NOVEMBER 23, 2022
I had no plans to foster anyone else until the babies grow up, but ‘tis the season for mass euthanasia and a call to everyone in animal rescue to do a little extra.
Rescue groups predominantly pull animals from overcrowded kill shelters where they have fewer resources, fewer responsible pet owners, and therefore higher demand.
Animal rescue works tirelessly year round to pull these guys out of rural areas and give them a fighting chance, but there’s a Thanksgiving deadline— a time at which every hopeful animal meets an untimely demise— so the staff, who have no choice in the matter, may go home for holiday.
In light of this unfortunate truth, I scrolled upon a post yesterday that gave me pause, and without any further time management consideration, asked @squishyfacecrewva if I could foster one of the emaciated puppies I saw in the photo.
I was prepared to care for such a pup because of a recent influx of fluid I was gifted, among other things, after my friend’s beloved cat, Snickers, went to the rainbow bridge. Margaret’s grief helped numerous animals in this orphanage as she spent the weeks and months after his death ordering from my Amazon Wishlist, tracking down equipment I needed, and otherwise supporting every dog I took in and every new program I wanted to start.
This is Fenner. He’s just skin and bones now, and a little dehydrated, so we’re fixing diarrhea and replacing lost fluids, but he’s hungry and eating and he’s as sweet as it gets. He and Mona are campaigning for playtime already, but for the next few days, all I want him to do is rest and consume calories in the space our Mona once occupied.
I am grateful Fenner gets to be here and for the opportunity to show this underdog what love is; how life is supposed to go.
This one’s in honor of Snickers and all I learned about life and love from his mom @travelingrnhiker.
NOVEMBER 23, 2022
Grateful. So, so grateful Fenner will spend at least 1 holiday in Crazy Town. Bought him a crinkle sloth. It might be his first toy.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/865837777930810
NOVEMBER 25, 2022
Mr. Bright Eyes is getting stronger every day. He’s eating and drinking and hasn’t needed fluids since bedtime on Thanksgiving Eve. #anisorphans #rescuedogsofinstagram #puppy #foster #grateful
https://www.facebook.com/reel/5537260896391946/
NOVEMBER 25, 2022
I can’t imagine where he’s been or what he endured, but Fenner feels safe here in Crazy Town, and
damn he likes chicken!
https://www.facebook.com/reel/520070303184222/
NOVEMBER 27, 2022
Fenner enjoyed a romp in the great outdoors yesterday, but his stent outside of quarantine was short lived. Late last night, his sister, Falleen, tested postive for Parvo, which means there’s a chance our baby Fenner was exposed.
Falleen’s frail body was not ready and her immune system is unequipped to fight this awful virus now.
Fenner is thus far showing no signs of illness. I’ve given him every supplement in my possession to bolster his immune system and he got more today. He just ate a bowl of chicken and broth, and a bag of fluid hangs in his space in case he needs it.
Let’s hope he doesn’t. And let’s all send so much love to little Falleen who is fighting for her life…again. These babies have already been though so much. My mom heart yearns to make them all better. 
DECEMBER 1, 2022
When I looked at the lineup of emaciated puppies in need of foster, a certain baby in the photo “stuck out” more than any other.
Maybe she looked the most pitiful, I don’t know, but I assumed she was destined for Crazy Town.
She wasn’t.
Fenner’s sister, Falleen, died today after spending the majority of her short life starved; suffering. Exposed in the squalor from which she came, she had no immune system to fight the often deadly parvovirus and just after her rescue and placement into foster care she became ill. She had no body mass, no excess fluid to spare, and still @squishyfacecrewva tried for her and loved her. Despite a heroic effort on the part of many, it was too late to save her life, but, I assert, not to save her soul.
Falleen only had days to learn of human kindness and how it feels to be loved. And that’s how she was sent off: Rescued. Cared about. Named. Held. Hugged. And dammit it, her name is right here on the internet.
I’m sorry she had to know the ugly in our world, but I’m sending my thanks to her foster mom for showing Falleen what’s beautiful about it, and my condolences she had to let go so soon.
In happier news, Fenner continues to eat like a piggy, his poops are solid, and he’s got a nice little layer of padding starting to cover his bones. When I hold him he feels more like a squishy puppy and less like a skeleton. He’s curious, a little unsure of himself, but absolutely certain he wants to be with the pack!
As the parvo exposure/incubation period closes, he’s on modified isolation precautions, meaning he is only around fully vaccinated dogs, he doesn’t have to live in the bathroom anymore, and I don’t have to keep doing costume changes between handling the babies and him.
Mona, who once held the same old space, is relieved he’s been released from solitary because she’s going to show him the paper recycling bin first. Just wait til he shreds his first piece of junk mail!
DECEMBER 1, 2022
Fenner offers a little smile when you rub his belly. Look at those toofers.
He asked to go back into the bathroom this evening … because he was hungry. He loves being out of quarantine bunked up next to Mona.
DECEMBER 4, 2022
Took Fenner a while to understand the bed, but he’s got it now. Here he is in Mona’s bed. She’s in his.
DECEMBER 5, 2022
“Well … if we only get one bed, I guess I’ll wait.”
– Mona, on carpet cleaning day.
DECEMBER 7, 2022
This is his best one yet! 
DECEMBER 8, 2022
Surprise, surprise! Fenner is spending the night at the shelter and will head out for neuter early in the morning.
And after that, he’ll be available for adoption! If anyone has been eyeing Mr. Smiley, now is the time to get in touch! Otherwise he will stay at the shelter again tomorrow night and board the bus to a public adoption event where he’s sure to not show that smile we love. 
Because of his background, Fenner is behind in all areas of his development —socialization being of top priority, and he’s just learning how to dog. He would benefit greatly from continuing to learn from and play with other canines, and if I got to vote in his best interest, he’d get a home with 4-legged siblings and opportunities to play with other puppies at minimum.
If this is my goodbye to Fenner, then I wish him so well, wherever he may land. And if nothing else, I hope he gets a life that was worth saving.
Good luck, sweet Fenner. We love you.
DECEMBER 9, 2022
Look who’s baaaack!
Thanks to a very special human, Fenner has every chance at a happy ending.
We have angels watching over us, and Fenner’s story is evidence of that. He’ll get to continue his education in “social studies” by coming to kindergarten and playing with other puppies in Crazy Town, and you never know, he might want to jump through the hula hoop with Sunshine.
But for tonight, he’s groggy from neuter and needs his donut floof bed.
Oh, Fenner. All our dreams have come true!!
