Saying "Goodbye": When Angels become Angels

Throw a rock, and you will no doubt find endless resources regarding the death of our pet and grieving, and naturally guides and suggestions on how and when to face one of the hardest decisions in your life.  My work environment is such that I am around death, or the possibility of death, every single day and I witness many grieving, confused, and tormented pet families.

I've had the pleasure of working with many amazing veterinarians, all of which offer very different guidelines, perspectives, and experiences to the owners who seek their guidance regarding making the decision to euthanize their dog or cat.  On the whole, I have never truly disagreed with any perspective or advice I've overheard, but naturally the bedside manner and approach can leave me with things to be desired (but even that is the exception, not the rule). 

My largest observation is that the doctor tends to, whether realizing it or not, balance the emotion and approach in the room.  If the owner is being purely subjective and emotional, they will offer balance and objectivism.  They will focus on the "facts", whether it be the morbidity of the pet, the owners finances, or a combination.  Contrarily, when owners are cold (and that can sometimes mask how "in pain" they truly are) focusing only on finances, I see doctors bring more emotion to the table.  They don't want owners to make decisions purely based on financial constraints, and I see them appeal to the love the owners have for their dog or cat to make their decision; so they can "live" with their choice better and feel settled about it.

My own observations tend to cause me to feel that 1 in 3 owners wait too long, 1 in 3 euthanize too soon, and 1 in 3 do it when the time is right.  This observation, however, I reserve exclusively for dog owners.  With cats, I feel like everything changes, so for the purposes of this blog and site, I am going to focus on dogs.

The "too soon" is usually glaringly obvious to any of the medical staff observing, diagnosing, and treating your animal.  If you are actually worried it's "too soon", you are probably wrong.  The fear of this drives many owners into the "waited too long" category, so you really need to understand what not giving your pet a chance really means. 

Are they young, and can it be cured, fixed, or reasonably medicated?  I must stick to the description "young", here.  When I think of young, I do not think of young in terms of their breed's life expectancy... are they "young" for them?  I personally stress to owners that while your breed's life average may be 10, it's an average.  This means that some will live to be 8, and maybe some even 15.  It's wrong to condemn your dog based on a number that has little relevance to your relationship, observations, and overall health status of your dog.  Surely if we applied this approach to human medicine, we'd never come to terms that people die at 50, while some can live to 100.  Every animal is unique.  It is not wrong to take their expectancy into consideration, but don't let it be the only thing you consider.

Again, people who euthanize too soon may unfortunately have to take financial constraints into a much more weighty consideration than others, and we cannot condemn them for that.  Does it suck when people have diamond rings and euthanize over money?  Yes, but often it's the teary-eyed mother of 3 driving the used car and struggling to make ends meet.  It just doesn't *feel* that way sometimes, because those other types of people stick in your memory so much firmer.  When you think of it, we compromise our own health in our human lives for financial constraints, and I don't think it's always unique that some have to do the same for their pets.  It's key to ask and do your research however, because there are a lot of charities who help financially support the medical needs for owners without resources.

Cured, fixed, or reasonably medicated:  a dog with diabetes can be reasonably managed.  A hypothyroid dog, a dog with allergies, a broken leg;  there are so many diseases that can be reasonably managed with a little money, time, and medicine, leaving the dog with a great quality of life.  Too soon, you ask... yes, people have euthanized over the slightest medical concern..  and sadder than it being financial are those who feel they just "don't have the time" to help manage a condition.  Let's not think about those people too much.

The owners who wait for too late are often hit like a ton of bricks, because their emotional journey has made it such that they have lost their ability to "see" their dog through unbiased eyes.  I feel they live in a fair amount of denial, whether they are treating and medicating or just avoiding the vet's office because they don't want to know the truth.  By the time they arrive to euthanize, it's usually at the behest of a friend or family member who nearly forces their hand.  "Mom, you really need to let him go now".  They arrive on gurneys, unable to lift their heads, and perhaps haven't eaten in days and days.  To the defense of these individuals, they likely have been seeing "good days and bad days" with their dog.  While the idea of euthanizing has been looming for weeks, one day he seems more bright, more alert, and they convince themselves perhaps he is going to get better.  All the same, a tail wag is all it takes for an owner to put it off another day.  

