Our most recent foster is a 10-year old female husky named Electra. Our local shelter received her after her owner's house burned down. She was brought in with 3 other dogs and a severe, but unknown skin condition that left many places on her body without fur. She became a small internet "celebrity" after our shelter shared her story and the story of a young man who raised money through a lemonade stand and used that money to sponsor her adoption fee. People from as far away as New Zealand had her about her and sent their well wishes.
After seeing her update on her through the shelters Facebook page, I contacted Beth, our shelter's fostering co-ordinator, and told her if they still needed someone we would like to volunteer. The next day they did a skin scrape to rule out mange as the cause of her skin condition and I went down to pick her up.
My husband and I brought our dogs out one by one to meet her and it did not go well. Everyone on a leash, we walked them by each other and allowed them to say hi, but both Becca and Electra lashed out, growing and posturing up. It was the same with Bowser, though less intense. She spent the rest of the night in a crate so she could get some rest and adjust to her new surroundings.
The next few days, nothing improved. She was uneasy around our 2 girls as well, growling and staring at them sideways if they walked by and she was still lunging at our dogs through the crate. We had to alternate eating and going outside to go to the bathroom between the 3 of them, making sure they were either in separate rooms or they were being held. I quickly realized that this may be the first dog we weren't going to be able to foster.
I called Beth and let her know what was going on. She was disappointed that it wasn't working out, but understood the problem. She said she would see what she could work up and let me know. A few days later she left a message saying a semi-local animal rescue had been contacted about taking in Electra and we were just waiting on their answer.
Well as of this past Thursday, Electra was off to her new home. Its a great animal rescue that's actually more like a rehabilitation center. She will be looked over and treated for her skin condition and her ear infections and anything else that can possibly be found. It broke my heart to see her go, but I tell myself it was for the best; being crated up all day in our home, while better than the shelter, was still no way for a dog to live. At least in the rescue she will have more room and a place to run.
She is an amazing dog though.... just with a family/couple with no other dogs or young children. She has some life left in her and loves to just lay on the floor and rest or maybe cuddle up for a few moments for a head scratch. Just a bit more TLC and shell find her happy forever home, I'm sure of it.
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