Fostering memories and happy tears

[Christina and Cooper plus Benny]

I have been absent from DoodleKisses lately with a crazy work schedule and spending the free time that I do have camping and hiking and walking and whatever else makes my boy, Cooper, happy....however....I had to pause this morning, as I received a wonderful email to share with the DoodleKisses world on the wonders of fostering!

I fostered a very cool, very big, very red dog for the DRC back in late January, early February.  I only had him a bit more than a week before he went to his new home, and the experience was hectic and a bit time consuming, and made me appreciate my Cooper just that much more.  I am not going to lie, there were vet trips, baths, walks, working on basic training, exercising and a basic need for just ATTENTION from an attention starved foster dog.   And then one day, he went to his new home, so happy, so proud, so ready to work with his new mom, and that was that.  UNTIL today, and an email that made it all worthwhile!  (The experience of seeing a shy reserved dog turn in to a happy proud dog was worth it at the time too.)  This morning,  I woke up to a wonderful email from foster dog's new mom!  She was gushing over her new dog and how well he was doing, and that they had hired a trainer to work with them so they knew what to do with "foster dog."  She stated that is was definitely them that needed the training - not the dog!  :)

In an even stranger twist, it turns out that the new trainer had already met foster dog from one of our dog park visits.  She had been at the dog park working with another couple and I had spoke to her briefly and told her about foster dog (she asked because of his striking red color) and we chatted for a while about fostering and how good of a boy he was.  As soon as the new mama opened the door, the trainer recognized "big red dog" right away!  

Anyway, long story short, the new mama's email was bursting with love and joy for her new dog and the desire to make his life the very best it can be, and THAT made everything I did for "foster dog" so worth my time.  To think....I gave that dog the start of a new life...where he can be happy and loved and cherished every single day.  THAT is fostering!   And it is SO worth your time!  :)

 

[Tessa, Ellie and Wheezy]

How sweet!!! 

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

When you get those emails they are the icing on the cake.  Thanks for fostering Big Red and helping him find his happily ever after...

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

Aren't those emails the greatest?  You did a wonderful job with your big red guy and I'm sure he is as happy as his new parents are with the choice you made for him.  Thank you for making room in your life for him for a brief time and room in your heart for him forever - because we never forget our fosters.

[Pat and Traveler]

What a lucky dog--and you are an angel!!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks for sharing the happy ending!  Thanks for fostering.

[Anna and Achilles]

So glad Big Red is so well adjusted!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Christina ..... Very well put.  We would all be lying if we said that fostering is all "sunshine and rainbows", but these e-mails that come when you least expect them do make it all worthwhile.  There probably isn't a day that goes by that one of my previous fosters doesn't pop into my head for one reason or another and I just sort of have a quiet little smile thinking about them!  You gave this guy a wonderful start to his new life and I personally thank you for stepping up and taking a week out of you and Cooper's lives to help him on his way.

[Frannie & Callie]

Happy smiles and happy tears!!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I LOVE a happy ending. Thank you for your part in helping this beautiful dog find his furever family!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

A happy tale indeed, thanks for letting us in on this.