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Below: volunteers each give their own answer to the question: Why Do I Foster?
And, from several volunteers: Their Favorite Foster Story.
Below is a collection of Fostering Tips for our OBG Fosters.
From Our Volunteers - Why Do I Foster?
How can I foster? How can I give up such a great dog? It is a selfless task that reminds someone of how strong they can be. To give up something that you’ve taken care of to another person (who can do the same great job you’ve done) keeps the “Circle of Life” going. So, if I’m strong enough to give this dog to a good family, I can continue to save more lives. The joy I see in a person’s eyes on adoption day is worth any tear I may shed saying goodbye to my foster dog. **Angela Robinson
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I love working with the dogs and seeing them blossom from frightened, nervous dogs to happy, well-adjusted companions. The final joy is seeing them find their forever homes and knowing I helped to make that happen. When I place a foster dog in its forever home, it is hard, but I remind myself that I can save a new life because I made the sacrifice of saying goodbye to this dog. Then, I take a new foster dog, and the joy of saving the new dog makes up for every goodbye. **Teresa Butler
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We foster with OBG because we feel we're making a difference not only for a homeless dog, but for the family where that dog will come to live. Living in a foster home makes the dog's transition to a new home a much more seamless one. **Nancy Levesque
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I fostered because I love dogs. I was not able to have a dog year round due to my work schedule, but I did have 4-5 week periods at a time during which having a dog was feasible. So, I fostered. My work situation changed, and now I own a dog that would strongly prefer to be an only dog. I will respect his wishes, but I am positive that at some point in time in my future fostering once again will be the right thing to do for me and my family. **Jennifer King
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I foster because it is very rewarding to help re-home a precious animal that, through no fault of its own, has found itself without the home it has known, usually all its life. It is great to welcome a frightened pup into my home, help it find a new home, and to see the delight all around when a new place to live is found and the fur baby is finally "home". Yes, it's hard to let them go; but you do it because you know there's another pup out there waiting for a chance to find a new home. **Diane Webster
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I have Bubble (who in my house is called Muffin). He's 17 now and we got him when he was 14 because he'd been dumped in a WV shelter for being "too old". OBG took him in after making sure there would be a foster home for him to go. I realize that the kind of fostering we've done - really more like hospice care - is not for everyone. I know that at some point in the not too far off future, we're going to have a very sad day come, but when I think about these three-plus years he has had to stock up on love and fun, I'm just so happy we could do this for him. **Valerie Silensky
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From Our Fosters - Favorite Fostering Stories
Years ago I fostered a sweet little girl named Bailey who was very frightened and seemed to think the only safe place in our house was on the dining room table. No, we are not in the habit of letting any dog sleep on our table, but she was so scared and would just shake and shake when I made her get on the floor. I finally left her on the table that first afternoon out of desperation. My husband came home and next thing I heard him yell my name. I went out prepared to explain why I was letting a dog on the table, but much to my surprise, he was only upset because I hadn't given her a dog bed to sleep on. So, he had put a bed in the center of the table and our new foster dog was sleeping contentedly on the bed in the middle of our dining room table. It was very cute, even if unconventional. FYI, that dog ended up being one of the best behaved foster dogs I have ever had. She never tried to get on the table again after the first couple of days and settled in beautifully. We just needed to give her a couple of days to observe the home from her perch up high. **Teresa Butler
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Peluca was our very first foster. We picked him up at Dakotas, where he was running around with a huge rubber gorilla in his mouth. I was shocked the toy fit in his mouth, it was that big! Once we brought him home, the gorilla didn't leave his sight. He would run around slipping all over our wood floors with that huge squeaky gorilla in his mouth. When we dropped him off to his new forever home, I came home to a quiet house. I missed the sound of that squeaky gorilla, but was happy that Peluca had finally found his home. **Nancy Levesque
