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)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

frannie... the obviously asked the wrong people about your performance because we all know u r awesome.

[Michael Gurley]

I am definitely going to be a DRC foster in the future when I get my own house! I have done a transport of 2 doodle puppies from a local kill shelter, and they were both recently adopted from the DRC! It's just so amazing that the skinny, scared girls I drove to the vet for their spay and shots are the same dogs as the happy, energetic girls who were adopted! Their foster got to see that transformation.

 

 

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Michael,

you started those girls to their new lives. You couldn't foster but that doesn't mean what you can do is valued any less! You saw them at their worst and saw them adopted as happy girls - you were a huge part of that!!!

[Michael Gurley]

Thanks Adrianne!! You are the one who led me to the DRC and to DoodleKisses!!

[Ann Kendig]

 I was kinda nervous about fostering so I sat on my hands for a while, deciding if this was something I really wanted to do.  After speaking to Adrianne Matzkin a few times on the phone and some emails back and forth, I got a call from the DRC to foster Cadi and the rest is history.  I have to say that the ladies of the DRC have been VERY supportive and have helped me so much along the way. There has ALWAYS been a quick response from them whenever I have had questions and concerns.

 

I have fostered six doodles so far since September 2010.  Fostering has been both rewarding and challenging.  I have cried each time a foster has left to go to their new home.  Usually it hits me a few days after they've left, that's when the tears really start to flow.  I also don't think of the foster as mine but each foster holds a special place in my heart.  There was one particular Doodle that really stole my heart, Ralphie.  A few days ago I received an email with some photos of Ralph playing in the snow with his family.  I can't tell you how good it made me feel to receive that email.  Ralph has a WONDERFUL family and is happily living in the Chicago area.  It's a wonderful feeling to know that with the help my husband, my two doodles, and the DRC we were able to help these doodles down the path to their new families and a better life.

 

My Sheba has always been very welcoming of the new fosters and would play for hours with them.  Duke usually only played with Sheba for the most part but his contribution has been to be a big snuggle bunny with most of them.  Olivia, the foster we have now, has become fast friends with Duke, which is a bit unusual as my fosters usually bonded with Sheba.  Olivia showers Duke with kisses and looks for him if he leaves the room.  It's so good to see Duke having such a great time with another dog besides Sheba.  I think Duke is on his way to coming out of his shell.   Yay Duke!

 

Each foster that has entered our home has it's own story.  Four have been strays and ended up in shelters, one was given up by it's owner and one was relinquished by the breeder.  Some of my fosters have come with baggage of some kind and have been more challenging than the others.  My current foster is the sweetest little thing but scared of everything.  We have been working at helping her to become more confident.  She has made some big strides in the past week.  I love to see the changes in her, however big or small.  Sometimes we take two steps forward and one step back.  I have high hopes for Olivia and even though I'll be sad when she leaves us I know that we have enhanced her life....and she has enhanced ours.  

 

Oh, another great thing about fostering is that you get to have another doodle in a different size and color, at least for a little while.  I want a doodle in every color...hubby says no.  ; )

 

Please consider fostering and/or help with transporting our doodles in need!  We need you! 

Here are my fosters....

Sheba and Duke with two blonde doods, Annabelle and Truman.

There is always room in our hearts....and under our desk for doodles in need. : )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

ann -- it is that first e-mail from their new home that usually brings my tears.  love your pics

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Ann, I am so thrilled to hear that Olivia is starting to come out of her shell!! I heard from Jeannine that she was scared of her own shadow, never being inside a car or a home - this gorgeous girl spent the first year living outside in a kennel. These are the stories that keeps us all doing what we do best - transforming a homeless doodle into an incredible member of a family. Please tell Mike how much everything you both do is very, very much appreciated!!

and I hope to see him at the beach before Memorial Day!

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I love this blog and your pictures!

[Kathy Janes]

I'm so glad you wrote this!  I always have people asking me how we do it and I ask them how they can't!  These sweet dogs will be KILLED if we don't have a place to foster them.  I, for one, can't live wit that.  We just started fostering this past summer and have had two long-term guys that had to undergo heartworm treatment.  We loved them both, and still do.  But we know they are meant for someone else.  Personally, we both cried when Gus left, and I know I'll cry when Cash goes - but I'm SO excited for him to have a home and family of his own!  Yes, I'll miss him, but I'll fill that spot with another doodle in short time.  They come in so sweet, fearful and shy and mostly very, very grateful.  They love you for saving them and helping them.  And the reward is so great when they leave as healthy, happy dogs to their new homes.  It's a great experience.  And it is true - if you can't do it one time, or your dog doesn't get along with a particular foster, then let Karen or one of the board know and they will find a new foster home.  We did have to do this once and it worked out better for everyone in the end. So, I say - TRY IT, YOU"LL LIKE IT!  In fact, you'll love it.

[Jeannine Smith]

Any Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennesse DKers out there that want to foster!?  DRC desperately needs fosters in the Midwest!  We have had 8 doodles in the midwest since mid-December!  And more coming our way!  Please contact me directly if you are interested or any member of the board will be happy to direct you in the right direction.  My email: [e-mail].  I'm the Indiana/Midwest Director for DRC and I promise I will be with you every step of the way through fostering!  It is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had!  Come on!  Join in the fun...you won't regret it!

[Tante & Jordan & now Annie!]

When Eli came to us (our 1st foster) Brian did not think I could let him go. Did any of you see how dang cute he was!? We only had him for a month but what "saved" me from the real ugly cry was the Thank You hug I got from his new Mom. :) You have to go into it knowing this is not your dog. Brian and I have an agreement: "If I keep the foster, I cant foster anymore". Fosters are so needed, more so than me wanting to keep a dog.

 My Dad fostered dogs growing up, I think that has made me understand that Your "job" to give love, and some basic training. I was lucky that both of my fosters were great dogs to start with. Whiskey would retrieve anything you pointed at. I am FB friends with his new Mom and I love to see how great he is doing with them. They were the perfect match for him.

We have taken in other dogs for friends... I have some horror stories.

 What I love with DRC is the support. Karen is always there for you, Liz placed Whiskey with me she was there for me, Jacquie and Adrianne are there as well and Jeannine with Eli. Daily I was asked by anyone of them how things were going.

I also love the placement process with DRC, only the best fit gets the dog. It is how it should be.

 

We need another foster here BTW Jordan has gone back to "playing" dont come near my chew with the cats ( she leaves the chews about 3 ft away from her and when the cats walks by she chases them) ...what she does not understand is the Cats dont care about the chews...Poor Doodle. You should know she does not play this game with dogs just the cats.

[Clifford, Cloud, Jake..and Kim]

If you can't foster please consider volunteering to help transport.  Often there are available foster homes in different areas and if there are enough transport volunteers the DRC can get the doodles to a foster home.  This doesn't require anything but a vehicle and some time.  An added benefit is you get to meet another doodle owner, probably a member of DK, possibly someone you've already "talked" to online.  What a great way to help a doodle on his/her way to a wonderful new life!