Stay Tuned for the Full (Happy!) Story

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to update you on the status of Sadie and Sasha and Pooch. They have all been adopted! I have heard from Sasha's new parents, and she in enjoying life with them and their three cats.

I am currently working on a book about the whole wonderful, crazy experience of fostering Sadie and Sasha and driving them across the country. More photos and stories will be included as well as a look behind the scenes at one of the best shelters in the country.

I'll keep you posted and thanks for the support!

Laura

16 Legs Video from Night 2 in Colby, KS

16 Legs Go to Colorado

My friend Stacey and I drove Sadie and Sasha and another great dog named Pooch to Longmont Humane Society in Colorado where they have the resources and experiecne (and big hearts) to teach our former foster girls and Pooch how to be great dogs. We will miss them terribly, but it was a great trip! Three dogs plus two people have 16 legs, and they all fit in my husband's Honda Element!

The dogs were great travellers - we could have gone another 3,500 miles easily....



Pooch at Mile 0


Pooch and Stacey in Wal-Mart parking lot somewhere in Indiana.


Me and all the dogs on the first night, around midnight...


Second night, same time...


Mission accomplished!

News about Sadie and Sasha

Hello dog lovers,

I've got some sad news and some happy news. Sadie and Sasha's new home didn't work out - that is the sad news, obviously. They are back at the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA, but not for long. The happy news is that they have been accepted into a wonderful training program at The Longmont Humane Society in Longmont, Colorado. They have learned about love, now they have to learn about fitting into society. The folks there have the talent and resources to make that happen and we are excited to be working with them.

Sadie and Sasha will be making the trip with Pooch. Pooch is a beautiful young male brown and white pit bull. He knows a few commands and is very friendly. He just has too much energy for a kennel environment, but he gets along well with other dogs and people.

I've been trying to get corporate support to help with the costs of travel and/or so we can fly them to Colorado. But it looks like I will be driving them next week. Wish me (and more importantly, the dogs!) luck.

Sadie and Sasha got adopted!

Just heard confirmation from Ashley at the SPCA - Sadie and Sasha got adopted together to a wonderful home! Yippee and yahoo and hooray!!!!

Thank You Melissa and Travis!

Sasha made the news! Thanks to Melissa from the SPCA for taking her to the Charlottesville Newsplex and to Travis for helping to show her off!
Click here to see the video.

Sadie and Sasha at the SPCA!

Sadie and Sasha are now spending their days at the Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA. The staff has created a stellar environment for them. They get the primo spot in the lobby as well as TWO great posters and a video display so visitors can see a slideshow of photos of how they are in a real home.





It really does take a village. The staff of the SPCA puts in extra effort for these sweet girls because they know how special they are and what a rough start to life they had. Sadie and Sasha are still shy in that environment, but they are feeling the love!

Stop by and visit if you can. They are ready to go home and start their real lives!

Sasha and her bone

Going for a Ride

Can Sadie and Sasha Be Adopted Separately?

I've been thinking about this question for the past several weeks. Can Sadie and Sasha be adopted - and thrive - separately?

I believe the answer is yes. In scary situations, they stick together. But in our home, where they are comfortable, they sometimes willingly choose to be in separate rooms.

And they have different personalities. Sadie loves to play fetch and loves all toys. Sasha is more people focused. And she is the wrestler. She'd rather play with another dog than chase or chew a toy.

Sasha is less shy about walks. Sadie would prefer to stay and romp in the backyard.

If you feel a connection with one dog over the other, act on it. They each need to be somebody's dog.

It will be an adjustment, but I think they could each be in different homes. I bet they wouldn't mind an occasional play date, though.

Playing Ball

With a bonus of Laura falling down....

FYI

A pictorial history of pit bulls and their role as nanny dogs.

Cutest. Picture. Ever.

Right?

Sitting

Sadie and Sasha have learned to sit and wait for their meals (Well, Sadie likes to lie down.)



Treats are a little more exciting. Blue and Piper are doing their best to show the girls how to do it....

Testimonial about Shy Dogs

From our friend and artist and fellow animal lover, Foust, in response to Rob's post about Sadie and Sasha on Facebook:

"I hope someone will see past their shyness--our dog Mia was feral and it took almost 3 months for her to get comfortable with us. Before we took her home, I even spent a week visiting her at the Animal League--just sitting in her cage and letting her get to know me. It was well worth it. Shy dogs appreciate you so much. You become their safe place."

I've met Mia, and while quiet, she is great. And beautiful.

Happy Foster Mother's Day!

Derby Day and the "Look" Command

So, just because they are shy in new situations doesn't mean they only get love in our house. Oh no! A little training is part of the package. Although we do it comfortably....This is Rob working on the "Look" command with Sadie and Sahsa.



And this is the "Lady, do you have to take so many pictures?" look:

Back at Our Foster Home

I picked up Sadie and Sasha from the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA last night. They did not have an easy time back at the shelter, through no fault of the excellent staff and facility there.

They didn't even come to me when I went to their kennel. You could see in their eyes that they were scared. Luckily, I was armed with chicken and won some of their trust back. But I still had to pull them out of the kennel. And getting into the car was a challenge. But, on the ten minute trip home, they started to remember, and once we pulled into the driveway, tails came up. In the front yard, those tails started to wag. Two minutes later, they were back to their happy selves.

I tell this story so potential adopters realize that Sadie and Sasha can bounce back from tough experiences. Don't take their fear personally. They are resilient and want to love and trust and be a part of a family. Right now, after a morning of playing, they are napping on their beds, just 15 hours after returning from four days at the SPCA.

They take effort, but the rewards are huge. To see the fear leave their eyes (its departure hastened by chicken and liver treats) is so wonderful. And their puppy fur is so soft and sweet smelling.

It will seem hopeless when you take them home, but with just a little patience and a lot of treats, they feel secure enough to play and love and snuggle. What more does anyone want from a dog?

Sadie and Sasha are at the SPCA!

We had to go out of town for my Dad's retirement party, so Sadie and Sasha are at the SPCA for a few days! They were a bit reticent about returning, but seemed to settle in all right. Please visit them if you're interested in adopting or just to give them a cookie. The more friendly people they meet, the more the will continue to improve.

Playing

This video is from last week, but Rob saw it on the camera and thought it was cute enough to share. And it is a pretty good representation of life in our house with the foster girls! Now, should you want to adopt them, they will adapt to different rules - in other words, you can keep them from wrestling on your couch if you so desire. Us, we're kind of casual.....