Foster puppies!

[WendyI]

So I'm sitting at work minding my own business when I hear the distinctive clinking of a dog leash and the flappy noise of doggie ears! Sure enough I get up and there is a small yellow lab in my office. He was here with a guy from the Safety Office who is fostering him for one year to 14 months and then he gives him back so that the dog can be trained as a guide dog for any number of disabilities. I have wanted to do this for such a long time but thought it was a very complicated process and it turns out it is not. AND the organization is in my area so it's really convenient!

Now that I have this diabetes diagnosis, I am struggling to incorporate more exercise into my life. This is a perfect way to make me do it! I am just waiting to hear from my office heads to see if they will permit it and if so, then I will submit the application and hopefully have a puppy by mid-August!

It's been so long since I had that puppy breath smell! It will be incredibly difficult to give him/her up after a year or so, but I know someone will benefit immensely from the love, care and training I will give it which will be very satisfying for me. Fingers crossed that my office agrees!!

[Hulamoon]

Re: Foster puppies!

That sounds wonderful Wendy! I watch the Today show and they had a Lab for a year to show the process of training. Very interesting. I hope you can get to do it!

My step dd wants to get certified for baby swimming. You know where the baby uprights it's self. She would have to go to another island for several months,( I don't know how many days a month) for training. Expensive.

[pcbatiks]

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I hope it works out for you.....getting to hug a puppy everyday....awesome!

[Midge]

Re: Foster puppies!

Oh Wendy, what a kind heart you have! Not that I am surprised about that. I've thought about fostering a puppy for an assistance organization too, but my poor old kitty couldn't take it. I too have been coping with blood sugar issues and I needed to lose weight. Getting my dog to walk has forced me to do what I couldn't stick with on my own. Any weather, any season, out we go for long walks. I have lost 36 pounds. About 10 to go....Good luck with the permissions!

[Lori63]

Re: Foster puppies!

One of my friends who is diabetic just got a service dog! She's been diabetic since she was a kid and now is in her fifties. I guess it's becoming harder for her to tell when her levels are low. The dog is trained to sense that and alert her. So far it's going great and she has a wonderful companion.

Hopefully it all works out and you get a puppy to foster, sounds like it will be good for you and good for whoever gets the puppy!

[MayinJerset]

Re: Foster puppies!

Those dogs are wonder dogs, sure hope you get the opportunity to train them.

[auntiemern]

Re: Foster puppies!

That is awesome.

[asta]

Re: Foster puppies!

One of my friends who is diabetic just got a service dog! She's been diabetic since she was a kid and now is in her fifties. I guess it's becoming harder for her to tell when her levels are low. The dog is trained to sense that and alert her. So far it's going great and she has a wonderful companion.

Hopefully it all works out and you get a puppy to foster, sounds like it will be good for you and good for whoever gets the puppy!

Your friend will cherish this. My dog is trained to alert me to lows and he has definitely helped to save my life several times when he woke me at night.


Wendy, this is wonderful of you, it will be hard to give up a pup after becoming attached to him/her, someone will be so grateful you had the courage to do this.

[GrammaBabs]

Re: Foster puppies!

good for you Wendy... i "sew" with 2 labs EVERY Wed at my friends house... they are the best!!!! She used to train "Guiding Eye" dogs (Labs)...good luck)

[Sylvia H]

Re: Foster puppies!

Best of luck to you - that is a wonderful thing to do. I fostered a few dogs for rescue organizations. They explained to me that it is helpful to consider that I was a part of the dog's life journey. That was a helpful way to be able to accept that the dog would only be with me for a temporary time.

[peggiep]

Re: Foster puppies!

I think that it will be wonderful for you to foster a puppy! Good luck with the permissions.

[easyquilts]

Re: Foster puppies!

Wendy.... Fostering a puppy is such an awesome thing to do! I agree that giving him/her up eill be hard, but you will know you had a hand in something really special, and good... Good luck!

[stationarymom]

Re: Foster puppies!

I wish you the best of luck with getting to foster.Labs certainly have lots of energy that will need to be walked off.

[WendyI]

Re: Foster puppies!

Thanks everyone for the positive encouragement!! Yesterday I emailed my director and the Associate Dean and so far the AD is on board...just wants to check out how other departments have managed. I'm excited and truly hope this works. Yes, giving him/her up at the end of the year will surely be difficult, but I will feel happy that it's for such a good cause! I will keep you posted on progress!