B B June B its & September 2017 Bichon Supplement FurKids Bichon Rescue FurKids Rescue ichon ytes The Story of Jake - The Ups and Downs and Successes by Foster Mom (and Happy Foster Failure) Melissa Munitz Early in January of 2015 we received a phone call that a white fluff ball was on death row at the San Pedro shelter. He only had 3 more days and Marti wanted to know if we would foster him. We knew that BFK could not pull a dog unless a foster was lined up so of course we agreed. Our kids were nervous about another foster as our first rescue was not particularly friendly with our kids. This is Diane, the shelter volunteer who helped us to find Jake. She was reunited with him in early May, four years later. Jake remembered her too! On Saturday morning we drove to Irvine to take Jake home and into foster care. He walked out to our car having been given a horrible shelter shave and wearing a cone but was as happy as could be. In the car, Jake immediately sat on my then 9 year old s lap and fell asleep. After all he had been through, I am sure a quiet place to sleep was all he wanted and needed. We got him home where he was able to meet our two resident bichons. It was not the best of introductions initially, but all seemed fine that is until dinner. Jake was so aggressive with food that he growled the entire way through dinner. And he ate so fast that he must have not chewed anything. (We attributed this behavior to him being on the street and having to fight for and protect any food he could find.) Jake then went after the bowls of our two senior bichons, who were stunned at his behavior as they were so mild mannered. Jake was aggressive and angry and showed us he would do anything he needed to so that he could secure their food as his own. We called Marti as we were very stressed. We had never seen food aggression like this before. We then had to start putting Jake in another room to eat until our senior boys were finished. And that worked. Over the next few weeks Jake began to relax and, while he remained a fast eater, he no longer growled while eating (how does a dog even do that?) but was able to eat with our boys and not try to take their food. Continued on next page... Contents The Story of Jake...1 Bichon Bash 2017...3 Hey Bichon Lovers...4 Foods that Harm FurKids...5 And more!...6 Fosters Needed To get a Foster Application, please go to the BFK website at: http://www.bichonfurkids.org/ volunteer Donate to BFK Shop at Amazon.com, and a portion of your purchase will be automatically donated to BFK. Use GoodSearch.com, powered by Yahoo! whenever you search the Internet, and a portion of your purchase will be automatically donated to BFK. Make sure to specify BFK as your Cause! Bichon FurKids Rescue Phone: 858-408-1937 Fax: 760-966-1702 www.bichonfurkids.org www.facebook.com/bichonfurkids info@bichonfurkids.org 6965 El Camino Real, #105-425, La Costa, CA 92009 Tax ID: 20-3652098 Marti Colwell, President Find us on Facebook
Jake, continued from page 1 After only six days we got two applications for Jake from approved adopters. When that happened Jake s foster dad was so upset about the thought of losing him he started to cry. The bond with Jake grew that fast and that strong. While we knew there was still work to do with his food aggression, Jake was such a sweet and affectionate dog, especially with our two pre-teen kids, that we decided to adopt him as our own. Jake, now the model (canine) citizen in every way. Then last October we took Jake to the Bichon Bash, still not quite sure how he would do. Initially, concerned that he might be aggressive, we carried Jake around Turtle Rock Park. After some tired arms,we put him down but watched him closely. All Jake did was run around, sniff and play with other dogs. The days of fear and aggression were completely behind him and we learned we can take him anywhere. Jake loves the lake, the car wash and Home Depot. He also loves going with his two Bichon cousins for grooming appointments. In the last few months of 2015 we lost both of our senior dogs We realize that Jake needs a new friend as he is lonely This from the dog that was fighting for our attention to welcoming any and all new dogs into our house. As we continue to foster (we have Bowie currently) we are providing both companionship for Jake and our family and helping to save lives. We know at some We then began to foster more furkids, one at a time. At the beginning Jake was aggressive with the fosters and sometimes even got into fights with them, which we had to quickly break up. As the fosters continued to come, though, Jake became friendlier with all of them to the point where he was nice and welcoming to all of them! We have had 13 fosters since Jake and never have a problem anymore. This included two bonded pairs. Jake has learned that he does not (!) have to fight for attention, love or food, as those would always be there without wavering. From street dog to snuggle dog! point we will fail fostering again and that s a good thing. We look forward to that and know it