For those in this difficult position, remember that our dogs are not objective, and lack the complete ability to be so.  Never mistake a tail wag for a desire to persist:  they live and breath and desire nothing other than pleasing you, seeing you, and making you call them by their sweet nick names.  If that desire is still present, it doesn't mean they aren't ready to go.  If that desire is totally vacant, you probably definitely have waited too long.  Perhaps that last tail wag can reassure you they still recognize you, and recognize that you haven't left them alone for their last, final journey.

I've heard many doctors give people the suggestion that they should really bare in mind the things that make their dog "them" and happy.  When that list of items diminishes to only a couple or none, then the time may be right.  For example, five things he loves: 1. walks in the park, 2. his treat routine, 3. chasing the squirrels, 4. snuggling on my lap watching TV, 5. doing tricks.  The theory is that if most of these things can no longer make him happy, perhaps his quality of life is such that the timing is right.  I like this idea, but I don't know if I could follow it.  The reason being is that I feel this list changes through life stages.  What made me happy at 20 certainly won't make me happy at 80.  Sure, maybe he cannot physically enjoy many of the outdoors and play activities he once did, so?  He's 100 years old in dog years, and systemically healthy for his age.  He's arthritic and his pain and discomfort can be reasonably managed to a degree, and maybe snuggling and watching TV with you is enough for him.

All things boil down to one important question:  "Is he suffering, and how can I ease his suffering?"  We can all struggle as we age: things hurt, joints are achy, but it doesn't mean we suffer.  An achy dog is suffering because if he was properly medicated, he would be reduced to struggling a little every day, but his suffering would taper.  An anorexic animal is suffering, but they can be potentially reduced to a a struggle if we can stimulate their appetite and try to manage underlying diseases.  The suffering begins when we either don't try to help them, or our help isn't working anymore.  How can I ease his suffering?  When medical treatments no longer work, then we must turn to letting them go.

We are all familiar with the suggestion "You will know when it's time".  I meet this expression with guarded agreement.  I think people on the whole are largely indecisive and unsure of themselves, and this has to play into the flaw in this phrase to some degree.  I think some owners are objective and healthy enough to really look into their dogs eyes and communicate with them, and they walk away feeling very confident they fulfilled their dogs wishes.  The rest, however, walk that line of "I think maybe", and they look to others to assure them it's time.  I think a healthy plan for people who know they are the later personality type need to orchestrate a proper objective support system of friends and/or family during this process.  "Dad, I'm going to rely on you to really tell me when I need to stop trying".  Find someone you trust, or even 3 people to preside over your intensely emotional state.

When it comes to end of life decisions, I cannot stress enough how important I feel it is to have found a veterinarian you truly, truly love and trust.  Someone who has known you and your dog for years, and someone whose advice you won't question after the fact.  Avoid getting lazy with your vet visits, settling for a less-than-ideal bedside manner because it doesn't matter to you, so long as he gets his vaccines.  I've seen people panic to find someone they like better at the last minute, because now is when it really matters, because their friend is sick, and they are not finding the kind of comfort and guidance they feel good about.  Unfortunately, some disasters happen where your pet must see ER and a vet you've never met before.  My only advice in that scenario is to really vocalize to that doctor what your needs are.  Tell them how you need to be communicated with, and how you need your pet to be handled.  It's your pet, your money, and your horrible moment.  It's very, very difficult to be a veterinarian, especially in emergencies and crisis, and they only want to do their job to the best of their ability, serving the best interests of the dog.  And remember, they are advocates for the pet first and foremost, not for you.  Doctors so rarely cannot come up with a treatment plan, so when they tell you it's time to let go, let go.