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HOW TO LOSE TEN POUNDS… Many of you are probably wondering what losing ten pounds has to do with Cocker Rescue. Well, believe it or not, there is a “connection” ... at least for me there was. Late in January, Judy Wollin asked if Mike and I would foster a black cocker spaniel named Violet. She had been pulled from the shelter in Charlottesville and needed a quiet home to recuperate while she underwent heartworm treatment. Normally our house, although busy, is quiet as Mike and I are empty nesters now (for human children, anyway!). Violet had been given her first treatment before coming to us. So now it was just a case of living quietly and proceeding with the second treatment as well as spaying, cherry eye surgery, etc. Due to her very gentle soul and heartwarming eyes, a very nice lady and her daughter were ready to adopt Violet as soon as she was ready for her new home. But fate had other plans…. On February 23rd, Miss Violet (whom we now know is by no means a shrinking violet) shocked us. I came home from work to be greeted by a very agitated dog that was panting and crying. I assumed she was having a delayed reaction to the heartworm treatment. A quick trip to the emergency vet answered our question, and, as Gomer Pyle would say, “Surprise, surprise”. Miss Violet was pregnant and proceeded to deliver three puppies! How on earth you ask, could a woman who has been around dogs all her life, had medical training and worked with rescue dogs not know when a dog is pregnant? Well, I was vindicated because two different veterinarians told me previously that she was not pregnant. After a quick trip to the lumber store, my ever-patient husband built a whelping box and we settled in to welcome the new additions we named Brooke, Iris and Forest. Needless to say, our house has been much busier and here is the secret to losing ten pounds … puppies! My day is now filled with washing bedding, mopping floors, and running to the vet several times a week because I am totally neurotic about these puppies. We have experienced dewclaw extraction and tail cropping, bottle and formula buying and a hundred phone calls to Judy and the vet with a million questions. Add to that a full-time job and family responsibilities. Consequently, I don’t snack and the exercise equipment receives the full brunt of my stress. All in all, we are surviving our first experience with puppies. And, I confess, Mike and I do spend a lot of time just watching them do laps around the whelping box with wobbly legs, try to drink milk from little bowls, and bark and growl at each other as their distinct personalities become more evident each day. So, if you need to lose ten pounds and would enjoy seeing the renewal of life, rescue a dog that is pregnant!!! P.S. Our dogs Finnegan and Shelby are just wondering: how long will these puppies be staying? **Susan Sofield, OBG volunteer
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Tracey and I agreed to temporarily foster Tucker, a sweet older boy who was both deaf and blind. We saw him at an adoption show where he sat and happily chomping on a rawhide. He seemed really nice but we were a bit apprehensive bringing him to our house. We wondered: how would he get around? What about the stairs? How would we call him? When we brought him to our house, he walked around sniffing like mad, wagging his tail. He bumped into a few things but he quickly figured things out. He found the water bowl in about 10 minutes, and the back door a few minutes later and successfully navigated the steps to the back yard. He loved to sniff around the backyard and ran around it with abandon. After 1 day, he had the whole house figured out, and you would never know he couldn't see or hear. We figured out that he would follow the vibration of our footsteps, so he would always stay near. Also we determined that he could distinguish light, and he was fascinated with the reflection of the sun off of the stainless steel doors of our refrigerator. He would sit for long periods staring at the fridge, thoroughly fascinated. It was hysterical. He was a happy funny guy with tons of personality. It was sad to see him go to his permanent foster home, but he eventually found a great home and lived a happy life. Tucker taught us to never feel sorry for a blind and/or deaf dog; they do just fine and lead happy lives. Their nose is their primary sense: if they can sniff then they will do just fine. **Jim Mich & Tracey Denning
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Boredom: Boredom in dogs can lead to some very undesirable behaviors. In addition to physical exercise, dogs need mental stimulation just like people do. Kongs filled with peanut butter or Easy Cheese can keep your dog occupied. Some dogs eat all of their meals out of a Kong (may need to refill a few times, depending on the size of the Kong) to keep their minds working and to help keep them out of trouble. Please be sure that your dog is getting enough exercise (see below). Teach the dog to play fetch. Leave the TV/radio on low volume when you go out (talk radio may be better than music). Take the dog on car rides with you if the weather is appropriate and the dog will not be left in the car for extended periods of time. Try hiding treats and have the dog find them. Obedience training is also great mental stimulation, and it makes the dog more easily adoptable. Teach the dog tricks like sit, stay, come, lie down, roll over, shake, and twirl (Google “tricks for dogs” for some more ideas and for training tips).
Calming: Lavender has been shown to have a calming effect on dogs. Consider lavender-scented air freshener. If nothing else, your own nerves may feel better!
Chewing: Most of our dogs are beyond the chewing stage, but a few (especially young ones) will like to nibble inappropriately. The first step in battling the chewing problem is management – puppy-proof the home! Put shoes in closets, pick up clothes off of the floor, and do not leave remote controls/purses/papers lying around. It is important to provide a variety of appropriate chew toys for the dog (sometimes it helps to rub peanut butter or another yummy treat on the toy initially to get the dog interested). Just like with housebreaking, if the dog is chewing when you are home, tether the dog to you (tie one end of the leash to the dog and the other end to your belt loop) and crate the pooch when he cannot be supervised. In addition, some people have had success with bitter tasting sprays commonly found in pet stores.
