Heartbreak Hound seeks Loving Caregiver

We would be rich and never have to raise money for dogs if we got paid for every time someone says "I don't know how you do it! I could never give up the dogs." But, unfortunately, we don't get paid to hear that for the 80 Millionth time. So we aren't rich. We can't buy a great big beautiful facility to let dogs live in luxury and hire all the staff necessary to make sure they are living their best life.

Nope. We are a small rescue that depends on fosters to help save dogs and get them headed on their journey to a forever home. Our dogs that come in depend on fosters to help them learn about life, show off how amazing they are, and get them to their forever homes.

This blog is a little about the pros and cons and why you should consider trying out fostering. I am just going to make it a list, because it is easier. If I write it as a story, it will be a book with more chapters than you want to read. Though, maybe that is a thought for the future. We can become famous writers, get rich off of books......?????....Ok, back to the list.

First off, all the good feels:

1. It's a no-expense animal. I mean really, how great is that? We supply the food, the crate, the vet care, the shots. We cover the cost of the basic needs. Some fosters enjoy giving those special things to a foster just like it was their own, purchasing treats, toys, etc. We certainly encourage that.

2. Saving lives. This one is kind of obvious. But it is very real. Every dog that gets to go into a foster home is no longer running the streets at risk for injury/death. It is a dog that is not sitting in a shelter and facing possible euthanasia due to overcrowding, no resources/funding, etc. And yes Grays Harbor, this means you! Euthanasia happens here!

3. Joy in success. There really aren't words for the joy that comes from watching an animal that has been abandoned, dumped, abused, etc., blossom from a fearful, insecure, not trained dog into a special and loving being. It is something you just have to experience. And yes, there will be tears, read below in cons.

4. Shock and awe. The longer you do this, the more stories you will be able to share of the incredible journey's these dogs have been on and how you got to walk alongside them. Some shocking. Some heartbreaking. ALL incredible stories of resilience. And you get to share these with your friends and family and watch them be amazed.

5. Try out different breeds. Ever thought you wanted a particular kind of dog? Well, with fostering, you get to try out all kinds of breeds, without the permanent commitment. Sometimes, once you live with a particular breed day in and day out, you realize maybe it isn't quite for you, your lifestyle, etc. How nice to get to try it on for size.

6. You get more than a 1 hour Meet/Greet to decide if a dog is the perfect fit for you. We call it "foster fail." Everyone that fosters will eventually have that one dog that is just the perfect fit in your family and your life. One that touches your soul in a special way and you just can't give it up. As the foster, you get the first opportunity to adopt. How nice to get to spend time really getting to know a dog completely to decide if it is right for you.

Things that make you go hmmmmm!!! Is this really for me? (the things we hear that scare people about fostering):

1. There WILL be tears. Just plan on it. There will be tears of:

   1. Laughter: as these pups start showing how silly they can be. Dogs that come out of their shell often gain very puppy like behaviors, and watching an adult dog act like a puppy is pretty funny!

   2. Frustration: at seeing a dog in such poor condition, and wonder how they survived through what they did.

   3. Being annoyed: when you were busy and distracted this dog that is still learning household rules eats/chews up something they shouldn't. (PS-keep all valuables, family heirlooms put up high, just in case)

   4. Disappointment in people. Because the fact that humans can treat a dog in the way they do is incredibly disappointing.

   5. Sadness mixed with joy when they go off to their new home. Every time a dog leaves it changes our household again. Some dogs make you fight back tears as they are loaded up to go home (I try not to cry in front of adopters, just because for them it is a very exciting time, but I will admit it has happened).

2. Some dogs will be very challenging. We aren't going to lie. The reality is that some of these dogs are going to be a handful. Most come with no manners, no training, etc. Sometimes we are lucky and get one and that is sweet, easy and already has some basic training. But those are few and far between. People don't dump/abandon animals if they were a loved and valued member of the family.

3. Behaviors are unknown. This is probably the biggest fear of most people. We will not know if they are cat friendly, dog friendly, how they are with kids. These are all things that as a foster you will be exploring. It would be great if dogs just instantly adapted to exactly what we need. But the reality is that they are living beings with their own fears, thoughts, emotions and traumas. Until we learn those, there is no way to know.

4. You could/will fall in love. Yep, while this is a pro, it is also a con that makes people not want to foster. Absolutely, you will fall in love. If you have one that you just are so deeply in love with you can't let it go, you have the right to foster fail. You will love every dog in some way. That is just part of the gig.

To wrap it up.

No, fostering is not for everyone. But how do you know it isn't for you if you don't try it. One of the things that we can say for sure is that you have to go into it with the right mindset. You are a stepping stone on the journey for these dogs. It is not easy, we won't pretend that it is. But it IS rewarding in the end. There is just no way to describe the way you will feel when you see the dog in your care learn to love, play and be a part of a family.

If you have questions, please reach out. We are fosters as well. Both of us that started this organization have been fosters under multiple other rescues. So we understand your side of this. We want to chat with you. We want to learn about you, and your family that will be involved. We want to know what your lifestyle is like so that we can have you foster dogs that will be most likely to succeed in your care. If you are not a big dog person, or not a small dog person, we want to know that!

Squirrel! Little story on that....

So I was fostering for a rescue that got in a litter of puppies. No idea what they were, but appeared they were going to be large dogs, mom was a pittie mix. But there was one. She was tiny! It was unknown if she was the runt, if she wasn't getting food because she was smaller, no way to know except to separate her from the rest. We were asked to take her and make sure she was doing ok. Oh yes! That little thing was just fine! She was a land shark that ran the house. When the DNA came back, we just laughed. Their DNA was basically all large dogs, except the something like 1% Chihuahua. She got ALL the chihuahua from all her siblings. Understand, I do not like little dogs. Never was it in my plans to foster a little dog. Nope, this is just one of those things that happened. And she was typical small dog, needing held at all times when she wasn't actively running amuck and chasing all the other dogs as she scurried under furniture (because she fit and they didn't and she thought that was hilarious). This is why we want to know what fits you. Because we have been there! If you say only under 20 pounds, only one dog at a time, only adults, we will respect that. Trust me, there will be dogs that will fit your guidelines.

Now back to the regularly scheduled broadcast. Why sit back and let other people fix it if you have the ability? Not everyone can foster. Some help out by donating items/funds. But if you can foster, if you have ever considered it, stop just thinking about it and reach out. We would love to talk to you about how you can impact not the life of just one dog, but many. How you can make your community a better place by being a part of rescuing dogs. We are going to promise you tears, frustration, sadness and JOY!

Are you ready to take the plunge and give it a try.

You can email us at: timbertailsk9@gmail.com if you would like to ask questions, or schedule a time to talk.

You can message us on Facebook at: Timber Tails K9 Rescue