Fostering Rescue Dogs: Karen’s Foster Dogs
A while ago I shared the story of adopting Milo and how that got me involved in fostering other dogs, so I'm not going to repeat myself explaining all of that again. If you are interested, click through on these links to read all how I got started and some of my...
Help Find Stella the Toy Poodle a Forever Home
In the last few months, I've fostered a bunch of dogs...all who have found wonderful forever homes. Except for Stella. She's been with me for about 6 weeks now and I'm still looking for a home for her. I know that isn't a terribly long time. Many rescue dogs are in...
9 Small Dogs Looking for Forever Homes
For the last few months, I've been fostering dogs with Senior Dogs 4 Seniors. My first 2 dogs, Odus (now Mesa) and Maizy were adopted. I currently am fostering Morty, an 8 year old chihuahua. After fostering with Gateway Pet Guardians in the past, I knew how much...
Odus the Foster Dog Needs a Home
After almost a year without fostering dogs, I jumped back into dog rescue with a new group, Senior Dogs 4 Seniors. I chose this group because they focus on small dogs and they don't shy away from older dogs. It breaks my heart to hear of an 8 or 12 year old dog that...
Getting Back to Cooking and Dog Rescue (plus my New Kitchen Preview)
You probably noticed (or maybe you didn't) that I haven't been writing much here at Future Expat over the last few months. The reason is pretty simple. I sold my condo and bought a new house in December. Between the move and work, I just haven't had the energy to put...
Rescue Dog Gilbert Trained with Zuke’s Treats (GIVEAWAY)
Every dog needs training. Just like children, dogs are happiest when they know what is expected of them. While most people think of dog training as something you do with puppies, dogs can learn new commands at any age. It's especially important for dogs like Gilbert...
Shopping Cart Solution for NO PAWS ON GROUND Puppies
Everyone in the rescue world is familiar with the concept no paws on ground. Puppies need 3 rounds of shots before they are fully protected from diseases that they can pick up from other dogs. Until the puppies have had at least the first 2 rounds of shots, they could...
Rescuing Frankie from Animal Control
I recently got involved with a brand new dog rescue group in the St. Louis area, Needy Paws Rescue. While I enjoyed fostering and volunteering with Gateway Pet Guardians, Needy Paws Rescue made me an offer that allows me to do so much more. I am one of the Needy Paws...
Wordless Wednesday ~ Jodi in Her Forever Home
A few weeks ago I shared the story of Jodi, one of my favorite foster dogs. Jodi’s adoptive mom saw my post and sent me some pictures and this video. I really adore this little girl and am so happy that she is so loved. People ask pet foster parents all the time how...
Pet Rescue Foster Parents ~ Save $$$ on Taxes & Track Deductible Miles with MileIQ App
With tax day deadline looming next week, you've hopefully already finished your tax return for this year. I'm one of those people who hits the deadline every year. My taxes are complicated and I always procrastinate pulling together all of my tax documents for my CPA....
Wordless Wednesday – Fostering Jodi the Chihuahua
Somehow the winter got away from me and I never posted any pictures of Jodi. Jodi was one of the foster dogs I've taken care of this past year. I adored her and if I was in the market to adopt a 2nd dog, I would have kept her. Milo even liked this one. He growls at...
Wordless Wednesday – Teddy Finally Jumps on the Bed
My current foster dog, Teddy, finally decided it was ok to jump on the bed this week. Now when the end of the day rolls around, I turn off all of the lights and Teddy races up the stairs to the bedroom behind Milo. When I catch up with them, this is what I find. He...
Wordless Wednesday – Foster Dogs Have Changed My Life
I started fostering rescued dogs with Gateway Pet Guardians last April. They have changed my life as much as I've changed their lives. In order of when they came into my life... Jojo and Sylvie Named after my wonderful grandparents Joe & Sylvia Jojo was adopted by a...
Wordless Wednesday – Saving Dogs Living on the Streets
Everyone who reads this blog regularly or is connected to me on Facebook, Google+, Twitter or Pinterest knows that I volunteer with Gateway Pet Guardians. I recently started helping with community outreach. Teams of us gather on Saturdays and Sundays and make the 15...
Community Outreach & Puppy Rescues in Impoverished East St. Louis
Last week, I shared about my first experience with the Gateway Pet Guardians community outreach team. I thought nothing could be as rewarding as fostering dogs with Gateway, but I was wrong. Driving down streets lined with burnt-out and abandoned homes, scanning the...
Dog Rescue Outreach – Knocking on Doors in East St. Louis
Since I started volunteering for Gateway Pet Guardians last April, I've fostered 7 dogs, transported dogs to adoption events, helped a puppy sell raffle tickets at a fundraiser and got up before dawn to feed the strays of East St. Louis. Yesterday, I added community...
Saving a Cat’s Life Just Took an Hour of My Time
My regular readers will know that I'm a foster parent for Gateway Pet Guardian's rescued dogs. Since I signed up in April, I've had 6 foster dogs in my home. I can only foster one dog at a time, so I'm always on the lookout for other ways I can help. I have attended...