Cleaning: Nature’s Miracle, Simple Solution, Urine Off, or Petastic Odor & Stain Remover are a must in a foster’s home. Clean up accidents as quickly as possible, so that every dog that enters your house does not want to mark in the same spots. A foster wrote, “I have found a stain and odor removing item that is fantastic. It is by Ecos at www.ecos.com It is environmentally friendly. To use it, clean up as much of the accident as possible. For carpet, I soak the area thoroughly with the product. Then, I take a wet cloth towel and lay it over the carpet. The stain literally disappears. I love this company because their products are effective and I know I'm not harming the environment by using them. You can order them on-line or find their products at Whole Foods and other organic stores in the Washington, D.C. area.” A Bissell SpotBot cost ~$130. Wait for a coupon for 20% off from Bed Bath & Beyond. “Best $104 bucks I’ve ever spent,” reports another foster.
Crates: Crates are wonderful tools for certain dogs, like puppies, when used properly. Teach the dog that a crate is a good, safe place to be by putting treats in the crate before asking the dog to go inside. If the dog does not chew, put a soft bed or old blankets in the crate to make it more comfortable. If possible, have the dog’s crate placed in your bedroom. Dogs are pack animals and like to be near their humans.
Dashing through doors: Running through an open door can be a very dangerous problem as the dog could run out into the street. Try having the dog sit and stay before opening the door. If the dog starts to get up, close the door and put him back in a sit/stay. This may take practice, practice, practice until you can open the door without the dog charging, but it will be worth it!
Eating too quickly: Some dogs wolf down their food in seconds. Consider feeding the dog by hand or putting a ball that is too large for dog to swallow into the bowl of food to slow down the eating.
Exercising: Most dogs (and people) do not get enough exercise! Walk, walk, walk. Tired dogs are good dogs. Letting a dog out in the backyard to run around is not the same as putting a leash on and going for a walk. A good goal for time in younger (or older active) dogs is 40-60 minutes per day every day (does not need to be consecutive minutes). Chances are that you have a neighbor who also needs more exercise – invite the person to join you on your walks!
Free Lectures: Your Dog’s Friend is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose goal is to educate and support dog owners in order to keep more dogs out of shelters. This group hosts several excellent FREE lectures on a variety of topics each month. For an up-to-date list of their events, please visit their website at www.yourdogsfriend.info/
Garbage: Place all garbage cans in cabinets or otherwise out of reach of the dog!
Housetraining: Sometimes even dogs that are housebroken have accidents in a new situation – rehoming is stressful! Be patient. As your foster dog settles down and adjusts to its new home, the accidents will stop. If you foster a puppy or dog that is not housebroken, initially take the dog outside at least every 2 hours like clockwork. Reward the dog with lots of verbal praise and a treat when the dog is successful outside. If the dog has accidents despite going out frequently, consider tethering the dog to you (tying one end of the leash to the dog and the other end to your belt loop), so you can keep a better eye on the dog in the house. Crate the dog when you are not home, as most dogs will not have accidents in such a small, confined space. Also, feeding the dog on a regular schedule helps the dog eliminate at more predictable times. Remove water 2 hours before bedtime. Do not punish your dog if he has an accident in the house. If you catch him in the act, simply say something like “Outside!” and immediately take him out. If you find the accident after it has happened, just clean it up and supervise the dog more closely. Punishment will only make the dog afraid to go in front of you; he will hide next time he wants to go inside the house. Also, if he is having accidents because he is excited or being submissive, scolding him will only make the problem worse. If a dog that has been housebroken in your home suddenly begins having accidents, consider seeing a vet. The dog may have a urinary tract infection or other medical condition.
Introducing Animals: Choose a neutral place for the dogs to meet (outside is highly recommended). If you have multiple dogs, introduce your dogs one at a time to the new dog. Let the foster dog meet your friendliest dog first. Be sure to give your own animals lots of extra treats and attention when introducing a foster animal because you want your animals to view having the foster brother or sister as a treat, not as a competition for your attention. Giving the dogs extra playtime or walks are good ideas. If you have a fenced in yard, introduce the dogs outside and let them run around and get to know each other. Some dogs are leash aggressive, so the dogs may do better if left loose. Supervise closely. If your own dogs like to play, start playtime immediately while the other dog just sniffs around and gets used to the environment. If you do not have a fenced in yard, it might help to take the dogs for a walk immediately. Again, the idea is to make the introduction of a new dog in the home fun.
