Potential Foster Turns Reactive, Almost Got Bit

Went to see another potential foster this evening.  Was expecting a 90lb+ dog and the pics even looked it. The dog had lost a lot of weight while in shelter they claimed from depression or whatever. He was a little taller than Ember, and I could imagine if he did put on 20lbs he might be okay for the work.  He was perfect with other dogs, cats, kids, living with them all at the foster house.  He seemed fine, just lacking in some leash manners but not horrible. So I said I would give him a shot. Stopped by their local Petco for supplies. While fitting a step in harness to this dog, he became reactive.  I think it was the way I was touching him or the place around the hind legs and groin area trying to repositioning his body and legs so I could get a better angle to slip on the harness and adjust it.  He was stressing some while in the store, but still took treats.  He had tensed up and I heard a low growl, so I stopped and watched him.  There were people across from us making a bit of noise and they had a dog trying to get closer, so I thought it may have been the other dog I heard.  I started to reach back for the hind end to loop the harness through and he tensed again and turned his head slightly so I stopped again until he relaxed and was slack jaw.  Instead of leaning in to loop the harness as I had originally planned to ( which would have put my head/face right in line if he swung around on me ), I angled one arm low and came around with the other to feel at his leg and hip, wondering if he was in pain. I moved his leg slightly with my hand and there was a throaty snarl and he was turning to latch for my arm. I managed to block him with the arm I had angled against his chest for safety and held the collar so he couldn't jerk away and try again. When he realized he was partly restrained he outburst with a lot of snarling and a warning bark that had some people coming over to see if everything was okay.  Which was pretty embarrassing because I looked like some idiot who couldn't control their dog.  That kind of reaction to such simple handling is a serious red flag, and probably part of the reason he ended up in the shelter to begin with.  I couldn't risk it. I brought him back to the foster.  Goodness forbid if someone else starts to take him home like I did, and is not as dog savvy, and ends up getting nailed by him.  I told them what he had done and why I had to bring him back, but I don't think they took it seriously.  He was the last dog on my list in the area to check.  Another 15 dogs down. All I keep getting around here is heartworm positive and severe behavior issues dogs.  That disqualifies them as service dogs flat out.  I can't afford to put money out to try another puppy.  Going to curl up and cry away my frustrations.

Update On Chakotay

Chakotay has been adopted!  A friend of a friend ( who is now my friend too! ) adopted him. They met and he immediately opened up to her and snugglefest ensued!  He knew what he wanted.  They are the perfect match for each other. :)  Huge, huge thank you to everyone who shared his story and expressed interest in him, and for everyone who has offered their prayers and best wishes through all of this.  Gonna miss my dorky fluffball so much. But happy knowing he will make my new friend just as happy as he made me.

Service Dog Situation Update

A friend offered to watch Chakotay so I could "test drive" some foster dogs from the local shelters or rescues and such. I have been looking for months, much how I did when I went looking for and found Journey.  Nothing in the local area young enough, big enough or heartworm negative. I came across a listing for a dog claiming he was a Lab X Mastiff mix, which I thought was perfect for size and possible good characteristics. Went to see him... the dog was smaller than Ember, and more of a Pitty mix.  He was beautiful and beautiful personality, but too small.  So I asked to see what else they had.  Only one really fitting big enough was an American Bulldog. Had good personality and some basic obedience, we tried cat testing in the cat room and he didn't seem interested in them and even went up to sniff one cage and got nailed and didn't even react, just turned away.  Perfect I thought. Went back to test him with Ember and they liked each other. Okay, willing to give him a chance.  He doesn't weigh 70lbs like we thought by the size of him, but 103lbs!  Mega perfect!  Find out he's heartworm positive. Nrgh. Okay. Shelter is willing to work with me, so I agree to try him on foster.  Always cautious when introducing strange dogs to my cats, especially one as big and strong as him....he gets excited when he realizes they are there, and it is prey drive excitement.  I tried a few different approaches to get him to calm and ignore them, which he actually caught on to amazingly well when realizing he got yummy things for ignoring the cats.  But he kept doing the eerie freeze/silence/stare predatory stalking behavior thing.  He also tried to nip at Wasabi through the kennel  when Wa came over to politely say hello ( if the bars had not been there between them the dog would have made contact, which is very dangerous ). I can't risk that with my cats. I can't risk he go after some other random animal in public and risk dragging me down or worse.  I am totally fine working with large, powerful dogs. I have all my life.  But at the same time I can't risk injury to myself to fight against trying to reshape that kind of prey drive on a dog that big.  I hate to say it, but I don't have the time or energy or finances to do so.  So I will be bringing him back tomorrow.  Back to square one. It is getting harder and harder for Ember to do what I need her to do for me, and I am afraid she'd work herself to death if I didn't stop her.  I am afraid of facing being in public without a service dog after all the freedom and peace of mind I have had with my partners, but I am running out of time and options. Fundraisers don't work ( I can't even help save a cat with a broken leg fast enough).  The waiting list for CPL or any program is going to be longer than I can wait, and I don't have $5k-$7k just to travel for team training.  I don't even have $2k to get a well bred pup with health guarantee (if something is wrong breeder will take it back and replace it and their parents are screened for HD/ED and temperament tested CGC and above).  I feel like just totally giving up. I can't do it anymore.

SAVE HOPE: URGENT TIME SENSITIVE NOV 24 DEADLINE

 Update On Hope Cat:  Great news!  Radiology came back clean!! No broken bones. Just really deep punctures. The inflammation is pretty bad and there is some infection, so she has been started on antibiotics. Once that reduces the swelling and everything they will assess if there is any neurological damage. She will be FeLV/FIV tested and put up for adoption.  Thank you so much to everyone for sharing her story, for your donations, your prays and positive thoughts for her!  Since no major surgery was needed afterall, I will be refunding donations and taking down the emergency fundraiser.  Thank you again!


