Foster #3 – Atlas

Working with the Humane Society of Faulkner County is one of the more rewarding things I’ve ever done. At times it’s exhausting, at times it’s challenging, and it times it’s just plain fun. Let me start by saying, I have more respect than I could ever convey for the people that have been doing this for years. Most people don’t know that the Humane Society has no paid staff or employees. There’s no physical location, and there’s no shelter. Whatever dogs the Humane Society takes in live in foster homes until they’re healthy and ready to be adopted. There are a number of people that give well over 40 hours a week just to help animals find there forever homes, and I’m grateful to get to work with them.

That being said, Richard and I have known for some time that we wanted to foster special needs dogs. These are animals who already have disabilities or sicknesses that they won’t get over. Often these animals are viewed as “damaged” and not worth something – but that just couldn’t be more wrong.

Atlas the day he was found.

Atlas came into our lives really quickly less than two weeks ago. A kind lady was driving and noticed him in a ditch on the side of the road. She went to a nearby convenience store, got a bag of food, and took it back to feed him some. He stuck his whole head in the bag and dug in! He came to the Humane Society at that point – and then was taken to Hartman Animal Hospital to be checked out. Luckily, Atlas didn’t have heart worms – he was just extremely malnourished and has a gunshot wound on his rear left leg. The bad news is, this leg will most likely have to be amputated in the next couple of months. The good news is, he is already well on his way to being healthy, and is much happier.

He’s living with us and is doing really well in foster care! He gets along very well with our dogs and is very grateful. For those of you who have never had rescue dogs, let me tell you, you’re missing out. From the way these animals treat you and respond to everything you do, you know they’re so happy to have someone loving them and taking care of them. Atlas is happily eating 3 meals a day, playing with our dogs, and terrorizing our cat.

There’s more good news to this story – Atlas already has a potential forever home. A kind lady in Wyoming has taken a special interest in his case and is keeping in touch with me. At this point, it’s looking quite likely that Atlas will be moving up North in a few months.

Now a quick photo update… Check out the gallery below.

For those of you who’d like to keep up with the Humane Society, Like us on Facebook here.

For those of you who would like to donate to Atlas’s medical expenses (which will be well over $1,000 before said and done), you can do so here. We really appreciate whatever donations you can make – they are tax deductible, as well.

Happy picture-viewing!