On March 15, 2007, my beloved dog Zoey was hit by a car and killed. It was the darkest day of my life. The emptiness and sadness consumed me. The following week, I attended an adoption event, where I met some great volunteers. I decided that the best way to help me cope with my grief and honor her memory was adopt another dog and to start volunteering. I attended the next orientation and my life as a volunteer began.
By the summer of 2007, I knew that I needed to do more. Anna Norman, another volunteer, also fostered animals. She inspired me to do the same. I brought in my first foster dog that July, a terrified Border Collie mix that was seized, along with fourteen other dugs, during a drug bust. She was so shut down and I knew that if she was going to make it, she needed foster care. My resident dog Mr. Moe is stable and balanced, so I knew he’d be able to help me help her. By the end of the summer, I had fostered and adopted out two dogs, the terrified Border Collie mix and a gorgeous Pitbull/Sharpei mix.
Since that summer, I have fostered over fifty dogs, and now, I can add kitties to my foster list. To date, I have fostered two adult cats, and currently have two foster kittens. They were bottle feeders when I took them into foster care. They are now 8 weeks old, off the bottle, and close to being ready to be adopted.
I should also note that did adopt one of my foster dogs and one kitty that I have in foster care, so my furry family has grown!
When I started volunteering and fostering, I thought it was all about helping to connect shelter animals with their forever families and homes. I had no idea how much I would get it in return; the impact it would have on me, and how much it would change my own life. They’ve filled my heart and my world with unconditional love, with gratitude, with joy and laughter. They’ve taught me about myself, they’ve helped me practice patience, they’ve helped me be more centered and balanced, and they’ve taught me how important it is to forgive and let go. These animals, who many times have come from less than desirable situations, are slowly able let go of their pasts and move forward, when surrounded by a loving, caring human. They can trust again and they can love. What a lesson for us as humans!
Making the decision to volunteer and foster was the best decision I have ever made. It has truly been the most fulfilling, most rewarding thing I have ever done with my life. I am so grateful to every animal that has come into my life and am even more grateful for the lessons that I’ve learned from each. So if you want to do something life changing, volunteer.