Rachel Fusaro 🐶 Helps Dogs

She wouldn’t eat, would barely drink, and I tried EVERYTHING Cooked lean turkey, beef, goat milk, yogurt, kefir, every dog food available, bone broth, mothers pudding, eggs you name it - I spent countless hours researching & preparing foods to entice her I offered her food around the clock - every 2-3 hours day and night. I had never been so tired, but she needed calories & nutrients to heal AND feed her pups Her loose 💩 was a big concern and I worried about her getting dehydrated It took 2 weeks before she really began eating consistently and having solid stools It’s a blur how we made it through, but through it all Daffodil was nothing but a puddle of love Her gratitude radiated from her body She didn’t know me, but she knew I was trying to help. It was like we understood each other So we kept at it And day by day she gained a little weight, a little trust, and a ton of love We made a good team. Though she did all the hard work. We all worried about her - vets have been supportive from around the world offering help and suggestions Her situation wasn’t ideal, but we kept faith and we started seeing improvements She’s going to be ok 🙏 #fosterdog #rescuedog #dogmom

Daffodil was dumped at a shelter DAYS before giving birth 💔 She was malnourished, underweight & terrified but none of that stopped her from giving everything she had to her puppies I started fostering her through my local shelter, SoHumane, and right away she started nesting, begging for comfort and began her whelping process This hero gave birth to 9 puppies in 5 hours, & watching this weak and scared girl rise to the occasion was inspiring She barely knew me but she leaned on me. Trusted me to help when she needed it, & I’m grateful for the experience to witness the miracle of life from a magnificent being Each puppy entering the world and she knew exactly what to do, glancing my way when she needed help opening their airways It was clear this wasn’t her first litter 😔, it was clear she lived a life of neglect— despite that she approached me with nothing but love and openness We as humans don’t deserve dogs It took her weeks to regain her strength, & round the clock care, feedings and helping her nurse and care for her babies nonstop. It took a village. It was almost hard to truly enjoy & experience those first couple of weeks bc my focus was helping Daffodil gain weight, get proper nutrients & help her keep each puppy safe, warm and alive Unfortunately we these first weeks weren’t the hardest part Unfortunately we had grim days looming ahead, & impossible losses Reflecting on these moments is almost suffocating, sometimes I feel like it would be easier to forget this. To move forward & pretend it didn’t happen But it did happen. And all of their lives mean something, & from this something meaningful will happen More to come tomorrow… #fosterdog #rescuedog #shelterdog #puppy #bordercollie #puppycheck

She had just given birth to 9 puppies (in 5 hours which is insane) and keep in mind - being only 39lbs makes her pretty small for such a big litter She was surrendered to my local shelter 3 days before giving birth, so I started fostering her to give her and her pups a fighting chance Problem was / she started out so malnourished that it was an uphill battle to get her back to health -WHILE she was nursing 9 puppies Nursing takes a major toll on the healthiest of dogs But she stayed committed to caring for her pups & learning to trust us With everything humans have put her through, she never held that against me That is who Daffodil is. Pure love. Pure strength. Pure Thank you for loving her with me #fosterdog #dogmom #rescuedog #shelterdog

Back when we thought the hardest part was over Watching this I still remember how worried I was that she wouldn’t eat and had continued health issues for WEEKS She was in no condition to give birth, and her post partum recovery was far from normal I felt hopeless and helpless for so much of it, I tried everything to keep her strong (yes, with vets) so she could feed her large litter - 9 puppies for a dog under 40lbs is hard to feed But she managed, because she’s a rockstar and natural nurturer. We made a good team 💜 #fosterdog #rescuedog #dogsarefamily #dogmom

I almost deleted all the footage of my fosters… reliving these moments, while sweet, is really hard Part of me wanted to move past these last several months and start new Go back to my old content, almost pretend it didn’t happen But then I remind myself that yes, it was hard. Really effing hard. Something I don’t wish on anyone. But also an experience that changed me forever, & I’m CHOOSING to be changed for the better So I will share the rest of their story now… because when I was IN the moment it was all too hard. But im ready, because they are all too precious to forget. Juniper was third born, with the most black coloring of all her siblings She had a sweetness about her that soothed your soul, but as she gained mobility she had a spicy side, too! RIP little one 🪽 #fosterdog #newpuppy #puppymom

