We got our first foster dog on Christmas Day in 2013. I’m still not sure who got the best gift that day. Me, for being allowed to foster or Hudson (now Tucker) who received the gift of a new beginning and a new family. I think we both got pretty lucky. I’ve been married to my best friend Jeremy for 7 years.
We got involved in fostering after losing our golden retriever Tazz to cancer.
Losing Tazz left a huge hole in both of our hearts. We wanted a companion for Bishop but weren’t ready to adopt. Fostering sounded like a great option. We now have two furry dog sons Bishop and Nelson. Nelson was actually our fourth foster and our first foster fail.
I fell in love with him in the picture Laura sent me asking if I would take him. He was an emaciated, heartworm positive hound dog, who had lived his life outside on a very short chain. He has by far been the toughest foster dog we’ve had. When he came to us he was covered in his own urine and feces and acted like a wild animal. He had little socialization with people or animals and just didn’t have any idea what life was off of the chain was. Anything and everything made him nervous and I never realized a dog could pace and squeak so much. It took us a few months to admit to ourselves and each other that he belonged with us. Nelson has gotten used to living a life inside and sleeping on the sofa and beds. He makes us laugh daily and has filled a little bit of the hole that losing Tazz left. We have fostered a wide array of dogs. I find I kind of gravitate toward labs and hound mixes. I just love their funny and dumb (I mean that in a good way) personalities. I am a sucker for big dogs, the bigger the better.
Other than fostering I also volunteer at Bedford County Animal Shelter. Volunteering at a shelter has definitely opened my eyes to how much fostering and rescues make a difference in the lives of shelter animals. If it weren’t for foster homes, rescues wouldn’t be able to pull animals, and many healthy adoptable animals wouldn’t make it out and would never know what being a loved family member means. Every foster animal we bring into our home is our family member until we find a family that is better suited for them than we are. I was always the person who said “I could never foster because it would hurt too much to let them go.” I’m not going to lie it does hurt and I’ve cried with each foster as I’ve said goodbye to them. The pure joy and satisfaction you get from knowing you saved their life and now they will have an amazing family to love them is something I can’t describe. Laura is great at walking you through the whole process and supports you from the beginning. I believe we live in a community that is filled with animal lovers. With education, resources, and community support I believe we can do some amazing things for the homeless and unwanted animals in our community. I am so excited to be a part of Central Virginia Regional Rescue. I can’t wait to see the positive impact we’ll have on animals and people in our community. Rescue. Rehome. Repeat.
