Foster Dog Story

Here is something posted on another BB, that was posted on another BB, and so on and so on.....

Get out the Hankies.

MY FOSTER DOG IS BEAUTIFUL.
>
>My foster dog stinks to high heaven.I don't know
for sure what breed
he is.
>His eyes are blank and hard.He won't let me pet him
and growls
>when I reach for him.He has ragged scars and crusty
sores on his
skin.
>His nails are long and his teeth which he showed me
are stained.
>I sigh.I drove two hours for this.
>I carefully maneuver him so that I can stuff him
in the create.
>Then I heft the create and put it in the car.I am
going home with my
new
>foster dog.
>
>At home I leave him in the create till all the
other dogs are in
>the yard.I get him out of the create and ask him if
he wants
'outside'.As I
>lead
>him to the door he hikes his leg on the wall and
shows me his
>stained teeth again.
>When we come in he goes to the create because
that's the only safe
place
>he sees.I offer him food but he wont eat it if I
look at him,so I
turn
>my back .When I come back the food is gone.I ask
again about
'outside'.
>When we come back I pat him before I let him in the
create,he
>jerks away and runs into the create to show me his
teeth.
>
>The next day I decide I can't stand the stink any
longer
>I lead him into the bath with cheese in my hand.His
fear of me
>in not quite overcome by his wish for the
cheese.And well
>he should fear me, for I will give him a bath
.After an attempt or
two
>to bail out he is defeated and stands there .
>I have bathed four legged bath squirters for more
dogs years than
>he has been alive.His only defense was a show of
his stained teeth
>that did not hold up to a face full of water.As I
wash him it
>is almost as if I wash not only the stink and dirt
away but also
>some of his hardness .His eyes look full of sadness
now.And he
>looks completely pitiful as only
>a soap covered dog can.I tell him that he will
feel better
>when he is cleaned.After the soap the towels are
not too bad
>so he lets me rub him dry.I take him outside.He
runs for joy.
>The joy of not being in the tub and the joy of
being clean.
>I, the bath giver, am allowed to share the joy.He
comes to me and
>lets me pet him.
>
>One week later I have a vet bill.His skin is
healing .He likes for
me
>to pet him.I think I know what color he will be
when his hair grows
>in.I have found out he is terrified of other
dogs.So I carefully
>introduce him to my mildest four legged brat.It
doesn't go well.
>
>Two weeks later a new vet bill for an infection
that was missed on
the
>first visit.He plays with the other dogs.
>
>Three weeks later he asks to be petted.
He chewed up part of the rug.
>
>Eight weeks later his coat shines,he has gained
weight.He shows
>his clean teeth when his toung lolls out after he
plays chase in the
>yard with the gang.His eyes are soft and filled
with life.
>He loves hugs and likes to show off his tricks ,if
you have the
cheese.
>
>Someone called today and asked about him,they saw
the picture I
>took the first week.They asked
>about his personality ,his history,his breed.They
asked if he was
pretty.
>I asked them lots of questions.I checked up on
them.
>I prayed.I said yes.
>When they saw him the first time they said he was
the most beautiful
>dog they had ever seen.
>
>Six months later I got a call from his new family.
>He is wonderful,smart ,well behaved and very
loving.
>How could someone not want him?
>I told them I did'nt know .
>He is beautiful.
>They all are.
>Martha O'Connor
>Corgi and Corgi Mix rescue-Missouri

Beautiful story Sue! Three cheers for all of the wonderful people who take a sad pup like in the story and mold it so someone will consider it for adoption. I would have such a hard time giving them up.

This is why, after two months with our first foster greyhound (our Boo), we had to keep her. We were in love with her, after seeing her grow and develop a personality for the first time in her life - and she is still so devoted to us. After that I said no more fosters - only because I'd be afraid that I'd keep every one.
I have so much admiration for those who foster on a regular basis; I just don't have the guts to do it! We gave up one dog last summer, a stray we had found, after keeping him for two months, cleaning him and correcting his ear infections, neutering him, housebreaking him, training him, etc. Giving him up was one of the hardest things I've ever done, and I only did it because the two dogs we had then (Paula and Buddy) didn't like him one bit, and I had to respect their feelings. "Scruffie" went to a good home and a good family, but I still miss him sometimes. :(