This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure for more information.
We fostered our third dog last week, and it was another failure. Sahara was a four-month-old retriever who was right in the throes of her biting stage. Check out Mrs. Groovy’s hands.
Now, aside from the biting, Sahara was a wonderful dog. She was beautiful, healthy, and only had one accident in our house over two days. But the biting was non-stop, and even though we provided her with about 20 different chew toys, we couldn’t distract her from her fondness for human flesh. And Mrs. Groovy suffered the brunt of it. When she received the big gash on her right hand, she blurted out her final “Fuck, fuck, shit!” and made a phone call to Carla, the head of the fostering agency.
No one ever said fostering dogs was going to be easy. And a mouthy puppy was just too much for us. Sahara really needed a young energetic dog to keep her occupied.
The good news is that Carla is a saint and she graciously relieved us of our fostering duties. We dropped Sahara at Carla’s house about an hour after the coup de grâce right-hand gash was administered.
Quick aside: Sahara was finally added to the adoption roster on the fostering agency’s website a few days ago. And within a couple of hours, her photo was taken down. She received dozens of adoption applications. Her new permanent home with a loving family is only days away.
Bison-Build Update
Now to the bison build. Things are moving along but slowly. Winter has been rather harsh by North Carolina standards and welding in a non-insulated garage without a space heater ain’t fun. So I’ve gone several days in a row on numerous occasions this winter with no welding activity.
But despite my unimpressive productivity, the bison head is largely done and much of the metal hide on the right back-half of the beast has been welded to the scaffolding. Check it out.
My guess is that I’ll have the back-half of the beast completed, on both sides, by May. But only time will tell, of course. Hope all is well on your end. Peace.
Looking fantastic!
Slowly, but surely that is one might fine looking bison.
After seeing Mrs. G’s hands, I’m also wondering if she’s taken up welding?
Shannon@RetiresGreat recently posted…Tips for A Happy Marriage After Retirement
LOL. Here hands are scary looking. But thankfully they’re healing well. And thank you for your kind words on the bison. I’m really happy with it. It should create a lot of buzz in our small town when it’s added to my front lawn. Thanks for stopping by, my friend. Always a pleasure hearing from you. Cheers.
It’s coming along really well. Welding a bison is a bit like reading a book – it doesn’t matter how long it takes to get to the finish – you’ll get there if you just keep chipping away at it.
Amen. I just try to tackle the beast each day for a couple of hours. If I think about how much work is needed to finish the project, I’ll definitely get discouraged. How are things down under? We seem to be turning the corner here regarding Covid. I hope you are too. Thanks for stopping by, FDJ. It’s always great hearing from one of my favorite fellow retirees. Cheers.
We know the truth, Mr. G. It’s REALLY Mrs. G who’s doing all that welding on the bison. The fostering story is just a cover to protect your manliness. We’re on to you, my friend. Bison looks great! Mrs G is doing an amazing job with her!
Oh, no! My secret is out! Great detective work, my friend. What gave it away? Thank God this blog isn’t visited much anymore. My shame would be much greater. Anyway, since you’re a dog expert, I got a question for you. How do you get a mouthy puppy to stop biting? Is there a non-hitting technique that works? Or do people just have to endure this aspect of dog development? Hope all is well in the wilds of GA. Peace.
Check out the YouTube channel “Me or The Dog”, Victoria’s an excellent trainer and I suspect she has a video on that. Happy you’re fostering, great fit with retirement. Tough to say goodbye, I suspect? Sorry to hear your traffic is down $-#($9 PC culture can’t take a joke anymore. Argh…
Fritz @ The Retirement Manifesto recently posted…It’s Time To Get Uncomfortable
Mr G is just guessing traffic is down. We don’t look at stats!
We had our first foster for a month before she was adopted. Thankfully after we found out Mitzi tested positive for HW they were still willing to take her, and do a 3 hr drive back for her treatment. We missed her but we’re also relieved. She came to us with skin problems, multiple meds and shampoo which we had to do the first night – quite a scene when the dog doesn’t know you and you have no tub. And she was in heat. Non of this was known to us when we got her! Welcome to fostering! Now I’m working with the application screening team. My hands will thank me.
Mrs Groovy recently posted…Another Bison-Build Update