ADOPTION | FOSTERING | VETERINARIANS | BOARDING/PET SITTING
OUR
FOSTERING EXPERIENCES
by
Scott and Joann Young
We adopted our first greyhound in June 2002. Right away, we knew we wanted to get involved and volunteer to help with the Greyhound Adoption League of Texas and their efforts to save these greyt animals. We decided to foster our first greyhound right after Christmas that year. My husband picked up our foster at the vet's office right after she had been spayed. Dana had to take it easy for about week, so we thought this would be pretty easy. Well, it was easy; Dana was very sweet and adjusted quickly to our home. The surprise was in how much she made our first grey (Moonshine) happy. You see, Moonie was very skittish and leery of people. She had been trying her best to stay hidden in our living room where no one usually was around. When Dana came to our house, Moonie was very happy to have someone to go outside with her. Moonie also became jealous enough of Dana to come and stay in the family room while we were sitting around watching TV. We were so happy with this situation, that we "failed fostering" and adopted Dana.
After that we still wanted to help out, but wondered if we were capable of fostering without adopting. We waited a few months and then called GALT to let them know we would like to try fostering again. This foster was a male (Hank) he was bigger than our dogs and more playful. He is sweet and likes to play a lot and will even bring a ball that you have thrown back and drop it near you. We had lots of fun with Hank. We got a call from GALT letting us know that someone was interested in adopting Hank a couple of weeks after we got him. We took Hank to a meet and greet so that his potential new "parents" could see him. When they saw him they really liked him and soon decided he was the one for them. When the day came to deliver Hank to his new home, we had mixed emotions, sad to see him go, but very happy to see how the new owners fell in love with him and were already planning to spoil him with toys and walks, a new bed, etc. We kept in contact with his new owners and have been happy to hear about how well he has been doing.
Next we fostered Druid, who happened to be Hank's brother. He was very sweet also, not quite as playful, but very fun to have around. Within one week someone adopted Druid. The same was true about the mixed emotions. Druid also went to a family who has been spoiling him and taking good care of him. After that, we thought, "You know, with a little sacrifice on our parts we are really getting a greyt rewarding feeling from this fostering thing."
The biggest part of being able to let go is to keep in mind that this is not your dog. We take care of them until their forever family finds them. It's a little like dog sitting with a little bit of simple dog training too. We teach them to stay away from the counters and table where people food is prepared and eaten. We teach them to go outside when they need to go potty, which isn't really very hard when you have other dogs around. My dogs show the fosters the way to some degree. We have now successfully fostered 7 greyhounds. Some of them we have had for months and some for only a week, but each one has touched our hearts. We are very happy to have been a part of their rescue and placement into forever homes. We have a soft spot for dogs and fall in love with each one. We have come very close to adopting again but have fought back the desire just long enough to get them a new family. We have to sometimes remind ourselves that if we want to keep helping with the rescue process by fostering, we do not want to adopt again. That is a choice we make. So we keep our two dogs and foster the dogs that need to be fostered.
What we have learned so far that helps make fostering a positive experience:
- The first
day, we don't have company.
- We keep
the new foster either on a leash, in the yard or in a crate for the
first few days (this reduces the chances of accidents). If we are cooking
or cleaning or doing yard work, etc., we put the foster in a crate.
While we are just sitting around watching TV, using the computer or
reading, we hold the leash or attach it to our foot/ankle.
- Let the
foster outside very often (every time they get up to walk around) and
praise him/her every time they go potty outside. We put a "bellyband"
on the boys for at least a week. It is only removed just before going
outside or if he is in his crate. Use your judgment and keep a close
eye on him when you decide to take the bellyband off.
- Since
some fosters have never been in a home, it is important not to push
them too far too fast. Some are very skittish and need a lot of patience
and understanding as they learn about the TV, ceiling fans, ice maker,
opening and closing of window treatments, and basically anything that
moves or makes noise. Some are very curious and just need to check out
the new noise or motion, others will quickly move away and hide for
a short time. Eventually, they adjust to all these new house noises
or movements and mostly ignore them.
- If necessary,
GALT will help with food for your foster. We feed all the dogs in their
respective crates. This helps us to know who is eating and who is not
eating. It also prevents potential disagreements over food. We have
not had any problems over food, but they do like to eat out of each
others' dishes. GALT pays routine medical expenses and provides the
heartworm and flea/tick preventative for the foster grey.
- The first
night the foster sleeps in a crate. After that we usually let them sleep
on the floor in our bedroom on an old comforter or dog mat. We try to
keep the dogs spread out while they are sleeping. They are not used
to sleeping where they could be walked on or bumped by another dog or
person. "Let a sleeping dog lie" is a good rule of thumb.
If startled they are instinctively defensive.
- We keep
a spray bottle with water in it handy for use when the command "no"
doesn't seem to be working. Examples: Counter surfing, or getting on
furniture. (GALT fosters are not to be allowed on furniture).
- When
it's time to get in crates we always use the same command. At our house
that is "time to go." For fosters we also say "get in
your crate." They always get a treat for getting into the crate,
even if we had to physically put them in the crate. In a short period
of time they start going into their crate without anything more than
the command.
- When
we take the dogs for a walk the fosters wear a second collar. This is
just in case they get frightened enough to slip their collar (we've
never experienced this, but have come pretty close).
- Every
time we go through any door that we do not want the dog/dogs to go through,
we say, "wait." It's amazing how quickly they get used to
stopping at doorways instead of just assuming they can go through them
when they hear the word "wait." Our dogs just wait, even when
they see the new guy trying to go through the door while I am stopping
them.
- When
anyone enters or exits the house through the front door we either hold
onto the dogs or put them in the back yard or in crates.
- We use
the "double-door system" if we are entering or exiting the
house through the garage. This way if a dog gets past the entry door,
the garage door will stop them. In our case, we have a small laundry
room just inside the garage entrance and another door to enter the hallway
to our family room. We also use that as our double-door system.
- When
making trips in the car, we use muzzles if we have more than one dog
in the car (better safe than sorry). We also hold the leash until the
door is closed enough so they cannot suddenly squeeze out. Another idea
is to have someone in the vehicle hold leashes until all doors are closed,
or attach the leash to something. We also have harnesses that can be
used with the seat belts in the car, which helps with dogs that don't
like to lie down. They can still stand or lay down, but only in one
spot.
- When
loading the car we do so with dogs on leashes and if possible with the
garage door closed. We never let go of leashes until there is not enough
room for the dog/dogs to squeeze out. We also use the "wait"
command so they know we do not want them to go through the door.
- We always keep an extra muzzle, collar and leash in the car. Treats are a good idea too. You never know when you might need them.
The bullets points above make fostering look like a lot of work, and it can be. However, the excitement on a foster's new family's face when the dog goes to his/her new home; or the first time your foster lays down next to you, looks at you and through the look in his/her eyes says "I love you, and I'm so happy you are taking care of me," more than makes up for the work you will put into fostering. The hardest part is the first few days, after that they get a routine going, usually following your dogs' lead.
Our goal
is to successfully place 10 fosters next year. Try it. There's no better
feeling than seeing one of your fosters with his/her new family at a GALT
event. You really feel like you have rescued a greyhound.
Remember, fostering really does make a positive difference for every fostered
greyhound. As GALT says, "If you adopt you can save one; if you foster
you can save many."
