So Pet Refuge did a huge puppy mill rescue, and here's a news story about it! That little yorkie the reporter is holding in the video is MY FOSTER!!! He is getting his new forever home tomorrow. :)

So yesterday one of my foster puppies (7 weeks old) was starting to show some signs of being sick. I called the foster coordinator and she said not to panic unless he starts acting super lethargic and throwing up.

Seconds after I hung up with her, both things happened. I called everyone I could think of this morning and thank god the med. coordinator was waiting for me at the shelter, and promptly told me to take the poor thing to the vet. So as we rushed and cried on our way, he threw up all over me. :( At the vets, we found out he also has a heart murmur. So, follow up exams on that later, I am sure.

Now he is feeling much much better. Eating and pooping nearly normally.

However, now my female is beginning to show the same symptoms. So, hooray. I get the feeling it's going to go through the other one, also. This time I will just let the med. coordinator give fluids at the shelter since that is almost all the vet did, anyway.

I am just super exhausted, now. It's been really rough.

Yesterday was insane. I woke up, went to the barn, drove straight home, cleaned up/fed/played with the puppies, went to the adoption event, came home, cleaned up/fed/played with the puppies, showered, went to the auction, moved THE COUCH WE GOT into the house (well, my brother and Kelly did most of that) then went straight to bed. The adoption event was really busy, too. I did not have one dull moment all day yesterday. It was fun, I guess but I was exhausted, and this was just not the right night to have daylight savings and lose an hour of sleep.

The auction, as much as I was dreading it, was actually a lot of fun. I just love watching the live auction part. That is always so much fun to see people fighting over stuff! Also this year was fun because I got to be a little tiny part of it for a minute, coaching my Mom because I knew someone bidding against her was going to bid really high, so I kept telling her to bid up even though she didn't want the item!! I was right (more right than I even knew) and it went for $700! (Or was it $650?)

I'm on facebook, only like a million years too late, right?

So, if you are on there too, you should add me. Just search for syd.^troyer@gmail.com minus the ^.

These puppies are really cute and having lots of fun and I don't know where my camera is!! So frustrating!

Pet Refuge took in ten dogs that were living in some guys really ranky-stank trailer. All purebred, and he had planned on breeding them for money. Apparently he also had parrots... Waiting to hear some more about that later...

In any case, the morning after this, I cleaned at the shelter and while I was there someone drove up, dumped out seven puppies in a crate and drove off!! SEVEN PUPPIES. As if we weren't completely overwhelmed already.

So, despite my plans to take an adult dog home today, I am going to take two of the puppies. WTF Am I thinking? They are SO difficult. Please, if there is a God, let them find homes quickly...

-I am not as far along as I think I am.

-I want to run away from everything, via moving to Indianapolis.

-I can refuse to be insecure.

-I can act like I am 20 years old and be okay with it.

-I don't have to be enmeshed with Kelly to know that he is the most amazing person I have ever met and will be with me as long as he can stand it.

-No one can love and accept me completely except myself, and perhaps Kelly. Everyone else loves me as much as they can, and that's it, which has to be okay with me.

-Most importantly, my dog is the best friend I have ever had, and despite when he is naughty, I will forever work around that. I love Jake sooo fucking much. Seriously, he is the most incredible thing that has ever happened to me. Thank god for that. What a perfect friend for me right now, and hopefully for as long as he can stand it. :) He loves me, listens to me, protects me, motivates me, and wants to be with me.

So basically I really need to clean the house but would rather do this instead. Ugh. Depression and crappy weather.

I was supposed to go to finalize an adoption tonight with Amy but they decided they'd rather have a purebred dog. Which, this one does happen to be pure bred. Just didn't have papers. So, I guess we can't prove it. We think they just didn't want to work through his issues, of which he only has one, being scared of men. It's just so surprising because while they were at the shelter they were like SO into it. They were all like "oh he'll get better in no time and he'll be fine and he's just scared, not aggressive, he'll be perfect...." I guess I can chalk that up to how nervous people probably get while being evaluated by us. Even if I didn't really want the dog, I wouldn't want to be turned down for it, either. :P

Kelly is having a rough time at work, but somehow still manages to make time for our therapy appointments, to make my breakfast, to cuddle, to chase Mikey after he escaped again, and to help out around the house. I am so lucky! The poor guy.

So I started talking to some old friends on Facebook, and I just sort of realized that all these comparisons I have been making of how successful people are and whatever, they are all at least 10 years my senior, usually more, and everyone that is my age is in a pretty similar boat. Most of them are in college but who gives a flying eff if that holds off for a little while. I also went through a huge struggle that none of them (that I know of) had to, so IMO I am doing okay. I also had a huge moment with a friend (IRL) the other night where I told this friend something about me and my struggles, and she shared hers with me as well. I felt this huge weight lift off the friendship and I feel so wonderful. I didn't even realize that it was there. Seriously, I am amazed. I don't necessarily feel any better about myself, and I haven't stopped being really insecure about being judged, but there is just this comfort in knowing that she understands me so much better now, and I understand her a little better, too. There are just these little everyday triggers that strangers can bring on without knowing it, and now she knows what mine are and I know what hers are. I don't know. This is gay. So I am stopping. But for real, it was nice.

