October was Shelter Dog Month. So, on this, the last day of October, I want to say something about shelter dogs, life, and you – and me.
Each of us has an impact.
Foster puppy Harry and his ears
Today I want to recognize the impact that you and I and everyone around us has on the community. No woman is an island. We are in this together. Each of us chooses how we impact our community, for good or for bad. The times we lose our temper at our neighbors or cut someone off in traffic, we are creating a rather unpleasant impact. When we smile at someone in the grocery store or let someone cut in line, we are impacting it for the better.
The good news is that we can live with the intention of having positive impact. You are a good person. (I know it, or you wouldn’t be reading this blog!) You do make the community a better place every day.
Make a huge impact – foster a dog.
Want to take it a step further? There are dogs in shelters and rescues around this country that need foster homes. In some parts of the country, shelters are so overcrowded and underfunded, that fosters save lives, just by getting dogs out of the shelter before they must be euthanized.
Me with foster dog, Kobe
I’m lucky enough to live in a community where dogs are not euthanized for space and given tons of resources to help them be adoptable and successful. But even with all that, not all dogs are cut out for shelter life. They can be so shut down and freaked out that it’s unhealthy for them, or they can be so sick that the shelter makes it impossible to recover. Sometimes, they have behavior challenges that can’t even begin to be addressed until they are out of the stress of the shelter.
Shelter staff do everything they can, both in my community and across the country. But they need you. Take in a dog. Give her a break from the shelter. You will make such a huge positive impact for that dog – and for their eventual adopter.
No excuses.
Temporary foster, Horchata
Even if you are “not a dog person,” please consider it. That’s the beauty of fostering – you are not making a long term commitment, but you are making a difference!
Sure, it’s hard to say goodbye to them when they get adopted, but imagine how much harder it would have been for that dog if they didn’t have you to care for them until they found their forever home.
Being a foster for shelter and rescue dogs has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done in my life. The joy of seeing a dog blossom in your care and then head off to a loving home with a family you helped by taking care of their dog until they found him is a powerful thing. Louie, Toby, Harry, Annabelle, Kobe and others are out there making families happy – and it warms my heart I helped get them to those homes!
Call a shelter or rescue you near you today and just ask some questions, to see if it’s right for you. If you are on the fence, shoot me an email, and I’ll answer any questions you might have.