Another Happy Tail!

Kenya was adopted today by a wonderful family here in Marblehead.  They already have two dogs (one is elderly) and all three dogs immediately romped around in their huge backyard.  When I brought Kenya to meet this family, she was so calm and loving...she acted like she was meant to be there.  She was a different pup from the scared, skittish dog that first got off the transport from Tennessee a month ago.  

Fostering dogs is not always easy.  There were times when Kenya was driving us all a little crazy (especially the cat!)  I have to thank my husband and kids for their patience.  I also have to thank my Yellow Lab, Indy, for being the best doggie-role model in the world.  Doing good and helping someone, whether it's a dog or a person, is not always easy.  But, it's so worthwhile! The bottom line is that we saved a dog from being euthanized.  And, Kenya will bring joy and happiness to this family for many years to come.  Amen!

College Admissions 101 - Notes from a Coffee at my son's school

     I recently attended an “Applying to College 101” coffee at my son’s school.  For me, the timeline described by the guidance counselor was really helpful, and I thought I would share the highlights.  As the Guidance Counselor stressed, this timeline is not for everyone.  We all know each student is an individual, with different backgrounds, goals, etc.  But for someone, like me, who is trying to guide a first child through the college application process, this info may be helpful.

Freshman year :  Try to take the ACT’s if possible just for practice.  Do well in school for transcript purpose (which is stating the obvious.)

Sophmore year:  Start to check out schools if you happen to be in the area, e.g., on vacation.  Try to take the PSAT’s for practice.  Pay attention to grades and transcript.

Junior Year: 

•      Academics is key this year
•       Take PSAT’s in October
•        After Winter break, meet with guidance counselor to discuss a list of schools (what drives search…Social?  Academic? Size? Rural? City? Specialties?)
•      Start to research colleges on the web, and/or use the Princeton Review.
•         Become familiar with your school’s online college research tool.  My son’s school uses Naviance.
•          SAT’s – take them two times before the summer (March, May or June.)  June might be a good time to take the SAT subject tests because students are also studying for finals.
•          Test prep – students may or may not do this …  This counselor seemed to lean toward doing a test prep course between taking SAT’s junior year (e.g., between March and May.)
•          Get 2 teacher recommendations Junior year.
•          Check out Finaid.org for financial aid info.
•          Take ACT’s if you choose to (some students perform better on these, some don’t.)
•       Tour schools over the summer

Senior Year:

•          Take SAT's in October.
•      Work on 2.5 page essay from common application (Commonapp.org) – many English teachers begin Senior year working on this.

•          Decide if you want to apply Early Action (do not have to attend) or Early Decision (do have to attend and can only apply to 1 school.)  These apps are due around November 1^st.
•          Most General Admission applications should be ready to send by Thanksgiving.

Other helpful hints:  Create a chart to track college applications.   Ask to have essay edited by guidance counselors, English teachers, etc.  Guidance may also help with a mock interview.  Also, many students apply to 2 reach schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 safety schools.

I hope this info was somewhat helpful.  Of course, it’s the tips of the iceberg, but it was a good start for me!

Kenya...or maybe Tenya?

I picked up 10-month-old Kenya almost two weeks ago and she was as skittish as could be.  At one point, I had to tell her "No!" when she tried to eat food off the coffee table. She ran away and hid, whimpering in her crate until I could coax her out.  (My "no's" have been much more gentle since then.)
Kenya was especially afraid of hardwood floors.  Around the house, she ran from rug to rug, with a wild look in her eye when she wasn't on her carpet "island."  Worse, she was very afraid of my 16 year-old son.  She barked at him every time he came in the room and, despite treats, it took her a long time to warm up to him.  On the other hand, she liked my husband and daughter.
The background is that Kenya was adopted at an early age, and then just chained up in her owner's back yard for most of her young life.  She wasn't used to being inside, and she wasn't used to having a lot of people around.  When she was returned to the dog shelter, in Tennessee, she was mixed in with lots of dogs, so she still wasn't very people oriented.
The good news is that two weeks have passed, and Kenya is a new dog. She gets happy and excited when my son, or any of us, come home. She loves to be petted, and she has even learned a few tricks.  In fact, Kenya is a great house guest.  She doesn't get on furniture, she's not destructive, she's totally house trained, and she sleeps through the night.   Of course, she barks a little more than I'm used to, but she is part German Shepherd and they love to guard the house!
Kenya will make a great addition to any family as an only dog or an additional dog.  She's very affectionate and well-mannered.  If you know of anyone who would like a sweet guard pup, please put them in touch with me at 781-631-9552.  Also, I think maybe we should change her name from Kenya to Tenya - because she is, after all, from Tennessee!