There was a HS in southern Indiana that was closing their old shelter, and opening a new one. There were a bunch of news articles about it because they were not taking their animals to their new shelter. I guess their board or whatever decided that they were too diseased and might contaminate the new building. In any case, Pet Refuge took the last ten dogs, and here is the video of that happening. This was several months ago and most of the dogs have since been adopted, however we are having some trouble adopting out the *cough*pit*cough*bulls*cough*.

Anyway, I am in the video a couple times. Mostly just the back of my head and my big butt!! :)

I believe
that we don't have to change friends
if we understand that friends change.

I believe
that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every
once in a while and you must forgive
them for that.

I believe
that true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I believe
that you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I believe
that it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

I believe
that you should always leave loved ones
with loving words. It may be the last
time you see them.

I believe
that you can keep going
long after you can't.

I believe
that we are responsible for what we do,
no matter how we feel.

I believe
that either you control your attitude
or it controls you.

I believe
that regardless of how hot and
steamy a relationship is at first,
the passion fades and there had
better be something else to take
its place.

I believe
that heroes are the people
who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.

I believe
that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe
that my best friend and I can do anything
or nothing and have the best time.

I believe
that sometimes the people you expect
to kick you when you're down,
will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe
that sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me
the right to be cruel.

I believe
that just because someone doesn't love
you the way you want them to doesn't
mean they don't love you with all they have.

I believe
that maturity has more to do with
what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them
and less to do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe
that it isn't always enough to be
forgiven by others. Sometimes you
have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe
that no matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe
that our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe
that just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do.

I believe
that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a
secret. It could change your life forever.

I believe
that two people can look at the exact
same thing and see something totally.
different.

I believe
that your life can be changed in a matter of
hours by people who don't even know you.

I believe
that even when you think you have no more
to give, when a friend cries out to you
you will find the strength to help.

I believe
that credentials on the wall
do not make you a decent human being.

I believe
that the people you care about most in life
are taken from you too soon.

Why rescue a dog? There's a danger you know,
You can't save just one, for the craving will grow.
There's no doubt they're addictive, wherein lies the danger.
While living with lots, you'll grow poorer and stranger.
One dog is no trouble, and two are so funny.
The third one is easy, the fourth one's a honey.
The fifth one's delightful, the sixth one's a breeze,
You find you can live with a houseful,..almost with ease.
So how 'bout another? Would you really dare?
They're really quite easy but, oh, Lord the DOG HAIR !!
With dogs on the sofa and dogs on the bed,
And crates in the kitchen, it's no bother, you've said.
They're really no trouble, their manners are great.
What's one more dog and just one more crate?
The sofa is hairy, the windows are crusty,
The floor is all footprints, the furniture dusty.
The housekeeping suffers, but what do you care?
Who minds a few noseprints and a little more hair?
So let's save that puppy, you can always find room,
And a little more time for the dust cloth and broom.
There's hardly a limit to the dogs you can add,
The thought of failure sure makes you sad.
Each one is so special, so useful, so funny.
The vet and food bills grows larger, you owe BIG money.
Your folks never visit, few friends come to stay,
Except other "dog folks" who live the same way.
Your lawn has now died, and your shrubs are dead too,
But your weekends are busy, you're off with your crew.
There's dog food and vitamins, training and shots.
And entries and travel and motels which cost lots.
Is it worth it you wonder? Are you caught in a trap?
Then that favorite one comes and climbs in your lap.
His look says you're special and you know that you will
Keep all of the critters in spite of the bill.
Some just for snuggling and some just to play
And some just for loving, they fill up the day.
Gosh, winter's a hassle, the dogs hate it too.
But they must have their walks though they're numb and your blue.
Late evening is awful, you scream and you shout
At the dogs on the sofa who refuse to go out.
Home visits and rescue, applications, the thrills,
The work and the worry, the pressure, the bills.
The whole thing seems worth it, the dogs are your life.
They're charming and funny and offset the strife.
Your life-style has changed. Things won't be the same.
Yes, those dogs are addictive and so is the dog game.
Unknown Poet
(someone posted it on dog_lovers)

Yeah. This is for real. There are a lot of people out there who are going to think they get this, but they don't. No one can "get" this until they've lived with over five dogs!!

So, I pretty much have the most adorable foster dogs ever.

