I’ve written a couple posts about my first foster experience that began on Cinco de Mayo when we brought home Lady, the little gal pictured above. I haven’t shared an update lately because we’re in a kind of foster limbo. I’ve had Lady for so long in part because she was heartworm positive when she was rescued. I offered to see Lady through her heartworm treatment, a 2-3 month long process consisting of a strict schedule of shots, steroids and other medications. She’s been at high risk of serious side effects but she’s almost never seemed sick to me. She’s a survivor. The plan was that when she finished treatment, it’d be time to find her a home. But she’s still in my home.

I have completely opened up my heart and home to Lady. She even sleeps in my bed (read: three small dogs currently sleep in my bed). My husband grew very attached to her and for awhile was insistent that we adopt her ourselves. I just had to push back. I adore her, and so do my two dogs, but adding a third dog to the household was not the point of bringing her home with us. I did it to save her life and I had dreams of becoming a “super foster” who takes in one dog after another like the kind woman who fostered my dog, Joey. Not to mention my husband spends the majority of his time working and living in San Francisco which means I am completely outnumbered at home. I think he finally accepted that Lady cannot stay with us forever so his new push became finding her a home with a family member or friend.

Problem is that we don’t have any family members or close friends who are interested in getting a dog right now. The one family I do know who would love her up and be a perfect family for her are currently living in an apartment that does not allow pets. I’m tempted to keep her until they move, which they’re planning to do, but there’s a chance they might not move for a long time if ever. Another family member expressed interest but then got cold feet. She lost her own dog down a few months ago and decided she just wasn’t ready for a new dog yet. A different family member has also now expressed interest and wants to have a sleepover with Lady and her own dog. I’m not too sure it’s going to work out there either but maybe it will.

If not, it will be time to go back to the original plan of having the rescue group place her in a home.  After all, that’s the way fostering is supposed to work. Leave it to me to end up as a semi foster failure! I was actually a bit hesitant to write this post. I don’t want anyone to get a negative feel from fostering. I am very happy with my decision to foster even if it hasn’t gone exactly as I’d expected. I got to save a dog’s life which is awesome! She might still be in my house but I think (I think!) Lady will be in her forever home soon and I will miss her. I’m told by more experienced fosters that the way to fill the void of your foster dog getting adopted is to remember that means you get to save another dog, and then another. Given my current track record (and by that I mean my husband’s) I don’t think that is in my immediate future. Knowing how happy she’ll make her new family will have to do for me.

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