I drove Rufus up to Orange where he was adopted. He's got two collies, a boy and a girl, as friends and playmates. The female collie was a Green Dogs adoption so these folks were prior adopters with a track record which I always like. Because they had two dogs, I wanted to take Rufus there myself instead of having them come down here. I think it's best if adopters can see the new dog in their home and if the resident dogs will accept the new dog into their home. It's a great home, I liked the people very much. They already have two long haired dogs in the house so they aren't going to be worried about the additional dog hair that Rufus will contribute: "Dog hair is a condiment around here." Their daughter came over with her husband and their child, in fact they pulled in right behind me. Everyone wanted to meet Rufus.
Rufus's spot on our foster roster wasn't vacant for long because I stopped at Green Dogs on my way home and picked up River. He's a large mixed breed dog with a horrific backstory. He was part of a rescue from the dog meat trade in South Korea. The Humane Society of the United States took in hundreds of these dogs as part of an on-going effort to shut down the dog meat trade in South Korea. River, and others, were being housed in a large warehouse in Maryland that was set up as a temporary kennel while the dogs were moved out to various rescue groups.
They had trouble placing River with their regular rescue partners and had contacted Green Dogs in an effort to place him as a special needs dog. River has a condition affecting just his two front feet that's known as "down in the pasterns." Basically it's a flattened ankle joint. His condition is not nearly as severe as one other I recall in a VGSR German Shepherd Dog from several years back. Maybe it can be helped, but it's probably something he will just have to live with and it doesn't seem to prevent him from walking, running, or playing.
Anyway, he's a bit shy and unsure of humans, which isn't much of a surprise. He seems completely fine with other dogs, however. I put him out in Daneland when we got home and put Allison in with him to show him around. He was fine with her, but didn't really interact. River was much more interested when I brought Maya out to Daneland with him. He liked her right from the start. They did their mutual sniffing and then proceeded to follow her around the yard as long as they were together.
Rain was beginning and Maya wanted to come back inside. We brought River in too, possibly his first time ever in a house. He sniffed around the kitchen and settled down there instead of following the girls and me when we came upstairs. As I was standing at the sink washing a few things I felt his nose on my butt for the first time. I took some cooked chicken out of the refrigerator that they had sent along with him and fed him some of that by hand.
Apparently he had to be picked up and put into the transporter's car in Maryland. He vomited twice on the way so he was a bit wet when he arrived but at least his stomach was empty. I had to pick him up and place him in the back of my van, but he came out without too much difficulty when we got home.
He met Killian through the fence, completely unreactive.
The harness they put on him was too big. I will try to adjust it, but we used a slip lead also.
He's underweight, but he's a really handsome dog.
Here he is meeting Maya.
He seems to like Maya very much.
The other piece of good news from today was that Malala got adopted. From everything I heard it's a great home that was worth waiting for. I look forward to seeing her, and all the pups, as they grow up.
Malala snuggling with Lainey before being adopted today.
And here she is on the way to her new home.
Hopeful and encouraging news is that we are working to set up a meeting with an applicant who is interested in Allison. She has her appointment with the eye specialist in Richmond next Thursday.
Allison reclining on one of the dog beds in Daneland.
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