This is what made her recovery so hard She was in such poor shape before giving birth that once she delivered her pups, it took weeks to get her back to health She had ongoing stomach troubles, wouldn’t eat (likely because her stomach was so unwell), lethargic… But we didn’t give up. Vets had tons of helpful suggestions and i offered her every type of food/liquid/supplement day & night, every 1-3 hours I had never been so tired in my life, but it was nothing compared to what she was going through And thankfully, in a few weeks time, she started eating regularly & her tummy settled Things started to smooth out, her milk supply became plentiful, her spirit rose, she was doing it She’s simply the best More updates tomorrow #fosterdog #rescuedog #puppy #shelterdog

Do you want a relationship or dictatorship with your dog? Choosing relationship based training was a total mind-shift for me Our culture focuses on getting dogs to do what we want, when we want, often with little or no regard to what the dog wants/needs I used to train “sit” to mean, you sit when I say it even if it’s uncomfortable I didn’t do it to be mean, I just thought that was what “training” was But dog training has progressed to recognize dogs as sentient beings that DESERVE to have a say in what happens to them or what they do (ofc safety always being priority) This doesn’t mean we don’t set boundaries or expectations, all good relationships have those things But my training style (learned from professionals, still learning tbh) has changed to be less demanding & more watching Watching for behavior I like & rewarding that, over and over Watching for undesirable behavior & redirecting it or better yet, setting dog up for success & AVOIDING it Let me know if you want me to show HOW I’m working on this! I’m not perfect, but we can learn together 🤝 #DogTraining #positivereinforcement #newpuppy #puppytraining #puppycheck

Daffodil 🌼 has inspired millions simply by being who she is: a strong fiercely loving mother Humans failed her, humans made this experience harder on her than it needed to me. But I want to show her that there are still good humans out there Who will sit with her when she’s too tired to lift her head. Humans who will spoon feed her when she’s too tired to move, & those that will help keep her puppies safe when she’s too tired to stay awake I just wish this part would’ve been the hardest… I remember promising her id keep all her babies safe… I wish I hadn’t. Because in the end I couldn’t keep that promise. I’ll update more tomorrow #fosterdog #rescuedog #puppy #dogmomlife

Nature is brutal I knew fostering newborns would be hard, and I know the odds of a large litter all making it was slim But all of the puppies were doing SO well Gaining weight, eating, hitting milestones Until they weren’t… Posie was the first to decline… it started with vomiting which is extremely serious in young puppies They have no reserves & almost no ability to recover from diarrhea, vomiting etc We had to act quick, she needed extra fluids SUBQ which was the hardest thing I had to do - because it required a 💉 2-3x a day More tomorrow #fosterdog #rescuedog #puppy #sickpuppy #puppytiktok

In other words👇 Welcome to my new puppy raising series. I’m calling it “raising an unbothered puppy” “Unbothered” is my personal word of the year, & is exactly how I want to raise my new puppy, Aura I want her to be so content, confident & fulfilled that she’s unbothered by new and novel things I want her to be SO “unbothered” by distractions that her focus stays on me as I help her navigate a world not built fo dogs And I’ll be taking you along on that journey, sharing what I’ve learned from experts - and side note, this won’t be just for puppies Most of what I share will apply to all dogs. I mean, all dogs are puppies, right?🤭🥰 Let’s get to business 👇 This perfect puppy routine will set your puppy up for success while crate and potty training them Oh wait, there’s more🥳 If you stick to this routine daily, you’ll also teach your puppy how to have an OFF switch. Imagine a calm puppy that can settle anywhere (it is possible!) A common puppy mistake = trying to “entertain” or keep them busy ALL day Puppies need ~10-18 hours of restorative rest daily, and sleep is when they process what they’ve learned & experienced- PERFECT PUPPY ROUTINE: 1️⃣: POTTY 2️⃣: DO “SOMETHING” 3️⃣: POTTY 4️⃣: REST ♻️: REPEAT Something = an activity that works their brain, body or socialization skills Let me know if you want a deep dive on how to make the most of step 2️⃣ To learn how to truly enjoy your unbothered puppy, follow along 😘 #puppytraining #newpuppy #puppymom #DogTraining #newdog

