"I would encourage people to get involved. I have a family that previously adopted from us that reached out once to ask how they could help, they said they couldn't commit to fostering but still wanted to make an impact on the rescue. I listed different ways they could help. They now help our rescue regularly with transporting pets from St. Louis, MO to Columbia, MO."
I have been volunteering for MABTR since January of 2010 when I got my first forever foster dog, Lucas! Throughout that time, I have gotten married and added 4 kids to my family. We all enjoy helping to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome countless dogs.
When I began volunteering, I had a Boston named Ruby. I wanted a second dog, but Ruby was a bit territorial, so someone mentioned fostering and I thought it would be a great idea. I could help out a dog and in the meantime do a little trial for Ruby and myself to see if the dog would be a good fit to eventually adopt. The thing that keeps me going is the animals that need shelter and love. As long as there are dogs that need rescue, our home will always be open.
We foster the dogs and help find them new homes. I have also helped do home visits in the area in the event a dog is getting adopted from another state and we want one of our rescue workers to meet the adoptive family first.
The work of a rescue is never finished, as long as puppy mills, pet stores and irresponsible pet owners exist, there will always be a need for rescues and foster homes.
The greatest challenge can be how heartbreaking it is to work with an abused or neglected dog. It is hard to explain to my children how someone can be so intentionally cruel to an animal.
I love watching my children help take care of and rehabilitate the fosters. Sometimes they are sad when it's time for the dog to get adopted, but I always remind them that they are helping to save a life.
My favorite part of fostering is staying connected with the families who adopt our fosters. I love seeing updates about the dogs and seeing how they blossom at their new homes.
Our rescue adopts to states in MidAmerica, that means my dogs might have to travel 18+ hours to get to a new family. It is hard to not meet someone in person and it makes me nervous to send my dogs so far away without getting to meet the family and their other pets myself. But our foster moms and rescue volunteers always vet the families, so I know at the end of the day that my dogs are in good hands.
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