Liz’s Dogs
Forrest is my handsome 9-year old red speckle cattledog.
Forrest came to me by accident in 2002 when I was perusing the Petfinder Web site. I don’t recommend looking at this site unless you’re prepared to lose your heart (and your head). When I saw the photograph of Forrest chained in the mud, I had to read on…..it said he was in West Virginia and was living with his owners, who no longer wanted him because he refused to do his job herding cows! He was skinny, lonely, and had never been to the veterinarian. The Monroe County Animal League has no shelter, just foster homes – and there was no foster home for Forrest. So they listed him on Petfinder, but he had to wait on his chain until SOMEONE came along…
Seven years later, after crate training, manners training, and anti-impulsiveness training, Forrest is an accomplished “working” dog (though he still hasn’t herded any cows). He comes with me to do obedience demonstrations, and he’s earned his CGC (Canine Good Citizen) title from the American Kennel Club. He's been a volunteer with the Washington Humane Society, visiting schools to brighten everyone's day with his fabulous doggie charm. Need I say that I adore this dog?
Lily having fun in the creek!
Lily is another red speckle cattledog (what can I say, they’re like potato chips). She’s probably 8 years old. I adopted her from the Washington Animal Rescue League in 2004. A friend told me there was a “Forrest twin” there and I should check her out (apparently not everyone sees the attraction of cattledogs, as Lily was in the shelter for almost two months already). With buckshot in one leg, heartworms, and a mammary tumor that had to be removed, she was a little down on her luck. So…here we go again. She came with her share of baggage, but she is loyal, hilarious, and smart as a whip. She's getting a bit rickety (her knee was reconstructed three weeks after her adoption date) and she has been treated for Lyme disease 4 times. I should have named her "Lucky."
Dakota is a 3 year old chocolate Lab who was part of the package when I moved to CT. She is a wild thing (Labs are Peter Pan dogs, they just don't want to grow up), but despite that, Kota has learned how to be a pretty good gal since her education started in January 2008. Getting control over the combined dog household was rough -- Lily and Dakota hated each other from the moment they met, and we all know "girl fights" are the worst. But things worked out -- now they just ignore each other.
Here are a few more photos of some of my former foster dogs!
Forrest and Lacey were seriously in love! 
Siena now lives in dog-friendly Seattle -- lucky girl!