atticus has found a forever home!Twice this week we've had the opportunity to foster a dog and twice this week the dogs have been adopted before fostering was necessary. This, of course, is a GOOD thing but my talk of fostering prompts a lot of question and comments like 'I don't see how you can do it' so I thought I would take this opportunity to share my experiences with fostering dogs so far.
The biggest thing is YES, it's extremely rewarding. You are literally helping to save the life of an animal. That fulfills something in my heart in a way that nothing else can.
However, being rewarding does not stop the task of taking an animal with a questionable or unknown history frustrating and overwhelming. There are plenty of times when Jason and I take turns going upstairs and getting away from three crazy dogs (our two and the foster) while the other one deals with them because we need a damn break. If you've ever considered fostering and are worried you wouldn't do it 'right'...what I have found is I can handle the extra responsibility if I cut myself some slack and don't put any strict definitions on how to care for a foster animal. Animals are way more forgiving than humans are.
And they are also more loving. Which means either my husband or I have gotten attached and cried when it was time for the foster to go to their forever home. It doesn't matter if you know it's the best thing for them, they still take up residence in a little spot in your heart.
I miss my fosters, even though I was also relieved when they went to their adoptive homes and I was back to walking two dogs instead of three (yes, that's as difficult as it sounds).
But then you get another email and there's another pair of eyes looking at you and your heart makes more room. You don't push the other animals (or people or anything else), your heart expands so more can fit.
And that has been my biggest lesson so far. I mean I've read and heard all about how your heart can keep expanding...and I believed that in theory. But then I'm also human and I've dragged plenty of emotional baggage behind me that seemed to clutter up too much of my heart. I am sure I am not alone when I say that has often prompted fear to open my heart to others.
Fostering has been a real and true example of my capacity to love and keep loving. Until we started fostering, I wasn't that confident in my ability to do that. So the biggest lesson has also been the biggest gift.
