Hypersensitive?

[Valarie]

Soon it will be time for our little foster Airedale to go to her forever home.  Just thinking about it brings on hyperventilation.  We have thought it through and feel that this is the best decision for her as well as our family.  She is Miss Personality!  She is curious, silly, smart and oh so lovable.  When we are out and about everyone asks about her.  I have almost stopped telling people we are fostering as very frequently the comment is made "I could never foster because "I" could never give them up".  Though I know we are trying to make the best decision this comment never fails to upset me.   Somehow it feels as if they are suggesting that because we are not adopting that we are not as "loving" as they are.  I'm sure I am overreacting due to the emotional nature of the decision.  We have loved her and cared for her as we have our own Sophie.  She has come such a long way during the last few months.  I'm so proud of her.  Hopefully we have helped prepare her for a wonderful loving permanent family.  But the day of her departure will be heart wrenching.  I so dread missing her sweet funny face, the jingle of her collar, her happy bark and curious nose pokes.  I'm fairly certain that there is no ill will in this type comment and that my sadness colors my perception.  Guess I just needed to vent a little.  Thanks for listening. 

[Valarie]

Here's a couple of pictures of her!

[Emily, Bentley, & Maserati]

Karen couldn't have said it better in either post.

Fostering, as you know, is an amazing experience. As many tears as I have cried handing those foster babies over I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Taking in and nurturing fosters and watching them grow into their personalities and helping to find and hand them off to their forever families is priceless.
We've been grateful that most of our previous fosters' families have allowed us to FB friend them and we've been able to watch them flourish in their new homes.

I don't think you're hypersensitive in a bad way I just think it shows how much you love and care for the dogs who have come into your home. You are an awesome foster mom!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Amen. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I am so tired of hearing people say that: "Oh, I could never foster because I could never give them up". It's a crock of poop, excuse my French. It's an excuse and it's just about as selfish as anything could ever be. Every time I hear it, (and trust me, I hear it a LOT), I feel like saying "It's a good thing everyone doesn't feel that way or a lot of really nice dogs would be killed because there's no place to put them". It also aggravates me no end when people try to guilt a foster into keeping the dog. Don't these dumb people know that the rescue may lose a foster home when that happens? There's a limit to how many dogs any one home can handle.They just don;t use their heads. Please don't let this kind of ignorant comment upset you. Believe me, they do not think you are not as "loving" as they are. They think you have a whole lot bigger, braver heart than they do, and they are trying to make themselves feel less guilty about their shortcomings.

Here's my response to  "I could never foster because "I" could never give them up".

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And now, Valarie, here's one for you. And bless you for fostering.

[Valarie]

Karen,  Thanks so much!  Your righteous anger really helps :-)  Your words of support and the sweet poem are so comforting. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm glad. :)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Karen has said it perfectly, but I want to pass on my thanks to you for all the love you have shown to your foster and giving her the opportunity for a wonderful new life.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Ditto.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks for helping such an adorable dog along the way to her furever home. I am one of those people who says exactly what you quoted and I always mean it with awe and amazement at such a selfless act. The world really is a better place because of people like you! Hopefully, you can stay in touch with the furever family and hear updates from time to time.

[Valarie]

Laurie,  That's nice to hear.  I try to assign innocent motives to situations like this and it's people like you who make me know that that's usually true.  Thanks, Valarie