Adventures in Fostering: Percy

It's sad that we've actually had two foster dogs over the past several months, and I never got around to writing about them. I'll come back to recap the most recent, as we actually had him for almost two months. But today is all about Percy. Get a load of this little guy:

We got an email last week from Wags, Hope, and Healing, asking if we would be interested in helping to socialize a feral pup. Some people had purchased property, and found a litter of 5 dogs on it with no mother in sight. One of the pups was deceased, and the remaining four were filthy dirty and in need of a few good meals. Our schedule is crazy busy right now, but we said we could commit to two weeks. Luckily, there is an adoption event planned on August 8th, so the timing worked out perfectly.

We've had a variety of foster dogs, but none that had ever been feral. These pups had likely never seen a human before they were found, and were rightfully frightened of people. It's said that the first 12 weeks of a puppies life can make or break them, so thankfully there was a window of opportunity to show them how fun people (and homes) can be. He is estimated to be around 10 weeks old.

Hank picked the name Percy because it's short for perseverance. It's also a little bit "country" which is exactly what Percy is- a country mutt! Having been with him for a few days, the name is a perfect fit. He is definitely warming up to us, and loves to snuggle (especially at night). More than anything though, he LOVES his foster siblings. He follows them everywhere, and is so cute when he tries to instigate play. Brees has been really good and patient with him, and will engage in play and snuggling. Maddie is a little more hit or miss. Her contribution has mainly been teaching him who is boss.

I have no doubt that he will continue to come out of his shell over the next couple of weeks, and I know it will be hard to say goodbye when the time comes. But we love getting to help like this, and we'll make the most out of our puppy time.

Denali

I'm taking a short break from my blogging break to share a video with you that has absolutely touched my heart. WARNING: If you have even half a heart, you will likely bawl your eyes out while watching. You might want to save this until you're in the comfort of your own home.

A little bit of background on the video- Ben Moon is an incredibly talented photographer/cinematographer, free spirit, outdoorsman, and dog lover. (Do yourself a favor and browse all of the gorgeous pictures on his website.) He and his equally talented friends put together this exquisitely beautiful video in remembrance of his beloved dog Denali. Denali was such a handsome dog, that he even got to model in Patagonia ads! What a life he led. The video ended up winning two awards at the 5Point Film Festival, and was an official selection for MountainFilm 2015. So yes, it's really that good!

If you have read our blog for any amount of time, you know that we're crazy about our small herd of animals (and I haven't even shared our latest foster with you- told y'all we've been busy lately!) Our foster fail Brees is absolutely my baby, and all I could think about while watching this is how it we feel when her time comes (hopefully many, many years from now). It may sound weird, but this video just made me feel so deeply. It's hard to describe.

So watch it. Please. And feel free to come back and let me know what you think. Even if it's just to share a sentiment about your own fur baby. I love hearing them!

Denali

**If you love the song at the end as much as I did, it's called "It's Only" by Odesza. Totally worth the download.

Amplify Austin: Support Wags, Hope and Healing

March 5th-6th kicks off the 3rd year for the "I Live Here, I Give Here" fundraising campaign hosted by Amplify Austin. Over $8.5 million has been raised for local charities, and this year over 500 non-profits will benefit from the city's generosity.

I have participated since its inception, donating to a variety of local non-profits that all have meaning to me. This year, I am especially excited to be hosting my very own fundraising page in support of one of our favorite animal rescue groups, Wags, Hope and Healing. We first learned about this amazing mother/daughter rescue duo through good friends and neighbors, and began to follow their stories and learn more about their operation. About 4 months ago, we committed to being monthly donors for their Circle of Chance program, donating specifically towards medical funds.

The Wags, Hope and Healing mission is to save neglected, abused and abandoned dogs that would otherwise never make it out of a shelter alive. They provide medical treatment, rehabilitation, and careful consideration when finding permanent homes. Some dogs are pulled off the street, and others are saved from area kill shelters where they would likely be euthanized due to their medical needs. Because Wags is committed to helping these special cases, they often face medical bills ranging from $2,000-$5,000 a month.

Anyone who knows me knows that I have a bleeding heart for animals. Every cat that has ever been a part of our family was saved from the streets. My very first dog as an adult was rescued from an irresponsible dog owner who did not have their pet spayed. I've volunteered hundreds of hours at the city shelter, have fostered multiple dogs, and even had a foster fail. To say that Hank and I are passionate about animals would be an understatement. Animal rescue is a cause that I would give just about anything to.

Our fur babies

My goal is to raise $1000 for Wags, Hope and Healing. I will personally match donations up to $200, and will have my employer match my donation as well. If you share my love for animal rescue, I ask that you find it in your heart to donate any amount that you are able to. If it means passing up a few Starbucks trips in order to make a $25 donation, then you will have enabled one dog to get a microchip. If you forgo a shopping trip this weekend and donate $100 instead, then you have paid for medication to cover mange, heart worm prevention, or a host of other ailments. Every dollar counts, and I hope that you'll join me in showing the love for any Austin non-profit who provides services that make our community a better place.

You can find my fundraising page here: Amplify Austin

Austin Pets Alive 4th Anniversary No-Kill Party

This past Sunday night Hank and I attended the 4th Annual Austin Pets Alive "No-Kill Anniversary Party", held at The Palm Door in downtown Austin. Animal welfare is obviously a cause that is near and dear to our heart, so we're more than happy to support it. And Sweet Elise also donated desserts for the second year in a row, so we almost *had* to go. I thought it would be hard to top last year's party, but somehow they were able to do so.

Food was provided courtesy of Pink Avocado Catering, and the vegetarian buffet were delicious. My favorite might have been the macaroni and cheese cupcakes, but everything was so tasty.

(Pictures were taken by Angela Lozano Photography, who also donated her time and talent for the event.)

Food and dessert buffet

Along with great music entertainment (the legendary Dale Watson played), there was a silent auction, a photo booth, and on-site screen printing for shirts. We bought shirts last year, and this year it was even more special to pick out colors and what we wanted printed on them. Many thanks to Fine Southern Gentleman for providing their services for the evening. We love our shirts!!

Did I mention a photo booth? Did I mention that there were LIVE PUPPIES at the photo booth?! It might have been my favorite part of the evening. It was all I could do not to stuff all the puppies under my sweater so that I could take them home with me. I'm sure they have all been adopted by now, as they were just so freaking cute. 

We called it an early night, as we both had to work the next day. But I'm hoping that APA was able to raise the funds needed to continue the great work they do to keep Austin a "No Kill" city. It seriously takes a village to make it happen, and I'm so glad this organization plays such a big part in saving so many lives.