“I will get too attached” is probably the reason we hear most for why people choose not to temporarily foster an owner-less dog. So when we visited Rescued Pets Movement in Houston on the day they transport foster pets to their rescue partners in other parts of the country for adoption, we were happily surprised at what we saw—a lot of really happy faces!
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At this point, these pets have already spent up to a few weeks in foster homes being loved, socialized, treated for any medical issues, and trained for very basic obedience. RPM transports them to areas where pet overpopulation isn’t such a dire issue, like Colorado, Wisconsin, and Canada.
This amazing organization has already saved over 12,000 animals in less than 3 years from BARC—Houston’s main animal control facility. These are pets that would have otherwise been euthanized due to a lack of space, illness, or old age.
Why do they foster? See some of the remarkable responses from seasoned fosters alongside our captured foster-goodbye-selfies from last week’s RPM transport.
I’ve learned that “poop happens” and when you put the needs of animals ahead of your own, you gain a sense of purpose and pride in making an impact on the world around you. —Michelle M.
I foster because these wonderful, unconditionally loving animals deserve the same. Would you want to be secluded until someone decides you’re good enough? They deserve to know that not all humans are terrible and that we are capable of loving them as much as they love us. Fostering has helped me be become a better version of myself… to truly understand the meaning of humanity. —Lisa C.
There is no greater joy than connecting the two souls that need each other when the right forever home is found. —Beth L.
I’m addicted to the thrill of taking a timid or feral dog and making them happy; watching them learn to become the dog they were meant to be. Teaching them to trust and go potty outside is so hard. It has destroyed my house. But nothing makes me happier than seeing a dog truly loved in their forever home! —Jen U.
I’m a puppy junkie. I love everything about puppies—the puppy breath, their warm, round bellies, their starfish paws, their wriggly puppy butts. What’s not to love? But most of all I love their wide-eyed wonderment at the world, their absolute delight when they see me and the pure joy that is puppy. You can’t be depressed when you’ve got puppies in the house. —Daran B.
I do mostly Hospice Foster. It gives me so much to give the old neglected rejected a warm, loving, huge pack to retire in and eventually pass with dignity. My children are learning selfless compassion and the art of geriatric care as well as death in a natural organic loving way. —Jenny R.
It was important to me to save them. And then eventually I learned that I also benefit from every foster I have. I still take them with the intentions to save their life, but many times I end up needing them just as much as they needed me. —Alissa U.
I started fostering for a breed specific rescue because I thought this particular breed of dog was especially neat. We already had two dogs, and we didn’t want a third dog. So fostering was a fun way to have that dog around temporarily. —Steffani M.
I foster because there is no better feeling to watch a dog sleep peacefully the first night when they know they are safe. —Lisa B.
I foster so that I can teach my children to love, respect and treat animals properly. —Zoe F.
I consider myself a loving place card. I’m put in place to save an animal that seems lost and alone until their proper person can catch up. Fostering is more than saving animals. We save people, too. We just do it with furry helpers. —Leslie R.
Fostering a pet also may play a huge part in someone else’s life, as some fosters go on to do amazing things. Aside from being snuggle buddies, some become therapy dogs, service dogs and some may even save a human’s life one day. —Cameo B.
I foster because I can’t adopt every dog. I have a 3 dog limit. My brain knows this. However, my heart does not. Since I can’t keep them forever, I keep them and love them and teach them, until their forever family finds them. —Kari S.
I love their corn chip smelling feet. And their entire DNA. —Tamara D.
There is so much we are willing to do for dogs, even if it means just being a pit stop on their road to a fantastic new life. For all the pups who have gone on to be adopted, a new one, or two, or three will take their place. And the cycle of love keeps on going for as long as there’s a pup who needs a (temporary) home.