The one thing I hear often, that I am in complete agreement with, is that it's better to let go when it feels like "too soon" versus "too late".  This is a far cry from those who euthanize quickly at the slightest announcement of disease, rather I mean those of us who's mortgage our homes to save our pet, but we know they are terminal, critical, or chronic and it's only going to keep getting worse.  If it were you, what would you want?  As humans, we tend to cling very tightly to our own personal sense of dignity, having very clear lines in the sand of how we "wouldn't want to live".  Draw this line for your dog as well.

My hope for anyone who has faced this tough day, or will face it eventually, is to give themselves the courtesy of avoiding things like "I know he's just a dog, but.."  It's hard enough, and so many owners feel compelled to explain why they are in so much pain and why the decision is difficult.  Remember that your audience (doctors, techs) so love animals that they choose to spend their lives fixing them.  They are objective in your presence for your benefit, but given their own dog would likely be a frothy, wet mess just like you. 

There is nothing more pure, rewarding, and beyond define than the love and the relationship we have with our dogs.  They are like magical, mythical beings in that they can love so truly and without restraint, all while truly knowing the "real" you in so many ways and judging you only on how you treat and love them, purely and truly.  They never leave us, never lie to us, and never knowingly hurt us.  Their ability is such that even the most hateful, cynical, or jaded person can love and be loved by a dog.  Even the most independent or reclusive of types can find comfort and companionship by them.  As a society we have accepted they are family, and we have accepted that those who would consider them otherwise or use them for selfish or evil intention are the worst kind of humans.  We know that people who do not like dogs cannot be trusted, and we know that people who dogs don't trust are questionable.   It is no wonder saying goodbye to them, when it's entirely in our control many of the times, is the worst day in our lives.  

You may never feel good about your decision, but find a way to make peace with it.  Ask yourself: did you love him, and treat him with love every day? Did you always make decisions for him based on what you truly believed was best for him?  If the answer is yes, then cherish your memories, frame your pictures, and speak about them often in loving memory.

Understanding How Rescues Work

If you yourself volunteer with rescue or are close to those who do, you wonder how they can do it.  Initially people think more about how someone can subject themselves to such sadness on a daily basis.  So many dogs condemned to die, so many in great need.  If you talk to a rescuer, you will quickly learn that while those elements are trying and difficult, the most difficult aspect of rescue is dealing with the humans.  And no, not the humans who have left these animals in horrible circumstances.. Yes, it's the potential adopters.

I saw a post on Facebook not too long ago which asked, "Why is everyone in rescue crazy?"  Really? They commented on how it must be because they love animals and not people.  Like somehow rescue is meant to support and cater to people, not dogs.  Do it yourself for a year, and if you don't feel like it makes you crazy, then I stand corrected. And it's not the dogs.. it's comments from people like that.

A great percentage of those looking to adopt from a rescue are amazing people who "get it".  These are the people who drop off bags of dog food to the events they pass by, who donate money above and beyond adoption fees/donations, and who perhaps even foster themselves.  If adopting, they will enter it with great understanding and patience not only for the rescue, but for the potential of short to medium term challenges with their new dog.

Sadly, so much time is spent working with potential adopters who really give the rescue a hard time.  I think, bottom line, their shared sentiment is that because they are supporting rescue, the process should be easier, faster, and cheap.  After all, these dogs were perhaps going to die, right?  Why does it cost so much to adopt?  Why does it (sometimes) take so long?  Why do I have to sign a contract and feel "inspected"?  Aren't they better off with me anyway, regardless of all this vetting?  And now, the dog is sick.  I adopted him 2 weeks ago and those rescuers "should have known".. 

Rescues aren't used car salesman.  They are not salesman at all.  There is no profit to be had, no paycheck to receive, and no accolades from co-workers.  All they have is the burned image in their head of the dog when they first met them, and the reward of seeing their wagging tail walking away from them into the car of a new home.  That's it.

