Wow! What a fall bonus we're having after our torrential downpours. It was gorgeous this weekend and promises to stay that way for a least a few more days.

The hounds appreciated the weather as well and spent most of the weekend outside playing chase-me or just catching some zzz's in the sun. It's really great to see a dog like Mabel who was so skittish and shy really warm up because she's with other dogs who enjoy human companionship and play. This is yet another reason why fostering is so important. A dog like Mabel would have been absolutely overlooked in a shelter because she was so scared of people. If she'd spent much more time on the streets she would have become feral and may never have been socialized to the point of adoptability. She has made so much progress that we feel comfortable in saying she could be adopted separately from Maurice.

The foster pack is also teaching Bandit some important socialization lessons. As a stray puppy he may not have learned some key elements of doggy communication. When he pushes the envelope of good behavior with one of his foster siblings he gets the cues and corrections he needs in a language he can understand. Of course he's getting basic obedience training from us as well, but dogs need other dogs.