A House Divided

We have a new foster dog. Abbey Rose is a Collie/German Shepherd cross who was left in the night drop at the Oakland Humane Society. The accompanying note said she is 9 years old and had been living outdoors for the last 5 years. No explanation as to why she was being left. Collie Rescue have been keeping her on their radar, hoping she would be adopted straight from the shelter.
I received a call on New Years Day that a foster home was needed and Abbey Rose arrived a few hours later. Her name was just plain Abby but we've embellished it a little.
This time, I actually told my husband that we were expecting a dog delivery, before it happened. There was only minor grumbling, which is a huge improvement.
Abbey Rose is a sweet girl. She has house manners and adores people. She is really a shepherd in collie clothing. Her coat is long, sable and white but her big, erect ears, stance and profile are all German Shepherd. It's a bit disorienting, like looking at one of those pictures that changes depending on how it's viewed.
One complicating factor is that she's not as cat-friendly as we hoped. We are down to one cat, as fearless Domino must have gone to have a chat with a coyote one night. (Three cats have gone missing in the immediate neighborhood in less than a month and the pack can be heard yipping as they hunt the canyon and golf course nearby).
Slinkie is much more cautious and suspicious. Abbey has barked and wanted to chase her so we've barricaded the house in half, in order to convince Slinkie not to leave home. Our house is a split-level two storey and the old ferret play-pen unfolds into the perfect barrier across the stairs to the lower level, cat/dog door and garden and across the two steps up to our master bedroom at the same time. McGyvered together at the center banister with a bungee cord, the fence stops the dog from accessing the cat and still allows the cat to creep into our bedroom at night when the dog is sleeping. I've been luring Slinkie in each evening and sliding the solid door into the cat flap to keep her in. We've had a few cartoon-like accidents where Slinkie has planted herself face first into an unyielding surface that she expected to open. It is a life or death situation for both animals so we're doing the best we can under the circumstances.
Abbey Rose has some understandable separation anxiety issues and I am only gradually being allowed to descend to the lower level of the house to use the computer, without her rushing about and crying as soon as I get out of sight. She will now relax if Hubby is with her and this morning I was permitted a brief interlude to check my email with only some quiet background whining from behind the barricade.
Funnily enough, Abbey Rose is much happier in the car. I have had her with me at the office so that Slinkie could relax at home during the day. Abbey comes with me to appointments and doesn't mind waiting in the car until I return. I haven't left her for long and I've been able to see her to make sure all was well. This isn't going to work as soon as the weather warms up but I have hopes that she will find her new home before long and/or that she is going to feel comfortable trusting that I will not abandon her.