harpua2002's foster dog thread!

As some of you already know, I have 4 dogs, 2 cats, a bunny, and 68 tanks. Another permanent member of the family is not an option for me.

I'm fortunate enough to live in close proximity to the Forsyth County Humane Society, a no kill shelter. They're a wonderful organization that pulls dogs and cats from "death row" as well as taking in dogs and cats from folks that find them wandering, folks that can't care for them anymore, etc.

My husband and I decided to take in our first foster in the middle of November. We were browsing Facebook and he called my attention to a FCHS post about a sad-faced little blue pit bull puppy that needed a foster home. We emailed immediately and picked her up the next day. What a cutie! Here's a pic of her:


Little Natasha got adopted a couple of weeks later, then I attended an adoption event at Petco and met Happy. He's a Samoyed/Golden Retriever mix that is just the perfect dog- so mellow, so balanced, and so sweet and loving. He went to a family with 6 kids just a couple of days before Christmas and they love him. Anyone would.


And on Sunday, we got little Beth. We finally decided it was time for another foster. She is such a sweet little girl! They saved her from "death row" so there is almost no information about her. She's an adorable little tail-less dog. I suppose she is a beagle mix but there's no telling! The poor thing got spayed yesterday and next weekend we'll start taking her to Petco adoption events. Here's a pic of the little cuddler:


I guess the point of this long-winded thread is, if you have the opportunity to foster dogs and/or cats, please do so!!!

 

Wow! That's fantastic Harpua2002!!! You know, I've never even heard of this being done before. Around here, as far as I know, if they're in a shelter, that's where they stay until they are adopted, but to actually live with a foster family until adopted, I think that is a wonderful idea. I'm glad there are people out there like you to help these animals out. That's just..... well, thanks for being there for them.

And 68 tanks.... well that one does just make me speechless.

 

How sweet! Little Beth is so cute. I'm sure she will find her forever home soon.

 

They are all cuties!
I admire people who foster animals. I just don't think I could ever let any of them go. lol

Beth is such a cutie. I'm sure she'll find a great home.

I miss having a dog.
I doubt one would stand a chance with psycho kitty.

 

Good morning,

I have moved your thread to the Our Other Pets/Dogs section of the forum.

Thanks!

Ken

 

Wow! That's fantastic Harpua2002!!! You know, I've never even heard of this being done before. Around here, as far as I know, if they're in a shelter, that's where they stay until they are adopted, but to actually live with a foster family until adopted, I think that is a wonderful idea. I'm glad there are people out there like you to help these animals out. That's just..... well, thanks for being there for them.

And 68 tanks.... well that one does just make me speechless.

If you don't have any kill shelters in your area, well that's WONDERFUL! Unfortunately, we have a bunch of them in our area. Every dog my husband and I can take in saves the life of a dog that we will never meet. I have to keep telling myself that every time I want to keep one!

I think the last figure I read is that somewhere around 70% of their animals go to foster homes to wait for adoption. Their facility isn't that large so it's great that we have so many volunteers around here that are willing and able to foster dogs and cats.

7 of the tanks are in the house and the rest are in the fishroom. Little Beth likes to follow me around in there while I'm changing water. My little Pom mix always hangs out with me in there too.

How sweet! Little Beth is so cute. I'm sure she will find her forever home soon.

I know! She is recovering from Wednesday's spay surgery right now but she'll be adoptable in a week or so. My husband knows a really nice lady at his work that might be looking for a little dog! She's very cute and I've nicknamed her Boo Boo because she's a little sidekick that follows me everywhere.

They are all cuties!
I admire people who foster animals. I just don't think I could ever let any of them go. lol

Beth is such a cutie. I'm sure she'll find a great home.

I miss having a dog.
I doubt one would stand a chance with psycho kitty.

I don't think I'll ever get to the point where I can hand the animal off to the new family without crying. But that's ok! We just take a little time off, then we go back and choose another foster when we are ready. They do applications and home visits for each new family, so I know the animals will be going to good homes.

I could never be without a dog. I'm lucky that the cats I have get along with dogs.

 

I flunk fostering and end up adopting.....

You've had some real cutie pies..... thanks for all that you do for the pups!

 

Excellent work, Harpua!

I miss fostering, so I'll live it through you.

Jake's issues were so bad, we had to stop fostering to concentrate on him. I think our final count of dogs we fostered was between 20 and 25 when we stopped.

 

If you don't have any kill shelters in your area, well that's WONDERFUL! Unfortunately, we have a bunch of them in our area. Every dog my husband and I can take in saves the life of a dog that we will never meet. I have to keep telling myself that every time I want to keep one!

Unfortunately we have the kill shelters as well as the no kill shelters, but I've just never heard of anyone around here fostering animals. I think it's a great idea, and maybe when I don't have so many animals of my own, (they're all 10 and older), I'll check into this further and see if I can help out in a similar fashion. It's a great concept, and I'm hoping that this is being done around here as well, and I just didn't know about it, but being as some of the no kill refuse animals because they don't have room for more, I'm thinking it just hasn't caught on here....yet!

 

Well it would be a great idea to bring up at a board meeting for one of those organizations! You could end up starting something awesome!

 

LOL....I will definitely have to see if this service is being offered to these unfortunate animals, even if I can't be a part of it at this time, it would be nice to know if fostering is being offered to these animals, and not just being in cages day in and day out.

It's kind of funny though, how something like this doesn't even cross a person's mind until somebody like you brings the concept to their attention, and then the clouds part, and the sun comes out and it's like...wow! I don't know, I'm having a hard time explaining the effect, it's different than a "dah!" moment, it's I guess...illuminating.

 

It is hard to let foster dogs go. I'm currently fighting the urge to keep one I have right now. She's awesome and just a sweetie- basically a one hundred pound lap dog. When we got her she weighed 60 pounds- for a Rottie at a year and a half (estimated) that is a starved pup.

But you know at least with the organization I foster for that they are going to good homes. We check out everything about them, go to their house a couple of times. We see how serious they are and committed to taking care of a Rottweiler since they can be a lot of work and if previously abused a lot of issues. I really believe that helps to get good people to adopt. We are also ever there to help with education and training so we don't get the dog back, but we will always take a dog back. It doesn't happen to often thankfully.

Fosters are great for working with dogs with issues, so you can try to correct those issues before sending the dog off to it's forever home. It helps the dog all around to not be cooped up.

There has been 1 dog too far gone to ever be a safe pet which had to be euthanized which is heartbreaking but I have only seen it once in 5 years.. All our rescue has is an office- all dogs are fostered with experienced Rott or other more aggressive dog species people.

All in all- I believe fostering is the best way to go for the pet and the new owners. I think the dog in the end adjusts better to a new home.
You should check around Toosie- I bet they have them in Canada.

 

Well you all have my curiousity up big time!!!! So I will definitely be doing some snooping to see if fostering is something they are doing here.

Maybe I'm just too "bushed" and I'm just not in the know, but since I don't like being a mushroom, I'll have to find out.