It’s been an “interesting” two weeks! When we volunteered to foster a dog from the Pima Animal Care Center here in Tucson, we imagined it would be our “dog fix,” since our beloved Catahoula had died in 2021.

Nope. Nothing like that. Worse and far better.

Clara, a German Shepherd dog mix, arrived at the Pima Animal Care Center in April, sick, dehydrated, anorexic and a nervous wreck. She had parvovirus, a deadly canine virus easily prevented by immunization. She’d never been vaccinated. For anything. And I doubt she’d ever received more from humans than mistreatment. She was terrified of men, very wary of me, saw crates and small spaces as places of horror…and they may well have been in her two years of life.

She was not housebroken and had to be kept on a leash because she was a runner. Yet she was sweet and gentle—she never barked, growled or even curled her lip.

After two weeks in our quiet home, with lots of love, singing, food and treats, she seemed calmer, even seeking out my rubs behind the ears. I sang because I’d read about how useful it was in calming dogs in a newsletter from writer Genie Joseph of The Human Animal Connection. So when we had to arrange to meet some potential adopters, we were hopeful.

Then the worst happened…Clara slipped out of our SUV when I opened the back, before I could grab the leash.

With the potential adopters, we spent a long time watching her circle around us, but couldn’t catch her…or even come close. We were heartbroken and so, so, ashamed that we’d lost our charge.

I went home and confessed. And then the learning began. First, the wonderful people on the PACC Foster FB page assured me I was not alone, not a terrible person, and advised me how to start others looking for her and how to approach a frightened escape artist. I spent the day posting about her on social media. Many people shared my messages and offered to help look for her.

 The person who’d urged me to foster Clara, the indefatigable Amy from The Sanctuary Project, phoned and offered to meet me after the heat of the day (it was Memorial Day…and HOT), when strays generally surface after hunkering down in the shade. An incredibly kind homeowner in the area we’d lost her agreed we could leave Clara’s blanket in one corner of their yard. We distributed water, but not food, because that would draw predators. She shared the good stories of dogs and cats she’d found. I learned so much…not to holler Clara’s name and chase after her should I see her. And other great advice.

Amy had experienced volunteer trappers on call should we have a sighting of Clara. So we walked the area. After about two hours, Amy spotted her, circling a nearby home.  She’d heard my voice. I was supposed to squat down or lie down, but I assured Amy that then I’d have to be rescued. I found a yard chair and sat and sang to the dog. Walked the perimeter, slowly. She stayed nearby. I talked more to her. She bolted several times, but eventually I got very close. Almost close enough, but as I told Clara, I wasn’t agile enough to step on her lead.  

However, another volunteer, who’d known Clara at the shelter’s medical clinic, came by to help and was able to catch her. Since she had dogs at home who could teach Clara housedog manners, and had already offered to care for her when we left town mid-June, we agreed she’d become her foster.

I went home, exuberant that we’d found Clara, yet exhausted from three hours of searching in the desert for her.

What did I learn? That dogs have a huge wellspring of forgiveness…despite her early days, Clara was ready to accept love. I need to forgive myself for letting my escape artist get away. I learned that even two weeks of kindness were enough to convince this sweet pup to respond to my voice. And to forgive my off-key singing.

That there are people, so many wonderful people, who spend their time and energy helping these animals, searching for the lost ones—sometimes for months!—and advising those of us who are learning. Also learned that dogs yawn to calm themselves and panting and lip-licking is a sign of anxiety. 

As in every area of life, I have so much to learn. I am humbled, because I thought I was a “dog person.” 

Have you fostered a dog or cat? Or adopted a problem dog? I’d love to hear about it.