Make A Difference In The Life of a Doodle!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

 

During the last few months I've been asked at least 3 times if I could take a foster ...... sadly for health reasons I have had to decline!  This is so frustrating to me because I know that there are many Doodles sitting out there in Kill Shelters and the DRC is having trouble finding foster homes to put them in!  They can't bring them into the program if they don't have a foster home waiting!

 

Have you ever considered fostering but just weren't sure you could do it?  Even if you haven't considered it, would you just stop for a moment and consider it!  Many people worry that they will have a hard time giving the dog up .... yes, there are a few what we call "foster failures" in that the dog ended up staying with its foster family.  But honestly, in most of those cases those people really wanted another doodle anyway!  :o)

 

Over the past year my DH and I have had the honor of sharing our home with four Foster Doodles from the DRC.  If you had asked me 3 years ago if that is something that I would do, I would of probably told you you were crazy.  There wasn't even a Dog in my house, much less a foster dog!  Now, we have 2 Doodles permanently and the occasional visitor!   My life has become about my Doodles and helping other doodles.  I always wondered what I was going to do when I retired ..... and now I know.  My life is so full and so busy, but different from the busy that was going to a job every day .... it is busy fun and busy rewarding!

 

I won't kid you, as I drove to pick up the first foster from his family in KY there were butterflies in my stomach ..... I was wondering if I was in over my head, but as soon as I saw him I knew that I had done the right thing.  He was going to have a better life because I had taken the plunge!  The reason for this post is to share some experiences and maybe clear up a few myths about fostering, and maybe, just possibly even convince a few of you to come join us and help get some of these Doodles out of these shelters and give them the life they deserve!

 

MYTHS:

1)  I'll Never Be Able to Give Him/Her Up:  The best advice I ever got was to never think of the Doodle as Mine .... I am just a stop on the road to their new forever home.  I'm just giving them a good foundation and looking for the perfect forever family for them.  I can with all honesty say that I have never cried when one of my fosters has left (and I cry when I hear the Star Spangled Banner).  With each and every one, they bonded with their new family immediately, climbed right up in the car, tails wagging as they pulled out of the driveway!  There is just something so rewarding about seeing all the smiles on their new families faces and the tail wagging!

 

2)  I can't do this by myself:  Trust me, with my first foster, poor Karen (Jack Doodle's Mom) had so many e-mails from me .... but she was there for me every single step of the way.  Any problems, any issues, she helped me out.  I don't think she ever leaves her computer as the responses were almost instant.

 

3)  I can't afford it:  There doesn't have to be any expense to you.  All the Vet expenses and stuff are covered by the DRC.  They go directly onto the DRC Credit Card so there isn't even any out of pocket initial payment.  I normally just feed them the food that my girls eat, so that is the only real expense on my part. 

 

4)  Easy for you to do this, you don't work outside the home:  I'm one of the few fosters that doesn't work outside the home! 

 

5)  I'm afraid I'll be pressured to take a dog I'm not comfortable with:  At no point has anyone pressured me.  Anytime that I had to say No for any reason, they have always understood. 

 

If you have any questions or concerns, post them here.  There are many Fosters right here on DoodleKisses that I'm sure can put your mind to rest about any concerns you may have.

 

What I'm trying to say is we need you, these Doodles need you.  Just take the plunge, forget about all those little thoughts in the back of your mind that have been keeping you from volunteering .... you will be so happy that you did, I promise you!  Next Christmas your mailbox will be filled from cute little holiday cards from your foster babies and their new families .... there is nothing like it!  They will always hold a special place in your heart, a happy memory because you played a key role in giving them the happiness they deserve.

Go to DoodleRescueCollectiveinc.org

Click on the Volunteer Tab and you can complete and submit your application to foster right on line.

P L E A S E   !

