Have you ever asked “How do you say goodbye” when it comes to fostering? You’ll want to read the whole thing. This is what fostering is all about.
Have you noticed? Fostering has become increasingly popular over the last few years! Over the course of the Covid pandemic, unprecedented numbers of New Yorkers and Tennesseans joined our Foster Roster, offering to temporarily house homeless shelter pets during stay-at-home orders. With this growth in fostering comes the recognition that it is time to move away from the old shelter model, the traditional “pound” many people might have in mind. Moving towards the foster-centric model is the way of the future.
What happens to these “pandemic pets” when people return to work and no longer have the time or resources to care for them? If we are to believe recent headlines in the media, people are heartlessly dumping their “pandemic puppies” in shelters. USA Today published an article earlier this month, “Everyone wanted a puppy when the pandemic began, but now those dogs are being returned.” But are these headlines accurate?
Breaking News! The Team at Foster Dogs, Inc., led by photographer Stacey Axelrod (@NYCPetPhotographer), has big news to share. Our new podcast “Why We Foster” launches today. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, and listen now to Episode 1: “Goodbye is the Goal” for a full half-hour of feel-good fuzzies.
One door closes, and another door opens. Fostering made this incredible rescue story possible! At the same time that this New York family found out their dog was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Jones was entering foster care in Alabama after a long stay in the shelter. “Little did anyone know this was beginning of his long journey to us! […]. When I look back at the synchronicity of our stories and how many people were involved to get our boy home I am still amazed and I can’t help but say it was ‘meant to be!’ Thanks to Foster Dogs’ willingness to look beyond the immediate obstacle of distance, Jones the formerly unwanted dog is finally home and Beatrice is grieving no longer.”
“I picked Gill up from ACC last month as a volunteer with Foster Dogs. After a weekend with us, we were so in love, and excited for him to find an amazing longer-term foster or adoptive home! Unfortunately his next foster didn't work out and when I got the call to pick him back up, my heart skipped a beat; I just had this feeling he was coming back to his forever home.”
Written by Foster Dogs blog contributor and volunteer Samantha Cheirif, about a foster experience that had a less-than-perfect start, how she got through it, and what she learned to do to make future intros go smoother.
Life’s a beach when you’re a foster dog! Thanks to some creative folks in Brooklyn, a group of lucky foster dogs got a chance to feel like they were having a day at the beach – indoors! Each of these dogs was up for adoption at the time of their shoot last week, and would you believe some of them have already found their forever homes? Foster Dogs invited eleven dogs in foster care to Gowanus Brooklyn, and had the best afternoon!
The worst part of fostering is the best part of fostering: when your dog gets adopted. Saying goodbye is never easy, no matter how many you’ve had or how great a home they go to. My most recent foster dog, my sweet Winnie the Pooh, was adopted just yesterday. Her new parents lost their beloved dog a few months ago and weren’t ready to adopt- until a friend sent them her Foster Dogs link and they almost turned their car around from a vacation and came back to get her! Keep reading to see the sweet letter they sent!
Support other fosters or get necessary support, through our Foster Forum on Facecbook
