To anyone wishing to get involved with animal rescue that isn’t sure how to help, consider opening you home and your heart to a foster dog.
Our decision to foster for Lake Shore Animal Shelter (LSAS) was tempered by two concerns; our fears that taking in a strange animal would be a difficult transition for both us and our pets (when we started we had two dogs and two cats of our own – an important fact to which we’ll reference later), and that we would become attached to our charges and would have difficulty when the time came to send them off to their new home. Allow us to address the latter issue first. We do grow attached to all the animals we foster, and it is a difficult, sometimes emotional part of the job to give them up, but there are several factors that ease this burden…
LSAS has always allowed us to be an integral part of the adoption process.
We personally meet with each potential adopter and we are able to find a comfort level with each candidate, so we’re sure they’re going to a proper and loving home.
We have been welcomed to stay in touch with many of our adoptive families.
We regularly receive emails, photos, and updates on their progress. We have even “babysat” for several of our former fosters when the need arises.
We know there is always another deserving dog waiting to be rescued.
Finding another home for our fosters allows us the space to take in another dog who needs a second chance.
Regarding the lifestyle impact of becoming a foster parent, let us relate a story…
Our Beagle was old, sick, and on the decline when we took in Rocky, an 80 pound,10 year old Shepherd mix with bad hips and a crooked smile. During Farley’s last week, Rocky kept a silent vigil, sleeping alongside him and protecting him from any perceived threat. His mood after Farley passed was noticeably dour as he obviously mourned with us. This from a dog who had lost his own home and owner just two months prior. He now is best friends with Sarah, another Beagle who before joining our extended family was scheduled to be euthanized. Both of these sensitive and loving animals have a chance at a new life because of the work done at LSAS. We have never felt burdened or inconvenienced by our role as foster. On the contrary, it has been immensely rewarding.
We are proud and thankful of the opportunity we’ve been given to work with LSAS. Over the course of almost three years and 29 dogs and counting, we haven’t regretted a minute.
Lisa Mills and Mike Lesch
Our fostered dogs (we think this is everyone).... Ginger + her 8 puppies (Curry, Sage, Pepper, Licorice, Rosemary, Nutmeg, Sugar, and Anise), Boomer, Mason, Parker, Lila, Peekaboo, Dickens, Jamie, Lily, Cooper, Duchess, Tiny, Playdough, Hitomi, Stitch, Sweetgum + her 3 pups (Ash, Willow, and Bonzai), Rocky, and Sarah. There was also the time Nutmeg, renamed Missy, was returned to us.
If you think you’d like to get involved with foster care and you are a seasoned dog owner, call 312 409 1162, and Mary, Elizabeth, or Ann will get back to you. We set you up with what you need and provide you with support throughout your fostering experience.
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