The first day of the rest of my life.

Well the day had finally come. I was going home with my forever family. My foster parents and my foster bro Dinky brought me to Mackinaw City (see picture) on Wednesday in preparation to meet my forever family on Thursday morning. We had a fun trip in the car. I'm still making progress everyday and on the trip there I jumped up into dad's lap from the back seat - something I've never done before. Then, on Thursday morning, I crawled under the covers with foster mom and snuggled up real close to her. The first time I've done that too!

Don and Norine (plus their Chi hua hua Princess Sophie) were very excited to meet me the next morning. I really liked them and I didn't seem afraid of them at all. I let them pick me up without cowering or peeing. I've come so far that strangers can approach me, pick me up, and hug me without being afraid. They had a nice comfy crate for me for the ride home. They told foster mom later that I did very well on the way home. I pottied at the rest stop and ate all of dinner in the car. I'm already bonding with Sophie and I know her and I will get along wonderfully.

This is my last blog entry as today is the first day of the rest of my life. I'm leaving the life of a foster dog to be Don and Norine's iggy. Thank you and good bye foster family! I love you all and I hope we can see each other again some time.

Forever Family Update!

It's hard to believe that it's going to happen but I'm leaving my foster home tomorrow (Wednesday) for good! We're travelling to Mackinaw City so we can meet my forever family on Thursday. They are going to take me to my new home in downstate Michigan then.

The adoption process is rather lengthy. They filled out an online application, had reference (personal and veterinary) checks, a home visit (thanks Jodi), and many email and phone exchanges between foster mom and my future family. Foster mom is confident that I'm going to a great home where I will be loved and cared for by patient and loving people. She's told me many wonderful things about my new home and I'm very excited to go there. I can't wait to meet my new Chihuahua sister :) I hope she likes me. Me and Dinky get along very well and he's part chi so I think we'll be fine together. Speaking of Dinky, I think he's going to miss me most of all. He plays with me all the time and he's taking a shine to licking my feet. I like that.

I'm still making progress here. I'm getting a little more lovable everyday. Especially in the mornings I like to have my head, ears, and back scratched. I'll jump on the bed and nuzzle mom's face and let her love me up a little. My potty habits are really good and now I pretty much potty on command. Foster dad is still a little frustrated that after eight months I won't take a treat from anyone's hand. Maybe I'm saving that for my forever family.

Happy 8 Months!

Hi everybody!
Yes, it's been eight short months that I've been in rescue. Winter and spring have given way to the warm (er) days of summer. I love summer!. I've been walking with mom and dad alot. I'm much more curious now and I like to explore when I'm out. I like to strut down the sidewalk with my head (and tail) held high. I may even prance a little. I've even started pottying while out for a walk. I didn't do that in the beginning as I was just learning how to walk on a lead.

Foster mom has had some interest from someone who wants to take me home and be my forever family. I love my foster family but it's time for me to move on. There are many other iggys in need out there - and one of them may need my foster parent's help.

Wendy, if you are reading this please email my foster parents. A virus wiped out their address book and they can't contact you.

More stair action.

Just a shortie to say I've been going down the four stairs to the outside more and more now. Not every time but more. Foster mom puts me on top of the stairs and I will go down them no problem. If they call me to go out I'll do it some of the time. My foster parents have also noticed that I go up and down stairs like a dog that has been doing it all of it's life. The foster parents think I'm sooo smart sometimes.

I've also been laying by my foster parents more when they are sitting on the couch now. I love the couch almost as much as the pillow in the sun.

I stayed at grandma and grandpa's house for a few nights while the foster parents were away. I did so well there. No accidents in the house, I was polite with their dog, I ate heartily, slept quietly, and pottied when (and where) I was supposed to. I like to play in their big basement with Sidney and my foster cousin Molly. I like grandpa and ran up and jumped on the couch right next to him. It seems I can warm up to strangers fast.

Going down the stairs now!

Hi everybody!
Well today was another big step (LOL) for me. I went down the stairs all by myself this morning. That may not sound like much but all the time I've been here I've only learned to go up stairs. This has been an inconvenience for my foster parents because they have had to pick me up and carry me downstairs. Well for the last week I've been going down to the first landing but mom and dad could not coax me all the way down. Well this morning when mom was making breakfast she looked down and there I was. She was very surprised. Well, now that I learned to go down I've been going up and down them all day when I follow mom around. I'm soooo proud! Except that there are four steps down the landing on the way outside and I won't go down those yet - but I'm working on it!

I went camping with my family over the 4th of July weekend. Foster mom says that I'm probably the best of all the dogs because I travel well in the car, I potty where and when I'm supposed to, and I like to lay quietly in the sun while the other iggys are making a ruckus. I had fun at the camp. No more swimming though.

Is my forever family out there?

7 months of freedom!

Yes, another anniversary has come. I've been with my foster family for seven months now. I'm officially up for adoption so I'm just loving life while I wait for that special family to fall in love with me and take me home.

I went to the beach for the first time last week. Foster mom took me for a walk on the beach and I really enjoyed walking in the sun on the sand. I've never seen water like this and I wasn't scared at all to walk in up to my belly. I can't swim so I didn't try that. I'm not really scared of much (your hands are the exception) so walking in the water is no big deal for me. I'm going back to that beach to go camping next weekend. I'll let you know how that goes.

How's life you may ask? It's all good. I'm loving the sunny days of summer, going for walks, hanging out in the yard, napping on the couch with foster dad, eating Milk Bones, and just being an iggy.

It's clear that my left front leg, that was broken at some point, causes me no problem. I can run, go up stairs, and jump on couches without any problems.

I love being in the yard!

Hi everybody!
Just a shortie to tell you all how much I LOVE the yard. I don't think I was out much when I was in the mill. I'm making up for it now though. I love to be outside when it's sunny and walk around, chase my foster siblings, walk among the flowers, and mostly lay on the grass and sun myself. Sometimes when foster mom and dad are outside and I can hear them I bark so they'll come get me to go outside.

I'm officially up for adoption. I'm currently listed here: http://www.miitaliangreyhoundrescue.com/available-IGs.html

I hope that someone out there will be my forever family!