Thanksgiving is about Being Thankful and Giving
When most of us think about Thanksgiving, we think of turkey and overeating and spending time with family. Others get excited about spending the day watching football or Black Friday shopping deals. But if we stop and take a moment to reflect, Thanksgiving is about...
Help Me Find a Forever Home for My Foster Dog Romper
My regular readers will know that I volunteer as a foster parent for homeless dogs rescued from East St. Louis by Gateway Pet Guardians. A couple of weeks ago, I took over fostering adorable Romper from another volunteer. Romper has been with Gateway for awhile. He...
Letting Benji Go
A week ago, after one month of living with me, my foster dog Benji was adopted. Benji is an adorable loving dog. As always, it's a guess as to his breed. But I think he is a Jack Russell Terrier and Rat Terrier combo with a little wire hair terrier mixed in. Benji was...
32 Puppies Looking for St. Louis Homes!
Update 10/25/13: All of the baby puppies listed here have now been adopted, but there are still 4 older pups at the end of the list that need homes. Adopting a puppy that is 5-8 months old, as these puppies are, has some real advantages. You can get a feel for the...
Strut Your Mutt – Dog Festival Helps Save Strays
Strut Your Mutt - St. Louis Event: Photo Credit: Jesse Michael Nix WHAT: A leisurely fundraising dog walk followed by a doggie-themed festival that includes pet contests, photos, treats for your dogs, fun activities, refreshments and more. WHERE: Tilles Park, 9551...
4 Rescued Dogs Desperately Need Foster Parents
Becoming a foster parent for a rescued pet is one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences you can have. Living in a home helps former strays learn how to be pets. They get a chance to lay on soft surfaces (whether it be your couch or a dog bed on the floor). They...
Saving Charlotte ~ Gateway Pet Guardians to the Rescue
Charlotte's Story: There are so many dogs worth saving that would be put down immediately if they ended up at animal control. At Gateway Pet Guardians, we just rescued one of those dogs. As I've shared before, PJ Hightower has been driving the streets of poverty...
Adopt a Rescue Dog: Bryce Needs a Home
Bryce, a lab mix puppy looking for a forever home Last weekend, I attended an adoption event at Purina Farms and met a wonderful puppy named Bryce. Keep in mind that this event was massive. There were tons of people walking by constantly, and hundreds of dogs of all...
Fostering Padme for Gateway Pet Guardians
Before I even had my foster puppies Jojo and Sylvie adopted, I knew that I would foster again. I had a few out of town trips scheduled after they left, so I decided to wait to foster another dog until all of the trips were over...which would mean not fostering again...
Feeding Stray Dogs in East St. Louis
Last month, I woke up in the wee hours of the morning to go with PJ of Gateway Pet Guardians on her daily trek to feed the strays and neglected dogs of East St. Louis. We left PJ's Lafayette Square home at 5:30 AM and headed to Washington Park, a neighboring town to...
Stray Dogs Do Have Parents
Most people who adopt rescued stray dogs have no idea why they look the way they do. The people adopting my foster puppies are lucky. They get to see several generations (at least on the female side). PJ with Gateway Pet Guardians has been feeding the strays of East...
Karen’s First Foster Pups – Jojo and Sylvie
As soon as I adopted my dog Milo, I knew I wanted to get involved with a rescue group so I could foster dogs in my home. After checking around, I signed up with Gateway Pet Guardians and was approved as a foster parent. A few weeks later, I brought home 2 baby...
Adopt a Rescue Dog: Bill Needs a Home
On Saturday, I had the chance to spend some time with Bill, one of Gateway Pet Guardians rescue dogs who is looking for a forever home. While most of the dogs that Gateway Pet Guardians rescues come directly from the streets of East St. Louis, we also work with St....
Adopt a Rescue Dog: Astrid Needs a Home
This pretty girl is Astrid. She is very sweet, enjoys cuddling and has beautiful eyes that can make you melt. Astrid is a 3 year old Shepherd/Terrier mix who is spayed, housetrained, current on her shots and microchipped. She really likes kids and is good with them,...
Adopt a Rescue Dog: Salem Needs a Home
This beautiful girl with the adorable face is Salem. She's a sweet, goofy love bug who has a gorgeous smile and eyes that just make you melt. Salem is a Terrier mix who is about 1 year 9 months old. She's spayed, current on her shots and microchipped. This sweetie is...
My Road to Becoming a Rescue Dog Foster Parent
Yesterday I found out that I was approved to become a rescue dog foster parent. I'm really excited and can't wait to bring home my first foster rescue dog. So why am I doing this? Humor me a moment and let me start from the beginning. Adopting a Rescue Dog Changed My...
Adopt a Pet: Darcy and Lola Need a New Home
I've decided to adopt a dog. I've spent a lot of time thinking about it and am finally settled into my new home and ready to pull the trigger. I need a small dog since I live in a townhouse and don't have yard. I don't want a yapper or one that sheds, so I'm looking...