Being a Doggie Foster

Since working at ARF (Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek), I have had a couple opportunities to provide a foster home for some of the dogs. If it was left up to me, I would foster dogs all the time. However, I'm living at my parents' house, and I have to respect their wishes first-and-foremost. There is always the risk that the foster dogs won't be potty trained or will chew on everything, so I try not to burden my parents with these worries too often.

But when there is a particular dog who is either in need of time away from the shelter to recover from an illness or in need of some extra socialization, then I start the "kissing up" process with my parents. My mom is usually an easy sell; a cute picture of the dog is all she really needs to convince her. My dad is a more difficult target; on the exterior he is very resistant and stubborn, but I've spent 26 years with this man so I have a pretty good idea when he is about to crack. As a result, we've been able to foster a couple dogs over the last 2 years...some easier than others, but all of them found a special place in all of our hearts.

If you are interested in fostering dogs, cats, puppies, or kittens, contact your local shelter or rescue group. ARF has an excellent Foster Program headed by a good friend, Erika Kleoni. Check out the ARF website if you want more information: http://arf.net/how-you-can-help/foster/

Here are some recaps of the dogs that we have welcomed in to our house:

Radcliffe - needed a foster home while some of the rooms at ARF were being repainted. She loved the water, and she eventually started playing with Lincoln. We nicknamed her Snaggle-tooth because of her glorious underbite.

Suze - needed a foster home because she had been at ARF for a long time (a few months) and was in need of a break. The shelter can be monotonous and stressful for many dogs, and Suze is a busy terrier who thrives on adventure and diversity.

Caboose - needed a foster home while she recovered from leg surgery. She came back and forth to work with me, and she would sit on my desk while I worked. She LOVED Lincoln, and Lincoln loved her! She was the hardest one to say goodbye to.

Golf - needed a foster home to get some extra puppy socialization. He was easily startled by new things and people. He was my toughest foster because he need around-the-clock management of his fear; he never got fully comfortable around my parents, and as a result, he was only able to stay a couple days. Lincoln had a good time teaching him how to play and wrestle. Videos on YouTube: 4 month old Golf; 5 month old Golf