Why is the adoption fee/donation so high?  Many rescues have varying requested donations, and I think this can cause some confusion.  Some can ask for as little as $150 for a dog, while others can be upwards of $400.  Like all things, it is still a business, a non-profit business.  A rescue asking for less likely has less overhead.  Perhaps they cater to a smaller area, requiring less driving, thusly gas money expenditure, to rescue dogs.  Perhaps they do less medically with their dogs.  For the higher priced adoption donations, take a hard look at everything they are putting into it.  Do they rescue from out of state?  Do they cover more than core vaccines?  For giant/large breeds, did they pay for a gastropexy during spay/neuter? 

"You'd think if they are serious about saving dogs, they would have called me back by now".  "You think if they are serious about saving dogs, they would charge less."  "You think if they are serious about saving dogs, they wouldn't make me go through such a lengthy process".  I've heard it all before.  Believe me, they want those dogs in homes as fast as possible.  But without taking the proper time and attention, those dogs just come right back.  No words can explain the emotional devastation a rescuer feels when a dog is returned.  Where did they go wrong?  Why was it the wrong family?  NO answer is ever "we spent too much time trying to place them".. it will *always* be the contrary. 

I'm sure a rescuer has felt themselves, under the pressure of the comment about "why haven't they called me back yet", getting home from work and saying to themselves, "I haven't even gone to the bathroom yet today, and these people think I am taking too long".  Full time jobs, personal life, human family..  every spare moment spent trying to re-home dogs, and it often isn't fast enough or good enough.  Again, so many people *get it*, but unfortunately so many do not, and share such exhausting lack of patience which makes rescue much harder than it ever should have to be.  Once a woman came up to me and said "I left (her) 2 messages about adopting a dog and she never called me back.  Make sure you tell (her) that a dog could have been saved today."  She walked off triumphantly.. well, she really told me.  Did she even *see* how many dogs were at the adoption event?  And that 1 woman did it ALL, essentially? 

The adopter needs to understand how much the rescuer loves the dogs they save.  They *don't* have to be doing this.  Life, for them, would be much easier if they didn't rescue.  So when contemplating the adoption application, adoption contract, home visit, and all the other aspects, imagine if it were a human adoption;  I would seriously be cautious about rescues who do not take every special care to ensure the home is a perfect match.  The adopter should be able to walk away saying to themselves, "Wow, they really care where their dogs go".

A person once commented to me that they decided a reason they walked away from adopting from rescue was because they felt that they "didn't have their pick".  They really wanted to be able to say "I want that one", and leave with him or her.  There was no way to make them understand the process: that if 2 families want the same exact dog, (and both are great families!), the rescue will be forced to make a choice.  How else would it work?  They will select the family who they truly feel is the best match.  Feelings get hurt, people get turned off from rescue, but that is how it must be.

"I don't want a sick dog".  This is not only an excuse to not adopt from shelters and rescues, but also a complaint from those who have.  I have to say, lately, I have seen more sick pups who came from breeders.  And here is the thing:  it's not necessarily that the breeders did something wrong.. they are dogs and can get sick.  New adoptive families, travel, etc.  takes it's toll.  They are not unlike humans: how sick do we get when we are stressed out, not eating right, and confused?  Very.  I think on the whole, our dogs fair better than we would in the same situation.

People want their dogs "now" (and I can't blame them.. you fall in love so fast!) but.. we need to understand that many illnesses have "incubation periods".  Unless your rescue is determined to hang onto a dog for a few weeks or longer, you may adopt and see signs of upper respiratory disease, Parvo, or any number of illnesses a week or two into adoption.  It is difficult for a rescue to determine what vet bills they will pay for once the dog is no longer theirs.  Perhaps the dog *was* healthy, and the day after you adopted him or her, you recklessly took them to a place to socialize them without first addressing their vaccine status.  Who's to say where the pup got sick?  How long have you lived in your house?  Did you know that Parvo can *live* in the soil for a year?  Perhaps the tenant before you had a Parvo pup out back.  It really becomes the adopters job to understand animal health, and partner with their veterinarian to make wise choices.  In addition, I'm sure a rescue would love to be able to hold onto a dog for a month for this reason.. but they simply can't.  For each day that dog lingers in rescue or foster, I don't need to count the number of dogs dying, waiting for a spot to open up for them.

