Mabel the Rescue Dog

3 min read (Articles narrated by Mabel)

Every time Molly tells someone that she fosters dogs, they always have the same initial response: “oh, I could never do that!” Or, “doesn’t that make you so sad?” There seems to be an ongoing stereotype that fostering is sad. And for some foster parents, I’m sure it is at times. But we’ve learned that if you go in with the right mindset, then it’s the opposite of sad. It’s uplifting and fulfilling.

When Molly was younger, she thought the same thing as everyone else. She assumed fostering would be sad because the idea of letting a dog go after spending so much time with them seemed difficult. But since we started fostering, she hasn’t been sad about it once. Instead of crying and eating ice cream after saying goodbye to foster dog, she celebrates and gets ready to take in another. So, here’s why we think the “fostering is sad” assumption is just a myth.

Why Fostering Doesn’t Make Us Sad

Whenever we foster, we go into it knowing that this dog isn’t a permanent family member. We have a goal to find them the best home possible. And we remember that without our help, each foster dog’s life might’ve been much worse. When you’re saving dogs’ lives, it’s hard to be sad.

Every time a dog is fostered, that opens up space for another dog to be saved. Our rescue gets dogs from overcrowded southern shelters, so many of these dogs could’ve been at risk of death before our rescue saved them. The more dogs we foster, the more dogs that can be saved.

And for many dogs, a foster home gives them a chance to shine. Shelters are often stressful and scary for dogs, so the adoptable dogs might not act like themselves, which could make it harder for them to get adopted. We support shelters very much, but we’re happy to provide them a more comfortable place to stay while they wait for their forever homes.

When someone is interested in our foster dogs, we can choose if they seem like a good fit or not. So, we don’t have to worry about our dogs going to someone who seems untrustworthy. All the families who have adopted our fosters have been so kind and have kept in touch.

On each dog’s adoption day, I’ve noticed that Molly gets so happy. I can see her face light up as the dog goes off to their happily ever after. The reason she’s so happy and not sad is because she feels so fulfilled. She knows that she helped make life better for these dogs and it’s hard to be sad about that. Even if she wanted to adopt them, she knows it’s not a reasonable decision for her right now. Plus, I don’t want to have to share her attention with any other dog permanently yet!

But ultimately, fostering is more heartwarming and fulfilling than sad. That’s what Molly always says. Of course, she misses every dog she’s fostered, but the positives greatly outweigh that.

Every Dog Lover Should Consider Fostering

We think every dog lover should try fostering at least once. Not only does it make a difference for dogs in need, but it also puts things into perspective for you. It helps you see how many dogs out there really need help and why it’s so rewarding to adopt a dog instead of buying one. Fostering is one of the best ways to make a difference in the dog world.

Of course, we understand that not everyone is capable of fostering. If your schedule is busier than usual or if you landlord doesn’t allow it, then it’s okay not to. But don’t avoid it just because you think it will be too sad. I encourage everyone to try it at least once. Because it’s such a valuable, impactful, and rewarding experience. And if now is not the right time for you to foster, consider donating and spreading the word in the meantime.

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