adventureswithcritters

[adventureswithcritters]

A story in two parts

[adventureswithcritters]

My momma hen brought her babies outside for the first time.

[adventureswithcritters]

Arizona the special needs pup recently got evaluated for meds to help manage her anxiety.

She’s been on them for a week now and we’re starting to see progress! Playing with toys, especially with someone around, is a huge milestone for her!

[adventureswithcritters]

First and last pictures of Birdie, taken the day I brought him home in May of 2018 and then a couple of weeks before he died.

Earlier in October disks in Birdie’s back ruptured and paralyzed him . He went down hill extremely fast and there was unfortunately nothing that I could do for him other than to try to make the pain better.

He was here for 4 years and 7 months

[adventureswithcritters]

Some pictures of Wizzo. Sadly with school being a thing I haven’t gotten to really spend more than one day a week with him.

He’s such a good sweet boy.

[adventureswithcritters]

When the baby wants the gentle pets, you must oblige. Then when she’s had her fill she retreats back to The Corner of Safety.

This is so amazing though, last January when she joined us as a special needs foster, she refused to come out of her crate for over a month, and it was several months before she would ever approach someone, let alone allow you to approach her for the pets.

All love must be on Arizona’s terms though, don’t try to reach for her. If she wants a pet or a scritch she will come over and nose your hand, and then you give the chin scritch or ear rub. When she’s done she leaves again back to her safe area until she decides she wants another little bit of attention. As long as we let her set the boundaries, Arizona feels safe enough to come around, and having the freedom to say “no” has made such a difference for her.

[adventureswithcritters]

Crozier got to go play at the river for the first time. He started off not wanting to get wet at all, and wound up spending two hours trying to herd waves and got thoroughly soaked. Great time had by all.

He completely wore himself out

[adventureswithcritters]

The baby approaches, you give very gentle chin scritches, the baby gives a tiny lick of your hand in return, then it retreats to the Corner of Safety.

This is the way.

Arizona is a special needs pup who has severe PTSD. She loves from a distance most of the time.

[adventureswithcritters]

So handsome, so majestic

Naturally he had to ruin his fresh bath

[adventureswithcritters]

Wizzo fresh after his bath

[adventureswithcritters]

Remember baby Silkie who was too afraid to come out of her crate?

After two weeks she started coming out of the crate. A month later she began coming out of my bedroom. Another month and she began to go onto the back deck.

Another month and she began to go into the back yard.

Today her name is Arizona and she’s become a permenant part of the family. She still is terrified of leashes or harnesses, and will not go out the front door, she is only comfortable in the house or the back yard.

But she knows her name, and she’s learned “leave it”. Most training we do is really just trust building because the floor is lava, she won’t be on the floor with you, you have to be on the sofa where she feels safe.

We’re working on solutions for her anxiety in the hopes she’ll feel safe enough to learn more.

[adventureswithcritters]

Between the two of them there’s only one eyeball, it’s ok though they don’t mind.

[adventureswithcritters]

A kitten came and let herself into the humane society

[adventureswithcritters]

I spent a good chunk of my day wandering in circles looking for my slippers only to discover that foster baby Silkie has hoarded them. She has taken slippers, blankets, socks, pants, and undergarments.

Only mine tho

And she has made a nest in her crate.

[adventureswithcritters]

Office buddy for the day.

A friendly kitten who likes dogs came out to play with him, he got a nose boop and it made his day. He also got to meet some tiny puppies and give them kisses. So far a good fun day for Crozier

[adventureswithcritters]

A foster bab from over the summer last year. Little Leaf played too hard and wiped out.