Fostering A Dog In Need

I was out walking Pepper one morning, when I met a neighbor a few blocks over named Don.  Don was walking a shy little Chihuahua.  We introduced ourselves, and talked for about ten minutes.  Don has been a foster parent to needy dogs for the past nine years.  He gave up golf and  fishing for what he says is the most rewarding work he's ever done, fostering needy dogs.  In all, Don has fostered 36 dogs before their forever family was found.  His current dog was abused (who would abuse a four pound dog?), so he's very shy and skiddish.  By the time this little guy is adopted, probably in about three months, he'll be able to cope with family life and will be on the road to recovery.

Don mentioned one dog he fostered who had multiple broken bones, but still had a warm heart.  There are a variety of types of issues that cause a dog to go into foster care.  Animal abuse, injury, surgery, abandonment, or just too young to adopt out, are the main reason for foster care.  I could tell from Don's stories how satisfying this work was for him.  He said that when his first foster dog was adopted after nine weeks, he cried for three days.  Now he has a dog of his own, and understands that the foster dog is temporary.  He will get the dog well and prepare him for adoption.  It's kind of like the wonderful people that raise puppies to go into the guide dog program.  Thank you Don, and all the wonderful people that foster dogs that don't seem adoptable, and get them ready for their forever family.