CRUSA CRUSADERS CROTTY & MERGHANI

Lenny at Howloween

WHAT WAS YOUR GREATEST TRIUMPH?
WHY WAS IT SUCH A TRIUMPH?

Lenny, whom we fostered him for nine months, was adopted twice and returned twice - once after 24 hours and the second time after 48 hours - before we found Judy. Lenny was a fear-biter and had many, many other issues. He was a mill dog that had a difficult time adjusting to life as a house dog.

Lenny & Wrigley

My fear was that Lenny would need to be euthanized and I cried many tears over what to do with him. When Judy applied, I initially said no, but then gave her a chance and she changed his life; Lenny is a completely different dog. Lenny taught me to never, ever give up and there is a home for every dog out there. With love, patience, and training, most any dog can become adoptable.

Unfortunately, Lenny had to be rehomed this past weekend [10 April 2010], along with his Cairn sister Matty, because his mom of the past two years is losing her battle with cancer. However, I was fortunate to help her with the rehoming and Lenny now lives about two miles from me, so I will continue to be a part of his life.

Lenny in his new home
Just hanging with my piggy . . . love, Lenny

WHAT WAS YOUR GREATEST FAILURE?
WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?

Lenny's first adoption was my greatest failure. My gut told me that his first adoption was not right, that it wasn't the home for him. When they came for him, it was everything I could do to let them leave with him, I knew it wasn't right. He came back after 24 hours, but that 24 hours set his progress back weeks. I learned to always trust my gut and not let others talk me into an adoptive home that I know isn't right for the foster. I follow my own instincts and so far, no other foster has been returned.

Monty

WHAT IS A BIG CHANGE YOU MADE IN YOUR
LIFESTYLE TO ACCOMMODATE FOSTERING?

I haven't really had to make that many changes. You learn to look the other way at accidents, figure out that belly bands are your best friend, learn to handle an x-pen in your living room for the first couple of days when you are introducing a new dog to your pack, but these are all small sacrifices when you consider what we get in return from each of the dogs that enters our home.

Indy, who crossed The Rainbow Bridge in March 2010.

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO A POTENTIAL CRUSA CRUSADER, BE IT RESCUING, TRANSPORTING OR FOSTERING . . .

The first day or two while everyone settles down and adjusts to each other, you do feel unsettled and wonder what you agreed to, but within a couple of days, your home begins to return to normal and the benefits far outweigh the sacrifices.

Grace

ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE US
TO KNOW ABOUT YOU . . .

Mazin & I both work full-time jobs and handle five dogs. I don't think that our own dogs or our fosters suffer because of it. Don't let working stand in the way of fostering because you can do both.