Lola-ADOPTED!

I know, I know...I'm SO far behind in Blog posts.  I need to post pictures of Wendall.  I teased about a new little guy that entered our life in April, which I need to write about...he actually ended up being a foster failure and became the newest member of the Wagner Clan.  Then there was Barley, my first foster with Erin's Midwest Animal ResQ.  My mid year resolution is to get caught up...and part of that includes writing about our fosters as we have them...especially the ones up for adoption!   On that note...meet Lola!

Lola was saved from the Kansas City, MO Shelter with only 2 1/2 hours to live on June 19, 2012.  She had made the shelter's "urgent list" because she was a hyper girl and they were having trouble introducing her to other dogs.  She had actually been adopted at an adoption event, but was returned to the shelter just TWO hours later because she didn't immediately get along with the family's other dog.  She is a Pocket Shar Pei/Pit Mix (about 35 pounds), who is only about a year old, and had spent three months of her young life confined to that yucky shelter.  Her time was up.  I knew it would be tough, but this sweet girl didn't deserve to die.  The great people at Unleashed Pet Rescue and Adoption agreed to bring her in to their program but needed foster.  That's where we came in!

The fantastic trainer at KC Pet Project brought Lola to our house just hours after she was supposed to die.  She bounded out of the car and was dragging the trainer to me.  My first thought was, "good lord, what have I gotten myself in to?!?"  I gave her some pets and got my first sloppy pittie kiss.  We let both of my dogs come out to meet her.  She was immediately taken with Ollie and they played so well together during that very first meeting.    Shannon, the KC Pet Project Trainer, commented on how surprised she was with her behavior.  

After Lola had met both of our pups, I took her on a walk, and got her all set up in her kennel in our bedroom.  She was spastic, stinky, and (for lack of better words) hell on wheels.  But she had this twinkle in her eye that just beamed utter gratitude.  She did great her first night in the kennel.  We went on a long walk the next morning.  She got a big breakfast and a bowl of fresh water.  We were establishing consistency and a routine, something this little girl had clearly never had in her life.

Since that first night, Lola has come so far.  She is the sweetest girl and the very best cuddle bug.  She gives amazing pittie kisses.  When you come in to view, her entire body shakes with excitement.  She has learned to sit and is getting better on her leash each and every day.

BIG SMILE!

Initially, she was kept separate from our dogs, other than occasional supervised play time outside.  Tucker, to this day, isn't sure what to think, so they only hang out when both are leashed.  Ollie, on the other hand, has decided that Lola is the coolest thing since sliced bread his new girlfriend.  He patiently waits outside the bedroom door for me to let him in for play time.  They wrestle and zoom around the room, through the bathroom, to the guest room.  Lola graduated from having a leash held to dragging the leash.  Now, she doesn't have to wear a leash when she plays with Ollie!  She is easily redirected from play time to "sit".  Lola constantly has a smile on her face.  It's easy to see why Ollie is so smitten!  

Last night I learned that the smile she so often wears hides a very painful past.  I had already seen the scars. I just assumed the outward wounds came from a life on the streets. She has a cropped tail, as she came in to the shelter with hers broken. She is missing a toe nail on one of her back feet. She had eye surgery for Entropion  (the inward rolling of the eyelid).  But last night, I got a glimpse of the internal pain she has endured.  She had an accident while I was finishing making the bed.  I just needed a few more minutes!  100% my fault.  I scolded her with a "no", and went to put my dogs out, so I could take her out.  She ran from me with her tail tucked.  She then sulked back to me with her tail tucked and a "okay, just get it over with" look on her face.  My heart broke.  I pet her, but she quickly retreated to her kennel and hid as far back as she could.  I was shocked.  This energetic, sweet girl, who always seemed so happy was now TERRIFIED of me.  I got some treats and coaxed her out of the kennel.  I gave her lots of pets and she came around.  Lola seems to know right from wrong.  But she apparently also has a belief that if she makes an "oops", bad things are going to happen.  She's now learning that she won't be beat.  She won't be punished.  She won't be thrown outside.  She won't be abandoned.  Needless to say, she got extra play time with her boyfriend, Ollie.

Sitting Pretty for a Treat with Ollie!

Lola is amazing, and a true testament to a dog's resilience.  She came to me a dog that was mere hours away from death.  She came as a dog that we weren't sure could be placed in a home with another dog.  She was a dog that probably shouldn't be around kids.  She clearly had experienced a great deal of pain already, making her defensive with some dogs and at times leery of humans.  Her choices of a forever family were pretty limited.  All of that has changed.  Now she has SO many options of that perfect family.  She would do amazing with another dog in the home that likes to play and wrestle with her.  I would still recommend a slow introduction so she can get used to her surroundings.  She'll be okay with children in the home, just as long as they aren't super young, or don't mind being knocked over with her wiggle butt.  She is mostly house trained (when foster mama pays attention, she's great!) and kennel trained.  She loves to go for walks and play with her foster brother, but is also content curling up with you for a nap.  She would make a great running buddy.  I seriously cannot say enough great things about Lola.  She has really bonded to me (and foster dad, too!), and I have definitely fallen in love.  She is my first foster pit, and she has far exceeded my expectations.  As much as I love her, my job is about done.  It's time for her to find her forever mama and her happily ever after.  No one deserves it more than this sweet girl.

UPDATE!!!

Lola was ADOPTED!!!  She is now living the good life and has a mom and dad of her very own.