This is a foster dog diary post. New information will be added to the end of this post so all info is kept in one place and in chronological order.

Last Updated: March 27, 2017

Charlie and Joey’s History

My name is Charlie and I have a story to tell you.

My brother, Joey, and I are young: not even 8 months old. I lived in a pen with two male dogs, one of them my brother.

We didn’t have food bowls. The people who took care of us threw food on the ground for us to compete over. We had minimal shelter and our bellies hurt because we had worms. Nobody gave us any love and little attention. They only looked at us from far away. They never opened the pen or cleaned it. Some would say it was disgusting, but it was all we had known.

One day some nice people came to pick up me and my brother. They gave us baths, helped our bellies not hurt anymore, and now we have food bowls! I thought life was good back then but now I think life is great!

I heard the nice people talk and they said we were picked up right on time because I could’ve been having many babies and could have died due to having inbred puppies. All that sounds terrible! I am thankful none of that will happen.

Intake Information

• Arrived here: March 19, 2017
• Age @ 8 months
• Sex: Charlie is female, Joey is male
• Spay/Neutered: No (but will be)
• Weight: @ 15 pounds each
• Health: Good
• Personality: Charlie is the protector, she is outspoken and forward when it comes to warding off unknown dogs and people. She also tends to eat all the food, I will be separating them for feeding. She is, however, quite affectionate and gave me kisses the first time I got close. Joey is laid back and playful, but timid. His rescuers describe him as the “big baby” of the pair.

Photo Gallery

March 19, 2017 by Doug

Charlie and her brother, Joey, arrived from Georgia today.

They are smaller than any of us imagined, so my worries about being able to fit into the single dog house in their pen are unfounded. As noted above, Charlie is the self-appointed protector of the pair: being outspoken and proactive in regard to warding off potential threats.

Joey’s primary interest is playing with his sister. He is rarely vocal and withdraws when approached. His rescuers call him the “big baby” of the pair. I can see that.

We have introduced them to the rest of the gang. Ilo is their neighbor and he got agitated when they first moved in but is settling down now that the excitement is over. They are the same age, but Ilo is twice their size.

Blondie‘s maternal/nurturing instincts are kicking in and she seems drawn to them, though unsure of something. She says nothing, just stands looking at them through the fencing with her ears down on the sides of her head: her expression of perplexity.

Gator and Valentina were both curious but cordial. Neither said anything to the pups, though Charlie was more bothered by Valentina than Gator. Could be a competitive-female thing.

Cochise … well, Cochise looked them over, sniffed at them, then withdrew to the Coolaroo and turned his back to the whole affair, “PUPPIES!? We’re taking in puppies now? Harrumph!”

When the greetings were done and the big dogs were back inside (except Ilo) I took Charlie and Joey each a dish of kibble. It was likely they had not eaten much today because of their long road-trip. Charlie scarfed hers down and went to push Joey (who was eating more leisurely) out of his dish. I occupied her while he finished.

Later, Marie took The Twins out into the play yard. They kept wandering away from her a short distance, looking around uncertainly, then running back to her for safety until they felt ready to try again.

When I went back to see them, instead of Charlie barking warnings at me and Joey trying to hide, they both danced on the gate in greeting. I think they’ll be fine.

March 20, 2017 by Doug

The Twins and Ilo all had a peaceful night last night. No barking, no fussing, even when Cochise woke me up at 2:30 to go outside and Gator and Val decided they needed to go too.

They welcomed breakfast with excitement. I’ll take The Twins out for another wander when it warms up a bit. It’s frosty this morning.

March 22, 2017 by Doug

I’ve been working with the pups, mostly with Charlie, on not jumping up and pawing at my legs for attention. Cute when a ball-of-fur pup, painful when they grow up. Since they are 8 months old, they won’t get much bigger than they are, but they still need to learn to express affection for people properly if they are to be made adoptable.

March 23, 2017 by Doug

Today I let Blondie Bear out in the play yard with The Twins. Blondie is our Play Yard Monitor. She gets the job of teaching hooligan dogs how to play nicely. These two are hooligans – not yet – but they need to learn to reign in their enthusiasm while playing so they don’t become hooligans.

March 25, 2017 by Doug

We’ve had a development with The Twins. Charlie has turned “rough play” with Joey into bullying. They used to take turns pursuing one another, now it’s always Charlie in pursuit of Joey and when she catches up, she bites his hind leg hard enough to make him cry out. Even when he cries, she does not stop, but continues biting until I rush in to break it up. This is not every time, but often enough to be a real concern.

After discussing this with Amy during her visit here today, we’ve decided that it would be best to separate them for a bit. If I had the means to do so, I’d be quartering them separately because this bullying sometimes goes on in their pen too.

So Charlie and Joey will each be going to foster homes better equipped to meet the “indoor dog” requirements until transport on the 14th. Both pups have been accepted into adoptive rescues who will no doubt quickly find these darlings Forever Homes.

This move is expected to take place tomorrow afternoon.

March 26, 2017 by Doug

Amy just picked up Joey. He is going to live with Robby & Lori Johnson. Their Facebook Page. Or check for updates posted to the Steele Away Home FB page. He’s going to be Opie’s new friend: another laid-back male dog who will help Joey stand on his own four feet.

Charlie fussed about Joey being out in the play yard without her, but now that he’s gone we haven’t heard a peep out of her.

We saw an update on Facebook, Joey has settled in nicely and has become part of the gang at the Johnsons. That’s great news. Charlie still has not fussed about her missing brother. She has Ilo to keep her company. I also gave each of them a special treat. That made her really happy!

March 27, 2017 by Doug

Charlie was content to talk to Ilo all yesterday afternoon and only became howly at bed time, when she wanted someone to curl up with and sleep. It didn’t last long and she was her usual bouncy self in the morning.

Amy retrieved Charlie today and moved her to Linda Amason’s home. She has a Facebook page.