Replying to @$vet PLEASE READ👇 Resource guarding is normal, barking & growling = normal 👇 So we don’t want to *stop*these behaviors because if we do, we remove their ability to communicate discomfort. And that is how we end up getting bit… BUT we do want to teach our dogs reasonable responses & how to make good decisions for themselves (eg moving away when worried instead of biting, etc) I never want my dogs to think that when I approach they lose something. Me approaching should always = positive feelings whenever possible Prevention is key, but my priority (learned from professionals) is changing my dog’s emotional response to me being near her when she has something of value Here’s how I did this game (again, always work with a professional): 1️⃣: When Aura had something she valued (food, toy, chew) I’d toss higher value food or treats in her direction, only being close enough to not get a reaction out of her. Remember, this is a low pressure positive reinforcement “game,” where we’re starting to teach our dog that when we approach, ONLY good things happen. I practice each step for several days, with 5-10 treats at a time. Short sessions. 2️⃣: I toss treats as I walk by. No cue, no pressure, just walk and toss. Walk & toss (with 5-10 treats then leave her alone) 3️⃣: Introduce the “trade it out” cue. Mine is “can I have that.” I toss a higher value treat away, remove her food bowl, then give it back 4️⃣: My favorite, because it’s how we should end every interaction with a being. Better than we found it! I trade it out” and before I give it back, I add even better treats to it, to MAKE IT BETTER!! I practice this just a few times then I leave her alone to enjoy it. We practice this a lot in puppy class with the local trainers I work with @goroguedogtrainingllc , and they remind pet parents that even if your dog isn’t demonstrating resource guarding tendencies now - it’s important to practice to avoid it Again, every dog is different. Work with a science based PRACTICED positive reinforcement trainer whenever possible 🙏 For SAFER 🐶 tips follow along! #puppytraining #p#puppymomr#resourceguardingd#DogTrainingreactivedog

Not training my puppy?!👇 When i raised my other rescue, Bentley, i focused on teaching loose leash, sit, stay, down and every other “obedience cue” out there He was obedient but struggled in his early years with separation anxiety because i didnt focus on building his confidence Of course i AM working on basic obedience with my new puppy, Aura, but my PRIORITY & focus is helping her feel safe & confident in a world not built for dogs through proper socialization & desensitization Why? Because RELATIONSHIP When i advocate for my pup, & find ways to build her confidence & trust in me to help Keep her safe, our relationship grows. Everywhere you look are “lists of things your puppy should know by age XYZ” and im learning (after years of interacting with thousands of you) that those can be misleading Does your puppy know what to do when theyre worried? How does your puppy recover after a scary event? Is your puppy easily over stimulated? Are you struggling with gnarly land shark issues? These are the questions i prioritze Let me know if you want me to share more of what this training looks like And to be clear - im not saying i DONT train obedience cues like loosh leash or recall - I absolutely do, but the first thing i focus on is confidence which has made teaching all the “other stuff” MUCH easier because we have a stronger relationship Strong relationship = better training outcomes #DogTraining #puppytraining #newpuppy #positivereinforcement #puppycheck #dogappreciation

Do you do consent check ins with your dog? Thank you for allowing me a safe space to catch back up on Daffodil’s story. Being on the other side is eye opening in many ways… It took WEEKS but in time Daffodil started eating well, having normal stools and regaining her energy I started spending more 1x1 time with her so she had time to decompress from nursing and tending to 9 puppies She LOVES being outdoors, we think she was kenneled and tethered outside before surrendered to the shelter, so we sunbathe together and I love her as much as she wants Because she’s very nervous of the world, understandably so, I make sure to give her space and pay attention to her body language So often I see dogs tolerating pets when all they want is to be near their human So I do consent check ins as you see here to build trust At this point in her journey we start working with her puppies on making sure they’re fed, gaining weight, and hitting milestones This is a big litter for such a small dog, she’s barely 39lbs More tomorrow to come #fosterdog #dogmom #rescuedog #shelterdog #dogstory #DogTraining

