the next 30 days, Jennifer and I will be working together to improve my anxiety. I will be re-evaluated to determine my adoptability after that so it's very important that I improve.

I'll do my best I promise; it's not going to be easy, but together we can do it. I need all the support I can get, please join me on my journey by becoming my friend on Facebook (Chilly Fosterdog) and reading my blog. Thank you for your support and love!