Have you ever wondered what it would be like to foster a pet?
Do you have enough time?
Will you be able to give them up?
Join me over the next few months as we spotlight our wonderful foster homes...
Without them we couldn't continue to thrive and grow!
I’ve been an animal lover since I could walk, I think. I swear my calling in life is to save all the animals I possibly can. I wouldn’t be complete if I weren’t doing everything I could to help find homeless animals their own happy life. I thought about fostering for years before I finally took the step to look into rescues and go for it. I always felt like I didn’t have enough time at home, or a large enough yard, or a large enough home. What I didn’t realize is I definitely have a large enough heart and that’s all you really need! When I moved back in with my parents for a new job the first question I asked them was if we could foster. Now that I’ve been doing this, I’ve learned that I could foster while living alone, but I would have just kept thinking about doing it if I hadn’t moved back in with them. Thanks to their support and for opening their home to the fosters, I know that when I move out I can do the same thing there too. Without the new job bringing me back to my parents house, I never would have found a wonderful rescue to work with and I would still be wondering if I should/could foster a dog while working full time. I have 2 dogs of my own that are now more socialized, and in turn, much more behaved. The welcome and acceptance my dogs give the new fosters when they come in still amazes me every time I take in a new foster dog.
The biggest challenge with fostering has been learning the quirks of each dog, and learning how to try to help them. My first foster was Mattie, the sock eater and food stealer (but I never actually had any accidents with her – close calls, YES). The second was adopted within 3 days, a Pomeranian named Munchkin. He was likely never really a pet, and most likely nothing but a breeding machine. Third was a Chi mix named Parker, who had bad potty manners and went to a home with someone home often that could work with him. 4th was our Levi (Now Buddy, and a foster failure) who we came to find out was epileptic in a very scary way. I had never seen a seizure in a dog before, and he was eating and collapsed (or what we thought was a collapse) and then started shaking. I think it was then that my heart knew I wouldn’t be able to let this one go. The more broken they are – the more I long to help them. We tried to do what we should and send him to a new home, and we did, but he didn’t accept it. He was completely content when they were home, but he cried and whined ALL DAY while his new parents were at work. We had no idea that he had such separation anxiety since someone is generally home at our house. For the first time a foster came back to us. It couldn’t have been a better foster to be returned. He fit with our family perfectly; and still does. He had never made a peep while here, so to hear that he was howling all day was a big surprise. It was obviously meant to be, and before I even went to pick him up, he already had his forever home with us. We were thrilled to have him back. Currently, I have Marshall – who jumped 3 feet in the air on day one when I tried to lean over and give him a kiss on his head. Guess what he does now? Willingly accepts many kisses and even gives them out if you ask him to. That might be the most rewarding part – winning the trust of a less than trusting dog… I feel very good about the fact that we helped him understand that he can trust people.
Since we went with most challenging, let’s talk more about the rewarding part of fostering… Receiving pictures of them enjoying their new homes, and keeping in contact with my fosters forever homes. Hearing funny stories of what they’ve done – good and bad (Mattie), seeing them look more healthy with more meat on their bones (Munchkin), seeing the absence of seizures in Buddy now, and Marshall’s new found comfort with people.
I feel like I must mention too why I chose YAH, and why – since my experiences with them – I will never leave them. For me, it was a no-brainer when I found out they help the older dogs. The ones that have most likely had a home (a good or bad one) for most of their lives, then end up on death-row and are less likely to be chosen due to their age, or even minor health problems. See above – “the more broken they are, the more I want to help”. J That’s all I knew of YAH when I started, and that was enough for me.
THEN while fostering I learned about all the support that you and the animals are given throughout. It’s really as easy as giving them a home to live in while transitioning from their old life, giving them food, and providing lots of love. If they have potty issues, or chewing issues, or are not perfect in anyway – I have taken it upon myself to try to train them to do better. I’m not a trainer by any means though, and when I’ve had questions about anything Dawn has been wonderful to talk to. She’s never lead me to believe that I’m bothering her (even though I probably have J). She’s always been so patient and given me great advice. I thought I had pretty good knowledge of how dogs learn and think, but I have since learned – I didn’t. Even if any issues aren’t “fixed” before they go to their forever homes; that’s ok. Nothing is EXPECTED of the foster homes. I can tell that just volunteering is much appreciated by all of the YAH board. I actually FEEL appreciated by everyone I’ve met, and I don’t have to wonder if I am doing enough, or if I’m doing a good job. Just volunteering the day that I did was enough. I’ve always gone to all the foster events that I can, but if I couldn’t get there, I didn’t have to feel guilty. It was made clear to me from the start that I just do what I can, and anything more was appreciated.
