It’s #TGIFoster Friday and we are so honored to introduce you to another one of our wonderful foster homes. Dianne has been with Young at Heart since 2006 and her commitment to our seniors is nothing short of amazing. She has not only fostered but she was a sanctuary mom to the famous Howie Wowie, whom she loved beyond words!! We think it’s appropriate to share her post today, as she’ll be bringing home, Scrappy, her 19th foster this afternoon!! Thank you Dianne - our greatest hope is that your words will inspire others to consider fostering. Fostering saves lives and so can YOU!!! I am a volunteer, foster mom, adopter and sanctuary mom with Young at Heart Pet Rescue. In early 2006, I began helping out with the organization in my spare time. One day, I received a call from Dawn, Young at Heart’s Director, saying, “We need help, could you please foster a dog for us?” Well, silly me . . . I said, “Sure, I will give it a try.” I brought my first foster, Harry, home and I was smitten; this was the beginning of my passion for and commitment to helping senior pets in need. I can now proudly boast of the many wonderful seniors who have shared my home and my heart. Fostering has been so rewarding. I truly love it. Sure I get attached, it’s impossible not to when a dog comes to you with a broken heart. Part of getting that dog ready to find a loving forever family is to let the dog know that it was not their fault, they did nothing wrong, and life will get better. I have never taken on anything that I do, other than my job, and stuck with it like I have with fostering. It means so much to these pets and the satisfaction of seeing them wagging their tails again is so meaningful. There just are not words to describe the joy of seeing this. Outside of fostering, I have been involved in another fulfilling aspect of working with Young at Heart; being a Sanctuary Home for Howie Wowie. When Howie came to live with us as a foster dog in November 2011, he was fresh out of the animal hospital after having surgery to repair his broken jaw. When I brought him home I cradled him in my arms hoping the pin now in his jaw would heal and he would be good as new. His recovery was difficult and I would hold him in my arms like a baby with an ice pack on his jaw - he was such a love and would just fall asleep and snore. I was so darn proud of him; he was so brave and such a little trooper. He was the best little patient. After all that, it was decided Howie would become my Sanctuary Dog and live the rest of his life with me, with Young at Heart taking care of all his medical needs. I did not hesitate at the decision; I had nurtured him through so much and wanted him to stay with us. Howie Wowie was with us until October 2013. I love and miss him every day. Would I be a Sanctuary Mom again? In a heartbeat. I know I may end up missing a dog sooner than I had hoped once he or she crosses the Rainbow Bridge, but being there for that dog in its time of need is far greater than passing on the opportunity and wondering if you did the right thing. Whether a foster home or sanctuary home, I have learned that I love every aspect of being a part of the Young at Heart Family. I love attending the get-togethers and fundraisers because I so enjoy all of the fellow avid pet lovers that I meet. I have discovered a whole new world of wonderful friends. I will confess that one of the best parts that comes from all this is having the parents of adopted dogs keep in touch. Knowing that a dog is happy and loved in a forever home makes it all have such great purpose. So many of mine keep in touch, often times sending pictures, and for that I am always grateful. No matter what you think, you too can do this. I am so often asked, how do you do it? Well, one never knows until they try. I hope you think about it, make the effort and give it a try. The positives so far outweigh the negatives you will find yourself smiling, and even if you cry, they are happy tears. There is nothing like a happily ever after adoption to make your day! We’d love to have you join our team of foster homes, so please contact Jen at foster@adoptaseniorpet to find out how you can help save the lives of senior pets in need!!
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 13:45:00 +0000
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