"Why do rescues demand contractually that the dog be surrendered back to them, if I decide I no longer want them?"  People feel inconvenienced.  And if not, others just feel ashamed or embarrassed and would really prefer to drop them to a shelter.  Understand how heart-breaking this is.  That rescue did *so much* so ensure that dog *didn't* end up in a shelter.  They trusted you when you said you could love them forever, and then they get a call from a shelter that one of their rescues was dropped off.  Don't allow this contractual obligation to turn you away from rescue: If you are concerned about it, you probably shouldn't be adopting.

Rescues, like women, "all stick together".  Do not be surprised if you find yourself a little "black listed" if you adopted from a rescue, surrendered, and try to adopt from another rescue.  If rescues had their way, there would be a physical "black list" they all could share to ensure they could all partner to ensure that no one ever gave that person a dog again. 

All rescues have different ideas about how to run their business.  You will likely encounter variations in their protocols that reflect the morals and goals of those running it.  The ultimate goal is always the same: save the dog, and find a great home that will keep them forever.  Some may cover less medically, some may take longer to place, and some may be harder to get a hold of.  But, why the rush?  A dog is forever.  Take your time, shop all your rescues and shelters.  Understand how expensive saving a dog's life is, and all the emotional involvement those involved have. 

Before you fall in love, ask the volunteer about the process.  If something doesn't sit right with you, ask them why.  Adopting from rescues and shelters is the only sensible thing to do, and everyone knows it.  Take your time, and understand that the goal is to not have to keep saving the same dog over and over again.  Rescue wants to do it right the first time, and they will take the time needed to do so, the contracts accordingly, and ask you for enough donation to ensure they can save the next dog.  It's really that simple.

The Right Way to Surrender a Dog

Surrendering a dog is an ugly business, not just for the person or family giving them up, but also for the rescue trying to facilitate helping that dog find a foster and new forever home.  It occurred to Christie and I to post an article about this, because we think that those who are surrendering could benefit from understanding more about how to do it "the right way".

This is in no way to suggest we condone, IN ANY WAY, owner surrender, but sometimes there are exceptional cases.  Sometimes good people find themselves in bad situations. In addition, wishing no one would surrender their dog will never make it happen.  We have found that many who have contacted us for surrender do it in an unorganized manner and with little to no thought about the logistics of how the process works.  If better educated, they can make the process go more smoothly and the dog can find a new home faster.

Nine times out of ten, this is what we are on the receiving end of:  email: "Hi, I have a Great Pyrenees that I need to re-home ASAP.  Please contact me."  What ensues afterwards is a week's worth of emails back and forth, trying to ascertain the pertinent information about the dog, followed by another week of trying to educate the surrendering family about how the process works and what to expect.  This becomes more lengthy and frustrating than it needs to be; here are some tips for those seeking to surrender their dogs:

