Foster Friday

We've decided that since we are now fostering an eskie, we would allow her to share her version of "things" each Friday, and call it Foster Friday. So without further ado, here's Atka:

Hi blogging buddies. My name is Atka and I am a 1 year old bright white bundle of energy. I am a fox-like eskie who has been with my foster family for nearly a full week. I came to them with kennel cough and some wounds I suffered when a mean animal attacked me. I am feeling much better now that my medication is working, and my wounds are healing nicely. I am starting to feel safe and secure in my foster home. I am still trying to get the hang of this "potty outside" thing. I've had a few more accidents in the house, but when that happens, my foster parents take me to the door and lift my paw to it and say "out". Weird humans, hu??

Anyhow, I really like playing with foster-bro Digby. He is so much fun. Foster-sis Prinnie is the boss, and she lets me know it, but that's ok, because if she weren't the boss, I'd have to be and I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet! I have tons and tons of toys to play with and I REALLY like to chew on things - every thing. Especially my lead. Oh, and humans too when I get the chance. I love to give eskie kisses, and do my very best "Flat Stanley" impression when my foster-moms try to pick me up.

Prinnie started teaching me how to jump thru the agility hoop today. She said her BFF, Siku, gave it to her. Maybe some day I, too, will have a BFF ~ whatever that means. When we were done practicing, the foster-moms said we had to get "fortification" (a big word for a little dog). We went to this drive-thru place with a green symbol and they got some cold drinks and we all got treats.

After we got home, foster-moms talked to a lady here in So Cal that thought she wanted to adopt me. She was really nice, but was looking for an older, calmer eskie who was fairly quiet. Foster-mom asked if they even make eskies like that, as she has never seen an eskie be quiet or really, really calm. Anyhow, Here are some pictures of my first real outing with my foster-family.......

The Dilemma

Today we got the dreaded call. A woman in Huntington Beach wants to adopt Atka. She's been in the background of Atka's story from the start, and we knew there would be a good chance she would come forward as her application process continued thru ERU.

The dilemma: As foster parents, we get first option to adopt any dog we foster. That means we have the chance to have Atka be a forever part of our family. We also have the chance to hand her off to a good home and a loving human. We're torn. We never planned to foster, but rather to save this one little dog. To rescue her, we had to agree to foster her to facilitate getting her out of the shelter. Now that she is here, we have fallen in deep like with her. Maybe even love; a little. She is all puppy - literally from the time her eyes open till they fall fast asleep, she is non-stop.

Digby and Prinnie are accepting her better than they ever have another dog. We just wish we could read their minds; hear their thoughts. What they think is the most important thing, after knowing that no matter what decision we make, Atka will be safe and loved. We didn't do this to be life long foster parents, and we didn't do it for what others would think. We did it to save one little dog from certain death. We need to make a decision much sooner than we planned. We thought we'd have a month or so. We have a day. Maybe two.

I was telling Shar that this isn't anything we planned....that it was kind of like finding out you are unexpectedly pregnant. Now what?? Life decisions. Tonight we don't have the answer yet. We'll listen to our hearts and our "kids". We are a family of 4 - Are we a family of 5?