Have you ever fostered a dog?

julesyb1982
julesyb1982 Posts: 136
in Chit-Chat
I have two dogs and two cats. We decided to also foster a rescue dog until someone adopts him. Well now I want him. Anyone else foster a dog and fail miserably?

:)

Replies

  • hbrittingham
    hbrittingham Posts: 2,518 Member
    We've fostered for over 10 years and have fostered over 60 dogs/puppies. Out of those, we failed on two of them and adopted them. We just recently adopted our third foster failure, but this time it was done on purpose because we were ready to add to our pack.

    The first fosters are the hardest to let go. The best thing I did was to tell myself that if I adopted my foster at the time, I wouldn't have space to foster another. That helped me make the decision to let almost all of them be adopted.

    Good luck!
  • flsunshine
    flsunshine Posts: 188 Member
    i fostered both kittens and puppies- its hard to let go some because they do integrate into your family. my first litter of kittens was the hardest to let go of. and my last foster puppy was so tough to. however they all went to great homes
  • dym123
    dym123 Posts: 1,670 Member
    I've been fostering for almost 3 years, all of the dogs I've fostered have found good homes. So far, have not failed, though I've come close a couple of times. One of the reasons I can't let myself FAIL, is because I live in an area that only allows for 2 pets, I already have a forever dog, so if I adopted another animal I couldn't foster anymore and to me it is more important to prepare these dogs for their forever family. Good luck.
  • doriharvey
    doriharvey Posts: 89 Member
    I have, the first one I couldn't let go and adopted for myself. Others brought tears to my eyes when I let them go to their new homes.... but my kids did the same thing when they grew up and left the nest also.
  • czechwolf52
    czechwolf52 Posts: 194 Member
    Yes. My roommate and I started fostering dogs 2 months ago. I can't wait to see who we'll get for this upcoming semester. The first one didn't get along with her dog, the second one was placed in a rescue organization a week after we had him, but we loved the last one! We had her for nearly a month and it was so rewarding to see her go from being a shy, timid dog to a happy, playful one. It was bittersweet to see her get adopted. We really wanted her, but our apartment only allows for 2 dogs, so we wouldn't be able to foster anymore if we adopted her.
  • Ed98043
    Ed98043 Posts: 1,333 Member
    I've been fostering almost constantly since about 1998...sometimes more than one at a time. I don't know the exact total number but it's in the hundreds by now. I kept one the first year but haven't even considered it since then.

    As someone who ran a dog rescue for 13 years, I will tell you that foster homes are like GOLD. I would rather have one solid and reliable foster home than ten adopters. Having somewhere that you can park a dog, evaluate them and train them until the right home comes along is so indispensable. I was always bummed out when a foster home would adopt their foster dog and put up the no vacancy sign...sure, one dog found a home - but how many foster dogs could have passed through that same home on their way to new lives? Of course I appreciate adopters, but they always materialize sooner or later. Foster homes are rare and precious.
  • gmthisfeller
    gmthisfeller Posts: 779 Member
    We have fostered 5 Doberman Pinschers. We were blessed to adopt 2 of them.
  • ParamoreAddict
    ParamoreAddict Posts: 839 Member
    No I don't foster dogs but I have two of the cutest and sweetest dogs in the world from my local SPCA. A Chi-Weenie and a Terrier/Chihuahua mix. They're awesome!
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Yup. We have two foster failures. :-) Both became permanent additions to our home. :happy:
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    I've been fostering almost constantly since about 1998...sometimes more than one at a time. I don't know the exact total number but it's in the hundreds by now. I kept one the first year but haven't even considered it since then.

    As someone who ran a dog rescue for 13 years, I will tell you that foster homes are like GOLD. I would rather have one solid and reliable foster home than ten adopters. Having somewhere that you can park a dog, evaluate them and train them until the right home comes along is so indispensable. I was always bummed out when a foster home would adopt their foster dog and put up the no vacancy sign...sure, one dog found a home - but how many foster dogs could have passed through that same home on their way to new lives? Of course I appreciate adopters, but they always materialize sooner or later. Foster homes are rare and precious.

    We are currently going back and forth between living in the USA and India. We lost our beloved shepard 18 months ago and my heart still hurts and I do not want another one right now. I am going to start fostering when we get back to stay. I hear time and time again how I will not foster for long and end up keeping every dog that passes through my gate. I can not tell you how valuable these words are to me. Thank you...........
  • mmm_drop
    mmm_drop Posts: 1,126 Member
    I haven't, but I wanted to come in here and give a big thanks to all who have! My Coop-Dawg was a foster and his foster mom had 3 foster failures over the years. If it hadn't been for her and people like you I don't know if I would have found my best buddy, or if he would have been rescued from the abusive and neglectful home he was in.

    So, thanks! :flowerforyou:

    (Also, while I'd love to foster, I just know myself and I know I could never let them go, so I'll just keep adopting.) :happy:
  • Shannonthompson73
    Shannonthompson73 Posts: 105 Member
    We are a foster fail family. Our local rescue was in desperate need of foster families after over 170 dogs were rescued from a horrible situation. Our kids talked us into doing the foster paperwork. I thought we would get an adult dog with issues and it would cure the kids of wanting another dog. Nope, we got the friendliest puppy I have ever met. It was clear hours into our fostering that she was going to stay. :smooched:
  • hunt80
    hunt80 Posts: 7 Member
    We have started to foster this year and are currently fostering our 4th dog. No failures so far.
    But I am going to get involved with a Pug Rescue soon which means I will finally be able to foster pugs, and that might lead to a failure because I always wanted one :-)
    So far we have fostered a Brussels Terrier, a Jack Russel Terrier Mix, a Coonhound Mix and right now a rat terrier.
    I will keep on fostering because, as someone said above me, adopters will eventually show up, but a home that opens itself temoporarily to help out on the way to the dog´s furever home is more important.
    I think it`s neat to meet all these different dog personalities. And what I learned: I do NOT want a terrier or hound dog :-)
  • dcarr67
    dcarr67 Posts: 1,403
    We fostered three years ago. Really wanted to keep one of for sure. They all ended up with people we know. Thats why I can't foster kids. I know they need love but I would want to keep them all and it would kill me if I had to send one back to a bad home.

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