So many people say they would not be able to foster a pet because they would become too attached. I completely understand. That’s what pets do – they come into our lives and our homes and we fall in love with them.
While it is a great kindness to offer love to someone who needs it, I will not turn this into a dissertation on how, without foster families, rescues cannot help animals in need. We already know this and, if you are one of those who for whatever reason is not able to foster, it is not my intention to make you feel bad. I have been there too.
I have fostered several times in the past. Some of the dogs fit in well with my dog Mickey and some not so well. For the record, I loved all of my foster dogs but when the right homes came along, I found it pretty easy to let them go – much easier than I would have thought. Somehow I knew they were not meant to be mine.
While it is a great kindness to offer love to someone who needs it, I will not turn this into a dissertation on how, without foster families, rescues cannot help animals in need. We already know this and, if you are one of those who for whatever reason is not able to foster, it is not my intention to make you feel bad. I have been there too.
I have fostered several times in the past. Some of the dogs fit in well with my dog Mickey and some not so well. For the record, I loved all of my foster dogs but when the right homes came along, I found it pretty easy to let them go – much easier than I would have thought. Somehow I knew they were not meant to be mine.
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Although I did become extremely attached and all of them were wonderful dogs, when their journeys took them to where they truly belonged I was thrilled for them. The problem I encountered was that certain dogs made Mickey very nervous. My last two fosters were not interested in making friends with him so I decided, in fairness to myself, to Mickey and to the other dogs, I would have to take a break. I was happy to do anything else to assist rescues but there would be no more fosters for me as long as I had Mickey.
Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans – they often go awry. And my plans were thrown into complete chaos this past October when I attended an event and met a dog named Dan. He was there with a local Animal Control unit in hopes of finding a home. I learned he had been seized along with seven other dogs in a cruelty case and had spent many months in the pound. His siblings had been adopted but he remained.
Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans – they often go awry. And my plans were thrown into complete chaos this past October when I attended an event and met a dog named Dan. He was there with a local Animal Control unit in hopes of finding a home. I learned he had been seized along with seven other dogs in a cruelty case and had spent many months in the pound. His siblings had been adopted but he remained.
Dan is an older boy, estimated to be about seven years old. He had been kept in a crate in a basement and used for breeding. He was missing patches of fur, his ears had been poorly cropped and were horribly infected and he had come into the pound severely infested with fleas. He had been taken to the vet and no longer had fleas but he was still missing fur and his ear infections had not completely cleared up causing him considerable discomfort.
In spite of everything though, nothing seemed to faze him. He enjoyed being petted, walked obediently on his leash and greeted everyone he met with a smile and a tail that never stopped wagging. One of the vendors even offered him some chicken soup which he happily lapped up from a cup.
As the days passed, I found myself thinking about him more and more, looking at the shelter website and making some inquiries. Finally I asked one of the rescues I volunteer with, Furry Friends Foster and Rescue, Inc., if it would be willing to pull him from the pound if I agreed to foster. The rescue said yes!
First, though we had to make sure he and our dogs would get along. My boyfriend and I took our two dogs to the pound to meet him and everyone seemed fine. It was a done deal. We decided right then to give fostering another try. I notified the rescue which then made an appointment to spring him. About a week later I gave Dan his freedom ride.
In spite of everything though, nothing seemed to faze him. He enjoyed being petted, walked obediently on his leash and greeted everyone he met with a smile and a tail that never stopped wagging. One of the vendors even offered him some chicken soup which he happily lapped up from a cup.
As the days passed, I found myself thinking about him more and more, looking at the shelter website and making some inquiries. Finally I asked one of the rescues I volunteer with, Furry Friends Foster and Rescue, Inc., if it would be willing to pull him from the pound if I agreed to foster. The rescue said yes!
First, though we had to make sure he and our dogs would get along. My boyfriend and I took our two dogs to the pound to meet him and everyone seemed fine. It was a done deal. We decided right then to give fostering another try. I notified the rescue which then made an appointment to spring him. About a week later I gave Dan his freedom ride.
As you may guess, a senior pittie is not a dog that people will be lining up to adopt so I knew he would be with me for a while. The plan was to foster him for as long as it took to find his forever home. What I did not plan on was how much I would fall in love with him.
Dan likely has had no real training or socialization but he is sweet, smart and tries hard to please. He will take time and work but I believe he has tons of potential.
He is funny and goofy and his head is a little too big for his body. He runs clumsily and his whole body wiggles when he is happy. He can be a bit pushy but Mickey doesn’t seem to mind – in fact they really seem to like each other and Dan will learn his manners eventually.
Dan likely has had no real training or socialization but he is sweet, smart and tries hard to please. He will take time and work but I believe he has tons of potential.
He is funny and goofy and his head is a little too big for his body. He runs clumsily and his whole body wiggles when he is happy. He can be a bit pushy but Mickey doesn’t seem to mind – in fact they really seem to like each other and Dan will learn his manners eventually.
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I don’t know exactly when or how I made the decision, but one day I just knew that Dan would be not be looking for a permanent home because he had already found one. Earlier this month we made it official. Dan is now one of us – part of our family. He has won his way into our hearts completely.
I guess my point in all of this is, if you have the home, the heart, the love and you are on the fence, fostering is worth a try. If you’ve had a bad experience or two, it is worth trying again. Having a reputable rescue behind you makes things a lot easier. Everything is provided for you – food, supplies, medical care and any support you may need.
Yes, you will get attached. And yes, it can be hard to let them go. But sometimes, if you’re lucky, you find one that you’ll never let go. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you’ll find just what you need when you didn’t even know you needed it. I certainly was not looking to adopt another dog but then a sweet, lonely senior boy that no one else seemed to want adopted me.
He waited seven years but his wait is over. Dan is finally home and we could not be happier.
I guess my point in all of this is, if you have the home, the heart, the love and you are on the fence, fostering is worth a try. If you’ve had a bad experience or two, it is worth trying again. Having a reputable rescue behind you makes things a lot easier. Everything is provided for you – food, supplies, medical care and any support you may need.
Yes, you will get attached. And yes, it can be hard to let them go. But sometimes, if you’re lucky, you find one that you’ll never let go. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you’ll find just what you need when you didn’t even know you needed it. I certainly was not looking to adopt another dog but then a sweet, lonely senior boy that no one else seemed to want adopted me.
He waited seven years but his wait is over. Dan is finally home and we could not be happier.
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