Presents‌
The Bug-eyed Bugle A newsletter for members and friends Volume 1, Issue 3, August 2010
Hello and welcome to the summer installment of The Bug-eyed Bugle, a newsletter for our members and friends. Thank you for all that you do.
Sophie and Howie, both rescues!
My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. -Joe Weinstein
Page 2 We have approximately 130 dogs currently in foster care and have adopted out 325 dogs since February 01, 2010!! We have also have 44 new members since February 01, 2010.
WELCOME!!!!
Meet our youngest foster mom, Vanessa Stratton. “My name is Vanessa. I am 15 years old and a member of the Agriculture Education program at Rockville High School. I have an interest in Animal Sciences and Plant Sciences in the program. In the Ag Ed program, I hope to major in Equine, large animal sciences, and dairy. I really want to do something with animals, preferably large ones. Outside of the program, I enjoy horseback riding lessons, swimming in our lake, listening to music, and going to camps. I would like to be a good foster home for dogs, and with experience, maybe I will be able to move onto more difficult fosters. My favorite breeds of dogs are German Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, and wolf hybrids. I believe these are just the most beautiful dogs in the world. We have had many dogs in our neighborhood, between Seeing Eye dogs, dogs to play fetch with, puppies at one point, the neighborhood was never without dogs, and I learned a lot about them. However, I had never owned a dog, or even lived with a dog, until I joined FOHA. For the Ag Ed program, you need a special project outside of the classroom. The project is called your SAEP; supervised agricultural experience project. I had always wanted a dog, but I was supposed to do a vegetable garden as my SAEP. Meanwhile, my mom had been thinking, and looking into, getting a dog. After some serious thought, we decided to look into fostering.
Page 3 My first foster was Princess, she was a Boston Terrier mix. We loved her, and the experience we had fostering her was wonderful. Princess was certainly the princess of the house. On the first night, she claimed my bed as her own, and claimed me as her best friend. She would sleep late on weekends; go to bed when you said it was bedtime. We discovered she needed a lot of stimulus to keep her occupied and from digging through garbage cans. We tried out several toys, a stuffed animal, a tennis ball, a green ball, but all of them were lost, or she would lose interest in them. We were not sure what to do, until we found her squeaky. Just a little rubber ducky, but Princess loved it. I thought fostering was just about the most fun, and challenging experience I have ever had. After a week, I began to appreciate, and even enjoy our afternoon and morning walks. The biggest thing I learned was that dogs are not all about fun, and they don’t always want to relax when you are ready to relax. With Princess gone, I can’t wait to see what our next foster is like.”
Princess was adopted by Rose B.
My Boston Terrier is…….
A prince ~
Gassy ~
Delirium65@aol
Nurturing ~ emboutot@opline
Jalahletourneau@comcast
Lovable ~ Dfraher49@hotmail
A Clown ~ iluvbxvs@coxt
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This all begins with a single mosquito bite!
Please keep your dog on a Heartworm Preventative! Fact: Every day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born in this country while only 10,000 people are born. Fact: On average, 64% of the animals taken into shelters nationwide are euthanized. Fact: Animal overpopulation has reached a crisis point in this country. Thank you for helping save dogs in need.
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Member spotlight. Meet Sharon Scott!! I asked Sharon a few questions about herself and experiences being a member of FOHA. Here is what she had to say.
“My name is Sharon Scott & (Carlo Sotiropoulos). I was born in Manchester, NH, but grew up in England. I have 2 kids: Toby, 32 yrs old, who rescues Pugs, and Kelsey, 30 yrs old, who rescues cats. I learned to fly before I learned to drive (Dad was a pilot). I enjoy working with dogs, agility, fly ball, fostering, cooking, boating, I like making and eating homemade Pasta & all cheeses, breads too! I enjoy wine tasting, Chianti is my favorite. I met Carlo, my fiancĂŠ, 5 1/2 years ago through a friend, and at the end of our first date, I said: "I would invite you for a coffee but I have dogs." He said: "I like dogs." I said: "but I have Bostons." He said: "I like Bostons." I bet he didn't know a Boston from a Poodle. I said: "BUT I have 3 Bostons!!!" He repeated: "I like dogs." So we had coffee and I have been with him ever since! And actually, now he DOES like dogs! We got engaged on February 9th of this year (2010). Carlo is a huge help with my fur babies as well as the fosters. I couldn't do it without him! I was at a low point in my life about 12 years ago and decided to look for a dog. The kids were grown and life was too quiet. My son suggested a Boston so I began looking on Petfinder. That was when I met Roie and adopted my Gracie through her! My first mill baby! I have been with Roie and Gracie ever since. By the grace of God Gracie found me and saved ME. As I always say - Who rescued who? Then 2 years later along came Gizmo, my splash Boston, and 2 weeks later - Roxie! Both were only 10-12 weeks old and it was the coldest winter on record and the wettest spring. Ever tried house training 2 tiny Bostons in sub zero temps??? Three years later I adopted Sophia, my biggest Boston at 33lbs, and deaf. Carlo calls her his full figured girl and she idolizes him! Then a few years later I adopted a Mini Aussie that has a short lower jaw - Valentino. He is a mushball. I adopted him so Carlo would have some testosterone in the house but Valentino is a Momma's boy. One year later along came - Fiona, another Mini Aussie. Fiona is Carlo's frisbee and flyball buddy. She will do anything for him!
