steeling ourselves

The barn's been rumbling with the usual clatter of dogs coming and dogs going: Farnam, Sassy, Corndog, Gum, Sammy, Elton, Corky, Diamond ... One minute they're here, dashing around as if this was always their home - the next minute their kennel is empty and ready to be swabbed down in prep for new residents. (Corky is still here, puppy Stew is leaving any day, and Diamond has a hopeful suitor with more dogs on their way in.)

Loredo is a recent visitor who spent two weeks learning about the world through the lens of our daily routine. He came from a cruelty case in Idaho, and he told us two things about himself once he landed. One: He agrees that life is definitely better without a heavy chain or noisy shelter kennels to wear him down. And Two: He let us know that he's pretty darn worn down.

Photos from evaluations at Idaho Humane Society: Idaho survivors

Life has not been good to Loredo, and his body tells the tale. Our job was to let him rest and recover some before moving to foster care. There was pacing, mournful howling, painful limping, diarrhea and more diarrhea - laundry and more laundry. We hid multitudes of pills in his food, cooked rice and scraped can after can of stool firming pumpkin into his dish, tended the gaping hole in his leg (a bad pressure sore), massaged him, bathed him and did our best to let him know that he isn't alone anymore. It was a tough two weeks for all of us, including Loredo. Finally, when his diarrhea slowed and his sleep cycles deepened, we knew it was time to send him to talented (RVT) foster mom Katie Moyer for more TLC.

Is he going to make it? We don't know. We don't say 'yes' to medical cases without steeling ourselves just a little bit. Time will tell, and along with time, a battery of tests to help us solve the mystery of Loredo's various ailments. Thank dog for compassionate foster homes who are willing to put their heart on the block while hoping for the very best.