The big red monster

The name game

I was right not to get my hopes up as I still have two puppies sleeping in the bedroom on this Monday morning. The person who was thinking about adopting BG #2 already has 2 dogs (both male) and was worried about the dynamic of bringing a little lady into the house. Sigh.......

However, I'm trying to get the word out the best I can. The shelter has posted pictures on their website, the vet has agreed to display a flyer and pictures at his office, and an email with the flyer went around to the international community. So, the word is out there and now I guess I just need to wait.

I have tried some different names with the puppies, but the originals are sticking....

BG#1 = Sophie

BG#2 = Maddie


This weekend they got to venture out of their bedroom and now our living room has turned into a puppy playground. This week marks the two week point since I rescued them, and I feel like they are already getting bigger. I almost forgot how quickly puppies change!!

Yes, she would be pulling on her sister's tail in the above pic.

Feeling more hopeful

I am hoping that I have found someone to adopt BG#2 through a local friend; I don't want to get my hopes up too high though because this has fallen through in the past.

Also giving me more hope is the fact that I was able to reach the woman who heads up the animal protection organization here in Podgorica. Turns out that she is the one who also oversees the shelter. During our conversation on the phone, her love of animals became abundantly clear which put me more at ease. I will be able to care for the puppies here and then take them to the shelter on Adoption Day which they have once a week. On that designated day, the public can visit the shelter to see if there is a dog they want to adopt. The shelter also makes sure that the people who are adopting have the right facilities/capacity to own a dog; they just don't hand out dogs without looking into the situation.

Also, we just recently found out that we are going to be going back to Japan at the beginning of August...yay!! But then the problem that keeps me from 100% committing to keeping one puppy arises...what to do with the puppies when we are gone? There is a kennel here, but I hear that the conditions are quite bad. I asked the lady from the shelter what I should do, and she offered that I could bring them to the shelter for that week. She would put them in their own box in isolation from the other dogs (since they don't have the money to vaccinate them), and she would let them out to feed them and play with them. Sigh of relief...........

So, I am hopeful that this situation will turn out well...whatever the course may be!

And on a side note, the hubby was craving brats the other day which they, of course, don't have here. Hotdogs were the next option (eeww, I know but you do what you have to do!). They actually tasted quite good...guess that is what you resort to when you live in a country with no McD's. ;)

Here is what I found in the grocery store....

God bless America.

Definitely double the trouble

BG #2 makes her debut...


It has not taken her long to come out of her shell. For good reason, she was terrified when she first came in to the apartment, but now she is quite the playful pup like her sister. She has a wider white marking on her head and has longer fur than her sister. Makes me wonder what exactly they are mixes of, but they are definitely terriers! And boy, do they get the looks when I am outside; everyone thinks that they are adorable and wants to meet them. Two cute...yes, the typo is on purpose.

Today was bath day. I have a little laundry bucket that acted as their tub within our tub. I imagine that it must feel good to get clean after living in the dirt, under cement blocks for a few days. I have put them both on the same medicine regimen (worms, fleas, ticks, etc.) so that both should be good to go for their health checks and vaccines tomorrow at the vet. I have been fastidiously cleaning the apartment and vacuuming, washing everything at the highest temperature, and learning that equal combinations of water with apple cider vinegar or lemon juice make great homemade, natural fleas sprays for the puppies and our furniture.

Angie is just sleeping away in the kitchen...she will go back home on Sunday, and I think that that will make my life a little easier. Her mom has been trying to contact the shelter for me with no luck. Not a good sign that they do not have enough staff to even answer the phone. Makes me think that they are not exactly going to give the puppy/puppies the attention that I give them. I have been tossing around the idea of advertising them/her (depending on what my final answer is about keeping one!) to the international community. There are plenty of diplomats here with kids that would love a rambunctious puppy, I am sure. ;)

I have been reading quite a bit on raising puppy siblings. It usually is not recommended because puppies need so much individual attention and to bond with their human. One fear with siblings is that they may bond with each other rather than the human. Some things that I was doing instinctively are right on the money...feeding and taking them outside separately (giving them both one-on-one time with me). One thing that is recommended is that they have their own crates so they do not become too dependent on each other. Guess I will have to pick up an extra carrier at the vet tomorrow.

Man, I feel like I have just given birth to twins............

And then there were two

Look who decided to join the party...

Baby Girl's big day

Baby Girl did not go to the shelter today.

She went to the vet.

And now....

BG has a red collar.

BG has a pink crate.

BG has a pink toy cow that is as big as her and squeaks.

BG needs a name................

Too cute