Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Pager update and Bloggers Unite for Rescue

Well yesterday was Bloggers Unite for Rescue Day, a most worthy event in which bloggers focused on dog adoption in order to save more lives. As usual, I am a bit late--but I just got an update on Pager, so what better time to reflect on the joys of fostering and rescue!


As you may remember, Pager started out a stiff, terrified little thing who was so scared in the shelter that the staff put out a desperate plea for foster care, as that was her only option. That's right, if she hadn't been fostered she would have been killed. 

You may also remember that it took Pager all of a few hours to loosen up and start acting like a happy, normal puppy, chasing the other dogs around, chewing on stuff, and kicking up her paws in the back yard. 

Photo: Kris Coronado
Now Pager is in her forever home, happy as can be, charming her new people just like she did me and Florian. Her new mom is a writer, so you can read all about how she's doing here.


And the thing is that Pager's story is just one of so many success stories, stories of people who got to an animal just in time, invested just a bit of food and hugs and love and walks and soft places to curl up, and got a beautiful silly happy loving being in return. 


The reasons to adopt a rescued dog are spiritual and philosophical, as you are saving a life and giving an animal a chance, rather than supporting an industry that exploits animals. 

But they are also practical, as rescued dogs are often older and calmer than puppies from a breeder. Dogs lucky enough to find themselves in a progressive shelter with a behavior program, or in foster care, often have some training under their belts. And for those who worry that a rescued dog comes with too many behavioral challenges, buying from a breeder is certainly no guarantee of a well--behaved beastie. In fact, purebred pups are more likely to suffer from the behavioral challenges unique to particular breeds--while mutts come with the "hybrid vigor" that tends to result in robust health and an even temperament. 


I hope everyone will give some thought to fostering a dog, or a cat, or a guinea pig, rabbit, or budgie. Sure it's challenging when you love a creature and he or she moves on to a permanent home, but then you get the next foster and you fall in love again. 


Some fosters get adopted out quickly, while some take longer. If you're worried about getting attached or can only foster short-term, talk to all the rescues and shelters in your area about short-term fostering options. They will love you for it, and the creatures whose lives you save will bear you a gratitude that you'll know in your heart, even if they can only express it in a lick, a cuddle, or a wag.

7 comments:

  1. Good luck Miss Page!!

    -Bart and Ruby

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  2. Another success story for you Kirsten. Bless you! Nicely written.

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  3. Great post! So happy for Pager :)

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  4. Great success story. I'm so happy to read Pager's story here today. You certainly gave her a good start with her new family.

    Every foster we bring home has my husband saying, "I wonder if we should adopt him/her within the first few hours." You'd think I'd be the softie but it feels so good to see a great dog going home to their new family. And I have the selfish benefit of giving Honey different playmates without taking on the life long responsibility of another dog. :)

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  5. Good for Pager! I should know this but... is Fozzie permanently yours now?

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    1. That's the 8 million dollar question! He's still on Petfinder, so technically not...if I found a really really amazing adopter I suppose I would let him go. Given the odds of that happening though, after all this time he might as well be ours.

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  6. Awesome post... love hearing about success stories. :)

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