Recently my foster dog, Clooney, got adopted. He is the 36th foster pup we’ve had in our home, and each and every time it’s tough to send them off even though it’s right. Despite the tears, my family keeps fostering dogs in need because it’s just so rewarding. It’s an amazing way to give back, to help make a pet whole and ready for a home. It’s also a fun way to get to know so many quirky and silly personalities! So when Clooney’s wonderful people presented themselves the other day, I should have been thrilled. I should have been jumping for joy. I should have been ready to say goodbye and move on to the next dog I could help save and bring home. But to be honest, as happy as I am for him and his happily ever after, I just miss having him around.
Clooney is a special dog. Aren’t they all? He was an easy foster, made fast friends with my own pups, and made my husband and I laugh all day long. Being an eight-year-old, 60-pound Pit Bull mix, I guess I assumed it would be hard to find him a home and that he’d be staying with us for a long time. Which was fine by me! But sometimes the world surprises you. Sometimes karma seals her deals quickly. Sometimes you have to say goodbye too soon.
So I packed up his goody bag a few days ago and off he went smiling. I will miss sitting with Clooney on his big ol’ dog bed in the pitch black, petting him softly, feeling his gratitude, and knowing that his tail was wagging even though I couldn’t see it. I will miss feeling him press into me, relief surrounding us in the dark night, just so happy to lay together and be warm and close. I will miss the funny, weird nosies he makes when I bring out the leash for a walk, so shamelessly excited about it as if I’m as cool as The Rolling Stones (which I’m not!)
Clooney, you’re so gentle it’s heartbreaking. Clooney, you’re home for the holidays. Clooney, on our last night together we snuggled for the last time, and I cried because I had that sinking feeling. You were leaving. Clooney, it’s bittersweet to let you go, you silly goofball, you good boy, you sweet heart. Clooney, I’m the lucky one because I got to know you.
Tomorrow our next foster comes. I know I will adore him and that my heart will mend even though today it still feels achy because Clooney isn’t here anymore. I will shift focus onto the new pooch and once again connect, spend time with, and learn to love. Until it’s his turn to go, and the cycle repeats. I will continue to get updates on Clooney, celebrating his progress, and remaining thankful that he is now a cherished member of his very own family. And you can help in this way as well, you can help dogs like Clooney stay safe until their forever home is found. I’m here to tell you that even though I opened my house and heart to him, he helped me so much more by being truly kind and generous with his affection.
It is always a privilege to get to be a part of a rescue story. Tomorrow a new chapter begins, but Clooney’s place in my book will forever be there. Please consider becoming a foster parent for a homeless pet this holiday season, or make it a New Year’s Resolution. Together we can show all animals that they count, that they matter, that they have friends. I promise you will get as much as you give and more. Clooney, I will never forget you.
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Clicker training is an effective and fun training technique used to shape a desired behavior without the need to force, intimidate, or punish dogs while they learn. Small, easy to carry clickers are used to mark and identify a desired behavior from your pet, and the “click” is often followed by a treat or praise. With repetition, your dog will soon learn to associate the sound of the click with a reward, and get a sense that he or she has achieved something you want! Many of us may have heard about how clicker training can be used to teach dogs new behaviors or tricks. But did you know that you can also use the clicker for training cats? And ferrets? And rabbits, too?! It’s a tool that can be used to teach all kinds of animals…and come to think of it, I guess clicker training can be used to train people and spouses as well!
Ready for another happy adoption smile? We loving sharing happy adoption stories from adopters who have used Adopt-a-Pet.com pet search and often our free Search Saver email service to find their new furry friend! Want to help spread the joy of pet adoption by sharing your happy beginnings story with our readers? Send an email to
Meow! Meow! Meow! Cat rescuers seem to have built in super-hearing when its a cat or kitten’s cries for help! I’ve been asleep and woken up by hearing a meowing kitten under a car in front of my house in the middle of the night. What do you do if you find a stray kitten or cat? How do you know if he was abandoned, is lost, or is just out for a stroll? What about a cat that seems sick, should you rush him to the emergency vet, wait till the morning, or care for him yourself? These are complicated questions and every situation is different, but given my stray-cat-magnet abilities (stray cats and kittens regularly materialize no matter where we are), I’ve written some tips and steps you can follow to help make sure the kitten or cat you find is well-cared for while you try to locate his owner, or a rescue or a new home to adopt him.
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A few weeks ago, I lost my beloved companion dog of 14 years. Her name was Claire, and I called her my “sweet stubborn soul mate.” Given the choice, she would not let me out of her sight, and her absence created a huge empty space in my life, as well as my heart. With her passing, friends and family gathered around to console me and my husband. The last time a dearly-loved pet of my died was pre-Facebook… this time, the immediate outpouring of support and kindness was almost overwhelming. Some of their letters touched me so deeply. When my friends and family’s pets have died, I always feel tongue-tied. What could I possibly say or write to someone that has lost their fur kid? So I thought I would share three of the incredible condolence gestures I received. Please feel free to copy them, edit them, use them in any way that might help you reach out to someone suffering a loss of their pet.
The inspiration for this article came from a conversation I had with my coworker Katya. She is one of the most dog-savvy dog people I know, a certified dog trainer, who writes amazing dog training and dog behavior articles for Adopt-a-Pet.com, as well as her “Ask Katya” video series
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