| Cookie I fostered Cookie in the autumn, just as the days were getting chilly. That wouldn’t have been a problem except that Cookie was missing much of her fur. I worried that she would get cold, so I bought her a sweater to wear when we went out for walks. Cookie was surrendered at the animal shelter along with a cat because her owners were having a baby. The moment I met Cookie, I could tell that she was well adjusted and gentle. It was hard for me to understand how her owners could have given her up. My heart ached for her. She was a great dog and I wanted to find her a wonderful home. Cookie was a five-year-old Pomeranian with the cute face of a little lion covered with fur. Her legs also had fur, but the remainder of her solid body was covered with a dark, tough skin. A vet determined that Cookie had Alopecia, an autoimmune disease causing hair loss that can affect animals as well as humans. The hair loss can range from small round patches to larger areas such as Cookie had. It can be treated, but any hair growth is often temporary. Cookie’s condition was strictly cosmetic and did not affect her overall health. At first, I felt sorry for Cookie. I thought how sad it was that she was missing so much of her fur, but she radiated confidence and didn’t need any sympathy. I soon realized that Cookie didn’t know she was different from other dogs because when she was around other dogs, she was accepted as one of the pack. I let that be a lesson for me, and I grew to admire her self-confidence. Cookie settled in and adjusted to my daily routine easier than any dog I had ever fostered. She enjoyed going for walks, she was housebroken, and she liked to sit close, nudging my arm to get her share of petting. She preferred table foods over dog food. Her habits indicated that she had been well cared for in her previous home. I couldn’t believe that her owners had surrendered her. After posting Cookie’s information on the web site, it took a long time to find the perfect home for her. Several people called to inquire but then didn’t follow through to meet her. I wondered if it had to do with her appearance. I knew if someone would just give her a chance, they would fall in love with her as I had. Cold winter days had settled in when a young woman named Stephanie called and wanted to meet Cookie. She said that a family member had a Pomeranian that also had fur loss, so she understood Cookie’s condition. We went for a visit and Stephanie spent some time getting to know Cookie. She was very thoughtful as she made the decision to give Cookie a forever home. We completed the adoption the following week. Stephanie had a new coat waiting for Cookie when we arrived. Cookie had become such a part of my daily routine that it was hard for me to say goodbye to her. But finding the perfect home for Cookie was worth the wait. |
| "In the beginning, I thought I was just taking care of the dogs, but it wasn't long before I realized that the dogs were taking care of me as well." Nancy Johnson |
"She was a great dog and I wanted to find her a wonderful home." |
"Cookie had become such a part of my daily routine that it was hard for me to say goodbye to her." |
| Moon Moon was the kind of dog that came along “once in a blue moon.” He and his litter mates were all given celestial names when they came into the rescue group. It was June of 2007, and a month that had two full moons. About every two and a half years, there is a month that has a full moon at the beginning and another at the end. The one at the end is referred to as the “blue moon.” I picked Moon up the evening of the first full moon. Moon was a shy puppy who was about eight weeks old. He was a mixture of many breeds but predominately Labrador Retriever and Border Collie. He looked like he was trying to grow into his long lanky legs. Moon had some very striking features. His black face had a white stripe that started on his forehead and continued down, spreading out to surround his nose and mouth. His nose was also black with a pink spot off to one side. The very tip of his tail was white as if it had been dipped in paint. He quickly became attached to me and followed me everywhere. I thought of him as my moon shadow. I took advantage of the warm summer days and went for long leisurely walks with him, often stopping at a bench along the way. I always took my place on the bench while Moon settled in underneath. He seemed to love that spot. He would find a stick to chew on or go after my shoelaces. Sometimes my neighbors would walk by with their dogs, and Moon learned to socialize with both people and dogs. I knew it would be easy to find a home for Moon. People are always looking for puppies, and he was perfect in so many ways. He was a healthy dog who was handsome and playful. He was also smart, learning simple commands quickly. Sometimes he would tilt his head to one side when I talked to him, as if he completely understood my words. Moon taught me about the pure and simple companionship that can be found with a dog. Two weeks later, a young couple came to visit Moon, and I was very impressed by their approach to him. Rob and Jen recognized that Moon was shy and gave him space to investigate them on his own terms. They watched Moon’s antics as he played in my living room. As Moon quickly warmed up to them, they expressed interest in adopting him. However, Rob and Jen raised one concern. They owned a rabbit who was kept as an indoor pet. The litter trained rabbit spent most of his time under their bed. So the next step was to see if Moon liked rabbits. There was a welcoming feeling when Moon and I walked into their home several days later. Moon was given the freedom to sniff around and check things out. He noticed the rabbit under the bed but paid little attention to it. Outside, there was a big yard with trees and walking paths in the neighborhood. We completed the adoption paperwork and I sadly said goodbye to him. By the time the blue moon occurred, Moon was renamed Winston and living a good life in his forever home. |
"Moon taught me about the pure and simple companionship that can be found with a dog." |
"By the time the blue moon occurred, Moon was living a good life in his forever home." |
 |  |  |  |  |