Here’s the thing about fostering dogs: ouch. As a foster mom I have to break my own heart a little every time I do it. She’s here, in my home; I’m treating her like one of my own. I love her already.
As a trainer, I often have dogs staying with me and while I do love them all I know they have families waiting for them. Families who love them and want the very best for them. Even though it stings a bit to let them go when their time with me comes to an end I know they’re going back to their family- to their person.
My fosters don’t have a person. When they are called out of play they simply run to a pack parent, any parent close by. They don’t have a home to go to. I do my best but I’m super picky so until the stars align and that perfect family is found I know they have nobody to call their own. No family. No place in this world. It’s just one of the many little cracks that lead to the total break of my heart.
There is a point when it turns, however. A point when the dog in training- especially a foster- when they suddenly just let go. They let go of the fear and anxiety, they let go of the uncertainty and it seems they forget that they are bound to nothing and to no one. They just let go and relax. Ava had that moment sometime ago and I see her becoming more and more attached to my home. It worries me as I cannot commit to a third dog forever. She deserves her own family.
Annie had that moment today. She was apprehensive at first, but she took a deep breath and politely greeted the other pack parents and her new packmates. Her first play bow was received with great fanfare from both canine and human alike! She ran for the car when presented with the creek but after some coaxing discovered that she loves to swim. She ran, romped, rolled and relaxed with friends and people she can trust. I found myself thinking, “If I move to a bigger house with a bigger yard…”
These girls deserve their own families. They deserve people dedicated to helping them create their best lives. I would love to be that person for each of them but then how will I have room for the next lost soul destined to break my heart? That’s the exquisite agony of being a foster mom.
Please enjoy the pictures of Annie’s day; follow her story on this page and visit Char-Wills to complete an application for adoption.
I love that we got to play a part in that today!!! Why is it getting love back from these girls, while hard earned, can make you feel over the moon when you have earned it!! Not sure how Dan earned it, but he loved both of them!!!