Fostering.

[grntuscarora]

Meet my foster, a wee 20 lb beagle mix. My daughter calls him Peanut. The shelter named him (ironically) Hippo

[IMG][/IMG]

He was brought to the shelter as a stray, and I was told he had probably been a shortchained yard dog because of his habit of spinning. But he's taken to indoor family life with ease. That, and his penchant for snuggling, makes me think he was an indoor dog, at least for awhile. Whatever his backstory, he's a great guy who is going to make someone a terrific pet!

I have to keep reminding myself that my task is to socialize him and get him ready for someone else. Saying goodby is going to be hard, though. I feel myself getting attached.

[shenmue]

1. Hi, fella!

Who's a good boy!

[Curmudgeoness]

2. You are doing a great thing by fostering him.

I know that I could never do it....I would not be able to keep every animal, but would want to.

[eridani]

3. Knowing that they will leave is heartbreaking

Thanks so much for taking this on anyway.

[2theleft]

4. He looks so sweet!

What a handsome boy. I wish I could foster, but my boxer can be dog aggressive with any other dog but male. In a way, might be good that I can't because I would quickly become a crazy dog lady with a house full of "failed" fosters (aka I couldn't give them up and had to keep them).

It is something I want to do, but it will be years unless my boxer has a sudden personality change. I've been working with her (and a trainer) so I'm hopeful, but would need to be 100% confident. Don't want to foster and have her cause a negative problem or setback with a pup that has already been through hard times.

Tons of respect to you for giving back to these babies who need love and attention before they get their forever homes. It's a wonderful, wonderful thing!

[newfie11]

5. I would so be a foster failure

It would be so very difficult to see them go. I admire those that do this very tough job.
I have 4 newfies and a pom so fostering isn't possible for me at this time.
Bless you all that do it.

[ginnyinWI]

6. I get attached to my foster kittens, too.

It's an occupational hazard, but we accept that there will be difficult goodbyes in order to be able to foster animals and give them a better chance. But it can be very hard. It takes several weeks to get over missing them.

[grntuscarora]

7. Is the pic of your fosters?

They are adorable. And there is a glint of mischief in their eyes--I bet they keep you on your toes! How long have you been fostering?

Yes, I'm glad to be fostering Hippo. I'm really enjoying the experience, and I hope for his sake he gets adopted quickly. I'll just have to try to take the parting in stride, when the time comes.

[ginnyinWI]

8. These are three from last summer.

A blue point Siamese mix, a cream point Siamese mix and a calico--all from the same litter.

Over this summer and fall, June-November, I fostered 13 kittens: a 6-pack, a 3-pack(pictured) and then a 4-pack along with their mother. Those ended up staying for two months because they came down with Calicivirus. Those were the ones really full of mischief, because they were nearly three months old by the time they went back. I had to take down curtains, put away plants, etc!

I started fostering June of 2013, and to date I've fostered 33 kittens and cats. Currently I don't have any because we are in the off season, but even last winter I fostered three adults to monitor their litter box habits in a home setting.

I do this for a no-kill shelter in my area. Small enough to be friendly, and large enough to have connections to several local shelters and transports from out of state.