( Aussie mixes, 4 months old )

So aside from all the peeing and pooping everywhere, fostering puppies is pretty fun. It's way harder than adults though. I am so exhausted already!! They have a sad, stupid, story too: They were kept outside in a crappy pen with their mom, dad, and another large male dog. I mean wtf? Who keeps that many dogs outside in a pen like that? (There were five of these puppies.) We are getting them into Spay Day, needless to say. Also, they were FILLED with roundworms. Grossest poop ever. Also, just an extra fun chore of having to make sure I see them poop & clean it up so that our dogs can't get into it!!

I woke up before dawn today to clean some horse stables with my pet sitter Amber. She cleans there Monday through Friday and a lot on the weekends, too. They would like to hire someone regularly for the weekends. I went with her today to see if it would be something I would be interested in. I really am, too.

It is way more complicated than just saying yes though. If I want to work at Catnap Inn at all right now I will only be working Sundays, with a schedule that will prevent me from cleaning the stables beforehand, and afterwards would be way too late. However, Catnap does have someone who works Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings who is thisclose to quitting. So it would be ideal if I could pick up those hours and work the weekends at the stables. That would be plenty of money combined with a little babysitting/dog sitting there and there. Also, I have to keep in mind that I do have a job interview at a vets office tomorrow, and in the chance that I get that job, I probably wont want to work weekends at all because I am sure I will be working a lot of Saturdays for them, Sundays too if there are boarders.

Soooooo. I guess I have to decide if I even want this vets office job. Or if I just want to wait it out for this girl at Catnap Inn to quit while I just work weekends at the stable.

I will just chillax about it until they tell me if they even want me at the vets office or not. I will tell them if they decide they'd like to hire me that I need 24 hours to decide. Then I'll panic.

Seriously.

I can't even begin to explain. & I wont right now. But for real. Everything went to for real shit.

George the Giant Lobster Liberated from Restaurant

That's great and all, but isn't a humongous lobster who probably doesn't remember how to feed itself going to die right away in the wild?? Just wondering.... Seems like predators would be able to see it a mile away and since it's been in captivity for so long, how is it going to be on top of it's game enough to know how to get out of the way? Much less find food?

Granted, I don't know the first thing about lobsters. If they even have predators or what they eat, but still. Seems like this would have/should have been a gray area in the animal freedom thing.

Dogs, dogs, and more dogs. And some furniture.

( Holiday photos!! )

Also we went to like a million different places for Christmas and it was really annoying and stressful, but it felt actually normal. I had two families to visit, lots of people to buy presents for, and lots of food to eat. As stressful as it was, I was somehow comforted by how normal it felt. I can't tell you how many holidays have been abnormal!!

...And no, the last one didn't get adopted yet. So, we have two foster dogs. I thought that would be really overwhelming but actually they cancel each other out because they get along so well that they play together all the time! Jake gets mad and jealous that they don't want him to play. So, he does a lot of posturing and barking at them. They haven't seemed bothered yet.

His name is Cooper. He is on the website www.petrefuge.com. Rachel however isn't even on there yet because I'm lazy and haven't taken her picture for it yet.

I love being domestic. The house is never perfectly clean or perfectly smelling, but that's the dogs fault!! I love having dogs & birds & kitties and taking care of them all day. I love making food. I love having people over. I love volunteering. I love my boyfriend.

I love my life. :)

For the first time in Yemen 8-year-old girl asks for divorce in court

Brave little kid. Kudos to her.

I hope everyone else involved dies by having their eyes and genitals slowly ripped apart by vultures.

Peggy leaving hit me harder than I thought it would. I cried for a couple hours. I just grew to be so close to her. I worked really hard on her. I defended her when Kelly was mad that she chewed up all his shit. She improved. Quickly, sweetly, lovingly. She would cuddle and just smack you in the face with her sweet little paw. I always kind of saw her as a naive little girl who had had a REALLY tough life. Pregnant, skinny, zero street smarts or people skills. (When they brought her into the shelter she was lactating, we never found any puppies.) In the right environment, where she was encouraged and also given limits, she blossomed so amazingly.

She found a really perfect family, who had been thinking about getting a dog for a LONG time (I remembered showing them around the shelter six months ago) and when they just happened upon Peggy at PetSmart on Black Friday (I was at an adoption event with my kittens, and thought, what the hell! I'll bring my canine foster, too!) they just fell in love. The kids wouldn't stop talking about her, and the Mom just loved the way Peggy was so sweet to her kids.

The thing that really gets me though, is when the dogs are leaving the shelter and they turn around and jump on me. The only other one to ever did that was Annie. So, maybe I am really grieving over Annie some more. (Annie was a shep x I almost kept.) But yeah, right as they turned to walk out the door Peggy threw herself on me and pawed at my chest. I felt my face get really hot and tears welled up, I told her out loud "oh honey don't do that!" But it was too late. I waved her new family out the door, and I was crying. :(

They are BEST FRIENDS!! Actually the first thing Kahlua did upon seeing Peggy was attack her but Kahlua and I had a stern talking to, and they have been doing nothing but playing for HOURS.

( Pictures of them wrestling in the Family room )