1. Be ready to say goodbye.  By the time you reach out to rescue, have your mind made up.  Let them have said "goodbye" to the kids and friends, and be ready to get them into rescue.  Have your recent health history documents ready for transfer.  Don't say you 'don't know where they are' or you are 'unsure of their vaccination history'. Be thoughtful: rescues function on donations and volunteers.  You are getting rid of your dog; take the time to get them up to date on a vet visit and vaccines and have those documents on hand to give to the rescue.
2. Your rescue will want to move fast.  There are a lot of dogs who need saving, and taking weeks on end to work on re-homing your dog takes up valuable time that can be spent saving more lives.  Be available to transport your dog to where he or she needs to go.  A rescue is taking your dog, doing a lot of work, and spending money: do not be unprepared to put some effort forth to help facilitate the transfer.  "Can't you just come pick him up?".  Yeah, sure... but, really?  Meet a rescue, at least, half-way.
3. Provide information right away.  If you contact someone via email, ensure it is a thorough email which details all information about the dog. This part is really important.  Name, age, weight, sex, temperament, interactions with children/cats/other dogs, where you live, who did you get him/her from and when, how long you can keep him (how much time do we have to re-home?), can you "foster" him/her until we find a forever home (or do they need to move out into foster ASAP), and lastly and most importantly, why you are surrendering.
4. Be honest.  Be honest about you, your dog, and especially why you are giving them away.  Without your total and complete honesty, the dog may not find it's most suitable new home.  Think about the next family:  you told the rescue it's fine with cats, but he's not.. and he bites the next family's pet.  You're afraid if you say "they are not good with kids" that the rescue won't take them.  So what?  They likely will anyway, but now they will be placed in a home with no children.  When you answer the question about why you are giving them away, consider the dog, not your reputation.  This is important in understanding the next suitable home.  If you are getting rid of your dog because you just don't like him anymore, just say it.  If it's a serious behavioral issue, it is irresponsible not disclose it.  Don't worry about what "we're" going to think, because it doesn't matter.  What matters is saving the dog and getting them into a new home.
5. Don't expect control over the situation. You decided to surrender, so do it fast and do it right and do it honestly.  People surrender and often request to personally select their foster or their next forever home.  If that is your level of desired involvement, don't ask a rescue for help re-homing, rather do it yourself (unless you adopted from a Rescue, because re-homing yourself is in violation of your contract). You could be a great, amazing, caring person.. but bottom line, you made the wrong choice when you adopted your dog: leave the next choice for a home to the experts.
6. Have some money put aside for this surrender.  It is courteous and right (and required by most rescues) that when you surrender, you make a donation to the rescue who is taking them.  It shows you have integrity. This will help the charitable, volunteer-run group pay for dog food and other expenses in the short term.  Hand over all toys, remaining food, and any other items you purchased for this dog previously.
7. If you think you should surrender your dog, you probably should.  We get emails from people who are unsure and share many nervous, emotional emails about the process.  If you are looking for advice on how to *keep* your dog, contact us.  Advice on behavior, etc. is always freely given: we want you to keep your dog.  However, the right dog owner for that dog will *never* have surrender cross their mind.  I truly believe if it even comes into your thought process, then it's probably a good sign that you need to surrender them.  
8. Last and definitely not least, if you adopted your dog from a rescue YOU MUST SURRENDER YOUR THEM BACK TO THE RESCUE YOU ADOPTED THEM FROM.  All rescues have a contract that you signed, where you legally committed to doing this.  Do not surrender to a shelter or other rescue, and do not re-home them yourselves.  In the instance you decide it is no longer going to be your dog, it becomes the "property" (bad word) of the rescue who originally provided him or her to you.  Be a person of your word.

Be thoughtful, considerate, and loving during this process.   You owe it to this dog to give him or her every bit of you in those last days or weeks. You promised to keep him or her and love them forever, and you are now breaking your promise.  No matter how well and perfectly this re-homing is made for a dog, it takes an emotional toll.  They loved you, believed in you, and gave you their heart.  Now, they are out and they don't know what they did. They will miss you, and they will never understand.  Take care of their health, communicate with the rescue appropriately and honestly, and be willing to sacrifice some gas money to get them where they need to go.  You will feel much better about your role in the surrender if you take all the appropriate steps.

Dispelling the Myths of Fostering Dogs

I am not an active dog foster, so perhaps it is hypocritical for me to speak to fostering, and to encourage many to address the myths and learn how powerful you can be in the world of saving dogs' lives.  In fact, I know how and why I failed as a foster, and I hope to return to fostering in the future when the time is right.  I failed because I *wanted* dogs.  There was an open and available role in my permanent life to add a friend or two, and entering into fostering knowing you have a permanent void makes it hard to give a great dog to someone else.  Now with a full house, I do not have the room to care for more lives. It's never fair to pile animals on top of one another!  I also have cats..  and I have to respect their needs as far as finding places to get time away from dogs.  When some things change for me, I intend to initiate being a foster again.  My interest is in senior and special needs dogs.

