My Foster Story (The One That Stole My Heart)

Today I heard from an adopter how much fostering matters. Rambo’s new family has not had a dog in TEN years. They didn’t want to train a puppy (older and retired). They didn’t want a “Rescue” dog. Because let’s face it, a lot of people (a lot of society actually), label rescue dogs (and rescue animals as a whole) as:

* Dogs with Issues
* Dogs with Problems
* Dogs with No Training
* Broken Dogs
* Aggressive Dogs
* Problem Dogs
* Unwanted Dogs

But they saw Rambo’s post and he fit their criteria. Despite filling out an application, thinking it over, getting approved, they had doubts. They woke up in the middle of the night and thought ” What are we doing? This is a rescue dog. Is this a bad decision? What problems are we getting?”. But then, the thoughts went to, “He’s living in a home now with a family and other dogs. He knows how to live in a house. He will be just fine. “

If Rambo was in a shelter they never would’ve given him a chance. They would’ve overlooked a wonderful dog. Putting dogs into foster homes makes them MORE adoptable. Most adopters feel better and more confident about adopting a dog from a home versus a shelter.

Rambo spent 18 months in rescue without a single application. But, bringing him into my home changed everything. He got interest. He got an application. Along with bringing him into my home, he got access to my community. As a foster you can reach a different network of people. Rescues highlight their dogs on Pet Finder and on their website.

Have you ever looked at Pet Finder? Tens of thousands of animals. It’s hard for a dog to stand out. But, as a member of the community, I can highlight the dog on my social media pages, my community social media pages, and my extended network on socials. My town has a a few pages, I am on a few pages for “Hiking with Dogs” or “Dog Friendly” New England Pages. These are all networks the rescue does not have access to. By taking the dog into my home, I can not get the dog into the eyes of all the people on these pages.

Adopters also feel more comfortable getting a dog from members of the community. It feels more real. More authentic. It feels more trusted. I’ve had many adopters tell me they saw we had mutual friends, so they asked the mutual friend about me. A reference check on me in a sense. And because their friend had great things to say about me, they trusted me. They trusted that what I told them about the dog was accurate. They didn’t feel like they were getting a dog from a stranger.

I also brought all my foster dogs out in public with me. Pet stores, errands, etc.. Rambo, knows how to beep the horn! Every time I left him in the car he would beep the horn and people would tell me! That was always a conversation starter. We laughed, I would tell them he’s available for adoption, etc… That’s networking. Letting as many people in your community know the dog is available.

Without fosters none of this happens for these dogs. They sit in a shelter or a rescue center overlooked. Living in a way that is unnatural (cage) with limited human interaction. This can make going to a home stressful for them. But if you foster, you are getting more eyes on them, you are giving them skills they need to succeed in a home. Fostering is what makes adoption happen. Yes, we all know it saves lives. But what we don’t hear people say is, fostering is what makes adoption happen. I realized that today because of Rambo.

Rambo impacted me differently, not just in my heart, but in my perspective on fostering. When you see a thousand homeless faces, looking sad, depressed, etc.. it’s hard to pick one. And it’s hard for people to see those dogs as happy dogs they want to welcome into the family. They usually have a couple photos that aren’t great and don’t show off the dog well. But when you see a dog in foster, you see videos and photos of the dog having fun, smiling, maybe being around kids and other animals, going outside, showing off their BEST traits, they generate more interest. They get adopted.

After 18 months, Rambo got adopted. After 18 months, he is now a dog someone WANTS to love.

So though my heart is sad, I won’t try to hide that fact, I know now my home is open for another dog that will choose me to be his pathway to his forever home. Rambo felt different. I would’ve fostered failed if this meet and greet didn’t work out. But it did. And when I left I remembered there are endless Rambo’s waiting for someone to say YES, I am ready to love you. And they need fosters to help them get there.

I came home holding his empty collar, crying. I looked at his kennel, empty, I cried. I took his toys and gave them to my dogs, and I cried. It feels empty here without him. I’ve cried three additional times since I’ve been home. And though I have enjoyed every foster I have had, he made himself part of me. This one hurts. But it hurts more to know there are so many waiting. Waiting like Rambo did. Some will never get a chance unless a foster opens their home.