Jessie found her way home!
Jessie found home!
Some fosters seem destined for an easier path than others. Our first foster was Jessie, who came into the Foundation at eight when her owners passed away. Her owners had pre-arranged for her to come to the Foundation: her son called us, and we were able to pick her up at her home.
She refused the intro walk, instead steaming her way into our house, telling her foster brother that if he wasn’t Kerry enough to destroy all his toys that she would. A few days later, she explained to us all that she was staying and we would need to step up our game.
A year after she passed, the Rescue Coordinator sent out the typical notice about needing a foster for a new rescue. I almost thought she was joking, as it was another eight year old Jessie who had lost her owner.
Jess II’s path, however, was much more difficult and at times heart breaking. Jess II started with a charmed life, sharing a home with her older male owner who loved her and treated her like a princess. Unfortunately, when he passed away she was in the house with him for three days before being discovered. Already traumatized, she tried to protect him when the emergency staff came, and they were not as understanding as one would hope. Then, the adult children dropped her off at a noisy shelter.
After a week, a volunteer saw how she was suffering and took her home as a foster. She blossomed and began to heal. Unfortunately, the foster could not keep her and Jess was adopted by someone who wanted a snuggly lap dog. As a dignified lady, Jess II wanted none of it, especially as she was still trying to figure out why her life was in upheaval. So, back to the shelter.
Fortunately, this time the shelter agreed to release her to us. When Jess came out of her crate at the airport, she did not appear to be a Kerry. She looked like one, but was timid and had no spark. She seemed resigned to life. She sleep walked the next few days, only being a polite guest and tolerating our energetic male who was only 11 months old. On Saturday morning, when we took our puppy to his herding lesson, I walked with Jess around the farm where she happily sniffed and even tried out some of the agility equipment. When we got back into the truck, she started coming to life, licking my ear and wagging her tail for the first time. By the end of the day, she was acting more like a Kerry and we thought maybe we would be foster fails again.
This was wishful thinking: one of the things that we carefully consider in foster is where the Kerry will thrive. Having spent her life “taking care” of her male human alone, she was less than enchanted with an energetic puppy and two humans. The ideal house for her would be one-on-one. Still, maybe she would adapt, right? She loved my husband, and was pretty fond of me.
What brought me back to reality was the Incident with our male. It was clear that she was not happy sharing a house with him, and while we could manage the situation, neither of them were at their happiest. Unfortunately (there are many of these in her story), Jess had a gastro issue one evening, as most dogs do occasionally so we took her in for fluid and meds. Unlike every other experience, that did not work and we had to take her to the animal hospital. This unlucky soul spent three days circling the drain, but finally recovered her health, and came home.
Fortunately (only a few of those in her story), we had bought insurance since we thought she would stay with us, so there was little cost to the Foundation. Then, an experienced terrier home only miles from us applied to adopt a Kerry, which seemed ideal. The family met and loved her, I did a home visit, Jess did an overnight stay, it was a great match.
We were thrilled that her forever home would allow us to see her and have play dates. We dog sat when they went on vacation a couple weeks later. Perfect ending. Then.. well, not so much. Fortunately, they released her back to the Foundation a few weeks later. When we picked her up, there was not a light on in her. She meekly walked with her head down, not responding to us, and I thought she had finally broken. A few minutes later, she exploded into motion when she finally realized it was my husband on the other end of the leash.
The short drive home she was incredibly waggly and inserted herself between us, licking us as if to say “Well, THAT was a big mistake but we’ve made the escape!!” Full Kerry. Dianne and I talked almost daily. The great matches – retired men - in adoption applications were not interested in an older dog. Should we adopt her, knowing it isn’t her ideal home? Then, we went off script: if the perfect home didn’t work, maybe it was time to try something else. A recently retired woman, who had not had a terrier – or any dog! - since college, kept calling about Jess. An inexperienced dog owner???? Yet, Jess was an easy Kerry, and this would be like returning home for her. The applicant took several steps that gave us confidence in her abilities and dedication, agreed to a long-term foster to adopt, and lived close to the Rescue Director so she could help. And that is how our Jess II finally found her happy ending. And while it is never easy to let one go, fostering is a wonderful experience. Please consider applying to be a foster home: I promise you will never regret it.
Regina Corry
