Our Featured Pets

"Shorty,"  a young bright-eyed mixed breed nick-named for his short stature,  started to visit our farm in October of 2009.  At first, our three dogs decided that Shorty was not going to be welcome and they aggressively ran him off.  However, Shorty was a persistent little fellow and he continued to visit almost daily.  At first we thought that Shorty lived next door since he was so handsome and well feed...but, in no time at all we realized that he had been abandoned out in the country to fend for himself.  He became increasingly hungry, but was fearful of our efforts to make sure he had something to eat.  Every day we had "treat" time where all of the dogs excitedly waited for their favorite chewy treat.  It took a while but Shorty started to come near enough that I could throw him a treat.  We wanted to help Shorty find a home, but he just was too unsure of us.  Then one day Shorty didn't come for treat time.  Every day we waited for Shorty's return, but the days slipped into weeks and still no Shorty.  We became concerned but hoped for the best.  

About a week before Christmas, just when we were losing hope, Shorty made it back for a visit.  However, he came limping.  He had been grievously injured and was now more fearful of people than ever.  I couldn't coax him in for treats and we feared for his welfare as the nights grew colder and colder.  Miraculously, Pogo, our big 100+lb mixed breed, decided that Shorty belonged to him.  He started laying quietly, grooming Shorty during the day, allowed him access to his food bowl and allowed him in the heated dog house at night.  We were amazed. Our dogs have never allowed other dogs anywhere close to the house.  Shorty started to become more trusting of us as Pogo set the example.  But time was running out.  Shorty's injured leg drug the ground as he ran and played with the other dogs. His paw became a raw and the wound became dirty.  Pogo began cleaning Shorty's paw daily but we still were unable to get close enough to him to assess his needs.  We didn't want to damage the tenuous trust he now had in us by aggressively trying to capture him.  So we stayed the course, hoping that he would soon allow us near.  

Shortly after the New Year I had my first chance to offer Shorty food from my hand.  This close proximity was enough for me to grasp the depth of his injury.  I knew that if not taken care of, Shorty would not live long.  We turned to the Tennessee SPCA for help.  We could take care of
Shorty and provide training and love but we just didn't have the ability to deal with his injury.  Celina Weissenborn, the founder of the Tennessee SPCA and adoption & foster coordinator, came to Shorty's rescue by claiming him as an SPCA dog.  Celina made arrangements to have
him examined by a veterinarian and although the outcome looked grim, she agreed that his life mattered.  Shorty's right front leg was amputated at the shoulder.  His prognoses is good and he is expected to make a full recovery thanks to the efforts of the Tennessee SPCA.  Shorty is being fostered by our family until his forever family finds him!  
 

The Adoption 

He was born on a warm summer’s day

Nestled close to his mother forever to stay

But he was taken away before he could grow

To be trained with the others to be part of the show

But he would not do what they would demand

He could not dance and bark on command

So they put him in a bag and threw him in a trash bin

Less than a year old, his life surely to end

But he would not die that day

Someone heard his cries and took him away

But they did not want him so they took him to the pound

To wait with all the others hoping for a home to be found

Alone and scared he was placed in a crate

He was running out of time, euthanasia to be his fate

But on a cold winter’s night amongst the snow and the fog

I went to my local shelter in search of a dog

When I first saw him he was shaking and frail

But when our eyes met, he started wagging his tail

The tears started to flow my heart bursting with joy

I knew I had found him a little bundle of joy

I told the tech that he was the one

I picked him up and the licking begun

Warmth rushed over me like a beacon of light

I adopted him, but he saved my life that night

I was lucky I got to take him away

But there are thousand who are put down every day

So before you go to a breeder and spend one thin dime

Remember these words because precious ones are running out of time

Don’t breed or buy

While shelter dogs die

We are in serious need of GOOD foster homes so that we can save more animal lives.
Below are some commonly asked questions about becoming a foster pet parent!

Here are a few commonly asked questions that people ask about fostering.