Rescue One Makes Way

My daughter Karen has been a foster for Rescue One in Springfield for some time. So when a sad case came up where a perfectly healthy puppy was potentially going to have to be euthanized, Karen and I decided to join in being fosters for the cutest little Lab pup. The dog mom was unfortunately not able to take care of her four-month old puppy any longer due to housing issues, and the local pound north of Springfield as well as all rescues and shelters in the area were full. Rescue One was willing to take the pup, but did not have any fosters available for 11 days. Karen and I discussed it and decided we could make this work; after all, 11 days isn’t a long time. And it was my turn to do exactly what I was asking others to do, foster.

It turned out to be a little scary, a lot of fun and definitely rewarding. Scary because it was new to me and he was not one of my own. I knew nothing about this pup and I wanted to make sure I did everything right.

I was elected to pick the pup up at the Rescue One Vet office in Springfield, where he got his first round of shots and from there we went to the Rescue One office to get some basic supplies, food, treats, puppy pads, toys, and a hoof to chew on. I found out that his name is Zero (stands for industrious, loving and resilient, loves companionship) and that he was already scheduled to go to the spa (a gentle word for getting neutered) the following Monday.

Since my German Shepherd, Rudi, wasn’t used to having other canines around, we let him sniff the newcomer thru the kennel. Rudi was pretty blasé about the whole thing, and poor Zero wanted to play, but no such luck. Of course, Rudi is approximately 10 years old – the equivalent of 66 years for humans, so having to play with a young whipper snapper was not on his schedule.

And that kind of set the stage for the next 11 days. I can’t complain, Zero was a wonderful first foster, he was absolutely no trouble, was learning potty training and to my chagrin, he figured out the doggy doors. There was no stopping him after that. He loved playing with toys and had the squeakers going on all of them. Rudi was a little jealous because he can only occasionally get a squeak out of his toys. The ‘sit’ command was no challenge for Zero who loved treats and knew exactly what he needed to do to get some.

When it was time to let Zero outside, Rudi would go into a different room until it was time for the pup to come back. We started potty training with him on the leash, but that didn’t work. And I understand that many dogs will not pee or poop as long as they are on a leash. The fenced yard was enough for him, especially since he didn’t roam very far the first few days. It also snowed during that time and he wasn’t quite sure what to make of that, but trying to catch snow balls was fun!

Then it was time to visit his other foster mom and her 5 dogs. Oh my goodness did he have fun chasing and being chased by her dogs. And he got to visit the police department, where he was welcomed by everyone. No, no handcuffs for little puppies, just puppy love. When he got back to my house, he was totally worn out and ready for a nap that lasted all night long!

The following Monday, I drove him to his appointment very early, we arrived at the vet clinic before 7:15. While his surgery was going on, I ran some errands and at one o’clock, picked him up to take him home. He was still a little sleepy and rested all the way home. No more running around or jumping for a couple of days to keep the wound intact. Although I worried about that since he is pretty energetic, he had no issues whatsoever. Zero is a fun puppy with a Lab nose. Outside, he had his nose to the ground many times following a trail. I suspect he could smell rabbits, moles, squirrels and other pests around the yard.

We had a wonderful time together. I’m not saying it was all fun and games, because he did wind up with a case of diarrhea from the wormer medicine he received, and while it was snowy outside, he elected to run to the bathroom and pee (mostly) on the puppy pads.

Of course, as a foster you worry that you are doing everything right, but in retrospect, with Zero, that was not a problem. I guess I was lucky to take care of him as my first foster, because he was such a good and fun pup, and I suspect his former mom had been a very kind person.

So, if you are looking for a new family member, check with Rescue One to see if Zero is still available. Take a look at his pictures! And put Rescue One on your list for donations or supplies. n