When it comes to saving dogs, the thing over and over again that really makes the difference is having *somewhere to put them*.  People can give money, volunteer time at events, but it really all boils down to having a physical place.  Amazing people spend countless hours of selfless devotion to physically removing dogs from shelters and bad homes.  Not that money is in surplus, but money doesn't seem to be the reason more cannot be saved.  There is simply NOWHERE TO PUT THEM.

With Colorado being such a huge dog state, we must communicate the need for fosters everywhere possible.  I think more people are able to foster than they themselves realize.  Let's address some myths, that tend to discourage people from taking on this noble, life-saving endeavor:

1. I can't afford it.  Most rescues will help absorb the cost to foster.  Vet bills, food, you name it.  No rescue is looking for someone to lavish expensive toys and grooming on their fosters.   If you can provide love and attention and some direction if they need training, likely your rescue will take care of the rest.
2. I don't think my other pets would like it.  This rolls of the tongue very easily, yet have we really thought about it?  Some people truly have dogs that are not great with other dogs, but more often than not, most dogs would happily welcome a temporary play mate.  If you have cats, address the territory needs of your cats and you  may do just fine introducing a temporary buddy.
3. I don't have the time.  When people say this, I think it's based on an assumption that fostering will require them to work with the rescue more than they have the time to do.  Most rescues will do that leg work:  they'll post the dog's story, talk him up, and get him exposure.  Fosters aren't expected to spend every weekend at events.  And honestly, most rescues have a good application process which screens out bad owners and leaves you with "meet and greets" that are quality and don't take up all your personal time.
4. It will be too hard to let them go.  Don't be so sure.  Not that you won't love them deeply, but when you find the right match for them, letting them go will be so easy and rewarding.  You anticipate that "next" foster with such excitement.  If it feels wrong to give them up, it's likely because you don't support the family match presented.  This is a good thing.  When the match is right, you may miss them, but you know there is another life waiting around the corner.
5. I don't want to be scrutinized.  A lot of people dread that process.. home visits, reference checks.  As a private person, I can understand why this is daunting.  With nothing to hide, it can be hard to put your life on display and feel like you need to be "approved".  The good news is, is that organizations do this one time.  They don't come to your house looking for reasons to say 'no'.  They want to be sure you are not a hoarder, don't have a dangerous back yard, and want to be sure your current pets are well cared for and like your potential new foster.  Don't sweat it.
6. I can't trust a strange dog.  I get it, you don't know them.  You don't want to come home to destruction or a dog fight.  Like adopting any dog.. puppy or adult.. there are ways to ensure they acclimate to your home and your family.  You crate them while gone, and spend good quality time with them otherwise.  An unknown dog isn't like renting your room to someone who just got out of prison.  They are dogs, and they understand limits and leadership.
7. I don't want to get stuck with a dog I don't trust/like.  You won't.  Rescues aren't in the business of making bad foster matches.  If you meet a potential foster and aren't "feeling it", say no.  Tell them you would like to consider another foster instead.  The rescue isn't going to judge you for that.. they are so grateful to have you.  Don't feel like if you go down the road of fostering that you'll be obligated to foster whatever dog they 'throw at you'.  It doesn't work that way. 
8. I'll feel bad if I have to give the foster back.  Fostering is a commitment that you will provide optimal care and guidance while you have them. If it is not working, for any reason, talk to the rescue.  People want reliable fosters, but not at the expense of it not being the right fit.  If your other pets are just not loving it, or the dog is not a match for your family, the rescue shouldn't hold that against you.  Perhaps there is a better fit.  And never, ever, let one foster match that wasn't great put you off from fostering.  I fostered a dog for 3 months.  She was not a permanent match for my life due to her prey drive with my cats.  I asked Dawn to switch me out with another dog who may need me more (a sick dog, etc). 
9. Fostering should be fun.  Okay, I tricked you.. that is NOT a myth.  Some dogs will need training, encouragement, love.. no dog comes "batteries included" unless you are very lucky.  It should be fun.  You should invite a dog into your home, see them blossom, and encourage great behavior.  You help them find a forever home, and you are ready to help save the next life.

