Dogs
- Foster A Rescue Dog: Earn Your Angel Wings
by Carrie Boyko (c) Carrie BoykoOur Foster Dog, JackReady to Walk Tanner If you can't adopt a dog, consider assisting a local rescue by fostering a dog. Fostering is often temporary, and will give you a chance to try out adoption, a variety of breeds,...
- Fostering: C’mon, You Know You Want To Try It!
By Sue Hayes Have you considered it? Fostering makes an incalculable difference not just for the animals you provide with a temporary home thereby freeing up space at the shelter, but to your community at large by helping to decrease the number of unwanted...
- Why Should You Foster A Pet?
By Linda Cole My neighbor is a crazy cat lady, like me and my co-writer Julia Williams. We are proud of our label and would do anything to help a cat or dog. My neighbor is also a foster mom who nurses litters of kittens that have lost their mom. She...
- What Does A Pet Foster Parent Do?
By Julia Williams I’ve loved animals for as long as I can remember, and have always looked for ways to help them. Volunteering at my local animal shelter is one way I do this. The actual acts of walking the dogs and petting the cats is very enjoyable;...
- Fostering Animals 101
Let’s face it. The economy has wrought devastation and destruction on many, and pets are often the causalities of economic war. Many people don’t think of animals the same way that we do, and pets are often discarded, abandoned or turned in to rescues....
Dogs
Fostering Animals - Jasper
There’s something to be said for fostering pets....
Let me share my own foster experience with you – and bear in mind – I’m the most neurotic, over-protective animal person in the world. Seriously. If you knew me, you would understand that I’m not exaggerating here. I also “keep” everything – from worn out shoes to stray kittens.
So I really believed that fostering was not for me. I thought that I would have problems giving up two beautiful puppies that I bottle-fed every two hours for 3 weeks and later potty-trained and taught tricks too.
Turns out, I was wrong.
Oh – I’m not saying it wasn’t difficult, because it was. But, I was working with a strong, reputable rescue that I trusted and I knew that it would be unfair to keep the pups when I already had three large dogs (and 18 cats) of my own. So when I was ready, I released them for adoption.
I just got an email from the adoptive parents of Jasper and I couldn’t be more proud. His new family has glowing recommendations about him, he’s got his own toys, his own bed, his own bowls and even his own cat! (Okay, maybe not his own cat, but the cat is still a playmate.)
He’s become a traveler. He’s been to the Grand Canyon, North Carolina (cross country trip, even) and has seen the snow. These are all things that I never would have been able to give him because let’s face it, loading three hundred-plus pounds of dog in your car and controlling them while you’re driving is not for the feint of heart.
And that is Jasper’s story. Am I happy that I rescued the little guy? You bet. Was it worth the time and energy I put in to save a “mutt”? Just ask his new owners. I think they will agree that he’s one of the best things that’s happened to them…
Fostering is not easy, but boy – when it works out like this has, it’s sure worth it…
I want to encourage our readers to foster a puppy or kitten (or an adult dog or cat who has fallen on hard times) today. Yes, I know you get attached. Yes, I know it’s hard to let them go. But trust me, when you hear about the outcomes that go along with fostering, it’s well worth the effort. Tomorrow we’ll talk about Jake who had a very different outcome but is just as great of a story!
Contact your local animal control or rescue association and find out how you can help an animal.
Find an adoptable pet in your area at petfinder.com!
Stacy Mantle
- Foster A Rescue Dog: Earn Your Angel Wings
by Carrie Boyko (c) Carrie BoykoOur Foster Dog, JackReady to Walk Tanner If you can't adopt a dog, consider assisting a local rescue by fostering a dog. Fostering is often temporary, and will give you a chance to try out adoption, a variety of breeds,...
- Fostering: C’mon, You Know You Want To Try It!
By Sue Hayes Have you considered it? Fostering makes an incalculable difference not just for the animals you provide with a temporary home thereby freeing up space at the shelter, but to your community at large by helping to decrease the number of unwanted...
- Why Should You Foster A Pet?
By Linda Cole My neighbor is a crazy cat lady, like me and my co-writer Julia Williams. We are proud of our label and would do anything to help a cat or dog. My neighbor is also a foster mom who nurses litters of kittens that have lost their mom. She...
- What Does A Pet Foster Parent Do?
By Julia Williams I’ve loved animals for as long as I can remember, and have always looked for ways to help them. Volunteering at my local animal shelter is one way I do this. The actual acts of walking the dogs and petting the cats is very enjoyable;...
- Fostering Animals 101
Let’s face it. The economy has wrought devastation and destruction on many, and pets are often the causalities of economic war. Many people don’t think of animals the same way that we do, and pets are often discarded, abandoned or turned in to rescues....