Fostering a dog: interview with reader Kelly M.

We decided to reach out to one of our readers, Kelly M. and ask her a few questions about fostering dogs. Read our interview with Kelly below and be sure to check out the pictures of Daizy and Sammie, the two dogs that Kelly has fostered in the past few months.

1. Why did you decide to foster dogs?
I’ve always loved dogs…and since getting my own place, I’ve missed having a puppy around! I know that there are so many dogs in need of good homes and knew that by fostering, I could help get a puppy one step closer to a permanent, loving home.

2. What has been the biggest challenge of the fostering process?
Dogs can have a hard time adjusting to a new atmosphere. Getting the dog acclimated and comfortable in my home and with a bunch of new faces can be tricky.

3. What happens if a foster dog is not a good fit for the foster family?
I’m sure that every rescue organization is different, but if I have a serious issue with the “fit” of a specific foster dog in my life, I’m able to return it to my lab rescue organization in hopes that a different home might be a better solution. So far, it hasn’t been a problem though.

4. Does fostering mean you have to adopt the dog?
Absolutely not. By agreeing to foster a dog, you’re agreeing to provide care and love only until the dog finds a permanent home. Many times, rescue organizations will provide necessities like food, crate and toys to ensure that you aren’t out a bunch of money too!

5. Do you ever want to adopt the dogs you foster?
It crosses my mind with every single dog I foster! It may turn out that one of these days, I decide to keep one of my foster dogs. In the meantime, the longer I foster, the more dogs I can help!

6. Have you had any extreme behavioral issues with the dogs you have fostered?
I’ve been pretty lucky because the dogs that I’ve had so far have been wonderful. I’ve had both adult dogs and puppies---and each come with their own set of minor behavioral challenges! While the dog is in my care, I need to make sure that I’m training/disciplining him or her as if it was my own dog.

7. Have you ever been reluctant to give up a dog after fostering?
It’s definitely hard to say goodbye to an animal that becomes part of your home (even if it is only for a short time!)…but the thought that the dog is going to a pre-approved, good home is enough to make the goodbye process easier. Most rescue organizations have an adoption process and the foster parent is able to have a strong influence (or in my case, total control) over the home that the dog ends up in. You can take what you learn about the dog’s temperament and personality and make sure the new family is a good match!

8. What has been the best part of the whole process?
Knowing that I’ve helped take animals from high-kill shelters and place them with loving families. It’s so rewarding to hear from a dog’s new family that they are doing great and having fun in their new environment.

Sammie, black lab

Daizy,
vischla lab mix

Here are a couple of local animal shelters in Memphis. We hope Kelly's information has inspired you, as it has inspired us!

http://www.memphishumane.org/
http://www.blogger.com/www.germantown.petfinder.com
http://www.blogger.com/www.petfinder.com/shelters/AR61.html
http://www.blogger.com/www.guardianangelpetrescue.com/
http://www.blogger.com/www.houseofmews.com/

Safe Humane Chicago and Best Friends make a difference

This is a great story- Safe Humane Chicago (SHC) teamed up with Best Friends to make a different in the community. I think there is a lesson here to be learned...it is a bit long, but I wanted to share with our dog-loving readers. :)
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Last fall, 20 Walter Payton College Prep High School students in Chicago signed on for the Youth Leaders for Safe Humane Chicago seminar, where they are learning about animals, learning to become teachers and hoping to help lead a movement to replace violence with kindness.
Best Friends is offering its support. Last week, we stepped up to become the sole national sponsor of Safe Humane Chicago (SHC), which is designed to end dog fighting and violence toward animals and people.

SHC is an unprecedented community-wide alliance of government organizations, schools, faith-based groups, law enforcement members, and animal rescues and shelters dedicated to combating violence by promoting compassion and caring for people and animals. It will be introduced in Chicago neighborhoods where violence is most prevalent and resources most scarce.

“With the Best Friends alliance, Safe Humane Chicago will greatly expand its programming of education and caregiving to reach all population segments – kids, teens, and adults, especially in at-risk communities,” says Cynthia Bathurst, SHC’s principal director.

The Youth Leaders program is an elective at the school and the first SHC youth seminar offered in the city. It teaches teens kinder pet ownership practices, humane treatment of animals, the dangers and unlawfulness of dog fighting, and ways to avoid dog bites and potentially aggressive dogs.

The seminar also prepares the high school students to introduce another SHC program – Kids, Animals and Kindness – to grammar school students.
“We all work so hard during the week; that’s why we always look forward to seminar day,” says Andie, a Youth Leaders participant. “I didn’t know what I was in for when I signed up for this, but I’m glad I did. We have been practicing and learning about stopping violence. In the bigger picture, if we stop violence against animals, we won’t have violence against humans.”

Early on, the students learned their seminar had become an official program under Safe Humane Chicago. An official curriculum needed to go along with it. Seminar teacher Michelle Mowery asked the students if they’d be willing to take on the responsibility as co-creators of the training materials that will be used by the participants in future Youth Leaders programs.

