After my last blog entry, it occurred to me I left out a couple of vital components to fostering an animal, especially if you are fostering for an organization.  Fostering on your own allows you to do everything the way you want, schedule meet and greets when you want and make decisions that you see fit.  However, if you are fostering on behalf of a third party there are some things that I failed to mention that you should be prepared to do.    Keep the following few things in mind.  You will likely be required to make trips to certain locations of the rescues choice where you will bring the dogs for exposure like adoption events, etc.  Most rescues will work around your schedule.  After all, most of work and have jobs separate from the rescue work we do.  But, be cognizant of the fact that one of your responsibility in fostering is being able to travel with the pet to locations away from your home. Many of these events take place on the weekends.  So, that means your Saturdays and Sundays may need to be allocated to adoption events.  But, hey it's only temporary and it's for a cause.  Plus, you will be surrounded by animal people; not a bad way to spend a day!!  But, traveling with the pet or making your home open to visitors is something that you should expect to be part of your responsibility as a foster parent.
    Another very important aspect of fostering that I forgot to mention, and that could be challenging for you, is the fact that you may disagree with some of the policies and procedures and decisions of the rescue you are working with.  It's not uncommon that volunteers of a rescue organization often are at odds with leadership over some decisions that are made.  While there is no specific advice I can give, I can tell you this.  The organization is coming from a different angle than you are.  The organization, in all likelihood, has liability as one of their priorities.  It's not always fair or warranted, but a fact that volunteers must deal with.  Aligning with the organization is sometimes challenging.  But, if you focus on caring for the animal and focus on the animal only, the people crap will work itself out. I tell people who are volunteering this one simple rule:  Leave your ego at home!!


Extra Tid bit:  Here are some, not all, questions I may ask potential foster homes:
 
- Are you willing to foster indefinitely, until pet finds its forever home?

- Are you willing to drive up to an hour for meet and greets?

- Are you willing to come to my location for a couple of hours every so often to showcase and socialize them?

- Are you willing to deal with some housebreaking or other behavioral issues?

- Do you have a crate or area where pet can be safely contained when unsupervised?

- Do you have space in your home for a crate?

    After my previous blog post, i received a few inquiries asking me to explain what exactly is involved in fostering a dog.  I guess it was just a poor assumption on my part that it is common knowledge what fostering a dog entails.  But, after thinking about it, it makes sense that those who never fostered wouldn't know what the process is or what role the foster parent plays in saving a dog and giving it temporary housing and care.  So, I will start from the basics and offer a brief overview from my experience; dating back to when my wife and first started fostering.
    Like many first time fosters, my wife and I really had nothing to do with how we got started other than having a feeling deep within that we needed to do more.  And, just like that, our first foster dog came to us.  We started out fostering one dog at a time for about 9 years (2001, I believe was our first foster).  The dog just came to us.  When you get involved in animal rescue, it's amazing how opportunities just start presenting themselves; and animals in need just seem to find us!
    So, how does one get started?  The first thing you can do is get some experience under your belt if need be.  Contact your local animal shelter or a rescue near you where you can possibly start volunteering or walking some dogs (or caring for cats if you're a kitty lover).  If you feel you are ready to get going, you can ask for foster opportunities.  if no one local to you has a foster situation there are many resources out there like social media (facebook) where you can post your willingness to foster.  I'll bet you any amount of money someone will respond.  You could also check out www.petfinder.com or www.adoptapet.com and look up rescues and contact them for foster opportunities.  Once you find an animal to foster you'll be on your way.
    Different rescue organizations likely have slight differences in their foster programs.  For instance, if I have someone fostering for me, I offer to pay for any medical expenses, training or supplies.  Fortunately, the few folks who have fostered for me have helped out with some expenses (rescues are almost always short on funding).  Some rescues may expect the foster home to pick up the tab on expenses.  And, if you start like my wife and I did years ago (and still today), much of the care we provide comes out of our own pockets.  So, make sure you communicate with the rescue you are dealing with to ensure everyone's expectations are aligned.  Having accurate expectations on both sides will make the partnership successful. 
    Once you decide to bring in your new foster pet, here are some things you should consider.  First of all, do you have any pets that could make fostering an issue?  It's great that you want to do more.  But, your own pets' lives should not be negatively impacted.  They were there first and their quality of life should be maintained.  Secondly, are you in a position financially to care for a pet?  Are you allowed to have pets where you live?  Are you equipped to handle a pet with special needs or behavioral issues?  Are you willing to have this temporary pet in your life for an extended period of time?  Not all animals get adopted quickly.  Never believe anyone that tells you; "This dog is sweet, he'll get adopted in no time".  No expectations should be put on when a pet should get adopted.  Understand there is a commitment to fostering.  That commitment ends when you find that animal its forever home.  There will be ups and downs too.  Many homeless animals are not perfect, which is often why they likely are homeless.  Dogs may need to be housebroken or crate trained.  They may chew on your couch or carpet or woodwork.  You must be able to deal with these behaviors.  Someone has to be deal with it and help the dog get better otherwise it will ultimately be homeless again.  Understand these animals need a patient, loving caretaker to help make them the best pets they can be.  THIS WILL BE YOUR JOB!!
    Fostering animals is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.  It's hard at times.  It's sad even to see them go sometimes.  But, when you see the pet placed into their forever home, there is no better feeling.  You just saved a life.  And, now you can save another.  Here's a little formula for you to understand the impact you would on fostering.  If you only fostered two dogs, you saved FOUR lives.  Yup, FOUR!!  Here's how.  If you take a dog from a shelter, you obviously save that dog.  But. you also make her/his cage available for another animal that needs a place to go.  So, saving one life really saves 2.  Save 3, you're really saving 6.  See what I mean.  You may not thinkg you're making a difference.  But, there's the old saying: "Saving one dog doesn't change the world, but it changes that one dog's world" - something like that...
    Lastly, if anyone is one the fence about fostering...... JUMP OFF!!  We need you - LOL.  Seriously, though, just try it.  Talk to others who have done it before you.  Most of us rescue folks, although crazy as hell, are here to help.  My email and phone numbers and websites are all public and I am always available to talk or email or whatever.  Well, I hope this offers a little insight into what is involved in fostering.  Of course, this could be an in depth topic.  But, blogs aren't supposed to be too long and I certainly don't want to bore you.  FOSTER NOW.... PLEEEEAAAASSSEEE!!!  Until next time...

