Happy Announcement!

Lisa, IBR president, had the happy news to report: "I got a call last evening that Heather’s foster mom would like to adopt Heather." Everybody in the IBR family is very excited about this exciting news and is cheering "Yeah Heather---what a happy ending to a tough journey".

UPDATE FROM MY NEW FOSTER HOME!

As soon as I remember to get my phone out to the beach we will have pics in the sand! Heather has been pretty energetic, she wiggles her whole body when I come home and the walker says she jumps when she comes for the afternoon walk time! Yesterday on her walk someone asked Kristie (our walker) if she had been on "America's Cutest Puppies"..they swore they had seen her and she's so cute. She loves sleeping on the bed with Jax and even slept in and snored on Sunday :) She seems to like being around Jax, as I think it reminds her of her puppies. She'll stand over him while he woofs out the window at the softball park across the street.He also likes to snuggle up to her on the couch, which seems to make her happy...she was licking his ears last night :) She has been hesitant about her wet food and treats, but peanut butter has been her favorite and today she took a small liver treat from my hand, so she's coming along. (I'm hoping she'll do the same with her heart pill when we try again tonight!) I can definitely tell she's confused about how to just be a dog...she runs down the beach, stops to check if the coast is clear, then romps again...but she seems to be figuring it out. She has been eating her dry food, but she does need a little reassurance to approach the bowl, which funny enough usually comes in the form of Jax walking over, sniffing, and then letting her go...her favorite thing though is to pull the bowl forward and knock it over then eat...it's too funny! She loooovvvees to cuddle and rest her had on my lap while I work on the laptop. She also loves to walk up to people and get her head pat...which everyone is more than happy to do! She seems to really like the consistancy around here (walk times, bed time, etc.) and will probably do best where things can continue on a routine...it seems to reassure her. That's all we have for now and pictures to follow soon!

PART TIME COUCH POTATO & FULL TIME FRIEND

Hello everyone, Heather here. It has been a little while since I sent an update, that is because I am still adjusting. Since my last update that nice lady Lisa arranged for the vets to do a thorough check on me. Well, it is a good thing because they found that I have Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. The good news is that I can take medicine and get better soon. I have to take my medicine every day, YUK!. I have been keeping foster mom on her toes, she thought she could just sneak it in my food twice a day. Oh no! I am not going to be that predictable. Some meals I just don't feel like eating (maybe because of my Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever), then she has to get the pill in me. But she seems to be adjusting to me fairly well. Mom said that within just a couple days of my medicine my energy level has shot up.

Now I am going on long walks with my sisters. The last couple days I have got to go out into the Forest Preserve with my sister Doreen, boy that is FUN! We go a little further every day. I sure hope this R.M.S.F. is the last thing they find with me, if you remember those nice people at Chillicothe helped me get well from the hearthworm. See why they called me STRENGTH. I am a STRONG lady. I love laying in the sun in my new back yard. When I am in the house I use to like laying on the dog bed, but now I am enjoying the couch, I have made myself quite at home. I am quite polite though and I share the couch with my foster dad. Isn't it funny that big bully "Sandy", isn't on the couch, I got the last laugh. I love tummy rubs, when foster mom sits down with me I roll over and let her know it is my tummy that needs rubbing. I am creating quite a stir in the neighborhood when we go for walks. Everyone notices me and since I love people I show them what a friendly, strong lady I am. I am confident that my furever home is out there just around the corner. I have heard a couple of these nice folks say "Oh I wish I could just take her home". So now you know it isn't just my word, the neighborhood thinks I am wonderful! Hope one of you out there wants to share your furever home with a loving, wonderful, strong, beautiful furry friend (if I must say so myself).

HEATHER'S REUNION!

Hello everyone Heather here - a new update. I told you I would win that mutt over. Look at her sharing the dog bed with me. I am really feeling much more comfortable at this home. My foster mom likes to walk and I get to go on walks (sometimes 3 or 4 in a day). I bet you thought with only three legs I wouldn't get around much. The truth is, I drag my foster mom on these walks. She says I will have to learn to walk a little better on a leash, I just arrive so let's see, maybe I can adjust. Now let me tell you about my ADVENTURE. President Lisa took me to this really nice place that had funny smells and lots of dogs, and Wooooooo guess who was there. You got it, my daughter HOPE. It was so wonderful to see her, now I know she is OK and close by. But I wasn't about to let her know how much I missed her, so I kept my cool and acted Kool. Of course I snuggled with her for a couple of hours so I could show her I love her. Well that is all for now, got to go do my exercises - have you ever hear of that, the vet gave me some exercises to make my back stronger. This Lisa lady seems to know all the right people to keep us dogs happy and healthy.

WHAT AN EXHAUSTING DAY!

Heather is getting much more comfortable! Nothing left to do but nap after we got home from work, she ate her dinner and been on two walks.

ENJOYING THE COMFORTS OF HOME

Hello Everyone - Heather here. Today has been a good day. I am feeling a little more comfortable here at Camp Davis. You know that "not so nice Mutt" I told you about, I was right. She was just scared, she has figured out that I am a great gal. I sat back and watched her and her foster sister Sera playing yesterday, then I invited that Mutt to come play with me. We had fun for a little while, but then she got too roudy and mom had to calm her down, but I showed her what a fun gal I am. She hasn't snapped at me or curled her lip at me the last two days so I figure we got a friendship starting. She even shares her dog beds with me. I knew I could turn her around. My foster mom says WOW you are just the most amazing lady.

Woooooo!!! My foster mom is sooooo excited. Tonight I ate dinner. Mom mixed some Solid Gold canned food, with water and Wysong Nurture with Free-Range Pheasant and foster dad held my bowl and I lapped it up. Mom was so excited that she fixed me another small bowl and I ate that too. My first real meal since I arrived. My mom was really getting worried, so I figured I better show her I can eat. What really prompted me is that she told me tomorroiw I get to see Hope. I am so excited, Hippity-Hop. It has been very hard to be away from my babies. I am really worried about them, I am desperately searching for them when my foster mom takes me on my walks every day. I know these IBR folkes are just hiding them from me. But tomorrow I will be very relieved when I can see that HOPE is OK. Now mom needs to get busy and see if she can get me visits with Courage, he isn't that far away from her house and that car works just fine.

My mom tells me those people at the shelter are wonderful saints. They have made me the most loving, strong lady. Foster mom and dad are both spending as much time cuddling and loving me. I am very good at telling them where I want to be rubbed.

I JUST KEEP LOOKING!

IBR was able to save our lives but, they didn't have a foster home that could take my entire family. For the first time in a LONG time, I understand that I am safe. I still worry about Hope and Courage. We defeated death, as a family, on many occassions! It is so hard to be with out them! My foster mom is concerned because I don't want to eat or drink anything. I just look sad! She did the nicest thing for me...she is setting up play dates with Hope and Courage! I can't wait! I have to believe that somone out there will have extra room in their lives for me and maybe one of my kids! I won't give up!

I HAVE A HOME...SORT OF

Life has been a little confusing. I left the shelter that I lived in for a few months and arrived at a foster home. Everyone is so amazed at how I have adapted to the world. They were so impressed with my perserverance that they named me after another amputee, Heather Mills! I love the other dogs in my foster home! But, something isn't right in my world! I really miss Hope and Courage! I know that I shouldn't ask for anything because I am so lucky just to be alive. BUT...I'd love a home that I could share with my kids.