Jumping: Some dogs get very excited when their person comes home or “friends” come over to the house. Polite dogs keep all four paws on the floor. To manage the situation, put the dog in a crate or confine him in another room when guests come over. When training the dog not to jump, do not give the jumpy dog any attention (including talking to the dog). Turn your back toward the dog when it is jumping. Once the dog is calm, then you can acknowledge him (briefly. If you give the dog too much attention at first, the dog might get excited and start jumping again). Soon the dog will learn that he needs to be calm before good things happen. Another approach for training your dog not to jump is to walk in the front door and if your dog jumps up on you, turn around and go back outside. Try again. You may need to come in and go out dozens of times over several days before the dog figures out (and remembers) that he will only get attention when all four feet stay on the floor. You can also practice this exercise with friends. Have a friend ring your doorbell. Tell your dog to sit and stay. The goal is to open the front door and have the guest enter your home with the dog sitting and staying until he is released. If at any time the dog breaks the sit/stay or jumps up on the friend after being released, have the friend immediately leave the house and start again. This, too, may take lots of practice, but with lots of rewards for good behavior and no reinforcement for bad behavior, your dog will learn!
No: Many people do not realize how frequently they use the word “no” when speaking to their dog. Instead of telling the dog what not to do (which can be difficult for the dog to understand), try giving the dog specific commands. For example, if the dog is jumping up on someone, instead of yelling “no”, tell the dog what you would like him to do (e.g. sit). The dog cannot jump if all four paws are on the floor.
Obesity: Many dogs, like their human counterparts, are overweight. Sadly, this can lead to serious, expensive health problems, so it is imperative that foster parents help their foster dog lose weight, if needed. Fortunately, since you control the amount of food and exercise the dog receives, it is pretty easy to get your foster dog to drop pounds. Please feed the dog low calorie dog food in proper amounts. Dog food packaging often recommends feeding the dog more food than the dog needs, so be careful. A general rule of thumb is 1 cup of dry food for every 20 pounds of dog per day (NOT per meal). If you have questions about how much your dog should eat, please contact your foster coordinator. Provide plenty of exercise - take the dog for walks on a leash daily. Reserve some kibble from breakfast to use during the day as treats for the dog. Try feeding the dog low calorie treats, such as fresh carrots or other vegetables.
Separation Anxiety: Rescue dogs are at an increased risk for having separation anxiety. A Kong (or other rubber toy that allows you to stuff food inside) is a great distraction to give the dog when you are leaving and it should be given every time you leave the home if your dog has signs of separation anxiety, as it occupies the dog and takes the dog’s focus away from your leaving. If you freeze the toy with the food inside, it lasts even longer. Separation anxiety can turn into a serious problem that is difficult to treat. It is best to address this issue as soon as it starts. Please click on this link for more information about separation anxiety and for ways to help your foster dog. http://www.ddfl.org/behavior/sep-anxiety.pdf
Sleeping through the Night: Most animals do sleep through the night, but some dogs are so anxiety-ridden that they pace and pant when all you want them to do is rest. Be patient. This should pass in after a couple of nights as your foster dog gets more comfortable in your home.
Triggers: Some foster dogs were not treated well in their prior homes, and they might have sights and sounds that make them very upset. Common triggers include rolled-up newspapers, raising arms (as in gesturing during a conversation), sticks, sudden movements, and unpleasant/loud tones of voice. Be extra aware of how you and your friends/family behave while your dog is settling into your home.
Upset stomachs: Diarrhea in new foster dogs is very common and most usually due to stress. Try feeding the dog 3 parts rice to 1 part boiled chicken for a couple days until the stool becomes firm. If the dog has other symptoms (vomiting, coughing, sneezing, eye discharge, lethargy, fever), call your foster coordinator. Or, if the loose stools do not clear up within 5 days, call your foster coordinator. While blood in the stool can be very scary to observe, it is not necessarily an indication of a serious problem. However, it is important to contact your foster coordinator immediately. Most likely, your foster dog will need to be seen by an OBG vet in order to determine the cause of the blood and obtain appropriate treatment.
Walking on Leash: If a dog pulls a lot, consider using a front-clip harness (such as Easy walk or SENSE-ation) or gentle leader. Since many foster dogs have not perfected their leash manners, we do not permit foster parents to use retractable leashes. When the dog pulls on the leash: (A) Back up and call your dog to you. Keep backing up until your dog gets all the way to you. Praise him, then start walking forward again. Each time he pulls, back up and call him to you again. (B) Change directions. Anticipate his pulling and just before the leash becomes taut, call you dog’s name and tell him “Let’s go” as you turn and walk in the opposite direction. Each time he starts to charge ahead, turn and go the opposite way. (C) Stand and wait. Stand like a tree. Wait for your furry friend to turn and look at you. Then, continue on your walk. The point of these exercises is to teach your dog to pay attention to you. Be patient – he will learn to do this, but it may take time and lots of practice. Anytime your dog walks nicely on a leash, reward him! Watch for him to tune in to you and walk politely at your side. Praise him and give him a treat. It is easier to reward him for good behavior than to try to correct bad behavior.