My First Foray into Fostering

October 25, 2013

When I was asked to foster a pup in need, it was with reservations that I said yes….

I have an extremely difficult time saying no to someone when they ask me to do something good for a cause I believe in.  This has led me to acts as simple as donating a small amount to charities when I can, and as crazy as shaving my head to raise money for childhood cancer research.

When a friend of mine who volunteers with Little Paws Dachshund Rescue found out I have a doxie, she set out to make me a foster parent for another.  When she asked me if I’d consider fostering a pup in need, it was with reservations that I said yes.  What if this new, yet-to-be-determined dog was terrible?  What if he attacked my little Douglas?  What if he didn’t even like me?  What if (the horror) he wasn’t housetrained and destroyed everything in my home?  I’d seen the movie Cujo too many times to go into this situation lightly.

 
I had to think of the child first!

I figured I’d have plenty of time to prepare for a new foster dog, so I didn’t worry about my decision.  Two days later, I received an urgent text message from my friend.  A 10-year-old pup named Bandit was about to be put down at a local shelter.  Apparently his family decided that there wasn’t room for him and their small child in their home anymore.  I couldn’t believe it!  How could a family have a dog for TEN YEARS and just suddenly surrender it to a shelter where he’d be in danger of being euthanized?  This must be one crazy dog!  I thought.  While I figured I was probably in for a nightmare, I said yes.  Yes…I would take this unknown — possibly awful — dog in so he didn’t die.

Bandit wasn’t doing well at the pound.  While cute playful puppies were being adopted quickly, this poor guy wasn’t making the best of first impressions.  My friend later told me this is really common for older dogs.  It’s pretty understandable.  Just imagine living your whole life in a comfortable home with a nice family, only to be placed in a prison cell with dirty water and lots of loud and scary noises.  Your comfy bed has been traded in for a cold concrete slab, and the people you’ve spent your life with since you were a baby are nowhere to be found.  You have no idea what you’ve done to deserve this awful treatment and there’s no one to help you.  You’d probably be quite irate too!

My friend picked Bandit up at the shelter and brought him to my house.  I walked outside to greet them and was taken aback by what I saw.  Where was the crazed canine I was expecting? The barking?  The gnashing teeth? All I saw was a sweet chubby dachshund with sad eyes and a bit of grey on his muzzle.   I took him into my house.  He sniffed around a bit.  I let him wander into my fenced-in back yard, and discovered that he was housebroken.  He played with Douglas a bit, then curled up next to me on the sofa, and put his head on my lap.

 
Don’t worry, buddy.  You’re comfy and safe now.

My heart melted.  

In the days that followed, I learned that Bandit likes to burrow under blankets and loves to have his belly rubbed.  He’s patient with my much rowdier pup and even plays with him a little.  He just wants to hang out with anyone who will give him a good pet and a kind word.  He’s a little slower than a younger dog, but dachshunds live for a long time.  He could have 10 more happy years left to go!  I’ve even thought about adopting him myself…but then I wouldn’t be able to save the next little guy (or gal!) who needs me.

 
 Up Close & Personal with Bandit!

My story isn’t unique.  As I’ve gotten to know other puppy foster parents, I’ve discovered that these abandoned dogs aren’t usually the ones with behavior issues, it’s their previous families.  A lot of the older dogs are already housebroken — something you won’t get with a puppy.  They might have few behavioral problems, but most of these stem from previous neglect.  With patience and a little kindness, even an old dog can learn new tricks.  They just need someone to give them a chance…to be their best friend.

If you’d like to learn more about Bandit or the many other rescued Dachshunds available for adoption, be sure to check out Little Paws Dachshund Rescue’s website.  You can also follow them on facebook.