So what next?  You are interested.  You are nervous, and aren't sold on the whole fostering thing.  Give your local rescue a call.  Having a conversation with their coordinator doesn't cost anything.  It doesn't obligate you.  You can ask all your questions and get all your answers.

Never foster a dog breed you are not educated about, or you will set yourself up for failure.  A little bit of research goes a long way.  Think about something great you can do this year.  Think about how proud you will feel to make a real difference.  Again, donating money is fantastic.. but there are homes out there with room to spare.  Encourage your friends to consider this great way to save a life.

-Shannon Murphy

Please join us!

Join us Saturday, May 5th in Denver Dumb Friends League's 19th Annual Furry Scurry!  Go to Furry Scurry and click "join team".  Type in "Pyrfect Paws" and join Christie and Shannon this May, as we gather Great Pyrenees owners, dog owners in general, and even those without dogs to walk to raise money for DDFL.

"Founded in 1910, the Dumb Friends League is a national leader in providing humane care to lost and abandoned animals, rescuing sick, injured and abused animals, adopting pets to new homes, helping pets stay in homes, and educating pet owners and the public about the needs of companion animals. The Dumb Friends League is the largest animal welfare organization in the Rocky Mountain region, welcoming tens of thousands animals to our two shelters. We turn no animals away. At our main shelter in southeast Denver and our Buddy Center in Castle Rock, dogs, cats, rabbits and other small pets enjoy the comfort of a nurturing environment in state-of-the-art facilities"

Please visit Pyrfect Paws to read more about us!  Email pyrfectpaws@gmail.com if you hope to walk with us in May, and would like to wear a Pyrfect Paws team t-shirt and what your size is!  We will only order tees if we get enough interested people! 

We hope to see you there!

Please Share; Please help this amazing family find their dog Leslie!

 

You can also visit their Facebook page:  Leslie's Facebook Page

Celebrating Love

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone and all their dogs!  While Valentine's Day gets convoluted, we an all agree it's a day to celebrate those we love.

For many of us, this means those with 4 legs.  It's hard to imagine a life without those little eyes and slobbery faces.  While I know many people hate commercialism, I find it reassuring when dogs and cats begin to get more acknowledgement for their important role in our lives!

I welcome the greeting cards, vests, and headwear;  as silly as they may be at times, they help assert the feelings of so many, many people who desire to demonstrate how much dogs are a part of our families!

So.. Happy Valentine's Day, all you pups.  We love you!

Thanking An Amazing Graphic Artist

My friend, and amazing graphic artist, Steph, did our "Team Pyrfect Paws" logo for us.  We intend to apply this logo to t-shirts and other items as we gather in the spring for the long list of charitable animal events we intend to attend.  (If you want to join our Pyrfect Paws team, don't forget to join!)

If you, or anyone you know, is looking for amazing graphic design at reasonable prices combined with amazing results, consider contacting Steph for your graphic design needs.  For $50 an hour, she adds creativity and her own flare to create amazing images.  It doesn't matter where you live in the country or the world, Steph can work virtually to develop your art needs!

To learn more, visit:  http://www.heartsandlaserbeams.com/

Lost Dog in Missouri: Leslie

Sadly, we received some images of a beautiful boy who is lost in Missouri following the tornado.  We wanted to put his picture up here for any readers who may be in that area.  Plus, we know dogs can migrate quite a bit when they are looking for their parents!