A Few Lessons Learned

My "adopted" brother, Dean Porter, and I were chilling in the back yard the other day. While we watched Beano and Opal Hound tussle over an old tennis ball, our talk roamed back to our black-and-white days of distant youth, when both boys and dogs pretty much had free run of their neighborhoods. 

From left: Allen Dean Porter, James Brian Miller,
author and (front) grillminder Beano Boglen Miller

As boys we had freedoms that kids today cannot imagine. Not that it was all that easy to get away with anything. We had such freedom because everyone else in the neighborhood knew who we were and to whom we belonged and would not hesitate to drop a dime on us if they suspected we might be up to no good. 

The same, pretty much, was true for our dogs.

Sadly, often tragically, those days of innocence are no more and may well never return. I'd like to think I'm wrong, but I doubt it. I'd like to think we can rebuild communities where residents of all ages enjoy the freedoms we once experienced and took for granted. Until such time as we do rebuild the true American Dream of equitable, sustainable security for all creatures, two-legged and four-legged alike, we will continue to have a need for rescue and foster programs.

Time Out, dude! Somethin' bit me!!

Why foster 

Five to seven million pets enter animal shelters every year in this country.

Three to four million companion animals are executed each year because of a lack of shelter space and not enough people to adopt these homeless ones.

For every homeless person in America there are five homeless animals.

Only one in ten puppies born today will find a permanent, lasting home. 

Deciding to foster

Two NEVERs in which I believe whole-heartedly: NEVER give a puppy or kitten as a special-occasion or holiday gift, and NEVER rush to foster--or adopt--because you saw a cute photo on Facebook!

The decision to foster an animal is loaded with consequences, many of which arrive unforeseen unless you've done extensive homework. Taking in a strange dog, even if it is "only two weeks", is a life-altering event on so-o-o-o many levels! Horror stories abound about that cute little puppy that chewed its way through sheetrock, fiberboard and electrical wiring to get from the garage into the house in ONE afternoon!!

First and foremost, everyone in the household--animals as well people--must be given full consideration in the decision. All humans concerned certainly should be in agreement on fostering. Certainly consider any other animals already established in the home. Discuss division of labor and responsibilities for the "guest" animal, and do NOT overlook the considerable amount of time needed for play and social interaction with your sleep-over dog.

Second most, be dead on sure about your commitment. Rescue and shelter dogs already have been kicked to the curb at least once in their lives. DO NOT BE THE REASON THEY GET KICKED AGAIN!

Please, sir, may I stay?

If I haven't scared you off by this point, the third thing to do is get thee to your nearest animal shelter. Visit with as many staff members and volunteers as you can (without getting in the way!), ask questions, observe and thoroughly discuss the pros and cons of fostering with the folks working the program day in and day out.

IF--Big IF--for whatever reason you do not have good feelings about the shelter or the folks working there, politely tell them "Thank You" and WALK AWAY! No doubt you can find two or three other shelters to visit within an hours' drive of your residence.

I say this for one crucial reason. A successful fostering program depends on absolute trust and full cooperation between your family and the shelter family. Say, for example, you do not feel comfortable calling up your shelter contact person at 2:37 a.m. because your foster dog woke you "wheezing funny", then you need to be working with a different shelter.

In the Wichita County, Texas, area I cannot recommend highly enough Cheryl Miller's crew at the Humane Society of Wichita County and their Foster Babies program.

There are any number of good websites you can check out while considering fostering. One good place to start is 20 Questions to Ask Before You Foster a Dog at Petfinder.com.