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Writing this exhausted and half asleep to get word out ASAP.

I got involved with a cat rescue where cat ended up having badly broken leg and was in shock but injury is old come to find out but she was clearly in pain and distress and no use of leg. So I took her to SPCA clinic and they directed me to the shelter portion for a program they have doing 3 day holds to try and find owner and vet/stabilize cat. But she probably needs amputation.  I set up a GoFundMe and will spread it like wildfire to hope we can raise the money to help her because the SPCA program might not have funds and if they deem her not adoptable they would otherwise euthanize her, even if she would be adoptable after the surgery and recovery.

Back From Texas

Texas was great. Mike and I enjoyed our time together. After some stupidity dealing with a few rental places in Austin, we did get to see some nice places out in the Kileen/Harker Heights area. We got to meet a friend of ours in person and spend time with her and her family. Plenty of laughs and good food were had. We got a feel for the area and what is available in the rental market if we decide to move there.

Meh

Utterly disgusted.  Hate begets hate.  This many people should not feel ashamed or afraid of who was elected.  It disgusts me that this is the type of country we live in now after all the progress we had made.  Afraid for my rights as a person with medical disabilities who is not able to work.  Afraid for my rights as a woman.  Afraid of losing my healthcare and women's health rights. Afraid for the rights of all my friends and family in the LGBT community.  This country has been needing a healthy dose of chlorine bleach for a long time, but this isn't how I hoped we'd be getting it. I seriously hope the balances and checks that are in place in the government will keep him in check and make the damage less severe than it could be if he could do whatever he wanted. I pray he won't be as horrible as all of us ( Americans and people all over the world ) fear he will be.  I hope he proves us wrong.

Texas Trip

I'm heading to Austin, Texas along with Mike and Ember Nov 9th through 15th to look at rentals.  Chakotay is staying with mom and grandma. I likely won't be online a lot during this time, so send me anything you want me to see.  Anyone have any good audiobooks to share for the drive?  Sci-Fi/Fantasy stuff is preferable but willing to try anything.

Patreon Reward And Goal Changes Completed

Changes to Patreon reward tiers and stretch goals have been completed.  The most exciting change includes the following:


Patrons pledging $5 and above will be granted the right to vote in different situations that will directly influence things I make and how I make them, or what supplies I buy using the money you all have invested in me. Should I buy this glaze or that glaze?  Should I use this stone or that stone?  What creature do I sculpt next?  You decide!




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I changed the stretch goals to give more clear direction. The original goals I used and their amounts were somewhat vague and spaced out since I wasn't sure how to best approach it when I first joined Patreon. I hope this is a better format. Suggestions are welcome.


$25  ( We are ALMOST here!!  $19 out of $25!!  )

This amount allows me to continue purchasing basic creative supplies monthly to experiment with.  It could be spent to buy several lower cost items or one higher cost item.  Examples include but are not limited to: jewelry supplies, painting mediums, several small bottles of ceramics glaze, a larger bottle of ceramics glaze, a box of ceramics clay, ceramics tools

You get to help me choose what to invest in if you pledge $5 or more.

Once we reach this goal, I will raffle off an art original equal to $25. ALL pledge tiers will be eligible to win (as low as $1 pledge ) !  Winner will pay shipping for raffle item.



$50

The higher the pledge amount coming in, the more supplies I can get and the faster I can get them.  This goal amount will allow me to invest in supplies as mentioned above to offer a wider variety.  It would allow me to branch out into materials and supplies that are more expensive, such as special carved gemstones, silver, raku supplies, and more.

You get to help me choose what to invest in if you pledge $5 or more.

Once we reach this goal, I will raffle off an art original equal to $50. ALL pledge tiers will be eligible to win (as low as $1 pledge ) !  Winner will pay shipping for raffle item.




$75

Meeting this goal would allow me to greatly expand on my production. The main thing that keeps me from jumping into certain projects is lack of disposable income to acquire all the supplies I might need for a project.  If I only have $30 to spend per month, but the total cost for supplies for a project is $60, it could take two months just to get everything I need. It might take longer if I have to split the amount between multiple projects. The more you can pledge, the more I can create and give back.

You get to help me choose what to invest in if you pledge $5 or more.

Once we reach this goal, I will raffle off an art original equal to $75. ALL pledge tiers will be eligible to win (as low as $1 pledge ) !  Winner will pay shipping for raffle item.



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Thanks for your support!

Live Art Stream Tonight

Live art stream starting soon! 8pm CST.  -  http://livestream.com/leopardwolf

Art Stream Friday 8pm CST

My health and the technology gods permitting, I will be art streaming this Friday Nov 4th around 8pm CST. Hope to see you there!

http://original.livestream.com/leopardwolf

Patreon Reward And Goal Changes

I plan to make changes to patron reward tiers soon.  Anyone who has pledged and donated toward my art and creative efforts *before* the date of the change, will be grandfathered in to still be eligible for the *old* reward system after the changes are made, based on pledge amount.  The changes will take place Monday, November 7th.

When I start producing work in pure copper, bronze, silver, gold, and using dichroic and higher grade gemstones, people will wish they took advantage of the offer when it was available.

I will also be changing the stretch goals now that I have a better idea of how they work. When I first started using Patreon I really didn't have a clue what to do with them. Now I do.

I will post more information and reminders in preparation for the changes.  Thank you all for your awesomeness and continued support!