Update and New Pup!

I have not posted in so long, and the cliche' holds true, "the more things change, the more they stay the same." The kids are two years older, I've changed jobs, but I have a new foster pup coming to stay with us on Saturday.

With both kids in High School (one of them driving!) my parenting focus has changed from chef, chauffeur, and therapist to short order cook, talented teen tracker, and private investigator. The kids are definitely more self-reliant, but probably need more guidance now than ever.

I've gone from working as a 4th Grade reading tutor back into the business world as a recruiter for software startup companies. It's challenging, certainly interesting, and best of all...I work from home!

Working from home means I can be around to help out a pup in need, who would have otherwise been euthanized at the shelter in Tennessee. Her name is Kenya, and she is an Anatolian/German Shepherd mix from Tennessee. I think that means she is going to be BIG!

Stay tuned to find out where Kenya ends up living in her "forever home!"

Another Happy Tail

After only 7 days of living with the pup, I got a phonecall that there were a few people who had filled out applications to adopt Blackie. One of the applications came from my hometown, Marblehead!

After a quick phone call, I discovered that one of my Facebook friends had forwarded the info on Blackie to some of her friends, and low and behold, a wonderful couple was ready to adopt.

I brought Blackie over for a visit, and he walked into the beautiful little yard like he belonged there. I almost didn't recognize him. He was so calm and confident -- a big change from the scared little pup who skulked into my yard only a week before.

Dave and Marcia showed us to their home and showed us around. Former dogs were featured in gorgeous oil paintings in the living room. I knew Blackie would be treated very well here.

The adoption took only a few hours, including site check and payment. By dinnertime, Blackie had a new home.

However, there is a sidebar to this story. My poor beautiful yellow lab, who had basically trained Blackie, and loved and nurtured him as a foster mom for a week, fell into a deep funk after the adoption. She was cowering in the basement, and afraid of any loud noise. She wouldn't hardly eat or go out in the yard. Thinking she was sick, I brought her to the vet who confirmed it was psychological. After a few days, Indy got back to her old self. But, I don't know if I can put her through that pain again.

Are my fostering days over? Is there a better way to handle this transition? I will have to think very carefully before fostering a dog in the future. It's sad, because it was such a great experience for me, but one that I can't logically explain to my own dog.

Blackie gets a bath

I picked up Blackie, the foster dog, in Harvard, MA, and he howled when I put him in the crate. I was concerned, after all it would be an hour long drive to my house. Yes, I felt foolish talking in a soothing, sing-song manner non-stop while I got on the highway, but within a few minutes the pup had settled down for a nap.

Blackie was very skittish at my house, but my dog, Indy, calmed him down. The biggest problem was that Blackie was filthy and smelled horrible. The women at the shelter said he and his litter had been kept in an outside pen in Tennessee and they hadn't really ever had a bath. So, when C and her friends got home from school, they had a job to do...and everyone loved it --even Blackie!

He's now been at our house for two nights, and he's coming into himself. He's gotten very calm, and he absolutely loves to be cuddled. Indy gets a bit jealous, but mostly because we keep giving the puppy her toys. Indy has actually been very nurturing towards the little guy.

Blackis still hates his crate, and last night I just let him sleep on the doggie bed. I got up at 5am to let him out to pee, and then we all went back to sleep. He understands the word "no," and he has only had one accident in the house, when he first arrived. Could he already be house broken?

If you know of anyone who wants to adopt a sweet little puppy, please go to Great Dog Rescue New England.

Meet Blackie the foster dog

It's been a while since I've written this blog because I've been very busy with my Teen Issues column for the Boston Examiner. Check it out and subscribe if you'd like to receive information, research and news about parenting teenagers.

Now...introducing....Blackie.

I'm picking him up tomorrow from Great Dog Rescue of New England. This is the second doggie we've fostered, but this one is a puppy. (Oscar was about 3 years old.) I may be crazy, but my goal is to have him house broken by the time he's adopted, which I expect will be within a few weeks since puppies are adopted rather quickly.

My rationale for fostering a dog is: a) my family wants to help homeless animals in any way possible, b) we're not going anywhere this spring because the kids' sports schedules have imprisoned us in our own home town, c) the puppy will keep our dog, Indy, company, and d) I LOVE dogs and especially puppies and I'm so excited. I may even be more excited than C, who is beside herself.

Lil'J and Big J are a bit skeptical on this whole project, but I bet they'll warm up to the pup right away. I will take pictures and blog about Blackie, the foster dog (hmmm...may be a children's book title?)