Update from Shyla's Furever Home!

Today was a good day. No accidents!! We take Shyla out ALOT and let her drag a leash around the house. If she isn't in our sight for a few minutes (like when I need to run to the bathroom) I hook her leash over a doorknob. She has really picked at her food so I have bought Homestyle Chunks from Wal Mart. They have a cooler in the pet section. It is beef chunks, rice and vegetables that come in a stick like summer sausage. I take about a 1/2 cup, mix her dry food and she empties her dish! We did use the coupon for her treats and those she does like.

Shyla did meet Thumper. She pushed Brooke's bedroom door open the first night and was staring at her through the cage. She was getting very antsy so I told Brooke to move Thumper for now. We keep her in our computer room with the door shut. Jetta was the same way at first and now she doesn't bother with her. I told Brooke Shyla doesn't need anything else to deal with right now.

She is loving the snow. She leaps and plows her nose like a snow plow through it.

Safe Arrival!

Shyla has arrived at her new home!! And they are all SO thrilled - they love her, even Jetta, her new ES sister. The neighbors went to the airport with the Thorson's, as they couldn't wait to meet her. She has a 10 yr old human sister. Shyla is already hugging Richard and kissing his ear. They said she was fine in her crate - they could see her crate through the door at the ticket counter, and then they saw her little head pop up with her black eyes, and they knew it was her. I bet she doesn't miss me one bit! I'm so happy for her!

Elizabeth

Airport Fiasco!

Shyla's adopted---but she sure didn't leave without a "big finale":

Man, what a trip! Shyla and I got to the airport an hour ahead of time, as told by AA. We had to go to the ticket counter to purchase a ticket and check in. The place was packed, probably 200 people trying to get out of town (note to self - don't fly a dog on Friday on AA). We got in line...after about 20 minutes, it's our turn - I give the itinerary to the guy (who was REALLY cranky) - he was the only AA ticket agent on duty. So..he yells to all the other customers "You will all have to go the the self service kiosk - this lady and her dog are going to take me 20 minutes, at least!" I am trying to disappear into the floor at this point. THEN, he proceeds to check in about 5 people in another line. I assumed that someone in the back was working on my stuff. Finally, at 11:38, I say - "is she going to make her 12:15 flight - are they almost through checking us in?" He screams - "There's no way she's going to make that flight - we'll have to send her on a later flight!" At which point, I scream "OH NO, WE'RE NOT!!! - THIS IS A LIVE ANIMAL, NOT A PIECE OF BAGGAGE!!" And promptly burst into tears. More wishing for the floor to open up and swallow me. 200 pairs of eyes are staring at "this LADY and her DOG". With not a little hostility for holding things up. The guy tells me that I did not have his paperwork filled out for him (the Air Waybill) - and I said "like I have those at my HOUSE, you a-hole!" "Why didn't you tell me her flight was at 12:15?!?!" "I GAVE you her itinerary and TOLD you her flight number, you idiot!" and so on and so forth...you get the picture. At this point, the TSA lady was patting me on the back, saying "You'll see her when you get there, she'll be alright" and I'm wailing "No, I'm never going to see her again!!!" OH. MY. GOD! So...I tried to call Lisa for some moral support and to see what she thought - Lisa, it's a good thing you didn't answer - you'd have thought it was a crazy lady on the line. The guy finally found a flight schedule I could live with. Meanwhile, Shyla is perfectly content, looking around for birds and whatnot. Several people took turns holding her leash while I kept running outside to feed the parking meter (15 min limit). I'm ranting and raving all the while...."Delta has a cargo dropoff area for animals - this is ridiculous...they filled the waybill out for me...and THEY have a box of KLEENEX at the desk!!!" My shirt is all snotty by now...Shyla is still looking for birds, 200 pairs of eyes are still glowering at me, and my head is going to explode. We finally get ticketed, get everything taped to the top of her crate, and go to the TSA inspection station. Where they promptly UNtape the sack of stuff on top of the crate, rifle through everything, take her bed apart, squeek her toys, inspect her all over, and FINALLY she is almost on her way. The a-hole ticket counter guy and I hug each other, he's crying, too by now...he's says over and over again "I'm so sorry, please stop crying, you're breaking my heart, I'm so sorry - they need to get us more help up here..sniff sniff". And away he goes with precious Shyla - she never looked back. I finally stopped crying by the time I sat down to write this. GEE, AINT FOSTERING FUN?!?!?!? Who's my next dog? AAARRRGGGHHH.....

Elizabeth

Finally taking a break!

Shyla took a long enough break from running around, for her foster mom to be able to take another picture.

Shyla's first day at her foster home

This little girl is VERY BUSY and VERY birdy! Constant motion. I thought Winnie was bad. She doesn't really pay a bit of attention to the other dogs. She did fine in her crate last night and today - no soiling, no crying. No accidents yet in the house, and she's getting the hang of the dog door.Shyla's learning to sneak! She's watching Winnie's every move, and doing everything she does - it's really cute to watch. They're out there creeping up the birds and squirrels instead of just blasting right through them like she was doing. She's a fast learner!

Shyla's past

Shyla was rescued by her kind foster mommy from an Arkansas shelter.
Shyla ended up at the shelter for a very familiar reason. Her owner wanted to use her for hunting and decided to shoot a gun off over her head and Shyla ran off.

Many setters end up at the shelter after an "unsuccessful" hunt and are discarded. Often times it's inadequate training methods used that scare our poor foster dogs half to death.

Shyla Penelope has safely arrived in her foster home!

Shyla Penelope is a sweet and petite little orange setter girl that was dumped at an Arkansas shelter for being gun shy. We think she's got the cutest little angel face and you can see she enjoys looking forward to her brighter future---as she peeks out of the window at her foster home, where she as just arrived.