Foster Dog Blog #5 - My final chapter, but the story continues

[Kathy Janes]

ONE week ago today Gus left for his new home. I tried to blog about it then, but words just weren’t there; only an emptiness inside me and a quietness in our home. We were amazed at how much of a presence Gus was in our family. But mixed with our loss was a joy to have met Gus’s new family and to be able to feel so good about where he is going.

He has a ten-year old boy to play with and learn with. Every boy should have a dog, and Gus was the kind of dog that needed a boy. They will learn so much from each other and have so much to give each other over the years. The mom loves Gus too and has prepared well for welcoming him into their home. She’s consulted a behaviorist on what to expect from a rescue, researched training, and prepared in so many other ways. We couldn’t have asked for a better family as I know they are committed to training him and being patient with him as he overcomes the scars of his past and the separation anxiety from leaving us.

The first day or two, Mater seemed to keep looking for Gus. When he couldn’t find him he came up and poked his nose at us. We knew he was saying “I can’t find Gus, so now you have to play with me!” Mater can make his wants well known and he clearly let us know that we had our old jobs back of playing tug and tossing balls.

We are so happy for Gus and his family and we’re hopeful for the others that applied for him that their new dog will come along soon. Gus had several great families interested in him; those we had an opportunity to speak with offered him just what he needed in loving people committed to both rescuing and training. DRCinc made a great choice using our feedback and we are excited for Gus and his new people to discover and learn about each other and find the bond with this sweet boy that we found.

It was a happy, sad day. Our house was so quiet and Mater even seemed a little depressed, but already things are beginning to feel back to normal. We are grateful to have Mater be the patient, tolerant, understanding guy that he is. His whole attitude with Gus was “no alpha dogs here – we are just here to enjoy life and make our people happy”. Gus did teach Mater a few things – like lifting his leg on a tree or post now and then and running through the sprinkler. I hope Mater taught Gus to learn to trust other dogs and people, to share, and to feel safe and confident that he can learn and is worth loving.

This was our first experience with fostering, and like all really worthwhile things in life it was both challenging and rewarding. We will do it again and again for our beloved Doodles.

This was taken our last afternoon with Gus.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Yes every time a foster leaves with his/her forever family they take a little piece of your heart with them. But they have also left a bit of their heart with you. Thanks so much for fostering Gus.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

It sounds like Gus is off to a wonderful new life with a great family and his own "little boy". You gave him the love and hope that he needed. You helped him get through heartworm. You and Mater showed him that he does not have to live in fear, and that it's okay to trust. I love the idea of Gus teaching Mater to lift his leg and run through the sprinkler...that is priceless. Thank you for what you did for Gus.

[Paul & Michele]

I need a tissue! That was such a nice thing you did for Gus and he will be forever grateful to you and your family for it I'm sure. It's great that he found a loving forever family and a little boy he will be able to sleep & play with. Tell Mater to hang in there, he also did a great job accepting Gus into his home and teaching him some of the things he knows. I'm sure Gus will never forget him. Thank you for opening up your home to a Doodle in need.

[cheryl & oliver]

With tears of joy and sadness I read your story of Gus. Because of you he will have a wonderful life, with people that will love him and care for him. He will carry all you taught him thru the rest of his life. Thank you for all you did for Gus, and for all the fosters that will come your way in the future....

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Oh Kathy!! I have teary eyes also! I know how you feel. Sad, relief, happy, sad again and thrilled that Gus has a wonderful family to spend his life with. BECAUSE of you - he will be able to have a happy life.
THANK YOU!!!!!!

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

It is with tears in my eyes that I read this, knowing we will be feeling the same things in two weeks when Latte goes to her forever home. I will be especially emotional as she has formed a strong bond with me and I with her. Thank you for taking care of Gus and nursing him emotionally and physically - he started his new journey with a wonderful foster family and you've helped him move on to a wonderful forever family. He'll always hold a special place in your heart and you in his.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Beautiful story and thanks to you and Mater.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"First time fosters take on a rambunctious untrained dog with heartworm, and live to see him adopted into a loving family"
Two months ago, I would have thought that was a science fiction story.
What you, Tom, and Mater gave to Gus will be with him his whole life long, and will help him live happily ever after with his wonderful new family. You are my heroes.

[Camilla and Darwin]

This is so touching, truly. I'm so glad that Gus found a wonderful home, thanks to all that you did for him!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Oh, this made me tear up. How hard it must be to let such a wonderful dog go, but rewarding at the same time that now he has a family all his own. Thank you for a job well done!!