And...another new first for us!

So we've fostered puppies, and we've fostered kitties... but never both at the same time... until now.

"Tewks" technically isn't with us for that long - we're taking care of him

until he gains more strength and until he's old enough to be fixed -

then he'll move to a 'real' foster home. Unless we want to keep him ... I mean, "keep" as in "keep fostering him" not "keep him" as in adopt him - we have enough!

We're also fostering part of a litter of kitties from Southern Alberta - 3 grey fuzzies (2 males & 1 female) and 1 grey & white fuzzy male. We're still figuring out their names so check back in the next few days. They are also young and not ready to be adopted yet.

It's funny to watch the new kittens with the fluffy puppy. I bet if they spent any amount of time together they'd become fast friends.

A change of pace... Again

At this moment I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of our newest foster puppy. "Wait a minute..." you ask... "I thought you were retired!?" - and this is true... or maybe we made a 'career change' as we switched to fostering ARF kittens. But all of our foster homes are full, I don't currently have any kittens, and we just couldn't say no to little "Tewks."

Tewks will be our second 'special needs' dog. We fostered "Foster" early this year. Tewks has 'swimmers syndrome' so he can't walk on his own even though he's six weeks old. This will be a new experience for us as we help him gain strength. He can't stand up on tile, wood or laminate floor so the exercise pen is set up in the kitchen with grippy, rubber mats to cover the ground. He should arrive any minute now.

ARF, and most other rescue groups, is full (both for dogs and cats) and the need for additional foster homes is great. The frigid and unforgiving Calgary weather has only made things worse. For more on a recent ARF rescue during the cold snap, check out another ARF volunteer's blog: http://arfdogs.blogspot.com/2010/11/when-its-30-below-zero.html (warning, content is disturbing).

I blinked and now they're all gone!

Well, it sort of feels that way. Lil Chase and his brother Walsh have just gone to their forever home, another young couple adopting their first cat companions together... so sweet. But it's not just S & T that will love them and spoil the, but their extended family as well. We're so delighted to see the two of them go together as they'll continue to keep each other company for years.

I can't help but feel a little sad to see these little pumpkins all go, but I know we couldn't keep them, and I know that all six of them have gone on to great, loving homes. Thank you to all of you who opened your homes to an ARF "Marmalade" kitty. What a great story.

These little guys first came to our attention at 4 weeks of age, but none of the local rescues had room. They stayed with their mom and kept feeding until there was space in a foster home. I knew they'd find their place, so I'm so happy we were able to take them in. It seems like just a few weeks ago I was desperate to find them a foster home and now they've found their forever homes.

Here's a picture of one of the litter when they were four weeks old - this would be either Turtle or Drama.

The house is quiet. I already miss them....when will the next ones arrive!? Not soon enough.

Chase & Walsh *may have found their forever home!*

Wow - it has been busy! We're currently down to two kittens - and those two just met with a family that's looking for a new addition... or two! It looks like these little guys may go to a home together after all, so they'll be able to play and snuggle together always. Ah, cute. This will be great for Chase - this was a super social litter, but Chase is just a wee bit more reserved than his littermates. Walsh will help him feel safe, secure and happy.

We'll keep you posted. Keep your paws crossed:)

Turtle is adopted!

Wow, what a busy day! This afternoon our little friend, Turtle went home with his new family - another awesome couple getting their first pet together! I remember how exciting that was! We are super, super happy for K & D as they bring Turtle into their life together. As with all our adoptions... we look forward to updates of how this little pumpkin is doing:)

Drama is adopted!

Drama met his forever home at an ARF animal showing at Petsmart and today he made the move to his new home - an awesome couple who will show him lots of love and cuddles. He left in his brand-new carrier on his brand-new bed, and is looking forward to his brand-new life with his new family. We're so, so, so excited for Y & T as they adopt their first pet together.

Babs & Murphy are adopted!!!

Lil Babs and her brother Murphy have just left with their forever family. They fell in love through the blog, and then Murphy sealed the deal when he curled up on their laps and fell asleep. It's meant to be! The house always seems quieter after an adoption and although we'll miss that pair, we're so happy for them and their new parents!

