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Fostering is fun |
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I consider myself a dog person. I've always had dogs and they were an important part of my life. But I never really had a dog that was an integral part of my heart until I met James. We adopted him from Atlanta Lab Rescue in December of 2008- an early Christmas Present for my three children. Since my kids were all in school, I got to spend every day with James- taking him everywhere with me. At the same time, I started researching dog psychology and behavior and learned so much more about dogs then I ever knew. I began to bond with my dog on a much deeper level- not treating him as a mini-human- but as the glorious canine that he is. We walk every morning, rain or shine and he is a constant companion on our various activities. A Labrador is perfect for our family because we're always outdoors and usually near the water. I've enrolled him in a couple of obedience classes and he is a shining star. People always comment on how well behaved he is- even though he's still only 7 months old. I can honestly say he's changed my life- so much- for the better.
Because I know that I never would have found him without the dedication of the people at Atlanta Lab Rescue, I decided that I wanted to give something back. Maybe I could help unite other owners with a dog they would love as much as I love James.
So when the opportunity arose to foster 9 orphaned puppies, I jumped at the chance. Luckily, I have two friends and neighbors that also love Labs and they agreed to help me. I wanted to get these puppies off to the right start-keeping them safe and healthy until they could find their forever homes. My kids were ecstatic to have puppies to care for! They really pitched in with the work. And there is a lot of work... New puppies are messy and so cleanup is a constant thing. But we've found that lots or our neighbors are eager to help. We had tons of kids offering to puppysit and other neighbors brought over supplies and newspapers. It has been so rewarding to see each pup grow and ultimately be given to their new owner. It has really brought my neighbors and I closer because everyone is so interested in the babies... Some afternoons we would get all of the puppies together and just sit out in the yard and chat. All the pups have their unique personalities and are so fun to watch and play with. Plus my dog loves all of the company and I think it's been good for him to be with the puppies, too. He is so gentle with them- carefully adjusting his normally rambunctious style of playing to their size. Plus my kids are learning so much!
It has been a very positive experience for all of us and I encourage everyone who loves dogs to try it! It's also a wonderful way to test drive a dog to see if it might be a good addition to your pack.
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