Tag Archives: Barbara

Shih Tzu Prelude: Getting to Know You

Posted on by
Reply

Day 1 of Shih Tzu Visitation

I had my first visit today with the shih tzu half-sisters, Dottie, Flower and Candy. Five-year-old Dottie actually seemed to warm up to me quickly – at least she didn’t seem to be afraid of me. Two-year-old Flower was a different manner. Barbara, Delores’ daughter-in-law and the dogs’ foster mom, went to pick Flower up to hand her to me, and the poor little thing was so frightened that she pooped. Barbara said that she definitely was a “special needs dog.” (That didn’t frighten me too badly, because, frankly, I always thought that our precious little Yorkie, Joey was a special needs dog, too, and she had never had the traumatic experience of being a puppy mill mommy. She did, however, have the experience of being a temperamental writer’s fur baby.)

As for 2-year-old Candy, Flower and Dottie seemed intent on protecting her from any harm. I took the fact that they sat in front of their sister to guard her to mean that she was the most vulnerable and timid sister.

I stayed for about an hour, attempting to get the shih tzu sisters to let me into their world. Barbara helped by giving me a chicken jerky treat to feed them. Dottie and Candy took it from me, but Flower kept her distance, growling every now and then.

In my head, a vision appeared: it was of friendly, fluffy puppies romping around the house, spunky and lovable. I knew that if I brought these dogs home, if we signed adoption papers, it would not be that vision. I was already a little concerned. Would they be “lovable” dogs? Would they ever be lap dogs, like John and I both wanted? Like Joey was. Like Rosie would have been. Heck, like many other dogs would instantly be. What if we got them home, and they never became “normal”?

While I visited, Barbara had told me that she had been fostering the shih tzu sisters for more than three months. She had also adopted a poodle that she had been fostering, who had also come from a puppy mill. She said the poodle had been very fearful when she got her. She was definitely a lap dog now. Also, she didn’t seem to be afraid and she seemed to love people, especially Barbara.

After hearing about Barbara’s foster experience, I asked her if she thought Delores would agree to John and I being foster parents to Candy and Flower, with the intention of eventually adopting them. I know. It seemed a little less frightening to think of checking these two shih tzus out like library books, instead of signing papers saying they were our responsibility, forever and ever.

I told Barbara that if Delores would agree to that, we would probably foster Dottie as well, so the sisters wouldn’t have to be separated. Barbara thought it might be a good idea and said she would talk to Delores. I left thinking that John would probably like that idea much better too.

Shih Tzu Prelude: Puppy Mill Dogs Foster Home

Posted on by
Reply

Foster Home Problems

When I discussed Candy, Flower and Dottie with Delores at BFF Rescue, she explained that the shih tzus had had trouble adjusting — Flower and Candy in particular. The 2-year-old shih tzus, in fact, had both gone to different foster homes, but they had come back to Barbara’s. The person who brought Candy back after only a day said she was worried because she wouldn’t eat. Flower was at her new foster home for a few days, but that person said she wouldn’t play with her dogs and wasn’t adjusting.

Delores’s daughter-in-law, Barbara, was fostering the three shih tzu half-sisters. Barbara had set up an exercise pen for the girls to give them a feeling of security while they adjusted. They were allowed to leave the pen, if they chose. However, only Dottie usually chose to do that. She seemed content at her foster home. Delores said she got along well with the other dogs at the foster home and with the cat. She also said that Dottie followed Barbara around the house, sometimes slept with her and her husband and often jumped up on the couch and sat between them while they watched TV.

Flower and Candy were happy to remain in their exercise pen. Early in the morning, Barbara’s husband would let them outside into a dog run to give them their morning exercise. They went through the garage to get to the run. Often, on the way back in, Candy would slip off into the garage to be by herself in hiding.

Pet Adoption Process

I told Delores I wanted to see the dogs, particularly Candy. She stressed that she was really hoping to place Candy and Flower in a home together. She said she thought Dottie would be okay on her own. I thought about it quickly and said I thought it was possible that we might take two dogs, even though we had only ever had one dog, and I didn’t know how difficult it would be to get used to two at a time.

Delores explained to me that I would need to fill out an animal adoption form before seeing the shih tzus. I filled it out and emailed it back to her after John got home from work and signed it. She gave me Barbara’s number to call her and arrange to see the shih tzus.

When I told John what Delores had told me about the dogs being puppy mill dogs, he was a little concerned. He told me that dogs from puppy mills often have lasting scars from the trauma. He warned me that they might never be like other dogs. I admit that what he said concerned me, but I insisted that I wanted to go see them. He said he would keep an open mind.

I called Barbara and arranged to visit with the shih tzus the next day.