The Joys of Puppy Fostering, by Tiffany Day

Puppy Fostering Brings Magical Transformations

Our fostering journey started when I spotted a post from someone who volunteers for Pound Puppy Rescue in a Facebook group called Moms of San Carlos. They were in desperate need of people who could foster puppies being pulled out of shelters and wondered if anyone could help. 

Our family loves animals. We already have a dog (Rainbow), a cat (Cubby), and two guinea pigs (Bowy and Selena). Also the kids really wanted to do this, and I knew it would be a good experience for them to help animals in need find their forever home. 

As soon as I signed up, a volunteer reached out and we had a long conversation covering everything from our experience with animals to the safe and nurturing environment we would be able to provide. 

Then the very next day we got an email that asked if we could be a foster for this pup:

After seeing his picture, how could we say no?

Settling Into Foster Care

Jack was a young German Shepherd mix, and not the little puppy we were expecting. But he was clearly in need of rescuing so we said yes. Because he was in a Fresno shelter without a no-kill policy and was about to be euthanized, a kind volunteer drove him all the way to San Carlos, along with the supplies that we would need (a crate, a fence, a dog bed, etc.), so that he could live with us until a permanent family adopted him.

As soon as he arrived, we could see that Jack was a big, rambunctious, and kind of nippy puppy that clearly needed some work. That said, we had made the commitment and we were determined to honor it, so we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. The whole family spent time with him over a period of two months until he was socialized enough to be ready for adoption. 

Adoption ─ How It Works

With all animal adoptions, the overriding goal is to make sure that placements are a good fit. Each applicant needs to go through an extensive screening process and if that goes well, the next step is a home visit so they can meet the dog (or puppies) up for adoption. Potential adopters are asked to bring all of their family members and other pets (if that's possible) to make sure everyone gets along (lots of petting and tail wagging is always a good sign). That’s exactly what happened with Jack’s adoption. And as luck would have it, a wonderful local family met him, fell in love, and took him home. 

Helping an Animal Find Their Forever Home

Animals that find themselves in shelters ─ either because they have lost their primary caregiver, been surrendered or abandoned, or have been living on the streets ─ often need help making a soft landing into their “forever home.” Shelters are scary and disorienting places, and many animals who end up there have just shut down, hiding their true nature and significantly lowering their chance of adoption. By welcoming them into your home as a foster family, you provide a safe and loving environment that lets each animal’s personality shine through. They begin to trust again, and living with people and other animals creates an invaluable bridge to a brighter future. 

Join in the Fun 

Would I recommend fostering to others? Absolutely! Fostering is such a feel-good thing to do and so rewarding as you see your foster animals grow and thrive in their new homes. We've fostered six so far, and many of the people who have adopted them have kept in touch, giving us updates and pictures that show how well things have turned out. Fostering is clearly a win-win for everybody involved!

Jack, now named Asher, thriving in his new home.

Sending Them on Their Way

Saying goodbye to the puppies is hard on us as foster parents, and tough on the kids as well. There are usually some tears involved, but we all understand that letting go is part of the process. Each puppy that goes to a good home is another dog saved, and every time we resist the urge to be a “foster fail,” we celebrate the fact that our family is helping as many dogs as we possibly can. 

We love them while they’re with us, and it’s with great pride and love that we let them go.

Willow with her new sister

About Pound Puppy Rescue 

Pound Puppy Rescue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 2001. We rescue approximately 400 puppies every year. We are a completely volunteer run organization whose purpose is to keep puppies out of overcrowded shelters where they are at risk for disease and euthanasia. The puppies we rescue are from dirty, overcrowded, rural shelters where they have little chance of adoption. Puppies are fostered in volunteer foster homes where we can keep the puppies healthy, socialized, and in their litter until they are old enough to be placed in permanent, loving homes.