Does anyone here foster dogs?

First topic message reminder :

General link to all pics of Chloe, the foster dog: https://s1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii487/oumaths/


It might seem insensitive after my lad passed away only last week, but I really do think fostering an SBT/SBTx for the next month or so is the way forward for me in many respects.

With just some paperwork formalities to complete tomorrow, it looks like I've essentially been approved as a fosterer with a local rescue.

They cater for all, but do seem to have a disproportionately high number of staffies and staffie x on their books right now - including a few who escaped being PTS at pounds in the eleventh hour.

Some have been at the rescue for quite some time, and half a dozen have been suggested to me as being in need of getting out of kennels for various reasons, including depression.

Just wondering if anyone else fosters? I'm hoping to take one particularly timid staffie x home with me tomorrow (actually, she looks far more hound than staffie) and work on her confidence and reward-based training, with a view to getting her to shine a little so she'll more easily find a forever home.

I'm not ready to adopt yet - too raw - but think I could do a good job in loco parentis.

Original post edited by hayley,

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Yes, she's very calm - until there's a sudden noise. Then, she's like one of those cartoon cats that goes rigid and leaps into the air.

Last lot of pics for today: https://s1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii487/oumaths/

Caryll wrote:Could just be a minor infection picked up at the kennels. It often happens. The drops might clear it up without any need for anything else.

Sadly a bit more than a minor infection - it's a deep-rooted bacterial infection. The vet appears to have cultured and identified it already.
She's had her ears flushed/scraped and is on steroids for a few weeks and ear drops for 10 days.
Check-up needed in 10 days.
Both ear drums still intact, thank goodness.
She's back at foster home now, feeling a bit sorry for herself and very drowsy after sedation.
Off her food and water for now, and fast asleep.

Looks like you are great for each other. At least the root of her ear problems has been established. things can only get better. Love the updates BTW and the pictures and videos are great.

Working dog wrote:General link to all pics of Chloe, the foster dog: https://s1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii487/oumaths/


It might seem insensitive after my lad passed away only last week, but I really do think fostering an SBT/SBTx for the next month or so is the way forward for me in many respects.

With just some paperwork formalities to complete tomorrow, it looks like I've essentially been approved as a fosterer with a local rescue.

They cater for all, but do seem to have a disproportionately high number of staffies and staffie x on their books right now - including a few who escaped being PTS at pounds in the eleventh hour.

Some have been at the rescue for quite some time, and half a dozen have been suggested to me as being in need of getting out of kennels for various reasons, including depression.

Just wondering if anyone else fosters? I'm hoping to take one particularly timid staffie x home with me tomorrow (actually, she looks far more hound than staffie) and work on her confidence and reward-based training, with a view to getting her to shine a little so she'll more easily find a forever home.

I'm not ready to adopt yet - too raw - but think I could do a good job in loco parentis.

There is nothing insensitive whatsoever about your actions , I admit I would find it tough but everyone deals with grief in their own way. What you are doing is fantastic and courageous after what you have been through , you get to make a difference to a dogs life and that in my book commands only one thing........RESPECT

Cheers Dave.
Feels really weird to be honest.
Really hoping she finds a forever home in the next few weeks though - cracking dog.
She's pretty much out of her shell now and playing like mad -
https://s1256.photobucket.com/albums/ii487/oumaths/?action=view&current=playinghard.mp4

That's her stick & you're not having it!!

She's a beautiful girl, and she's obviously come to trust you. Shame her ears are so bad, but hopefully they've been caught in time & no permanent damage.

Keith, when you post vids & pics, could you put the whole link, please, & not the shortened version? People don't always like to click on something they can't see the whole of! Thanks.

Will do.

She is lovely. Am really enjoying watching her blossom.

Have discovered that she's quite happy walking up the stairs completely backwards - tail first.

Now that's a canny trick I can hardly do that myself

Well, fingers crossed for super-Chloe.

Just had a call from the rescue centre to say they're getting some good interest in her and is it ok if a couple phone me with a view to arranging to meet somewhere locally on neutral ground to see how they get on?

Seriously hoping this lovely dog finds her forever home very soon.

Fingers crossed - you've layed the foundations for a really nice forever home!

I have edited all of the links.

Apologies for that.
However, I can't see it mentioned in the forum rules??
Hovering over each link also revealed the full URL.

Working dog wrote:Well, fingers crossed for super-Chloe.

Just had a call from the rescue centre to say they're getting some good interest in her and is it ok if a couple phone me with a view to arranging to meet somewhere locally on neutral ground to see how they get on?