 

Thank You

 

Lucy & Sophie's Mom (a.k.a. Sheri)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's one of my favorite pieces of writing of all time, Suzann. Every time I see a photo of him with his new family, I think of you. I think maybe he does, too.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Aww shucks, thanks Karen!! I hope he does, I love seeing pics with his new family, he came a long way!! Oh and I will happily be a DRC staff writer anytime!!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

So you can really do this even if you work?  We never leave the dogs for longer than 4 hours and they get a walk during lunch time.  Didn't know if it is possible to foster if both "parents" work.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You may have read some of Frannie's (Callie's mom) blogs about her fosters. Not only does Frannie work, but she lives in a townhome without a fenced yard. She has been one of our best fosters.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Where is Frannie anywhoo??  I haven't seen her on in a while...

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I know! Where is she?

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Maybe we should start a discussion Frannie & Callie where are you??  Come out Come out whereever you are!! You know Callie would have something to contribute to the Doodle Idol contest!!

[Frannie & Callie]

Thanks Karen!

[Frannie & Callie]

Hi guys! Adina facebooked that y'all were wondering where I am.

 

Sadly, where I am is working! We're going through a system conversion at the office and I'm one of the 3 people in charge of it (and since I had a less then stellar performance review I've been very work focused!).

 

I miss y'all!!!!

 

I have a LOT to say on fostering. Like many who had fostered, I NEVER imagined that I'd be a foster. EVER.

 

And you know what - I LOVE IT.

 

I'll say right off that the DRC is absolutely amazing to work with. To have this group backing you up, providing feedback, advice, and support is invaluable. I live by myself but thanks to the DRC I NEVER feel like I'm alone in fostering a dog.

 

I agree with everything I've seen on this posting and the responses (but I'll still put in my two cents anyway). I'm a word nerd but I have a hard time articulating how it feels when you get to help these dogs. I fostered 5 dogs in the past year (tomorrow is actually the 1 year anniversary of me picking up Wilbur, my first foster boy).  Some of them have been easier than others, but none of them have been HARD. You have to remember...these are DOODLES, just like the sweet doods you may have at home. They weren't as lucky as the dood or doodette you have because they started in the WRONG homes (or worse, as a breeding dog for a backyard breeder) and now they need your help.

 

Like Sheri, I never think of a foster as "mine". I kinda think of them as a foreign exchange student...they stay with me long enough to learn the "language" and then they go back to their real family (you know, the new one who is perfect for them).

 

I have cried each and every time a foster has been adopted. With happiness because they are going to a great home where they will be loved and with some sadness because I love them (a piece of me always will....and I wouldn't have it any other way).

 

Callie is a HUGE help with my fosters. She helps teach them awesome stuff like playing with toys, that OUTSIDE is where bodily eliminations need to happen, that there's a big drop off on the hill in the dog park (but she usually lets them face plant first and THEN shows them how it's done). Only one time has Callie had an issue with a foster and that was for about 2 hours in an initial meeting. After that she was fine (dogs will always need to establish their pecking orders!).

 

Most of these dogs are incredibly resilient and responsive to: gentle affections, soft voices, food, and a consistency of schedule. It is INCREDIBLE how these very normal every-day kind of things can completely turn a dog from a scared scrap that a monster rejected to wonderful doodle pet.  

 

I'm typing a lot - I feel borderline evengelical about how great I think fostering is. Because of the work stuff, I'm not fostering right now and I hate that. (everyone should be converted to the new system as of 3-31 so hopefully starting Q2 I'll be back to fostering!!! Can't wait!!!). But that's another good part of the DRC. They know what's going on with me right now and apply ZERO pressure on me. This isn't the doodle mafia.

 

If you are thinking about fostering, I encourage you to do it! It's several steps beyond rewarding for doodle lovers like us!

 

Miss you guys!

 

[Donna K & Quincy]

Hey Frannie, nice to see ya! Don't you just hate it when work interfers with your social life.

[Frannie & Callie]

I know! I hate when I don't get to prioritize the way I really want to!

[Leslie and Halas]

I want to foster someday.  My condo association has a size restriction, so that makes it kind of tricky right now.  But my mom has a great house and yard, and she's retired, so I need to work on her to become a foster.