Is Fostering Right For Me?

What Does

Fostering Mean and How Will It Impact Me?

What exactly does fostering mean? It means bringing a homeless dog into your home, caring for them, providing them with affection and socialization, until a permanent family comes along who will love them forever.
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The benefits of fostering are numerous, and not only a wonderful thing for the dog and shelter or rescue, but can be beneficial to the one doing the fostering in so many ways!
  1. FOSTERING SAVES LIVES:

    Oklahoma Westie Rescue has no central facility, and we rely solely on foster homes to determine how many dogs we can pull from county shelters, save from breeders, save strays, or take owner surrenders. Fosters are crucial to our rescue and to the success of saving more dogs.

  2. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE A dog'S FUTURE:

    Oklahoma Westie Rescue relies heavily on fosters for dogs who may have endured a complicated past, such as abuse, cruelty, neglect, undersocialization, etc. As a foster, you can gain a dog 's trust, show them human touch and love, perhaps for the first time, provide an environment for them to feel safe, and watch them transform before your eyes.

  3. FOSTERING CAN BE GREAT FOR YOUR FAMILY:

    If you have existing pets, introducing a dog can be an excellent experience for them as an additional companion, additional socialization, and an additional playmate! Children can benefit from fostering as a way to introduce responsibility and selflessness, as well as a way to educate about animals. It is also a great way to "test" the idea of a permanent dog in the home in the future.

  4. YOU BECOME PART OF A WONDERFUL "COMMUNITY":

    Fellow fosters from Oklahoma Westie Rescue will help guide you through the experience, give ideas, answer any questions, and may even become your friends! There is nothing quite like sharing experiences with those who do the same and being part of a community of people with passions.

  5. YOU WILL MAKE SOMEONE'S FAMILY COMPLETE:

    When the day comes that your foster finds that perfect home, the rewarding feeling you will experience is something very special. You will feel a sense of pride in knowing what you helped that dog accomplish during their time with you. You will feel overjoyed that he has found his forever family and his happy ending and that all homeless dog so desire. And while certainly, some goodbyes can be challenging, knowing that a dog has found his happy ending and another precious life awaits to be afforded your gifts is as good of a feeling as there is!

So, Change a Life, Save a Life, & Become a Foster Today!

DEAR FOSTER MOM:

There I sat, alone and afraid,
You got a call and came right to my aid.
You bundled me up with blankets and love,
And, when I needed it most, you gave me a hug.

I learned that the world was not all that scary and cold,
That sometimes there is someone to have and to hold.
You taught me what love is, you helped me to mend,
You loved me and healed me and became my first friend.

And just when I thought you'd done all you do,
There came along not one new lesson, but two.

First you said, "Sweetheart, you're ready to go,
I've done all I can, and you've learned all I know."
Then you bundled me up with a blanket and kiss,
Along came a new family, they even have kids!

They took me to their home, forever to stay,
At first I thought you sent me away.
Then that second lesson became perfectly clear,
No matter how far, you will always be near.

And so, Foster Mom, you know I've moved on,
I have a new home, with toys and a lawn.
But I'll never forget what I learned that first day,
You never really give your fosters away.

You gave me these thoughts to remember you by,
We may never meet again, and now I know why.
You'll remember I lived with you for a time,
I may not be yours, but you'll always be mine.

Ready to Foster?

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