A Great Day...

It is 6:30 am, and my 6 year old daughter just asked me, Is today Wednesday?  Smiling, I tell her it is, and she excitedly says, Skye's coming!  Today is a great day for Shelter Link, and for me in particular.  We will be fostering one of the beautiful Pitbull babies, well she's not a baby, she's around 2 ;), here at my home.  She'll arrive this afternoon, and we can't wait!  She is such a sweet girl, who will thrive being out of the shelter environment.  She's a special dog, afraid, but coming out of her shell.  It became apparent to us that whoever had her before she ended up at the shelter, wasn't very nice to her.  But that is all behind her now.  The volunteers worked with her at the shelter, coaxing her to learn to trust again, and you would be amazed how quickly she did.  Dogs have an amazing capacity to forgive and live in the now.

Look at Skye and Valentino, another mush at the shelter waiting for his family, having some fun this past Saturday. {She's the gray beauty on the right.}

I will be posting lots about Skye's time with us, her progress and photos.  My daughter's are so excited we get to help her, and find her a forever home.  They helped pick out a new collar and dog bowl for her yesterday.  As a parent, I am thrilled to give them this experience, as there as so many lessons they will learn and take with them the rest of their life.

Skye is Shelter Link's 3rd foster dog in the past 2 months.  Hopefully, that number will grow quickly, as we have more fosters in place.  Shelter Link's first foster dog, Winnie, is already at her forever home, being spoiled and loved on.  Her family is very smitten with her.  I will be posting more about Winnie's love story soon.  If you would like to see our dogs being fostered, click here.

Fostering a dog is no doubt going to be an amazing and joyous experience for myself and my family.  I know tears will be shed when we turn over her leash to her new forever family.  But we'll think about the impact we had on her life, and how we loved her like she was our own.  And that will make it all worth it!

Providing a temporary home for a dog in need is very important.  Here are 10 reasons why you should consider taking a foster into your home to become a part of your family.  In animal rescue, a foster home is a necessary ingredient for moving a dog out of a shelter and on the way to a good forever home.

1.  Some dogs don’t do at all well in a shelter environment. They may be elderly or frightened of the smells and sounds. These dogs have a much greater chance of being adopted if they’re placed in a home environment and are given some TLC.

2.  If a foster dog needs veterinary care, the shelter organization takes care of that.

3.  Fostering a dog can be a rewarding experience for anyone of any age. You can enjoy the companionship of a dog that needs a temporary home.

4.  As you spend time with your foster dog, you can learn about canine behavior, grooming, and social interactions.

5.  You’ll learn the finer points about the dog’s personality. This is a wonderful gift you can give to people looking to adopt the dog. You’ll be able to inform them of all the strong points, as well as areas that need to be focused on if they are considering adopting your foster dog.

6.  If you already have a dog, fostering can provide your pup with a companion and playmate.

7.  Fostering a dog teaches children about compassion and generosity.

8.  Fostering means that you save a life. You are making room for another dog at the shelter. One more open run or kennel.

9.  Having a foster dog lets you actively participate in the rehabilitation of a traumatized or needy dog. Due to the attention and security you give him in your home, your foster can become a different dog, less timid and less emotionally or physically injured.

10.  Most of all, fostering is incredibly satisfying. The day your foster dog finds his perfect forever home might be a sad one for you, but know that he wouldn’t be where he is without all of your efforts and affection!

To foster with us, click here for more information.

We need you... they need you.