Jeff

One Dog at a Time

By Jeff Coltenback

Originally written: March 27, 2012

                I was sitting at my laptop getting ready to check some email and catch up on messages.  Before I knew it, 20 minutes went by as I got lost in thought about how much work there is still to do.  I was thinking about all the poor, hopeless dogs out there that will never know what it’s like to cuddle in a warm bed with people that love them.  I thought about all the horrible people out there that treat their animals like garbage and just toss them out when they are done with them.  My thoughts were so overwhelmingly painful.  I couldn’t snap out of it.  Wiping away the tears from my cheek, I tried to get myself together because I had work to do.  I thought about so many dogs that came across my way (email, facebook, etc) that I couldn’t save.  I try really hard to stay positive and focus on the ones I have saved or helped save.  But, I always go back to the ones I couldn’t save.  Most rescuers know the feeling I am describing.  It’s painful.  But, it is also motivational.  It drives me every day.  Every morning I go and take care of the foster dogs at about 7am.  It sucks sometimes.  Sometimes I’d really like to just sleep in.  Yea, they can probably hold it for another hour or so.  But, their comfort is important to me while they are in my care.  I try to provide them with good food, great treats, lots of exercise and even more love.  The smiles I get from them are reward enough and also keep me motivated. 

                Then, I started thinking about all of the rescuers out there like me.  We all experience the things I am describing.  We all sacrifice in the hope of making a difference.  We all save as many as we can.  I am so grateful for all the hard work; the sacrifice; the limited resources; the blood, sweat and tears that people in animal rescue shed for the animals in their care and for the animals we just can’t save.  If you’re reading this, I thank YOU for everything you do!  I appreciate it and understand the depths you all go through for the sake of trying to save just one dog.  Many of you save tons more than me.  God bless you for all that you do. This isn’t a thank you article.  But, I couldn’t write it without thanking all the animal rescuers out there. 

                As my thoughts continued, I tried figuring out how we can save more dogs.  But, no one ever has any room.  I know I rarely have extra room.  I know many of you reading this are filled up past your capacity.  There are just too many dogs.  This is where my thinking shifted drastically from thinking of all the great folks out there rescuing animals to all the folks out there who could foster and aren’t.  How can we get more people to get involved?  What can we do to motivate others to foster and rescue dogs; even “one dog at a time”?  I thought and thought and nothing.  Then, it occurred to me!  Just ask!  When I need something I ask for it.  Some pretty famous dude once said; “Ask and ye shall receive”.  So, it is that I write this article.  I am asking anyone who can…..please save a dog; even if it is “one dog at a time”!  Maybe you do have time to spare.  Maybe you can manage a few extra bucks a month to foster a dog.  Maybe, just maybe, you will be blessed with the experience of saving a dog from death and finding it a forever home.  There is no better look in this world than the look you get from the dog you place in a forever home.  Yes, I think they miss you a little at first.  I know I sure miss them.  But, when you see them snuggling on their new sofa or playing in their new yard….gosh….it’s so rewarding.  So, I challenge anyone out there to find it in your heart to go and save a dog.  Just try it out and see if you can do it.  Just see if it’s something for you.  If it’s not, that’s ok.  You just won’t foster any more.  But, give it a try, at least!  If it’s only one dog you save, that’s one more that doesn’t die unnecessarily.  If 1000 people who aren’t currently fostering just save one dog, think about the impact you all would have!  Just “one dog at a time”.  If it’s your first and last foster then GREAT!!  It’s still helps us on our mission to save just “one dog at a time”.  I hate to sound all corny and hoorah.  But, together, we can all make a huge difference, even for just one dog!  So, this is my challenge to you.  Better yet, I AM BEGGING YOU.  Try and foster a dog.  I just have one warning; if it is for you and you experience the rewards I am describing, you’re going to get sucked in!! LOL.  Thanks for reading this.  Please spread the word along to anyone who will listen.  God Bless you all!

-          Jeff Coltenback

Welcome to my new blog.  I promise to offer you some valuable tidbits and insights regarding the world of pet care and beyond.  I may also bore you with other social issues - LOL.  As many blogs out there, I will try and keep things short and sweet.  if you have any subject matter you'd like to see covered, just let me know!  In my next blog, I will discuss my journey as a former meat eater....