Why did you get into fostering?
I started a new, and rather stressful, job this year. Around
December I found that the stress of the job was really bringing me
down and I realized that I was spending way too much time just
thinking about myself! I've always believed that the best way to
cheer yourself up is to do something for others so I started
thinking about possible volunteering opportunities. The only
problem was that I already felt like I was neglecting my own little
family, Gwen (sheltie), Manolo (tuxedo cat) and Wee Cat (calico
cat) and didn't want to take on something else that would take me
away from home. Around that time, my best friend, Rakhi, who is
very involved with hart, posted a message on Facebook that hart was
bringing in a lot of dogs over the course of one weekend and were
in desperate need of new foster homes. Without a lot of thought, I
jumped right in! I knew that it would be a lot of work, but it
would be work that I would be doing in my own home and that would
involve my pets. Also, having a new foster dog at home was a great
excuse to leave work at a reasonable time!
Which hart dogs have you fostered?
Halo, Hans (who I adopted), Sophia, Piper, Gala (now
Maggie) and Archer.
What has been the most rewarding aspect to
fostering?
Seeing a dog going from a scared, skinny creature to a
healthy, happy family member. And helping to complete
families!
When individuals think it will be too much work or too
emotionally taxing, what feedback do you have for them?
It is a lot if work, but so is anything that is really
worthwhile! The positives far outweigh the difficult
aspects.
If your foster dog(s) could speak, what do you think
they would say to you?
Thank you, Foster Mommy! Now I'm ready to find a family of my very
own.