Not only did the dog's story and scars and what he had to endure make me cry but it brought a rage in my heart for the SOB's who do this kind of thing to dogs. May they get their punishment a 1000 times over. Scum of the earth lowlife dirt bags.

A thank you from the bottom of my heart, Cameron, for rescuing this sweet dog. He's obviously a precious dog and needs love and time for healing his soul. It's obvious he knows he's been rescued and is feeling safe with you. I think he's a special one.

Wow. Just.... wow.

Beautiful boy. Pathetic previous "owner". Amazing how resilient he is. I don't know if *I* could smile after being through what he has.

 Quote: Lynne Barrows

He sounds like is very resilient and responding wonderfully to you. How old do you think he is?

How long, typically, do you foster a dog for? (I'm talking generally, for fosters) ie. weeks, months, or longer?

He is about 2... plus or minus.
How long depends on the dog. One guy I fostered for almost 2 years. He ended up being donated to a nursing home as a live - in therapy dog. Some I have for a week.
This guy will probably be here at LEAST a month.

Quote: One guy I fostered for almost 2 years. He ended up being donated to a nursing home as a live - in therapy dog.

Cameron,
We used to take our pitbull to the assisted living home where my mom lived. He had no training as a therapy dog but did have very good house manners. The residents absolutely loved him - some of them had pre-conceived notions about pitbulls but he quickly won their hearts. Hope your Ivan will be able to eventually spread his love around!

We have to take things slow, but I am impatient to see what he can do with that nose! Tracking me down on concrete in a heavily tracked area after only just meeting me is pretty impressive. (With no training too)
As for spreading the love around, he already has been. I have had to take him around to do some paperwork and a few times now I have brought him with me rather than leave him at home. (short 10-20 min trips around town - The last thing I want him to think is that I just "hang out" at home all day.) Every place that he has gone he goes out of his way to make eye contact with EVERYONE and try to lick them. It's actually hard to keep him from saying hi to each and every person he meets.

From what you just wrote, he IS special. A miracle dog. Simply amazing. What a strong, beautiful and loving character he has.

Cameron, for the most part when I get even a hint that a post is going to be heartwrenching I avoid it at all costs. Watching the suffering of animals has never been something that I could tolerate. However, because of the title of your post, there was no hint as to what the contents concerned. Not only did I learn something about the horrible practices of dog fighting, which develops such an intense rage in me that I can hardly tolerate sitting here and doing nothing but it evokes dramatic fantasies in my mind of finding these kind of people and going vigilante on them. I would love to put them in an arena with another one of their kind and make them fight. There is nothing like one's own medicine to open one's eyes. Still, I am a Christian woman and not supposed to think that way. (I won't tell you the other fantasies because they are just obscene and would probably make all the men cringe, albeit the offenders would be more than deserving of such a punishment) Anyhow, I switch from one emotion to another almost in an instant. A feeling of admiration for your courage in taking him in and pity and heartbreak for his obvious desire to be loved. What a wonderful thing you are doing. Caesar always says that dogs don't live in the past, they live in the now, although they are affected by their pasts they have an uncanny ability to move on. My prayer for you both is that you will fill each other with love and hope for a brighter future for Ivan. That you will give him the amunition and the love that he needs to 'move on' and to find bliss in what is left of his life. Bless you, hun for your contribution to this little boys life and for helping make this world a better place, one dog at a time.

How lucky for Ivan that you rescued him !!! You are wonderful !!!

 Quote: RobbinMann

which develops such an intense rage in me that I can hardly tolerate sitting here and doing nothing but it evokes dramatic fantasies in my mind of finding these kind of people and going vigilante on them. I would love to put them in an arena with another one of their kind and make them fight.

Trust me, I could probably match you fantasy for fantasy. At times, they are so overwhelming that I have to get the dogs out and just love on them instead or I would lose myself in them.
Everytime I work with these type of cases I find myself wishing I could be more like the dogs I help in their ability to move on and focus on the positive.
I think I have had tears in my eyes around the clock since the first time of seeing this guy. I was so guarded and protective of him from the first time seeing him - I didn't want the techs even touching him for fear of them doing something stupid and causing him to react. (If he had gone for any of them while outprocessing I probably would not have been allowed to leave with him)
Thanks so much for all the support - you guys have no idea what it means to me. Sometimes this stuff can be so hard to do. It helps to read what you guys post to keep me going.

You GO girl!!!