Fostering dogs

I apologize for the not writing in quite some time. A lot of things have happened over the last month and I was pretty scatterbrained. There were a couple of serious medical emergencies of family and friends in Austria, we started our kitchen remodel project and last but certainly not least I decided to make my passion my profession. I switched to working part time. I plan to do so for the next couple of months and meanwhile figure out how to best start up my own dog training business! My plan is to have everything in place by June - so don't forget to mention my name to everyone you know that might need a dog trainer :-)

So, finally getting to the topic that the header promises: Fostering

I frequently get the question how we can stand it to adopt out any of our fosters and if we never are tempted to just keep them. There are several reasons that we are able to "give up" our fosters, no matter how cute, intelligent or beautiful they are (sometimes that's an added bonus). We have already two dogs and a cat and somebody else could give them more attention. Sometimes timing is crucial - these are the cases where if a dogs doesn't get fostered by somebody, it will be euthanized. Samantha and Emily were such cases and I just makes me so grateful for being able to be part of their journey. There are also some sadder instances, where dogs are physically and mentally in such a bad state that I feel it is better for the forever home not to see that. It is hard to get over the feeling of sorrow if you have seen a dog being emanciated, fearful, sick, ... A dog will not be able to reach his or her full potential if the owner dwells in the past and therefore I truly believe that it is much more beneficial for the new forever home and the foster to not have such "memories." I saved the very best for last. There is no greater feeling than when the "perfect match" has been found and it fills me we pride and happiness, when I get positive updates. Of course, it is not quite as easy as I want to make it to sound - every adoption is bittersweet. Thank goodness usually the "sweet" outweighs the "bitter" so our tears are drying fast. :-)

In the case of our latest foster, Emily, who now lives at the beach, Carolina PAWS received the following emails:

"I just wanted to give you an update about Emily. She seems to be adjusting well and has completely taken over. I cannot express how much I love Miss Emily and she has already become an island icon ... There are so many new smells and people to meet and still hasn't met a stranger yet. Her manners are the most impressive I have ever seen ..."

Emily's new owner, Southport, NC

"Oh My Gosh!!!! She is absolutely stunning! ... I appreciate so much all you have done for both of the girls I saved from the gas chamber. It just blows me away that these two babies were one day going to the gas chamber and now look at the lives they have. We do make a difference, even if it's one dog at a time some days, in the lives of not only the dogs who need us to stand for them, but in the lives of their new families and all the people they will bring joy to.
I get HILARIOUS updates on Samantha all the time. I LOVE her family and honestly, there is no better home for her in the world. She is so happy and loved beyond anything I could wish for for one of my dogs."

Marci, Chicago , IL

(Marci is a rescuer in Chicago and spotted Emily and Samantha at the Gaston County Pound and asked Carolina PAWS for help with them.)