The Joy of Fostering

If you have ever fostered, surely you have had at least one person say to you, “Oh, I could never do that. I could not give up the dog.” Somehow the implication is that fosters are less feeling. The opposite is true! We love every one of our dogs, whether young or old, well-behaved or demon-spawned. We enter the relationship knowing it will be short term, and knowing that, dollars to donuts, we’ll cry at the end. But we do it anyway, because every time we foster, we not only save another dog, we help ensure that it will be placed in the perfect home!

I usually foster puppies. That means I am usually awakened at 2am by someone who has to go potty. Then I am woken up at 5am by everyone who has to go potty. I mix up puppy food with flaxseed meal, stir in a little warm water, sometimes add cottage cheese or an egg, put it in multiple trays and then feed the litters, standing over them to quiet the growls that are a natural result of large litters who have lacked for food, always giving them more than they can eat, teaching them that they do not have to be food aggressive. And then I pick up the poop. And then I refill the water bowl that someone tipped over. And I rotate everyone in free play in the house so they know how to behave (yeah, it’s a theory!). And I pick up poop. And I refill the water bowl that someone tipped over. And I bathe all the puppies, who moments before were playing in the water bowl but now hate water. And I pick up poop, and refill the water bowl that someone tipped over. And I give medicine to some or all. And I pick up poop, and refill the water bowl,….

And I love it! I love how the puppies swarm when they see me. I love how they explore my home. I love how they play with my adult dogs and keep them young. I love how my cats teach them the superiority of the feline species. And I love when I finally meet the family they’ve been waiting for, and how they don’t toss me a backward look as they head out the door, and the photos and updates I get weeks and months later from these families.

I love it. I have fostered well over 40 puppies, adults, and seniors, and each is special. Go ahead, try fostering. Be brave, risk your heart and save a life. You’ll be so glad you did!

~ Holly