Hi All

Some of you may know and some of you may not, Friday in the pouring rain, I went to the kennel and picked up Califano to foster him at my home. Only to foster for those of you you are thinking that I am chipping, I am not!!! Cal has settled in nicely, after our long 2 1/2 hour (when it should have taken only an 1 1/2 hour drive home. Maddie is doing great with him and is sharing her beds, toys and her Momma with the "new guy". He got a bath and the royal treatment at the Casa de Martin. He mastered stairs, faster then she did. So I know that I am dealing with a smart dog here, he even helped me pick out my frozen dinner from the freezer last night (yes just imagine Cal with his 2 front paws up on the Freezer, he has surfed all the counters as well but has not found anything as I had "Califano proofed the house" - after a stern no he got down from the freezer and the counters And I thought Maddie was a counter surfer. He has managed to take every toy out of the toy box wven after I have put all of them back in (just like a toddler). Today I put up the crate as I felt that he had enough yesterday and he was so tired he slept on a dog bed right by my bed.

At 230 am Saturday morning he decided to play with our toys, so I took advantage of this and took them both out for a potty break (Cal's tummy was a little upset- which I had anticipated with his big adventure to the big City of Charlotte) We had a field trip in the car today on Saturday to Maddie's vet to drop off some paperwork as well as a nap in the crate, and a short walk around the neighborhood to see how he does on a leash. We need to work on his leash pulling and show him who the pack leader is. He is in the crate right now in the other room as a I type this and is whining a little but nothing compared to her Royal highness when she first got here.

All in all he is a good boy so far.

Amy, Maddie and Cal

is this califano from the oak ridge kennel? he is such a sweet boy! i'd love to take him home, but i have a cat.

It is Califano from the kennel. So if anyone is looking that you know of and has a non cat home, he is looking for his forever home. He has settled in to his foster home pretty good but wants his forver home. He has mastered the stairs faster then my grey did (and I thought she was fast) and he did it with no food bribes as well.

he is such a good boy!!! one of my favorites, next to mine of course!

Here is the update on Cal-
Cal had a BIG day yesterday- First he had a denta bone to get is breath smelling at least better for his big ride in the car to Matthews for a Meet and Greet at Petsmart. Both he and Maddie went and Julie held Maddie while I took the ever so excited Cal. The $2.00 stuffies with squeakies that they had close to at at the front entrance drove him NUTS and I had no need to go to the gym as I got my upper body workout holding him. Then Cynthia presented him with a brand new collar from Alicia and the 2 hounds crew - It was black and silver and he was styling. (thanks Alicia- it really looked great on him with his black coat) HE had a couple of people like him but he was a little wild (at least I thought so) We got back in the car to drive home to meet our 3pm appointment with Tom and Sharon Sorenson. Cal was on his BEST behavoir and was a leaner, and showed them how well he could walk up the stairs and met them with one of Maddie's ball's in his mouth. His introduction to their Boston terrier Nike inside the house went great (however I had to put Maddie in the garage as she is def not small dog safe). We then went outside where Nike decided to run and I did not want to take any chances and the muzzle went on Cal. Cal paid no attention to Nike. Tom asked me several times what I thought. Tom stated numerous times that he wanted Cal. Rick Came over to watch the interaction with the 2 dogs. Nike was more interested in helping me trim my grass. Then Tom got the football going with Cal and it was a done deal- SO..... Cal left my house yesterday with his bag of toys (his bear and the couple of toys that I had bought him ) with them in their convertible and is officiallly adoption pending. I recd no calls during the night, they know about his being bounced, Caymus (the greyhound that they adopted from GFNC) was also a bounce, they both work from home and know all about his curious side. They need him as much as he needs them.

It is quiet around my house now, Maddie went on a hunger strike last night and would not eat her food, I had to put shredded cheese on it to get her to eat it, she did however get me up at 230 am to have to go outside and the bunnies were outside as well (we did not catch one to my relief) Tom has promised to give me updates and who knows maybe Cal will get an article written about himself in the Charlotte Observer.

Amy and Maddie

What great news! It was so nice of you to foster him!

That is so Greyt!!!!
I am so glad they are opening their hearts to a new dog to love. We were so touched by his article in the paper.

Dan still gets so sad to hear about others losing their dogs to the big C. We still miss Willy, he was one of a kind.
A new baby to love helps so much to fill up that big empty hole in your heart.

Best wishes to Cal from the crew here. I know you are going to do a whole lot of healing for them.