Red Hot Chili Pepper!

This gorgeous girl is being fostered by our Cynthia Harper. Here’s what Cynthia writes:

“Chili Pepper” is a 1 1/2 yr. old bi-color mini Aussie. She is approx. 16″ tall. and a love able fluff ball. She is a happy little girl, though the first part of her life was far from happy.

This girl was placed in a very abusive home. She spent 6 mths. mostly in a cage with a blanket over it and in a dark room. There was other abuse as well that I will not get into. Enter Jan who responded to a Craig’s List ad. Jan took her home to their horse farm and Chili lived there for 1 yr. She had an older Pomeranian for a buddy and several birds., and she is comfortable around horses.

Jan and her husband did a wonderful job of helping Chili with the issues of abuse that she suffered from. Jan is now dealing with a severe medical issue which keeps her from giving Chili the exercise and further training she needs, and will be going through several operations with long recuperation times. She decided to place her beloved dog in Rescue. A very hard thing for her to do. She trusts us with finding Chili the perfect home and I know we will.

She knows her basic manners very well, which makes my job easier! She has been here only 2 days now so there is much that I will discover about her in the near future. She is overweight and the Aussie girls and I will help her slim down with a lot of activity and a diet. So far she does not show any interest in chasing balls or playing disc, but she loves running around the yard with the pack.

The main thing she does very well is to stick by your side. She does not let you out of her sight. Great little companion. She has some manners with cats, but then we have “Larry” here, who hangs around the backyard waiting for them to chase him or to get the opportunity to chase them! She stops quickly with NO. Inside there are 3 cats that come and go and we have different rules regarding cats inside, and she gets it. This girl learns very quickly. When you leave, you tell her “stay” and she backs up away from the doorway and sits. Good job Jan.

She is initially a shy dog, though it did not take her long to warm up to us. Don’t let this dissuade you if you think you can give her a great home. It takes some of us a little while to trust. Once you are “in” she adores you. She mainly needs more socializing at this point and leash work. This weekend we will take her to the Beach and see how she likes swimming.

We will take her with us to as many different places as possible to help her be more confident in the big world. Nothing like a couple Aussies to teach another one what that means! So far, I feel she would be a great dog for a family with children old enough to be a little patient with her and to not overwhelm her initially. She would make a great companion for a single person, or couple who would prefer an Aussie who does not have to intensity to work and perform as most do. Chili has decided at least so far that her job is to take care of you, by being right with you. This may change as she gets into better shape and becomes more confident. I am so happy to foster this delightful little gem of a dog and help her get ready for the best home ever!

Chili Pepper is located in Southwest Florida if you’d like to meet her, send us an email! Make sure you read the comments in this blog, as Chili’s foster posts updates there. I’ll add them to the main section occasionally, but I don’t want you to miss any. Also, be sure to check out her wonderful photo album!

November 6 update:

Chili went to the dog park yesterday and had a great time. She ran a lot and interacted real well with all the dogs and people there. She LOVES rides in the car. This dog is quickly expanding her confidence level as she is learning about the bigger world. Initially I thought this dog was a couch potato. Not true! She’s got plenty of energy. She has started to run hard in the yard chasing my two Aussies. She’s on a diet and her energy level has increased dramatically in a short time. She really knows her manners also. Wonderful girl I have here!! Smart as a whip.

December 8th update:

Chili went to the doggie beach with all of us on Sunday when the weather was warmer. I love watching dogs experience big water for the first time!! At first she would run back from the water when it came up on her feet, but after a short time she was going further and further in and finally a wave got her! She was a little surprised, then kept going further in. I am sure if I went in she would follow. Too cold for me! She ran and played with all the dogs. She really liked this little Basengi but then all my Aussies do cuz the dog can run!! She is no longer the shy wallflower she was when she came to us. She greets people and dogs alike. Initially she was shy with new people. Not much now! I feel she would be most happy in a home with other dogs., close to her size as she plays as rough as any aussie. She loves my friends Jack Russel. She would make a great family dog, though I still think little kids may not be right. 6 and over, unless they are truly dog savvy.Hard to be when you are under 6.Chili has been losing weight, I am seeing a waistline and when she is wet she looks A LOT smaller!! Her fur has a nice shine to it now also. She is very very furry. Last night all three girls had to share one large marrow bone, something I do occasionally as Evie used to have (occasionally still has) issues with bones. I take it away from each one and give it to the next. Chili had no problems with this. She also now shares toys with the others also. Initially she was a little possessive about toys, bones and people. She was insecure. I just love this sweet happy little dog. She needs a home and family of her own.

December 11th Update:

In the last couple of months, twice Chili Pepper has been adopted and returned within a couple of days. I can’t begin to tell you how much this frustrates me. I have fostered well over 100 dogs, and can tell you that you simply cannot even begin to know a dog in that short period of time. Dogs don’t start to show you who they really are until they’ve been in your home for at least two weeks. Dogs who have been abused, as has Chili, are likely to take a bit longer. Why shouldn’t they? Their trust has been betrayed time and time again. So when we have a dog like Chili Pepper in a foster home for a couple of months, we know who she is ~ she has let go of her fears and shown her spirit to them. Any adopter worth a grain of salt will trust the foster, be willing to allow Chili time to trust them, before giving up on her. And why? Well, gosh, just read what Cynthia has to say about this girl. She is wonderful! This is who Chili Pepper really is. She is worth knowing and loving:

“Whatever “issues” Chili Pepper had when she arrived are gone now. She is a gorgeous honey of a dog, and I believe Chili would do so well in a family with children 6-8 and over. I would also love to see her go to a home where she has another dog as a friend. Not a tiny dog; she is about 33 lbs. or so and has learned to play hard with my girls Aussie style, but she barks like a Pomeranian!! So funny, at Jan’s she had an older Pom as her housemate. She has now been socialized with us and it is a big difference.

She may still be a little insecure/nervous initially, she needs people to understand that maybe they cannot overwhelm her right off with hugs., etc….but give her a couple weeks and hug away….I do. I think that has been the problem with the 2 failed adoptions. She just needs a little time and no one has given it to her. People do not understand that not all dogs are going to leap in your lap and love up on you!! BUT Chili in a couple weeks will, and she continues to open up after a month or more here….people need to understand that some Aussies are reserved initially. At 19 mths. she is like a young teenager, judging and testing the world and trying to decide who is trustworthy. She had a very scary early life, they beat her. They caged and secluded her….BUT she is not a destroyed dog, she constantly smiles and is one of the happiest little things I have ever known…just plain HAPPY!!

I cannot take loading her into one more vehicle only to have her come back to me. If she comes back again, she is mine. Tex (hubby) said we should call her Boomerang!!! fitting. I need a person/family to give her time to blend into their family. I need them to give her a month. Let her decide when to give affection., etc….

In my honest opinion this is one of the most loving dogs I have ever known, she just needs to take her time and then it pours out of her. She is a love machine. Velcroe, does not like balls or frisbee, a pretty, endlessly happy curly haired Aussie. AND she will let you warm you feet underneath her all night long!!

I do NOT want to adopt her out. I adore her. YET, I will let her go one last time to the right people/person….they just seriously need to understand that not every dog on first meeting is going to jump into your lap and give you a kiss. She is my sweetheart of a dog. Fostering her has been a complete joy for us here and Bella and Evie love her also., and ALL the cats!! Only the best of homes to her. I can wait it out….no problem.”

Chili has gone home to Lakeland with Darlene Jensen and her friend Ray Hopper. Chili warmed up to them quite quickly, and Darlene just fell in love with her. Darlene lost her Aussie almost 2 mths. ago that she rescued from a busy highway 11 yrs. ago. She feels ready to really give Chili what she needs and they are both dog people. Chili will have her person 24/7 and that is going to make her a very happy pup!