Jackson, Day 3: What does a Foster do?
You might wonder, what exactly are the duties of a Foster Parent for a dog? It all depends on the dog, and the Foster’s abilities. Some dogs come in from very adverse conditions and need special care. I feel lucky, because
Hang on a second, Jackson just pooed in the hall.
Anyway, I feel lucky, because my list is well-defined. I need to teach Jackson to be a good family member with humans, while Brother and Sister teach him the pack skills he’ll need with other dogs (he’s already lived with a cat). I need to make certain he feels loved, comfortable and cared for. Since I also want to make certain that I send him to his new family with as many skills as possible, I’ll also see that he understands basic obedience. I must also ensure that he has
Be right back. Little accident to clean up.
Where was I? Oh yeah. I must also ensure that he has proper Vet care, that he gets his puppy shots and is neutered when the time comes. I’m told he’s still a little young for that. The BFCA-CT covers his Vet expenses, so that helps; I cover his food and grooming. I’ll also probably buy him a harness, since trying to find the tiny ring on his tiny collar results in a lot of accidents.
Speaking of which…
Like I said, I feel lucky. Jackson’s a happy boy with a peaceful puppy spirit. There are other Fosters dealing with dogs who have suffered, who are locked within themselves. They do everything they can to bring these sweet souls out of their shells, and you’ll read some of those stories here. There are Fosters who take in dogs with medical problems and nurse them back to health…when that’s possible. Sometimes it isn’t. And then their role is to offer loving arms for that final journey. But I’m a new foster, and I’m one of the lucky ones.
All I have to do is clean up a lot of poo.