Fostering dillema

[RoughCollies]

Jake and I have fostered four wonderful dogs together. We both behaved, and no matter how difficult it was, we were able to give them all to their new homes and didn't keep any. I don't regret saying goodbye to the two that I bonded with, but I still think about them every single day and wonder how they are doing.

The house that Jake and I are in the process of buying is small. It's smaller than the one we had, but it does have two floors, which I guess would make it bigger. The yard, however, is not huge. It's not even 1/2 acre. We had 2 acres for them to run on before.

With a small yard and a small house, Jake isn't so sure we should foster again for now. He is working long, long hours and is barely ever not on the road. I will be starting a new job and who knows what hours I will get. If we got another Kraemer, it wouldn't be possible. If we got another Sage, it wouldn't be possible. If we got another Heidi, it wouldn't be possible. If we got another Ramone, it might be possible. You can see the problem.

Kraemer was our hyper puppy. He needed a ton of attention.
Sage was middle aged. She needed attention because of her personality.
Heidi was senior. Needed almost constant supervision due to health issues.
Ramone was just plain mental. He had social issues that made it hard.

If we can't deal with high maitenance dogs and don't really have the room, it's not something that is really a good idea for us at this time.

I don't know. Maybe I just need words on encouragement that I am not letting the dog world down, but I jut feel so guilty. I mean, I have four dogs in this yard and this yard is tiny. But it is really cramped and I am home all the time right now. I don't know. I feel like I am letting them down. I am really going to miss fostering.

[SalemWitchChild]

You know what you have to do. And even though you won't be able to foster that doesn't mean you can't help out the local dog community! You could go to the shelter and groom or clean etc.. You could help them run festivities. I'm going this Saturday to help them run a booth set up at the local bank. My job will be transporting and/or holding a leash. It's not the same I know, but it does help!

[RoughCollies]

I know it helps. I do intend on doing dog walking and maybe some grooming for them, but it's not the same. The thing is, If I go a couple times a week and get to know the dogs and then find out they are running out of room and have to put one down, I am going to bring it home. I already know that. Unless it's a dog aggressive dog that would risk my own dogs, I know it's coming home with me. I can't do that, lol. But, I can say 100% I will not let it die. And if I take one home and it happens again later on, then suddenly I can't help the next dog. I have no self control. That's why
I need to find a no-kill shelter. For the sake of my house and my husband, lol.

[SalemWitchChild]

I know it's very hard to walk away. One dog in particular I think about a lot that I wish I could have gotten. He was a boxer that I just fell in love with. And I don't even like boxers that much! But he pushed up against my leg when I was there one day and followed me around the whole time I was there. It was love at first push...lol. He did get a really good home though. (So I was told).

[RoughCollies]

I am okay with dogs that are finding homes. No matter how attached I get, I am generally able to let go, which is why I was good at fostering. It was hard, but I did it every time. It's the ones who I know aren't getting a home. The ones that are being put down. I can't do that. I can't do it. I have little to no self control when it comes to that. I would scoop that dog up and take it right then and there. I can't let it die.

It's a bit of an issue, lol.

[jnc_mcguire]

Well sometimes we have to do what is best for us. I know that you will miss fostering.

[agilitydog]

I think in the situation you are putting yourself in at this moment, you may want to wait. You need to focus on your current family right now, get settled, start youur new job. Does is sound a bit greedy, maybe, but if you guys don't get yourselves settled and situated, you will be that much more stressed.

There are plenty of other opportunities available to help at the shelters. Like SWC said, help with festivities, volunteer for transports, maybe offer to do their home visits. You can still be involved, helping the dogs out, while getting yourself situated. As much as we want to help, you,Jake, Faith, and Dakota must come first.

[dobermom]

RC, you can still do it, it just makes it harder.
The houses I have had fosters in have been nice size homes with average yards. My current house is different, nice size, and 3 fenced acres, 2 unfenced.
As far as your hours, it can be done. Depends on the dog. I work retail hours, long and different shifts daily. I make it work.
Really kinda depends on the dog. Personally I think if you take a dog from a very poor situation anything you do is better then where its at.

So, YES, you can do it.
I would not do ANY fostering for AT LEAST 3 months after you get moved. Your dogs have been through alot of change and need time to adjust. 6 months would probably be even better.

[SalemWitchChild]

Instead of dogs why not foster cats?

[RoughCollies]

I've thought about cats. Dakota will chase a cat that will run. If it doesn't run, she won't bother it, but still I don't know how she'd handle it.