[thatrockz]

Hey there all....

After so much time reading through this forum, and the addiction to my boxer along with the helping of these poor dogs... I've decided to jump into the world of fostering. Much to my wifes dismay... I wanted another boxer or get involved with rescuing and by chance I ran into a woman in a local petco store here in NY that was looking for a new foster family or adopting family for a recently rescued dog.

After a long discussion and playing with the dog in the store with our Chief... I talked the wife into taking a step further and having them over our house. Chief does well with all dogs and is naturally paternal to all females and puppies....  They got along great in my yard and in the house. There were no agression issues, they shared food, water and even Chief's dog bed.

As of right now, we are getting the dog at the end of this week for fostering. Her name is Petunia ( Petunia pig... lol ) and she is a pitbull / bull dog mix approximately 2 years old that had a litter of puppies and was tossed to the street super thin. The dog needs work as far as training and what not so I'm looking forward to the challenge. She is a good hearted, spirited dog that is full of energy, loves to play, is good with my kids and Chief of course.

My concerns are that we'll get too attatched and want to keep her or that we won't be able to find her a good home because she's a pit.  At the same time, I just want to help this dog and I know that in order to get her a family she'll need to be trained, be around kids and other animals in a home setting and not sitting in a crate in a foster home like she is now.

The current foster told us that she had food aggression issues, that you couldn't leave food out or else she'd eat it and wasn't good with her 3 dogs.
After 2 hours at my house with Chief and my 3 kids, the dog has NO issues with food, over eating, agression with other dogs, and acted completely different than the rescue woman was told by the current foster.

I feel that I need to help. So we decided to take the plunge and let our first foster be this tough little cookie!...

I know that many of you on this forum foster / rescue and after reading through this forum over the last month or so that even though she's not a boxer, I can get some advice and support here with any questions I may have.

So thank you to anyone that will offer any advice or information that I should know as I'm getting myself and family into this!!  

 

[sharonL]

I have never worked at Fostering in the sense that you are saying, but there are others on here that do.  I am sure they will have some advice for you.  I just wanted to tell you that I think it is great that you are helping out in this way and wish you the best of luck....All I can add is to take it one dog at a time and know that they may all not work out in your home, but the one's you rehome will leave you with a great feeling

 

[thatrockz]

Thanks! - Yes I'll only take one at a time... with a little bit of time between if I can...  It will be nice for my kids too... they'll have the sense of helping others and doing a good thing as well....

 

[ollies_mom]

I don't have any advice for you as I haven't fostered ... yet  :wink: , but just wanted to say you are doing a wonderful thing. And like you said it's good for everyone involved, your family, your pets and obviously, the dogs you will foster.
Good luck with Petunia Pig (LOL) - post pix!

 

[thatrockz]

Thanks for the support!! - I will post pics ASAP - We should be getting her on Friday... but could be earlier... I'm anxious... and she's really cute...

 

[Barbs2Ks]

So glad you decided to foster, it is a wonderful thing you are doing.  Chief sounds like he would make a good companion for fosters.  I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Cocosmom]

Congratulations! I am sure you will absolutely love fostering as much as I do. Like someone else said, not every dog will fit with your family. We just had one that we had to send to a different foster because the dog was aggressive with children. This still helps the dog in the long run because you find out which situations the dog does and does not do well in. As far as getting attached and wanting the keep the dog...well, can't help you there because we are adopting the first foster we ever had. He was so sick when he came to us and just fit in perfectly.

 

[thatrockz]

Thank you for the support and feedback......

Yeah, we'll see... I think she'll fit well. Even though we've only had a few hours of interaction she was good enough with the kids + Chief that I'm confident that she'll be worth the while...!

Oh the Petunia...  The name was a result of the bull dog in her.. She snorts and sounds like a pig so they named her Petunia after Porky Pig's girlfriend.. lol

 

[Rocky07]

Good for you!  Can't wait to see pics!

