Peaches arrived into care last night. I couldn't be there so arranged to meet up today at her foster home and boy oh boy is she a sweetie. And she's a teeny, tiny girl too! 

Not even 24 hours in care and she's reportedly making herself quite comfortable in her foster home and patiently allows her eye drop regimen to happen.

We went for a walk along their street and back, keeping it short and low stress. But once we got back to the house, Stevie put on the brakes while passing the car, so the door was opened for him and he hopped in and Peaches was right behind him. The rest of the photo op will have to happen another day, because a walk in the woods is Stevie's happy place. So, sporting her best harness/collar/double leash/ GPS tracker look, Peaches had her first walk in the nearby woods with her... and she apparently said hello to everyone she met!

In the photos, you may notice she's only taking treats on the right - that's because her two main teeth (from what I could see) are a canine and molar on her right. Because of her eye problems, she seems to be quite vision impaired as well. Her sibling is Pumpkin, who came into care last January and had a lot of eye issues, which have since been sorted out and he's been adopted and living a fantastic life. So we're hoping the same will be true for the sweetest little Peaches.

Peaches is in the care of the Victoria Humane Society. Once she's seen the vet and had her medical needs met, she will interviewing for her adoptive family... unless one of our sleddie community scoops her up first!

Here are a few more photos from our walk... ​

Thanks to Deb for chauffeuring her into care and to her amazing foster family GP and Stevie.

​xo

p.s. AND YES, there are extra photos of her EARS... because THEY'RE THAT CUTE!!

Impromptu visits always include treats and/or snuggles... whichever they dogs prefer. Or neither if that's more their thing.
Today, Deb popped over with her sleddie Apex, and adoptable sleddie Troy. Deb sprung Troy from the SPCA where he's currently interviewing for his forever home, to go on a forest walk. 
I love that there are people out there who are do stuff like this.

More here:

• Apex's story
• View Troy's adoption profile

Cruz, Jack, Louie, Twister
Each group of new sleddie arrivals is different. 
No matter how many dogs arrive in an intake, they can be feeling anything on a scale from calm and super chill to super stressed, verging on shut down. Sled dogs are used to being loaded into vehicles and transported - it's how they go from the kennel where they're kept to the staging area where the excursions operate from. But they're usually transported in cubbies on the back of a truck, not in a vehicle with heat (or AC in the warmer temps) and cushions in their individual kennels, like these four and other arrivals before them have been. Comforts like this can be a bit scary at first, because they're new and different. Add to that the drive from Whistler, BC, the ferry ride, and another (albeit short) drive to get to their destination of Victoria, BC.
When the dogs arrive, their little noses are working overtime. And along with their brains, eyes, and paws, they take in all the newness. Though they know the dogs they've travelled with, there are new faces too.
These are the foster families waiting to help.

Foster families are lined up in advance and the team prepares the food, leashes, harnesses, GPS trackers and vet appointments. Foster families arrive early so they can load their vehicles with the supplies because once the dogs arrive, they are the focus. 

Cruz, Jack, Louie, Twister

Cruz (brown/white, short coat) was a last-minute addition. Another dog was to come, but Cruz needed out first. She's young, only about 4, energetic... and in heat. 
Also into care was Jack with the brown and blue eyes who loved his treats. Louie who seems to find comfort next to humans and excels at resting his head on them and Twister (all white) whose energy lives up to his name and seems to really love scritches on his back end.
Aside from Louie, you'll see that the dogs in this group were a bit twirlier than in other intakes - there was more nervous energy and they ran lots of circles. Running in a circular pattern is a common sight in sleddies. When they're kept on a tether, a circular pattern provides the most area for movement. It becomes ingrained. I've seen it time and time again. The circle can happen just on a regular walk, or act as a reset of sorts when they're uncomfortable. They may not run away from something, but move in a circular pattern next to or behind something or someone - whether on leash or off. But the team knows this sometimes happens, so all the dogs had some time to sniff, pee, have some snacks (if interested) and take a breath before it was time to head out with their foster families. 

It's been a few days now since they arrived and Jack's been neutered, Twister has found his husky voice, Louie continues to rest his head, and Cruz has been rematched with a new foster due to her energy. 
For these four-legged loves, adjusting to this new life is a process that can take days, weeks, months, years. Some take longer than others to decompress - just like humans and other animals of the world - so the team is in place and ready to support the dogs and foster families in whatever they need. 
Thank you to the sleddie team - transporters Jillian and Deb, the amazing fosters (GP, AB, J&M, KG) the retired sleddie community and Victoria Humane Society for continuing to support former sled dogs.

Welcome to retirement Cruz, Jack, Louie and Twister!

xo

Bruno/Mr B's world is opening up and he's getting more comfortable in it!!!

Today my husband joined us on our walk and it was so cool to see Bruno take to a new person. A lot of sleddies I've met seem to be wary of men - even a gentle guy like Rob - but not Bruno it seems. He went and stood by my husband as he talked to someone, did a sniff of him (as dogs do) and Shannon and I just stood with our jaws dropped. 
This was big!
But... Bruno hasn't been around many men, and not really like this, so it's all helping to inform the adoption team on who his best adoptive home will be. 
Bruno even took treats from Rob (vid below), and stood for chin scritches quite willingly. Bruno is very good about moving away from things he doesn't want to engage in, whether it be other dogs, humans, or even if he doesn't like the treat on offer!
It was so beautiful.
And the Friday walk trio even stood for a new band photo - seriously, these guys need a name! 
 
[note: Bruno's leash has been edited out of some photos - although he probably wouldn't take off or go far, safety is a priority so he stays on a long line on walks]
​