Page 6 I also have 3 cats. Simon is a 20-year-old Siamese, Albert is about 2, and I rescued a 3 legged kitten needing a home - so Gilligan moved in. I almost forgot Goldie my very first rescue! He was a feeder fish that I rescued when he was only about half an inch big. Goldie is over 24 years old and weighs about 1/2 a pound! I think he should be in the book of world records but I don't have proof of his age.
All my animals have taught me so much about life. Forgiveness, kindness, trust and love. That being "different" is ok. If we all could be as great as our furbabies.
I can't begin to guess how many foster dogs we have had. We have had them as short as 1 hour and one was here for 6 weeks learning sign language. We foster whatever needs our home for a landing zone, we have had all ages, blind, deaf, demodex, one eye, puppies with pneumonia, mostly special needs kids. We have had Japanese chins, Boston mixes, Jack Russells, Doxies, Labs, adult & teenage Bostons, Beagle mixes, yikes just about everything you can think of! Deaf and all special need kids are my specialty. They are so endearing with their determination to survive and learn and we learn so much from them. This Saturday (07/31) we are fostering our very FIRST baby Boston! We are so excited and Carlo has never seen a purebred baby Boston! When we reminisce, we find that they are all so special and memorable fosters, we get teary eyed talking about them. Carlo's first foster with me, Sally - was a Lab mix puppy that we picked up in the middle of a rainy night. Sally stole Carlo's heart. He personally interviewed the adopter in our kitchen! Sally became a therapy dog for their little girl and she shows her in 4H obedience trials now! We keep in touch with all our adoptive families; they send us updates and Christmas cards of the dogs near the tree! I like FOHA because everyone supports each other. If you have a problem - everyone helps out with suggestions and their own experiences. Roie is awesome with her support and understanding of the dogs and of us crazy and often over reactive foster parents! Roxie was my largest personality and had more love in her than any dog I have ever known. She demanded love back too. She could jump right into your arms and then would flop on her back so you could hold her like a baby! When we lost her to seizures in March we were devastated as was the pack too. Things still feel empty at times without her.
Roxie
Roxie was a mill puppy that was left in an auction barn for about 2 weeks in the dead of winter without food
Page 7 and water, and no light. When the auction finally happened, most pups had died but not my Roxie! She was in a crate with so many dead babies, just horrible. Rescue got her and sent an email to me to see if I would take her. Roxie was flown up to me into Bradley Airport! Roxie was quickly nicknamed Roxie Rocket as she moved fast wherever she went. She thrived on touch and love, never close enough to her humans. If you were sad, Miss Roxie was right there for you. She never missed a thing or a feeling. When we were getting a new foster, I would sit them all down and tell them and what I expected from them too. They all listened but Roxie would look the other way – Seriously! She would do that! It was too funny. She would give the foster a verbal thrashing when they arrived but then was a good girl after she "told" them she was boss. Some of my fondest memories of her visually is of her sunning herself on the picnic table in the backyard. From there she could keep an eye on everyone and run the pack. Never mean - just verbal chatter at them. She was so bossy in such a sweet way. She loved her sweaters in winter but when I would put them on the other dogs - she would try to take them off them. Only Roxie could have clothes. Her tennis balls! Crazy love for them to the point where we would have to take them away and hide them. When anyone came over - she thought they were there just to see her and she would jump up into their arms and throw herself on her back to be held like a baby. Her personality was huge and so loving, we still miss her terribly. Her sudden death was so unfair and it was so horrible to watch a baby so full of life fade from us. But never will she be gone from our hearts. Knowing Roxie is playing and healthy now and will be at the bridge waiting for us is our peace.�
Roxie, July 2002 - March 2010
Children are for people who can't have dogs. ~Author Unknown
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Congratulations to the winners of the
Patriotic Pooch Contest! The 1st place winner goes to June Fromm and her beloved rescues, Howie and Sophie.
Second place goes to Stephanie Frazier and her handsome rescue, Bodhi.
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Third place goes to Lori Pelletier and her foster, Duke, saluting the flag.
I hope everyone is having a great summer! Stay cool and enjoy! Thank you for all you do!! If you have any suggestions for upcoming issues, please feel free to contact me. Fondly, Tammy Phillips Foamchick@aol.com Thanks, as always, to my proofreader, Annie.