will happen when the time, and the dog, is right. In the meantime whomever we foster has a great doggy foster brother who can show him or her the ropes and who knows, first hand, that there s a lot of love to go around. P.S. Since writing this article Melissa and family have flunked fostering and adopted Bowie. She says the transition from a scared, frightened dog (but one who liked kids and other dogs) has been dramatic. He is now happy (joyful), playful and a total member of the family. And yes, Melissa and the family are ALREADY fostering Ricky and Lucy who, ironically, came from the same shelter as Jake and were referred to us by the same amazing volunteer, Diane. Here s Bowie, now a happy member of the family! That s Jake on the right - with Bowie - proving that love heals all! 2
! e t a D e h t e Sav SUND MOND 1 TUESD 2 ESD WEDN 3 22 23 30 5 25 6 26 7 14 13 19 18 24 Y FRIDA 12 11 17 16 15 4 10 9 8 O O CTHT URSD 7 01 2 D R R U T SA BE 20 27 21 28 31 Bichon Bash 2017 29 Saturday, October 21st 10:00 AM-3:00 PM Turtle Rock Park, Irvine Details to follow. We look forward to seeing you and your FurKids there! 3
It s Christmas in July! Hey, Bichon lovers! Are you ready for summer and did it really rain this week in Southern California? (What would the Beach Boys say about that?) Would you like to hang this beautiful painting in your home to welcome and greet your guests -- and to make you smile whenever you walk past it? Please circle your calendars, as we are announcing the Bichon FurKids Christmas in July auction. You have probably heard that expression and now we are making it a reality! BFK will be hosting our online auction July 25th-30th. Our auction chair, Lauren Chesley, will be accepting donations from May 15th to June 30th. Please email lchesley@cox.net for more information. Lauren is a former foster, current adopter and someone who appreciates the need for fundraising. This beautiful painting is one of many special items that will bring joy to whomever buys it and help us provide much needed services future furkids require. Stay tuned for more information -- and let Lauren know if you have a new, unused item or two that you would like to donate. 4
Common Household Items That Can Harm Your FurKid With so many pet food recalls being announced almost every day, we think it s important to think about the kinds of products we have in our homes that can be harmful and even fatal to our beloved furry family members. Please read (and post) this note so that you can avoid any future problems. And please remember, when in doubt: assume something is poisonous. Better safe than sorry! - Chocolate - Coffee grounds - Cooked bones, especially chicken bones - Onions and onion powder - Macadamia nuts - Raisins and grapes - Alcoholic beverages - Fabric softener sheets - Fertilizer and plant food - Antifreeze - Prescription drugs 5
Blankets by Johnny Johnny wanted to share these photos of his blanket-making activities and to let us know in his own words that he is grateful to Bichon FurKids for the love and care we show in rescuing so many dogs, including his very own, Pippi. Johnny hopes that the dogs will feel even more comfortable and loved in these blankets he made for them while they wait for their forever homes. 6
What We Can Learn from a Dog Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. When it s in your best interest, practice obedience! Let others know when they ve invaded your territory. Take naps and stretch before rising. Run, romp and play daily. Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you re not! If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. Thrive on attention and let people touch you. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. On hot days, drink lots of water and lay under a shady tree. When you re happy, dance around and wag your entire body! No matter how often you re scolded, don t buy into the and pout run right back and make friends! guilt thing Delight in the simple joy of a long walk. 7
Drivers Wanted... Want to help but can t foster? Love to see new places and meet new people? Want to make a difference for a FurKid or two? We need your help! Every week FurKids need to be transported to groomers, vets and foster homes. We rely on our volunteer drivers to get them there and are grateful for their help. We DO need more people who are willing and able to transport our fluffs primarily throughout San Diego or Orange County (and not for great distances usually, either.) Sometimes we have days in which to plan; other times it is more immediate like when we find a FurKid that needs to be moved right away due to a medical situation. Other times, the FurKid needs to be exited from a shelter or needs to be some place other than their current location. If you have time and a love for bichons, we NEED you. And if you love to organize transports, we need help with that too! Please email marti@bichonfurkids.org and say I want to drive a FurKid and we ll be in touch.... because this is what happens when our FurKids try to drive themselves! 8