“Encouraging students to invest themselves in this project is an important aspect of Payton’s mission to nurture tomorrow’s leaders,” Michelle says. “As a teacher, I have the unique opportunity to share my love of animals with my high school students and also to foster kindness and to demonstrate respect to their younger peers across the Chicago public schools.”
Each week, Cynthia Bathurst meets with the students for a session that’s part brainstorming and part training.

For the training component, she often brings in experts in the field to give presentations. Susan Robinson, from SHC’s Humane Education Oversight Committee and community outreach manager for PAWS Chicago, gave a slideshow explaining ways to read a dog’s body language, the importance of spay/neuter, and the link between violence against animals and violence against people.

The students were also treated to a visit from Best Friends dog trainer John Garcia. “These kids really get it,” John said. “It’s inspiring to see young people so enthusiastic and well-informed. They’ll make great animal ambassadors.”
During brainstorming sessions, the students decide what to include for future seminars and also develop source materials for their own teaching endeavors.

The class breaks into small groups to work on creating coloring books, workbooks, individual lesson plans and educational games. They also design promotional materials like T-shirts, nametags, bracelets, pins and logos. Cynthia circulates from group to group gathering their ideas.
In a few weeks, the class will have their first chance to see how they do as teachers when they take their presentation to students at Manierre Elementary School. There, with help from dogs Boomer and Max, the seminar participants will lead their first class on proper petting etiquette and offer a few pointers on compassion and kindness toward animals.

“It’s clear – and very exciting – that these young people will be role models for younger children, as they are forming life habits,” Cynthia says. “There’s no doubt they are part of a revolution that will change the way people relate to animals, nature and each other.”
On May 8, the Youth Leaders students will graduate and become the first official Safe Humane Chicago presenters.

On another SHC front, Best Friends plans to establish a community animal hospital that would offer low-cost veterinary care and spay/neuter procedures as well as education and recreation programs to further the agendas of compassion and kindness toward animals and people. It would also serve as the hub for all Safe Humane Chicago programs and initiatives.
“No one is building animal hospitals in at-risk communities,” said Best Friends chief executive Paul Berry. “This has never been done before. And it’s time. We want to offer these important services and community programs to those who need them the most.”

Best Friends intends to adopt the Safe Humane Chicago model for other cities.
You can read more about SHC in the Chicago community on the Best Friends Network or listen to this podcast of a radio interview with Paul Berry.

link to article:
http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&mode=entry&entry=35CB2EF5-19B9-B9D5-9DBE8E9F036895DA

If you are wondering what we are up to...

...wonder no longer!

A Dog's Life Memphis will be participating in TWO exciting and upcoming events. I will post the links to both of the sites and I encourage you to check them both out. We will provide some updates as the events happen! These are both GREAT causes and we hope to see you at both!

The Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County is holding its annual Trot for Spot and Canine Carnival Sunday, April13 from noon to 6 p.m. at 935 Farm Road in Shelby Farms. Trot for Spot is a fund-raiser for the society. Attendees can walk with or without a dog. Lunch is provided. For
more information, call 251-5186 or 251-5151.

http://www.memphishumane.org/


Earth Day-Down to Earth Celebration
April 20, 2008
http://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/sfpc/content/earth_day_2008

A forward that I would like to share...

This was sent to me by a friend, I thought it was a cute poem that you might enjoy.

If I Didn't Have Dogs...

I could walk around the yard barefoot in
safety.

My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and
laminated.

All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free
of hair.

When the doorbell rings, it wouldn't sound like a
kennel.

When the doorbell rings, I could get to the door without wading
through fuzzy bodies who beat me there.

I could sit on the couch and my bed the way I wanted, without
taking into consideration ho w much space several fur bodies
would need to get comfortable.

I would have money ...and no guilt to go on a real
vacation.

I would not be on a first-name basis with 6 veterinarians, as
I put their yet unborn grand kids through
college.

The most used words in my vocabulary would not be: out, sit,
down, come, no, stay, and leave him/her/it
ALONE.

My house would not be cordoned off into zones with baby gates
or barriers.

My house would not look like a day care center, toys everywhere.

My pockets would not contain things like poop bags, treats and
an extra leash.

I would no longer have to Spell the words B-A-L-L,
F-R-I-S-B-E- E, W-A-L-K, T-R-E-A-T, B-I-K-E, G-O,
R-I-D-E

I would not have as many leaves INSIDE my house as
outside.

I would not look strangely at people who think having ONE
dog/cat ties them down too much.

I'd look forward to spring and the rainy season instead of
dreading "mud" season.

I would not have to answer the question "Why do you have so
many animals?" from people who will never have the joy in
their lives of knowing they are loved unconditionally by
someone as close to an angel as they will ever get.

How EMPTY my life would be!

Oprah promotes pet adoption

In the spirit of saving the lives of dog's, I want to share this article.

Oprah supports pet adoption too!  Enjoy!