Fostering for the First Time
But not falling in love for the first time
I have been grieving since Ande passed away on September 19, 2024, and I am not ready yet to write about the days of her sudden illness and death, but I hope to one day, because important emotions are buried there. I am eternally grateful to the many, many good people out there who understand and who commented on what I did manage to write immediately
afterward.
After her death, I continued to walk every day. Ande’s ghost walked with me, still obstinately insisting on the turns that led away from home so that I would get enough exercise. After a couple walks, I had a good think and reasoned that if Ande could still walk with me, then so could all the other dogs who have been prominent in my life; I counted eight of them. Therefore now I walk with a pack consisting of up to eight dogs. They join in whenever they feel like. They stop and sniff a sniff for as long as they want. No leashes to get in the way.
On these walks, I bumped into people with dogs and I met the dogs and their humans in ways that I couldn’t when Ande was alive because she was unpredictable in her reaction to other dogs. I met Lenka and her mom who took her in after her mom’s uncle died not too long ago. I met Koda and Shiloh and their human parents. Koda is their foster dog from Coco’s Heart Rescue. I was going to share a link to Koda’s bio but I can’t find it on the website…maybe Koda got adopted!
Yet the house echoed in its emptiness. Not having a furry sentient being cohabitant felt wrong. It wasn’t time to adopt but it was time to foster.
I am not sure how I ended up working with Rescue Network Minnesota. I filled out the application to be a foster and within a day I was approved and within a few days two puppies’ pictures arrived in my text messages.
I decided to go with the flow and say yes, I will foster these two until they get adopted. And I brought them to my house on October 6, 2024. They were named Brittney Spears and Usher, but in my house they are known as Brittney and Uša (pronounced “Usha”), not they respond to arbitrarily assigned monikers yet.
It has been going so well, but…
Why is everyone’s first question, “Are you going to adopt them?”
My answer has evolved into, “I want to learn what it feels like to get them ready for and through the adoption process...unless I fall hard in love.” I’ve already fallen in love, but that should surprise no one.
In my youth I had the privilege of participating in the raising a few puppies. I have had to relearn puppy fundamentals.
I have learned:
that puppies are the biggest, and perhaps unacknowledged, victims of FOMO;
that puppies discover something new every single day, sometimes rediscover something like it was new the next day, and that this is beautiful way to experience the world;
that puppies will run away like Brave Sir Robin at the quietest or loudest new noise (fortunately these two head back to the porch and/or into their kennels);
that the only toy that exists is the one that is in thy sibling’s mouth;
that we humans are on their schedule (but this has been good as it’s forced me to focus when they are “down”);
that puppies may be made of rubber;
that the smallest treat can bring the biggest joy;
that the best sleep comes after the toughest play;
that insults are best quickly forgotten (one can only assume that their ferocious noises are hastily hurled insults);
that puppies can be contemplative as the oldest, wisest sage…or at least look that way, even with cones on.
The final lesson: the house, transformed and no longer echoing in emptiness, contains new emotions coexisting next to old ones, new furry sentient beings do not replace old furry sentient beings but give new meaning to a place—this feels like A Good Spot can become real and it feels good.
Adopt!
If you want to adopt them or know someone who might, here are links to their bios and pictures, which I wrote and most of which photos I took: Brittney’s and Usher’s. The application for adoption is on the same website. They have had all their shots and they have been spayed/neutered. They are smart, chill, sweet, affectionate, gentle, kennel-trained, and pretty much potty-trained (only one accident!). Their cuteness speaks for itself.
Finally…Pledges to A Good Spot
Please, consider pledging to this substack, A Good Spot, as it would be greatly encouraging and well, simply, AWESOME. Click here to learn more about A Good Spot.
Fostering is THE most soul-filling adventure I've had in my life. All dog lovers should give it a shot. Don't worry about whether you'll be able to let them go, you'll know when the time comes. And by fostering, you'll know so many more dogs than you could ever "own." Just do it!
Those ears! I want to rub them. And a good approach to life: that the best sleep comes after the toughest play. So glad for the joy in your house.