Trigger warning ⚠️ pet loss And just like that, within 72 hours we lost 3 of my foster puppies We later learned they had a congenital developmental lung disorder, and I am so grateful that the remaining 6 siblings were never impacted by this While I understand loss happens with litters, nobody could have prepared me for this They were born in my home and for weeks I spent day & night tending to their every need They were almost 4 weeks old when they passed away, & they had personalities & quirks & preferences To me, they were.. are, family Juniper was the third born with the most black coloring She was feisty & held her own when her brothers tried taking over her teat! She loved being held, she melted in my arms & even started enjoying “solid” foods I truly believe she waited for me before leaving this earth. She was thoughtful like that, my sweet Juni Rest in paradise & know that you will never be forgotten Your suffering will mean something, if it’s the last thing I do 🙏 And to everyone here, thank you for loving her with me. I couldnt have done this without you #petloss #grief #fosterdog #puppy #rescuedog #puppymom

Trigger warning: pet loss 💔 The first born and first to leave my side, rest in peace, Maple I don’t know what to say, even today I feel so angry and sad and confused but also grateful to have met her Thankful I had the weeks I had, and inspired to make her suffering mean something Truth is, the end wasn’t pretty. I’ll spare you the details, but just know we did everything we could to save her I’ll never forget sitting at the specialty ER clinic as they hand me a (minimum) 4 figure estimate. They didnt expect me to approve it since she was a foster and so young… But I told them to spare nothing and do everything. I knew in my heart we’d figure it out, the universe would provide Some think that’s ridiculous, but when I foster they become family. Period. And for family, I’d do anything Unfortunately, money and specialists couldn’t save her Unfortunately, her precious little body couldn’t handle this brutal world and she passed away in my arms By this time, the entire clinic was in love with her. This didn’t surprise me because there was something special about her When we lost her, we all wept together. The entire clinic stopped what they were doing for Maple. Everyone came together. While heartbreaking, it was beautiful It proves you don’t need to be mighty in size to have a mighty impact Being the first born, she was the first being to show me the miracle of life. It was such an honor to be part of her incredible existence I did send her out for an autopsy because I was desperate to know what happened and why. I blamed myself for weeks. I carried tremendous guilt and went to a very dark place that, candidly, I’m still crawling out of How could a being so small impact me so big? Because that’s who Maple was. Mighty in spirit, mighty in love It took what felt like forever to get results, but we learned she had a congenital lung developmental disorder that as her body grew, her lungs didn’t. While this gave me some peace of mind that that I didn’t expose her to a disease, per se, it meant the others could be at risk too… And unfortunately that’s what started to happen next 😔 #fosterdog #rescuedog #puppy #sickpuppy #petloss #grief #petgrief

I’m finally ready to share more of the journey of my fosters, Daffodil & her puppies Follow along but bring the tissues, it’s been a tough road (but a good road) 🐾 I hope this will inspire you to volunteer with your local shelter or rescues just one time. If everyone volunteered just once, think of the lives you’d save 💜 #fosterdog #freedomride #puppycheck #havingadog

It’s true… I couldn’t keep Daffodil, but I kept a part of her 🙏 6 months ago my life was turned upside down. What was supposed to be a normal foster volunteer experience turned into one of the hardest things I’ve done through Admittedly, I still struggle with it… MONTHS later… I wish the grief would move past now, BUT I am much better Sharing these cherished memories helps a lot, knowing I’m keeping her memory alive If you’re new here, I fostered Daffodil after she was dumped at my local shelter. 3 days later she gave birth to 9 puppies. Daffodil was in such poor shape that it was 24/7 care to bring her back to health, all while trying to keep her pups alive I worry it’ll be months before I’m “back to normal” - which I hate hate hate to admit. It shouldn’t be so hard. But it is what it is and I’m just focusing on moving forward & making sure their memories are never lost Unfortunately, we lost 3 of her babies which shattered me. Daffodil did recover though, and I had to make a decision that was best for HER to find a forever home she’d thrive in - which sadly wasn’t with me. She’s so loved with her new family (yes we stay in touch), and best part she’s spoiled as the only dog with all love for her. The way I knew she deserved & couldn’t give her I never intended on keep ANY of her puppies. It wasn’t even on the radar. Not even close. But as life does, things changed when I finally admitted the connection I had with Daffodil’s second born, Aura I tried resisting it, but she was always mine and I always hers And would you know it, Aura ended up being the MOST like her mom, Daffodil 🌼 I couldn’t keep Daffodil, but I kept part of her. I’m grateful for the entire experience that changed me forever.. Xo #puppy #dogmom #puppymom #fosterdog #rescuedog