Category Archives: fostering

My camera roll is full of videos and pictures of many puppies and dogs who have visited my life. These dogs may be in my backyard or in the den. They might be chasing a ball, or squeaking a toy, or finding the perfect patch of sun to lie down. The puppies are probably rolling all over each other or nipping each other’s ears. There are pictures of sleeping pups and videos of snoring ones.

I cannot adopt another dog right now despite the fact the shelter is overloaded with so many animals. But, I can do the next best thing and foster one! The Aiken County Animal Shelter’s fostering program gives me the benefits of having another dog (loud tail, cute ears, funny noises) without the physical and financial burden.

I have enjoyed fostering for years. It is so rewarding, but on occasion, I may need some help logistically. I recently unlocked the game changer- becoming a “co-foster!” My mother and I both enjoy fostering puppies and dogs, but our schedules may have conflicts with the foster needs. Multiple friends also want to foster, but only for a night or two.

Now, with this setup, we communicate with each other about our available days and nights. The dog may start their week with me. When planned, I drive the dog (and their stuff!) to my mother’s or friend’s. The foster ends their week in another safe home.

Since I have heard many of the same fostering questions, I want to share the basics:

• • All fostering supplies are provided: crate, food, bed, and toys.
  • Fostering is short term. You’ll receive a text or email asking for available fosters. Look at your calendar. Can you fit it in for the next 3 nights? A week? Great! No pressure if you are busy – maybe next time?!
  • Having a foster is low key. You do not need to implement a training regime. These animals need a safe, soft place to land. Their crate in your quiet(ish) home is perfect.
  • When an animal is in your care, you have support of the shelter staff and foster coordinator. I have texted with questions or concerns many, many times.
  • You may fall in love. It happens. I remind myself: The foster pups are here to learn about a safe home and build confidence. I am here to love them temporarily, so they can find forever love next.

Co-fostering is win-win for the dog and for both of us fostering. The dog continues to get more comfortable (and, thereby, more adoptable) in a home environment. And, we are both able to enjoy time with a foster dog without changing any of our plans.

Find a friend or a family and say, “let’s try it”. You can share the scheduling load.

Then, at the end of the week, y’all can share loads of sweet pictures and funny videos.

Chat about fostering. Sharing a volunteer task with a friend can be so much fun. These animals desperately need us to work together. Their lives are in our hands

By Shana K Ryberg, Foster Volunteer

It happened again. Last week a new bunkmate came. That’s my name for fosters. I can tell someone new is coming because the second fluffer bed plops down right next to mine. OK, here it goes again. My folks know I don’t even like other dogs. But I give myself a good pump up speech and put on my best welcoming tail wagging. I am a foster family’s best ever dog. So I guess they expect me to do all the work with these newbies. I never thought I would get along with other puppers. The new fosters are every size and shape. I don’t body shame because some of them are very skinny but I do keep my eye on my food bowl. And my bed…but all I hear about my toys are, “share, share.” Oh brother.

I’m the teacher. I walk outside with them to show nifty shady places in the bushes and good squirrel watching spots. After the outside tour we go inside. You will not believe how many of them don’t know about doors or stairs. It helps that I’m super patient. Some bunkmates seem old. They like to sleep and snore and SNORE. I know the shelter is noisy when a dog sleeps for 15 hours straight (15 hours!) I know it’s because it is quiet here. 
 
Have we talked about puppies? I’m a big dog (almost 3 years old!) so I had no idea even what these little fluffers were! Each weighed less than 3 pounds. They slept on top of each other in a crate. They drank a bottle! I don’t think they could see or hear me. After 3 days they opened their eyes and came close. Bonanza! They smelled like formula. I never get milk but I licked their faces where they dribbled. The best part was when my folks saw that they sprinkled more and more. In a short time they pitter pattered over to my bed and then I had to teach them to play. It was follow the leader all day long. And then they took over my bed. 
 
But if a foster mate comes who is my age we zoom and zoom around our yard. We all know the rules. Chase, chase, change direction, chase, chase. At bedtime I teach about walking on a leash, the privacy of food bowls, oh and barking. It’s ok to bark but as soon as my folks say “thank you” I stop barking. My folks are thankful to my alerts because wow I save them from danger! 
 
Oh, and foster bunkmates show me things, too, like how to tilt your head sideways when you want to look even cuter. I picked that one up from a funny looking hound mix. 
 
I only have less than a week with my bunkmates. I must be a great mentor because every single foster dog gets adopted almost immediately after I graduate them. I can sense their last night with me. We both get a special dinner and even more hugs. Sometimes a bath. It does help to smell pretty. That’s the night I pull out my surprises. I drag my bed really close and I tell them about snow, the ocean, rivers, horses, waiting for school buses, mail delivery people and other dogs. I quietly talk about cats. Usually their eyes widen and I have to say, I’m not kidding. 
 
We fall asleep together that night. I remind them to stay off couches unless asked. We go over leashes and staying housebroken. Manners are so important. My graduation rate is 100%. All my mates have forever homes like mine. Some have families waiting. Remember I said I didn’t even like other dogs but now it is me teaching and making new friends. I know their lives are in my paws.

By Scooby Ryberg