Doodles in Need

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I know that a lot of you read the updates on Doodles that are in foster homes - from Joanne, Krista, Lucy & Sophies Mom, Nina and others.

There are just too many doodles in kill shelters that could be saved if they had a temporary home to go to. You have to understand that they may have forgotten their potty manners, if they ever had them; they may be scared due to being in so many different places to live in such a short time; may be so under weight that they need fattening up; but most of all they need love.

We can help you with all the technical issues like potty training and weight gain. We need your hope. We need your love. We need your heart. We don't expect you to foster forever. Most of our doodles are fostered for 2 weeks or less. And when we are able to get the doodle to a full time foster we will do so.

Go to your doodle now. Ask him/her if you think you should save another doodle just temporarily and I think you will get your answer.

The experience is rewarding. Not only for your heart but sometimes for your own doodle. Learning from other dogs that have nothing is very valuable. And your doodle may enjoy the company and new person in the house.

Doodles in need don't ask for much............just your love and hope. Would you please share your love and hope for doodles today?

[Frannie & Callie]

I am currently fostering a dog (Wilbur, aka "The Wilbs") for the first time and am finding it to be a wonderful experience for both me and Callie (and hopefully for Wilbur too!). I second Adrianne in encouraging people to help these doodles. It's not the easiest thing in the world to do from a physical/timing standpoint OR from an emotional standpoint. I love Wilbur. It both breaks AND fills my heart that he has so much love to give and so desperately wants to receive love in return. Even with all that love, Wilbur isn't my dog. Somewhere, his perfect home is waiting for him. I know that it will be hard on me when he moves on to that forever home - it's not even two weeks but it's hard to remember when he wasn't there! But then I'll give myself (and Callie) a day or two and then I'll start looking for my next foster. I can't write fat checks to the causes I hold most dear (like animal rescue), giving them funds I know they need, but this is something that I can DO. This is something a lot of us can do. And one of the best parts is all the good help, advice, and support you can get here on DK.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Ditto to what Karen says! Our 1st foster just went to his new forever home yesterday! We were advised from day one to never think of him as "our" puppy! That this was just his "Temporary Home". (For those Country Music people out there, I played Carrie Underwoods, "Temporary Home" song a million times while he was here.) As he got in the car with his new Daddy yesterday his tail (which I always thought was so adorable) was wagging a mile a minute! That was his letting me know he was ok. Any sadness that I have is just knowing that he has to make another adjustment, not that he is no longer here.

[Pat & "Tucker"]

I would love to foster but i work full time and can't. Looking forward to retirement in 8 years and it's in my plan for the future. You ladies are great!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Lately, we have also had a lot of doodles being rehomed. Many are fully housetrained and well-behaved. They have few issues except for sadness and confusion at losing their homes. We have had a couple of owners threaten to leave a dog in a shelter or even have them euthanized if we don't take them.
I know a lot of you think that you would too attached and not be able to give the dog up, but this just isn't reality, as anyone who has fostered will attest. Sometimes there is sadness when a foster leaves for his forever home, but it is mixed with satisfaction, relief, and the most indescribable joy at knowing you played a part in saving a life and bringing joy to another family. Whe you get an email from an adoptive family, telling you how much they love their new companion, with pictures of your former foster curled up on a sofa or snuggled up with a child, it is worth everything.
Please consider being a foster parent to a homeless doodle; you can truly change lives.