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Foster love

My most recent foster puppy had a pretty hard start to life. He was brought to the shelter covered in ticks. I'm told there were dozens, if not a hundred of them. The poor little boy was hiding under his bed in his crate when I came to pick him up for the first time. The whole drive home, the little husky mix the girls at the shelter lovingly called "Tick" hugged my chest as closely as he could ( I wasn't driving, don't worry). The first thing the poor baby had to endure at his temporary home, was meeting my dog. Sadie wasn't too sure what to think about the little 6 pound ball of fur at first, but she gave him the nod to come on in "her" house.

Of course, once I got "Tick" inside, before his little paws even touched carpet I knew he'd need to get a bath. Oh, the things that came off that dog! I counted about a half a dozen dead ticks (the girls at the shelter gave him frontline... and picked off all the ticks they could) in the bathtub. Then as I dried his quivering little body, more ticks came off. His stomach was purple and blue from all the blood-sucking creatures that were attached to him. This little boy was hard not to fall in love with.

Shortly after his first bath, little "Tick" got a case of the hiccups. I don't know if you've ever experienced it... but there's truly nothing cuter than a puppy with hiccups!

Of course, I loved him from the first day. Why wouldn't I? His favorite place was in my lap... all he wanted was to get his head scratched.

That all changed by day two... when the shy little puppy, wasn't too shy anymore! "Tick" quickly took to romping around the living room with Sadie... and rearranging my shoes.

A couple weeks, and a couple pounds later, "Tick" got to go on his first road trip! After about 20 minutes in the car, he realized that he had no where to go, and nothing to do but nap. When we finally got to my parents' home in WV I was praying that my dad will fall in love with the puppy, too. Of course, it was my master plan from the day I brought him home! My dad has always raved about wanting a husky. I just knew this little energetic puppy was for him!

After Easter weekend, Tick, my husband, and I returned to Lynchburg. My heart was pretty heavy and my eyes filled with tears as I took him to the shelter that Wednesday morning for his trip to get neutered... because I assumed it'd be the last time I'd see him. I thought for sure that my mother's ruling of "heck no we're not getting a dog" would prevail and Tick would have to find a home with another family.

The next day, my dad called. He wanted to adopt the puppy! Well, Dad made the 5-hour drive to Lynchburg last Saturday and our little angel officially became part of our family! Of course, he became a part of my family and took a piece out of my heart the first time he looked at me.

I know all my foster pups can't stay in my family... but I sure am glad I get to be there to watch little "Tick" (now renamed Bandit) grow up!

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  1. Becky GApril 16, 2010 at 10:59 PM

    I remember Tick. I was volunteering that day he came in at the shelter. When I held him, I fell in love with him too, but, I knew I couldn't bring him home with my cat (who thinks he is 'King of the Castle'!!)

    I'm happy that your mom changed her mind. Please keep us updated with another video (that was cute).

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