Dog Fostering Not for the Faint of Heart

I used to always wonder how people could actually foster a dog. I used to think, “How could you give the dog up after it lived with you and you loved it?” 

Then I moved to Pinellas County. I did not know anyone when I moved here in 2009 and decided to start volunteering with a local dog rescue. On my very first day of volunteering something must have come over me, because the next thing I knew, I was saying, “I can foster, too!”

Oh no, what the heck … word vomit! What was I thinking! I couldn’t believe I said that, but here I am more than a year and many fosters later, and I cannot imagine my life without them.

Don’t get me wrong, fostering is not for everyone. Some people can never give up the dogs they foster and become “dog hoarders.” That is a whole different story. Those that can (and do) will tell you it is a rewarding experience.

I had one guy at the dog park tell me, “It takes a small heart to be a foster. After all, you just give these dogs up.” (He was telling me this as I was crying because my first foster, Layla, is on a trial with a potential adoptive family.)

You see, I'd had Layla, a Jack Russell terrier mix, for five months and I was going through some serious emotions. She was my baby for five months. She slept with me, greeted me when I came home, cuddled with me and I loved her, and at that time, the thought of my life without her was breaking my heart. I felt like a part of me was dying. I wondered if I should keep her, but then realized that if I did, I would no longer be able to foster, which would mean one less home that the rescue could use to get a dog out of a shelter. The rescue for which I volunteer pulls dogs out of kill shelters. The more foster homes it has, the more dogs it can save from being killed. 

I bet you are wondering how I gave up my baby, Layla? Well, after her trial period with her potential new family, she was at my house again while we waited for the family to decide. I looked at Layla and knew in my heart she deserved more than I could give. She deserved a family with children and a fenced-in backyard. 

You see, Layla was still young. She was in a kill shelter in Alabama and came here right before her euthanasia date. She deserved to have the best life she could live, and I knew it was with this family. They love her, and I feel validated in my decision when I get pictures of her with her new family. She has a mommy, daddy, sister, brother and a furry brother. You can tell she is happy. She plays with Pongo, her furry brother, cuddles with the kids and greets all of the family. 

Despite what the man at the dog park told me, I think it takes an enormous heart to give these dogs a home, to know what is best for them and to be selfless enough not to keep them from it. I believe by me being able to give her a temporary home, she was saved from being killed for no other reason than her seven days were up.

Layla has a special place in my heart, as she was my first foster. I even cried the day of her adoption! It was a bittersweet birthday present, but she now has a permanent home. I love all the dogs I have ever fostered and welcome more. My heart grows with each one because when they are adopted, the adoptive family becomes part of the rescue's family. Because of that, I now have more dog lovers and friends in my life. 

If you'd like to foster or adopt contact:

• Humane Society of Tampa Bay (Tampa)
• SPCA Tampa Bay (Largo)