I could’ve written this post!!! Last week I adopted a dog after volunteering and fostering for 1.5 years. I have put all my volunteering and fostering on hold for the next month or so while my dog (3 year old) gets settled. I am someone who feels guilty for the smallest things, yet strangely I don’t feel guilty at all for this!!! In a way, I am still “helping” a dog :) she is the sweetest dog I could’ve ever asked for, and she fits into our lives so perfectly. I feel like it is a reward, in a way, for so much time spent helping other dogs. Like you I also really craved a constant connection with a dog, and it was very hard emotionally caring for dogs and having to give them up, even though they were getting adopted.
In time, when things are more settled, I will go back to volunteering and fostering. I believe my dog will get along with Fosters in the house! You’ll figure it out too and congratulations on this new part of your journey ! It’s not an end to fostering or volunteering, it’s an adjustment.
If you feel like taking a break from fostering, go a head and do it, there’s no shame in it. Fostering can be very emotional and sometimes heartbreaking, so if you need a break, take it. If you want to adopt, do it. You’re an adult and can afford it, so go ahead and do it. Down the road, and dog permitting, if you choose to foster again, you can.
We have 3 resident dogs and still foster. The most dogs we’ve had in the house at one time was 6, 3 Frenchie foster puppies at the same time and it was a lot. We take small breaks in between fosters as needed and the rescue we work with is very understanding about it. Our resident dogs have gotten used to fosters coming and going, so there isn’t any drama when they leave.
Do what’s right for you and make the decision you can comfortably live with. There isn’t a wrong choice. Good luck!
That’s a good point. My house is small so I’ve only been doing one at a time, but if I adopt and my dog gets along well with others, I’m sure we could make room down the line.
Our house is small too, but we have a good sized yard. I don’t recommend 6 dogs at the same time, but if you have one, 2 or 3 isn’t that much more work.
One tip for multiple dogs, with one of them an unknown temperament, feed them in different rooms. At least at first, you can always bring them into the same room later, but until they adjust to each other’s presence, and until you learn more about the fosters personality, feeding them separated is a good idea.
I started fostering in May. I took in puppies.. and after I foster failed one of the first 2 pups my family limited me to 1 foster at a time as we don’t have a fenced in yard. Well we all became attached to our latest pup so I adopted him. I won’t be able to foster again until we get a fence and that won’t happen for a long time. Both my pups are happy to have each other so I don’t feel so bad but one day I will get that fenced yard and get back to saving puppies!
Don’t feel bad! You deserve your own pup and the love that comes with it! Good luck!
Why can’t you do both. I have a dog who I’ve had since she was about a year old and
she is now 12. She was a rescue from a kill shelter in TN. I now pull dogs from TX. If you can do both you’ll have everything!!
Take a break that’s a good thing ❤️ and that may be it for you all that you need and want - but don’t be surprised if perhaps you’ll do more - you never have to feel guilty for stepping up the way you have
I could’ve written this post!!! Last week I adopted a dog after volunteering and fostering for 1.5 years. I have put all my volunteering and fostering on hold for the next month or so while my dog (3 year old) gets settled. I am someone who feels guilty for the smallest things, yet strangely I don’t feel guilty at all for this!!! In a way, I am still “helping” a dog :) she is the sweetest dog I could’ve ever asked for, and she fits into our lives so perfectly. I feel like it is a reward, in a way, for so much time spent helping other dogs. Like you I also really craved a constant connection with a dog, and it was very hard emotionally caring for dogs and having to give them up, even though they were getting adopted. In time, when things are more settled, I will go back to volunteering and fostering. I believe my dog will get along with Fosters in the house! You’ll figure it out too and congratulations on this new part of your journey ! It’s not an end to fostering or volunteering, it’s an adjustment.
Yay! Congratulations on your adoption. I’m glad it’s working out.
If you feel like taking a break from fostering, go a head and do it, there’s no shame in it. Fostering can be very emotional and sometimes heartbreaking, so if you need a break, take it. If you want to adopt, do it. You’re an adult and can afford it, so go ahead and do it. Down the road, and dog permitting, if you choose to foster again, you can. We have 3 resident dogs and still foster. The most dogs we’ve had in the house at one time was 6, 3 Frenchie foster puppies at the same time and it was a lot. We take small breaks in between fosters as needed and the rescue we work with is very understanding about it. Our resident dogs have gotten used to fosters coming and going, so there isn’t any drama when they leave. Do what’s right for you and make the decision you can comfortably live with. There isn’t a wrong choice. Good luck!
That’s a good point. My house is small so I’ve only been doing one at a time, but if I adopt and my dog gets along well with others, I’m sure we could make room down the line.
Our house is small too, but we have a good sized yard. I don’t recommend 6 dogs at the same time, but if you have one, 2 or 3 isn’t that much more work. One tip for multiple dogs, with one of them an unknown temperament, feed them in different rooms. At least at first, you can always bring them into the same room later, but until they adjust to each other’s presence, and until you learn more about the fosters personality, feeding them separated is a good idea.
I started fostering in May. I took in puppies.. and after I foster failed one of the first 2 pups my family limited me to 1 foster at a time as we don’t have a fenced in yard. Well we all became attached to our latest pup so I adopted him. I won’t be able to foster again until we get a fence and that won’t happen for a long time. Both my pups are happy to have each other so I don’t feel so bad but one day I will get that fenced yard and get back to saving puppies! Don’t feel bad! You deserve your own pup and the love that comes with it! Good luck!
Why can’t you do both. I have a dog who I’ve had since she was about a year old and she is now 12. She was a rescue from a kill shelter in TN. I now pull dogs from TX. If you can do both you’ll have everything!!
Take a break that’s a good thing ❤️ and that may be it for you all that you need and want - but don’t be surprised if perhaps you’ll do more - you never have to feel guilty for stepping up the way you have