I am a Terrible Foster

No, I don't beat or starve them or even make them sleep outside, but it's true, I am a terrible foster. A foster parent is defined as: a person who acts as parent and guardian for a child in place of the child's natural parents but without legally adopting the child. So replace child with dog and you get the picture. Now carefully read the last 5 words: "without legally adopting the child". This is why I am a terrible foster.

Our first endeavor into the foster world started with "The Twins". They were 2, 2 day old abandoned shep puppies. After 12 weeks of feeding them from baby bottles, letting them sleep with us, and falling madly in love with them, it was time for them to find forever families. The mere thought made me want to pack them up and run far far away. How could I ever trust anyone to take care of them like we do? What if they think I abandoned them?  What if I never get to see them again? I wanted to adopt both of them myself.

Eventually it came time for Monday (our little girl) to be picked up by her new family. The couple adopting her was perfect, better than I could have asked. However this didn't stop me from sobbing uncontrollably as I passed her from my arms to theirs, as they signed the contract, and finally as they placed her in their car. My emotional state was so bad that this wonderful family was APOLOGIZING for adopting her! I don't think you can be considered a successful foster when you make adopters feel bad for rescuing a dog.

Miss Monday

Well things were even worse with Scully. I won't go into the gory details but I selfishly kept him for another month, got even more attached, kept my husband up at night crying, and went into a state of depression when he went to his fantastic new home.

After moping around for a few days of being Scully-less I convinced Matt that we should foster a 10 week old Beligian Malinois with a broken femur. We got Kiku just before Halloween and were slated to keep her until her leg was healed, sometime around Christmas.. No big deal. If I could let Scully go, I could let any dog go. Wrong. Kiku found a great home . . . with us! Everyone fell head over heels for the pup with the busted leg we now know as Paisley, and we became "foster failures".

This brings me to Carmen, our current foster. She has been with us since January and I can't imagine life without her. She is a quintessential dog. She isn't prissy, or moody, or picky, or spoiled, she is everything a dog should be. Carmen is loyal, loves to swim and fetch, goes nuts for a ride in the car, and is working on getting her therapy dog certification.

And now I'm supposed to give her up for adoption? Someone needs to fire me.

Little Paisley May

Scully Man

Carmenita

Little Man on Campus

Oh Little Ziggy. Small but mighty, no one would ever guess the rough start you have had in your first few months of life. Dumped at a shelter, you came to Westside with the death sentences of parvo and distemper. But you are a fighter and somehow managed to land yourself in my arms on the Summer solstice. 

on our way

Knowing that I can't say no, Csilla called me to see if we would take you and within the hour I met you both in the parking lot of Denny's. My Carmen girl came along for the ride and when we pulled in I couldn't help but grin. You are all eyes and ears. Giant cartoon character-esque eyes and even bigger ears that express your curious nature. Csilla handed you over, you cried your eyes out as you were micro-chipped, and we were on our way. We weren't in the car 2 minutes before you pooped in the back seat (good thing I had put a towel down) and Carmen decided she was riding shot gun the rest of the way home. 

I didn't tell Matt about our newest addition and waited for him to discover you on his own. When he got home he went to say hello to all of the mutts and gasped upon the discovery. He too could not suppress his laughter when he saw you. He of course loved you from the very first second and is so excited to have another little man in the house. 

You met the Grump and Scrooge for the first time yesterday (I didn't tell them either). I could tell they wanted to sigh in despair for me taking on another dog but they got so wrapped up in your cuteness that they forgot all about being annoyed! We took you to the school to play fetch with the big dogs and you walked around like you owned the joint.

Carmen and Degan have been giving you the discipline you need while Dunne and Paisley have taught you the joys of being a puppy.  I know you won't be with us long because anyone would be a fool not to snatch you up, but we will soak up each moment we have together.

BOYS: 4       GIRLS: 3