And then there’s the sanctuary. Any rescue that doesn’t give up on the sick animals in their care because they turn out to be somehow ‘un-adoptable’ or become expensive to keep is one that I consider to be absolutely amazing. All rescues help animals, all rescues have big hearts, but not all rescues do whatever it takes for every single animal that comes through their door! For me, that’s what sets YAH apart from the rest of the rescues. I couldn’t be more appreciative to YAH for doing what they do. I’m absolutely honored to be a part of it.
LParker
The biggest challenge with fostering has been learning the quirks of each dog, and learning how to try to help them. My first foster was Mattie, the sock eater and food stealer (but I never actually had any accidents with her – close calls, YES). The second was adopted within 3 days, a Pomeranian named Munchkin. He was likely never really a pet, and most likely nothing but a breeding machine. Third was a Chi mix named Parker, who had bad potty manners and went to a home with someone home often that could work with him. 4th was our Levi (Now Buddy, and a foster failure) who we came to find out was epileptic in a very scary way. I had never seen a seizure in a dog before, and he was eating and collapsed (or what we thought was a collapse) and then started shaking. I think it was then that my heart knew I wouldn’t be able to let this one go. The more broken they are – the more I long to help them. We tried to do what we should and send him to a new home, and we did, but he didn’t accept it. He was completely content when they were home, but he cried and whined ALL DAY while his new parents were at work. We had no idea that he had such separation anxiety since someone is generally home at our house. For the first time a foster came back to us. It couldn’t have been a better foster to be returned. He fit with our family perfectly; and still does. He had never made a peep while here, so to hear that he was howling all day was a big surprise. It was obviously meant to be, and before I even went to pick him up, he already had his forever home with us. We were thrilled to have him back. Currently, I have Marshall – who jumped 3 feet in the air on day one when I tried to lean over and give him a kiss on his head. Guess what he does now? Willingly accepts many kisses and even gives them out if you ask him to. That might be the most rewarding part – winning the trust of a less than trusting dog… I feel very good about the fact that we helped him understand that he can trust people.
Since we went with most challenging, let’s talk more about the rewarding part of fostering… Receiving pictures of them enjoying their new homes, and keeping in contact with my fosters forever homes. Hearing funny stories of what they’ve done – good and bad (Mattie), seeing them look more healthy with more meat on their bones (Munchkin), seeing the absence of seizures in Buddy now, and Marshall’s new found comfort with people.
I feel like I must mention too why I chose YAH, and why – since my experiences with them – I will never leave them. For me, it was a no-brainer when I found out they help the older dogs. The ones that have most likely had a home (a good or bad one) for most of their lives, then end up on death-row and are less likely to be chosen due to their age, or even minor health problems. See above – “the more broken they are, the more I want to help”. J That’s all I knew of YAH when I started, and that was enough for me.
THEN while fostering I learned about all the support that you and the animals are given throughout. It’s really as easy as giving them a home to live in while transitioning from their old life, giving them food, and providing lots of love. If they have potty issues, or chewing issues, or are not perfect in anyway – I have taken it upon myself to try to train them to do better. I’m not a trainer by any means though, and when I’ve had questions about anything Dawn has been wonderful to talk to. She’s never lead me to believe that I’m bothering her (even though I probably have J). She’s always been so patient and given me great advice. I thought I had pretty good knowledge of how dogs learn and think, but I have since learned – I didn’t. Even if any issues aren’t “fixed” before they go to their forever homes; that’s ok. Nothing is EXPECTED of the foster homes. I can tell that just volunteering is much appreciated by all of the YAH board. I actually FEEL appreciated by everyone I’ve met, and I don’t have to wonder if I am doing enough, or if I’m doing a good job. Just volunteering the day that I did was enough. I’ve always gone to all the foster events that I can, but if I couldn’t get there, I didn’t have to feel guilty. It was made clear to me from the start that I just do what I can, and anything more was appreciated.
And then there’s the sanctuary. Any rescue that doesn’t give up on the sick animals in their care because they turn out to be somehow ‘un-adoptable’ or become expensive to keep is one that I consider to be absolutely amazing. All rescues help animals, all rescues have big hearts, but not all rescues do whatever it takes for every single animal that comes through their door! For me, that’s what sets YAH apart from the rest of the rescues. I couldn’t be more appreciative to YAH for doing what they do. I’m absolutely honored to be a part of it.
LParker
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