Fostering a Dog!

JanJan63
JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I had to share this! Being unable to work due to unstable health issues, weakness, issues that crop up and make me miss work and now going back on the chemo that will make my face look like a pizza, means I'm at home most of the time and feeling useless. I feel like I contribute nothing and am just a drain. We have two dogs and normally have three but one was put to sleep in October due to cancer. 

So, we're going to be fostering a dog starting Feb 24! I love dogs and to be able to help this one who was found in California running on the freeway and was scheduled to be euthanized but was pulled at the last minute will bring me happiness. He's an 8 year old cocker spaniel. 

I know this has nothing to do with cancer but I had to share because I'm excited to do something that matters. And to feel needed again. I think it will be really good for me emotionally.

Jan

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Comments

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #2
    Go JanJan

    I am happy for you also. 

    I know that dogs they bring allot of joy and love to people and families. It sounds like this poor little devil was in a terrible state when found. I bet he needs all the loving you can give him. 

    And its always a two way street. He will fill the need you have to serve. 

    Tru

  • KarenMG
    KarenMG Member Posts: 109
    edited February 2018 #3
    That's awesome!

    Jan, I'm so glad that you have this opportunity to have this special doggie in your life. I hope he brings you lots of joy...and no problems.

    Funny story, I asked a doctor once to write me a letter so that I could get an emotional support animal. She looked at me as if I was totally crazy. About a month later, I got a letter that she composed, stating that I needed my long lost dog back (I was going to get a kitten) and that she realized how much he meant to me...LOL. I have no idea where she got that idea from. Geez, some people.

    Hugs,

    Karen

  • PamRav
    PamRav Member Posts: 348 Member
    #4
    Lucky pooch

    That’s just so darn cool.   Good for you.  

    Hugs

    pam 

  • lizard44
    lizard44 Member Posts: 409 Member
    #5
    So happy for you

    and the pooch, Jan.  Our Victoria is a rescue dog and we are grateful for the foster  folks who made her transition from an abused  dog to a family companion easier for all. 

    Grace/lizard44

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #6
    Thanks you guys! We have two

    Thanks you guys! We have two dogs but I'm still excited to bring this guy into our home. I have enough love for lots of dogs! I just hope Brodie, my little velcro dog, doesn't get jealous.

    Jan

  • Ruthmomto4
    Ruthmomto4 Member Posts: 708 Member
    #7
    Jan I am so excited for you!

    I think this will be really good for you and wonderful for the dog you are fostering! I know for me my pets bring me so much joy. I don’t think it’s easy to share pictures in here but I would love to see some. Feel free to friend me on Facebook any time if you are comfortable with it. i can’t wait to hear about it!

  • Canadian Sandy
    Canadian Sandy Member Posts: 784 Member
    #8
    What a great idea! This is

    What a great idea! This is good for both you and the dog.

  • Mikenh
    Mikenh Member Posts: 777 Member
    #9
    I have a close friend (he

    I have a close friend (he brought me home from the hospital after surgery and asking someone to drive you home from a Boston hospital is a huge favor). He lost his girlfriend and his dog a long time ago and several of us thought that he was suicidal so we spent a lot of time with him chatting and otherwise providing support through a tough time. He eventually got another dog and another girlfriend and he was like night and day afterwards. He lost that dog last year and it was tough on him so I bugged him to foster a dog for several months and made suggestions (my daughter volunteers at the local shelter) and he got one and I think that it really helps him. He's a dog person and I think that he needs the companionship and company. So I think that dogs and cats are great. My wife just doesn't want to deal with the cleaning involved.

  • plsletitrain
    plsletitrain Member Posts: 252 Member
    #10
    Sounds exciting!

    I say whatever that makes you feel happy, or gives you some sense of fulfillment, go for it! I also love dogs.  And yes, I understand the feeling of being useless but no, you're not, you (or any of us) did not wish or wanted this to happen so you shouldn't blame yourself.  The dog's very lucky he was sent your home.

  • OzarkGal
    OzarkGal Member Posts: 41
    #11
    Very awesome!

    "Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love, they depart to teach us about loss.  A new dog never replaces an old dog; it merely expands the heart.  If you have loved many dogs your heart is very big."

    --from Pinterest

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #12
    Thank you! I love all animals

    Thank you! I love all animals but dogs and horses are my passion. My horse kind of helps me through all of this. I'm sure most ofyou are familiar with the story of my horse being brought to the hospital when I was in intensive care after the blood clot. But my dogs are here with me every day and constantly offering comfort. My one dog is very in tune with me and rarely leaves my side. If I have an off day and am crying he'll go get my husband to come and comfort me. He's a very empathetic little guy. If we can help this new little one and give him a happy home either temporarily as fosters or even permanently was adopters it will mean a lot to me. 

    Jan

  • lhduffer
    lhduffer Member Posts: 90 Member
    #13
    What a lucky little guy

    What a wonderful thing you are doing.  He is one lucky little dog.  Dogs are such wonderful friends and companions, as you already know.  My "little girl" became an angel as I was in the middle of my first group of chemo and the pain of losing her was worse than the treatments.  I have a few more transitions in my life right now but am hoping to be able to get another later this year.  God bless you and enjoy your new "little guy".

