| May 10 Written by:aajoanne
Saturday, May 10, 2008 With fostering and rescue it's much like baseball. The game isn't over until the Fat Lady Sings. Sure things, are sometimes not as sure as one would expect.
We thought Pete had a great home lined up in Omaha. But then, as sometimes happens, the prospective adopter faded into the sunset. Next the potential adopter in Minnesota sounded great. And they are, but at the last minute they went with a local dog needing a home. Don't get me wrong it's not that we are anxious to see him go. Actually, I am anxious to find a great forever home for him, and anxious to let him go. You see, wherever he goes he'll take a part of us with him.
Right now we are considering a home that would make him a Big City dog. Not a suburban or country dog like I imagined. It has opened my eyes to dog ownership in a new way. One way is not better than the other, it's just different. It makes me reconsider what makes a good home. And location is not so much a part of it.
He lived in the country before he came into rescue. Life was harsh, cold and lonely for him. Right now he's in the suburbs of a middle sized city. All his needs are met, except for one important one. Pete needs and deserves a forever home. The bigger plan may take him to the heart of the city. And the bigger plan always plays out just like it should.
We are lucky to have been the half-way house between what was and what will be for Pete. How lucky to have been the ones who showed him the finer things in life, like a gentle hand, a warm dry bed, toys, and least we forget, liver treats, OMG, liver treats.
Who knows how it will all play out. Who knows who will end up with this liver and white Pete of a dog who brings Pete-ness to a new level.
Only the big kennel owner upstairs knows for sure where his forever home will be. But, for the love of Pete, it will be just right for him.
Thanks to member Labdp for her contributions to our blog!
Tags: 3 comments so far...
Re: The Bigger Plan
I was always ambivalent towards fostering a dog because of the upheaval for the pet. I know it is better than living in a shelter, no matter how nice a shelter. Does the animal go through separation anxiety and stress when he/she is moved from foster care to a new home? How long is the adjustment period? These are the questions I have about the process.
By jrstar on
Saturday, May 10, 2008
|
Re: The Bigger Plan
Yes, I am certain there is some stress involved when a dog moves from foster to forever home. Their whole world changes - even if it is for the better!! In my experience it takes a couple weeks, or so, for a dog to settle into a new environment. With Pete, when he came into foster care it took longer because he had never lived inside before. By "settling in" I mean being comfortable with the routine, learning where they can lay down and rest is, what the house rules are. Some dogs settle faster because they've had similar experiences. For some it's a whole new world.
By labdp on
Saturday, May 10, 2008
|
Re: The Bigger Plan
Fostering is definitely a great thing. We foster big dogs and lots of puppies. All of the animals seem very thankful to have a warm bed, food/water routinely, people and other animals to play with. In some cases it is very difficult to see them go to new "forever homes", but just knowing they will be loved and taken care of is great. I have a collie that is 2 years old, his original family left him at a farm when they moved, he had to take care of himself, now he has been in and out of foster care and then to a forever home that was no longer able to take care of him, and to my house, he is great. He is the sweetest most loveable animal. He gets along well with the other animals and never leaves my side. It will be hard to see him go, but I know the next forever home will be the right one!
By sassyownsme on
Saturday, May 10, 2008
|
| |
|
|