Seriously hoping this lovely dog finds her forever home very soon.

That is excellent news Keith, you have done some great work with her which should make her future training all that easier

Grat news Keith. Fingers crossed for the girlie.

Working dog wrote:Apologies for that.
However, I can't see it mentioned in the forum rules??
Hovering over each link also revealed the full URL.

Yes it does show it, but a lot of people will click before they look at it

And thanks for letting me know, it is a more recent rule so steve may not have gotten around to getting it done yet.

The prospective adopters phoned this morning and we had nearly an hour-long chat.
Looks like they'll be coming to see her in about a week-and-a-half because they have to make a loooooooooooong journey to get here.
They, and their location, sound ideal.
Fingers crossed for Chloe

Brilliant!

Good luck, Chloe!

And well done Keith for all the hard work you've put in. If/when she goes, will you get another?

Funnily enough Caryll, Chloe's prospective adopters have just phoned again - they're now trying to bring the date forward (I think they've set their hearts on her, and with good reason ), so I'm expecting to meet up with them possibly as early as the start of next week for what will probably be a load of ear-licking fuss and introductions (Chloe, not them ).

I guess if that goes well, and the homecheck has been done in advance, it will be a quick trip to the rescue centre for them to do some paperwork and take her home.

I'll be a little sad, especially now I've got her doing sit, stay, paw, lie down, rollover, dinner and drop (and we're well on the way with "heel", too). She's a quick learner.

As to whether I'll get another when she's adopted, I'd be up for another foster but that's as far as I can commit right now - I'm still too sad about Marley - my mind keeps trying to make sense of what happened him - was it definitely this, was it definitely that? - and I'm not in the right place to offer a forever home.

Must stop posting pics and stealing the bandwidth. :-$

She sure is a happy girlie now.

Sounds like you are very much doing the right thing here Keith.

It takes time to mourn the loss just as it does with a member of the family, as that's what a loved pet becomes. Please dont rush into any decision about another dog until you are ready and only you will know.

Well done with Chloe you've done a fabulous job, I'm sure she will be very happy with her new family.

Shes a beautiful dog, i hope she has a long happy life!

She's now a very chilled dog, Hayley - passed the vacuum cleaner test this afternoon.
Wasn't bothered at all.

Caryll wrote:Fingers crossed - you've layed the foundations for a really nice forever home!

Chloe has now found her forever home - a beach-fronted property with woods near by.
She's on her way there with her new owners now.

good luck to Chloe in her new home,sounds a lovely place to live,how are you feeling,you did a wonderful job with her,you should be proud of yourself

Thanks stella.

I'm very happy for her. A little glum, I suppose, she's gone but this rescuing thing is all about the dogs and their futures, not about how soppy a fosterer feels.

The rescue is phoning me later about taking on another foster - they've got loads of staffies and staffy cross in.

Great news for her. I hope she has a long and happy life and look forward to a new post about another beautiful foster

Working dog wrote:

Caryll wrote:Fingers crossed - you've layed the foundations for a really nice forever home!

Chloe has now found her forever home - a beach-fronted property with woods near by.
She's on her way there with her new owners now.

That's wonderful, well done on getting her to that stage!

And now the next one....................

Well done, you must be very pleased for her. Sounds like you will be kept very busy I guess that is a good thing.

I think what you are doing is invaluable to the rescue centres, without people like you they could never rehome another dog. Well done and a big thank you on behalf of my rescue dog Rocky.

Hope you don't mind, but I've started a seperate thread for Soda & Tasha here...

https://staffy-bull-terrier.niceboard.com/t22566-fostering-soda-tasha

I must admit that I did not read the whole 4 pages. Often, you can keep your "foster dog" if you turn out to believe that "s/he's the one for you." If it's a rescue, there is nothing a rescue owner would like more than homing a dog. If you two are such a good match that you decide not to give her up, both of you have found a great friend! If not, you will have given a dog another chance.

Either way, you're not replacing your pup, you're "volunteering" in a way that helps the both of you heal. I think it's a great idea!

Bella Dona was on her third foster home, and I have the time to spend with her. Also, we're a "match made in heaven" as we're both a bit hard headed and have a history of abuse (hers much worse than mine). It's incredibly rewarding seeing her get better. The experience you had with your pup will be invaluable in helping this one. If at the end, you decide to keep Chloe, awesome! If not, you will have used your experience to help someone else find their match. Either way, I think it sounds awesome!