  • Ruthmomto4
    Ruthmomto4 Member Posts: 708 Member
    edited February 2018 #14
    lhduffer said:

    What a lucky little guy

    What a wonderful thing you are doing.  He is one lucky little dog.  Dogs are such wonderful friends and companions, as you already know.  My "little girl" became an angel as I was in the middle of my first group of chemo and the pain of losing her was worse than the treatments.  I have a few more transitions in my life right now but am hoping to be able to get another later this year.  God bless you and enjoy your new "little guy".

    lhduffer

    i am so very sorry about the loss of your dog. It’s so very hard, some people don’t get it. I hope you are able to get a new dog soon, it really is the best medicine. 

  • lhduffer
    lhduffer Member Posts: 90 Member
    edited February 2018 #15
    Ruthmomto4 said:

    lhduffer

    i am so very sorry about the loss of your dog. It’s so very hard, some people don’t get it. I hope you are able to get a new dog soon, it really is the best medicine. 

    Thank you

    Thank you.  It is something a lot of people don't understand.  What I was going through at the time didn't help.  I know getting another will be wonderful as I miss having one greatly.

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #16
    lhduffer said:

    Thank you

    Thank you.  It is something a lot of people don't understand.  What I was going through at the time didn't help.  I know getting another will be wonderful as I miss having one greatly.

    I'm so sorry about your dog.

    I'm so sorry about your dog. We had to have our old pitbull put down in November. It just about broke my heart. She hadn't been well for a while and then started having seizures. I wish they lived longer.

    Jan

  • lhduffer
    lhduffer Member Posts: 90 Member
    edited February 2018 #17
    JanJan63 said:

    I'm so sorry about your dog.

    I'm so sorry about your dog. We had to have our old pitbull put down in November. It just about broke my heart. She hadn't been well for a while and then started having seizures. I wish they lived longer.

    Jan

    Thank you

    Thank you.  I am very sorry about the loss of your pitbull.  I wish they lived longer too, but they are such great joy while they are here.

  • Ruthmomto4
    Ruthmomto4 Member Posts: 708 Member
    edited February 2018 #18
    JanJan63 said:

    I'm so sorry about your dog.

    I'm so sorry about your dog. We had to have our old pitbull put down in November. It just about broke my heart. She hadn't been well for a while and then started having seizures. I wish they lived longer.

    Jan

    I am sorry Jan

    about the loss of your dog as well. I wish it was easier to post a picture here I would love to see the dog you are fostering. Obviously in a house with 3 dogs, 5 cats, 3 rabbits, two turtles, one rat and one hamster there isn’t an animal I don’t love.

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #19
    Ruthmomto4 said:

    I am sorry Jan

    about the loss of your dog as well. I wish it was easier to post a picture here I would love to see the dog you are fostering. Obviously in a house with 3 dogs, 5 cats, 3 rabbits, two turtles, one rat and one hamster there isn’t an animal I don’t love.

    Oh, your house sounds

    Oh, your house sounds wonderful! I'd love to have a pet rat but rats aren't allowed in Alberta. We're known as the only rat free province. They're so smart, though. We can't buy turtles, either. I had one as a child before they brought the rules in. We now have two dogs and a cat and I have my horse but he's boarded at a place. The foster dog will make three dogs. I hope he works out. I've been feeling so miserable for the last week and I'm worried I won't be able to keep an eye on him. He's 8 years old so I'd hope he's house trained but he's from California and the cold weather here will be a shock. 

    And I'm a little worried that my shadow dog, Brodie, will be jealous. Bella loves affection but she's a little more independent so she should be fine. Brodie is a mama's boy and he might be very hurt.

    I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one that can't post pictures on here.

    Jan

  • Ruthmomto4
    Ruthmomto4 Member Posts: 708 Member
    edited February 2018 #20
    JanJan63 said:

    Oh, your house sounds

    Oh, your house sounds wonderful! I'd love to have a pet rat but rats aren't allowed in Alberta. We're known as the only rat free province. They're so smart, though. We can't buy turtles, either. I had one as a child before they brought the rules in. We now have two dogs and a cat and I have my horse but he's boarded at a place. The foster dog will make three dogs. I hope he works out. I've been feeling so miserable for the last week and I'm worried I won't be able to keep an eye on him. He's 8 years old so I'd hope he's house trained but he's from California and the cold weather here will be a shock. 

    And I'm a little worried that my shadow dog, Brodie, will be jealous. Bella loves affection but she's a little more independent so she should be fine. Brodie is a mama's boy and he might be very hurt.

    I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one that can't post pictures on here.

    Jan

    We have had

    6 pet rats, he is number 7. They are so fun, they get such a bad reputation. They have all been sweet, and funny pets. This one is super smart he even comes to the cage when you call his name from far away. He is super playful too. Sadly they don’t live long at all and the girls all get tumors no matter how many times you  have them removed they come back. It’s heartbreaking.

    i am sure once the dogs all get used to each other it will be fabulous! Here a new animal is usually accepted by the one month time frame. I am looking forward to hearing about it!!

  • LivinginNH
    LivinginNH Member Posts: 1,456 Member
    #21
    Hey girl,

    Hey girl,

    I really don't post anymore, but when I saw your post I just had to send you a short note.  You are one of the most inspirational and amazing people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing, even if it's only through cyber space.  With all of your own health troubles, you not only help others, but actually find the time to foster animals!!  :)   You are an angel on earth my friend, one of a kind for sure.  :) 

    All my best,

    Cynthia

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