Visit the "Marmalades" at Petsmart (Chinook) this Saturday from 1-3pm

The "Marmalades" will join several ARF puppies and ARF dogs at Petsmart (Chinook location) from 1-3pm. Come and see for yourself! They're even cuter in person! Turtle, Chase, Drama and Walsh will be there ... Babs and Murphy will be adopted Saturday morning!!!

A forever home?

Two of the "Marmalades" may have found their forever home! At this point we're not sure which two... could it be Babs? or Walsh? or Murphy? We'll find out soon. We're so pleased that these two lucky kitties will go to their forever home together, and to a really great couple that will show them a lifetime of love.

Turtle loves adventure!

Well, the whole litter is coming out of their shells and they're even warming up to the dogs. But Turtle is definitely Mr. Adventure. He quickly learned to climb over the baby gate that blocks the cat room off from the rest of the house. Once mastering this, he was climbing over that gate at every opportunity. There's still some hissing and spitting at the dogs, but they're getting used to each other.

This is "Babs"

Lil "Babs" is the only girl in the litter. She's also the most distinctive looking as she has a tiny little fluff of black fur on her side. She is true to the ginger kitty trait of being super cuddly. She is often the first to seek our attention and she loves to snuggle. She also loves to play fight with her brothers, and chase them all over the cat room.

This is "Turtle"

He's not always sleeping like he is in that picture - but he is always that cute! Little Mr. Turtle is cute as a button and absolutely loves to play and snuggle. He looks just like his brother "Drama." They are quite the pair! Any of these little guys would love to go to a home with one of their littermates!

This is "Walsh"

Walsh and his littermates all look very similar, but Walsh's coat and face are just a tiny bit different, so it's fitting that Walsh is Walsh - as in Billy Walsh from Entourage. He also has a sense of adventure and today went right up to one of the other resident cats to introduce himself. In time, I think he'll be snuggling with them! Walsh has a cute little face and when he's finished playing, he loves to snuggle.

This is "Murphy"

Little Mr. Murphy looks just like his brother, "Chase" except that he has a thicker tail. He has beautiful orange tabby stripes, and orange spotted tabby markings on his belly. It looks like someone painted his white belly with orange polka-dots! Like his sibblings, Murphy is cute and cuddly, and he lives with other cats and dogs (although they are still getting used to their other four-legged house-mates!)

This is "Drama"

This is my little buddy, "Drama." His name suits him to a tee. He was one of the first to really show an interest in his human companions and now he's my little snuggle bug. They're all pretty adventurous, but Mr. Drama leads the pack. He has a cute little orange polka dot on one of his front paws, that's how we know that "Drama" is "Drama."

This is "Chase"

This is "Chase," as in "chase" my brothers and sister.... as in "chase" pretend mice and as in "Vincent Chase" from the tv show Entourage. Chase looks just like his brother Murphy, except he has a thinner tail. The two of them have super cute, spotted tabby markings on their belly. I call them the polka-dot belly kitties.

Turtle, Chase, Drama, Murphy, Walsh & Babs

Well, assuming we've got 5 males and 1 females, the new orange litter (the one I've been desperate to foster since the Alberta Spay Neuter Clinic (ASNTF) at the beginning of October) has been named after Entourage characters: Turtle, Chase, Drama, Murphy, Walsh and Babs. Don't ask me who's who - I have no idea. I know the girl is the orange & white with a little wee bit of black hidden into her fur... but the rest are all orange and white tabbies. Give me a few days to figure out who is who!

For now, they have their own room. The dogs (especially Beadie) and the cats (especially Kaz) are very interested, but the orange kitties get Christmas tree tails every time they see the other creatures in our house. Again, give them some time - it's only been a few hours.

I think these guys are about 9 weeks old. These lucky guys have been inside their whole life and I think they'll fit right in. More soon.

If you want to read more about the Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force clinics that I've participated in this year, check out my other blog at: http://albertapetwellnessclinics.wordpress.com/