FOSTER HOMES

One thing we never have enough of is FOSTER HOMES. While there are many dogs who do well going from the track to the kennel and then into a permanent home, there are so many more who would benefit from the guidance of foster parents. Fostering for these dogs would almost guarantee them permanence in their adoptive homes. They would learn their house manners….they would learn to live in a small pack of animals freely, not crated all the time...and their foster family would have the chance to observe them and understand the emotional make up of that particular dog. And that is the most important issue involved in deciding what sort of home that dog needs.

In the vast majority of returns, we find that the emotional needs of the dog were never met and that has caused the behavioral issues that sent the dog back to us. How wonderful it would be if we could eliminate most of our returns.

One of my biggest concerns here at the farm is the dog that comes to us after being part of a family for a long time. These are dogs that are retuned to us for a variety of reason, the saddest being medical issues in the family or divorce. We take dogs out of shelters that obviously have been pets, not kennel dogs. We find strays that are never claimed by anyone and while we have no background information, we can tell that this dog is used to being part of a family. How sad for the dog and for us when we have to put this poor dog back in the kennel because we are full in our house and no one will step forward and offer to foster this dog. I cannot even tell you what it’s like to listen to a greyhound howl with sadness and frustration because it finds itself back in a kennel for the first time in years.

Meet Brady, a 5 ½ year old boy who smiles endearingly at me from his crate in the kennel and when that doesn’t get him a place in the house, he howls his discontent for minutes at a time. He was the typical stray that no one ever looked for and he obviously has lived in a home and now will wait in the kennel until either a foster home opens up or someone adopts him.

If you have ever thought about taking in a foster dog, now is the time to take that big step and DO IT!! You will have a wonderful support group behind you. I guarantee you won’t be alone! We will certainly try to find a dog that will fit in with your animals and your life-style. We will discuss any issue that you are not comfortable with...we NEED your input, your opinion and your concerns so we can ALL do the best possible for your foster dog.

PLEASE...we are not asking for a lifetime commitment...just a month or two or three to help another greyhound become what your dog has become...an important member of a family for the rest of it’s life.

Call me...we can talk!