 

[Guest]

it's a wonderful thing you are doing!  not only for the dog, but to relieve the rescue of one more concern for the time being, freeing them up to rescue more.

as far as getting attached, yes you do! each one is unique and so special in their own way.  we adore 'star' the one we have now. lol right now she's yaking in the crate for her time out for being a crazy little hooligan  =))

definitely have a crate on hand!!  no more than 5 mins in the crate though.  just enough to give them a little head correction.

expect changes in your dog and the rescue over a period of a week.  the past 48 hrs thor has gotten pissy and growling at the rescue.  even growled at me.  he hasn't been this way with the other rescues, so he's having a bit of an issue.  i correct him, crate him, and basically let me know he's scaring ME and i'm not going to put up with it.  by the same token i reassure him that nothing has changed in our relationship.  I'm hoping that he'll straighten out in a day or two.  The rescue is going to be at the vet all day tomorrow for a spay, so he'll get a little break and maybe appreciate her when she comes back.

deal with the dog the SAME as you do your dogs, when it comes to discipline, love and acceptance.  dogs notice everything.  at the same time reassure your dog that he is #1.  you just need to let the dog know that he is "home" and it's ok if he's not on his best behavior.  These rescue dogs are under tremendous stress and the more you relieve it for them, the easier they will accept everything you want to instill in them.

my biggest worry and actually only worry (other than cooties and worms!) with rescues is, will they find a loving home?  I just can't fathom what they go through moving from house to house.  especially if they were once a beloved pet that got lost.  

you can let them go when the time comes though.  as much as you adore them and want to add them to your pack, you can do so much more for the cause of rescue, by letting them go and making room for another.

i've only had 3 fosters since Dec and each one of them will always remain in my heart.  Just remember you are preparing him to be an obedient, healthy, and loving dog for some lucky family.

any questions you have about what the rescue is looking for as far as training will be helpful too.  I know red dirt likes them crate trained in case an adoptive family works.  that's a REAL toughie for me, b/c we are here all day long.

great job!

 

[thatrockz]

Grammie, thank you for the advice!! - I feel the same as you and although I am inexperienced with fostering, I do have the handling knowledge and ability to give this dog an environment to thrive in that will prepare her for a permanent home!

I can't thank all of you enough for the kind words and encouragement....!  

 

[Guest]

you're most welcome thatrockz.  i'm beginning to wonder today if the white boxer we're fostering is deaf.  maybe that's why my thor continues to growl at her, because she doesn't seem to respond at all to him.

i thought maybe she lived with someone that spoke spanish, because she doesn't seem to respond to english, but she could be deaf! poor baby.  she's getting vetted right now and i asked them to check her hearing.

another thing she does that makes me suspect, if you turn on a ceiling fan she jumps, stares at it and starts barking.  also if she doesn't respond to me tell her to get off the bed, she jumps when i put my hand on her back to gently push her to the edge of the bed, she acts  like she's suprised.  not scared - just suprised.

if she is deaf, she's incredible for being such an obedient little girl.  i'll be asking for help on the forum if she is though!

you're going to love fostering  :thumbup:  and you can post or pm me anytime so we can share foster tips

 

[thatrockz]

Grammie - Good Luck with yours - my fingers are crossed for you with regards to the vet...!!

I look forward to sharing the fostering experience with you and the rest of the forum....

 

[thatrockz]

Ok so we got the call...... Petunia comes over tomorrow afternoon!! - I'll be sure to post pics shortly after!

 

[Barbs2Ks]

YEA!!!!! can't wait to see pictures.

 

[samsonsmom]

Woo Hoo..Can't wait to see pics of the new addition, foster or not Good for you for doing that..I don't know if I could, even if I didn't have 3 already...It would be hard not to want to keep them all

 

[Guest]

congratulations.  try to get some rest!!  the first few days can be hectic, but they do settle down

can't wait to see pics!

 

[owenowlsnest]

Love her to death, and I suggest you keep things kind of quiet around the house for a few days.  We had people stopping right away to see the foster we had.  It was stressful for him since he was just scoping out the territory.  My husband got really attached, and it was super hard for him when the adoption happened.  He never really talked about how special this dog was to him.  I will need to ask him for more input if we foster again.  Make sure we're on the same base.  You know the "failed adoption" is when the foster keeps the dog.  Sending hugs to the new family member -

 

[Guest]

[quote="owenowlsnest\";p=\"124959":2fddulwq]

 

[thatrockz]

Ok so yes, it's been a hectic 2 days... lol...  The 2 of them won't stop playing like maniacs...lol She really is a good dog. My kids are already sooooo attatched and so am I.

She needs alot of work with training and stuff but her personality is fantastic.

Ok so here's Petunia - a deep chocolate brown - 1/2 Staffordshire Terrier + 1/2 Bulldog. She's 46 solid pounds and has been through hell until now!!!

She can't keep up with Chief as far as playing...  She tires out much faster than he.

Laying in the shade in my yard.

Chief trying to get here to play tug of war again...

Again, I can't thank you all enough for your encouraging words and support in our first attempt at fostering a rescue in need!