When is the right time to foster another dog?

Since Cosmo got adopted, we are back to three animals at our house. It’s peaceful. Quiet. Simple.

It’s not that Cosmo was a problem (far from it!). It’s just that I had two dogs requiring attention. Two dogs to walk. Two dogs to feed and let outside.

I love the challenges of fostering, of training a new dog and helping him be the best he can be. I love caring for animals in general, but it’s also tiring.

A huge amount of my energy goes towards taking care of my animals. I want it to be that way. Much of my energy is also spent towards my dog-running business and maintaining this blog. I love all these parts of my life, but it’s also nice when I don’t have to think about dogs 24/7.

Ace and I are enjoying our early morning walks without Cosmo. It’s fun to walk two dogs, but it’s nice to focus my attention on my own dog – he certainly deserves it!

Morning strolls with Ace are casual and stress free. No tension in the leash. No freaking out over a kid waiting for the school bus. No growling at dogs along fences. Just a slow-paced walk to start the day.

Josh and I are always trying to simplify our lives. We look for ways to subtract stress rather than add it.

There will be another foster dog in our future. Probably a foster cat, too. But for right now, we are enjoying the benefits of being a one-dog family again. And Ace is soaking it up!

Just as obtaining a new pet should be a decision the entire family agrees upon, fostering an animal should also be a family decision. If I had it my way I would probably always have at least one foster animal (probably two). So it’s good I have my family to keep me grounded.

I interviewed each family member and asked the question, “Do you think we should foster another dog right now?”

Here’s what they said:

Ace:

“Well … OK.”

Ace is very patient. He puts up with any animal we bring into our home. He hides his stress well, and he is the best foster brother ever because he leads by example and shows the other dogs how to act. He shares his dog bed, shares his walks, shares his toys, shares the attention.

This is a lot of work for a mellow dog, and I know Ace needs a break.

Josh:

“Let’s wait a couple months.”

Josh loves animals, but he does not believe in changing his life around to meet their needs. That’s not such a bad way to look at animal care.

Josh is extremely tolerant of our foster animals. He works from home quite often, and this is extremely helpful when a new dog is adjusting to our routine. Josh has gotten used to sitting at his desk with a dog or two at his feet. This means there has been some barking while he was on a call. It even means there has been an accident or two in his office (like, a major diarrhea accident!). Josh never complains, and I am grateful for that.

Scout:

“No!”

The slightest amount of change causes major stress for Scout. When I moved some books from the downstairs bookcase up to my closet, Scout was convinced the world would end. When we got our first foster cat, Scout was in puffed-up mode for about two weeks. He’s better with dogs, but still not a fan.

Scout has been through a lot with me. He’s basically seen it all by now, but change still bothers him. Scout was the first pet I adopted on my own. I think back to when it was just Scout and I in my Jamestown, N.D., apartment, and I have to thank him for putting up with my craziness. He’s a good sport.

Beamer:

“Whatevs.”

If something does not directly involve food, then it does not even register on Beamer’s radar.

Out of everyone interviewed, he is the most supportive about fostering because he is so indifferent to it. He could care less if another cat is in his territory. He is not fazed by an old American Eskimo or a hyped-up pitbull. He can hold his own. If he wants the couch or the dog bed or access to the water dish, he just takes what he wants. He’s like the Honey Badger. Gotta love him for it.

So there you have it. It’s time for our foster break.

We have been fostering full time since March when we took in a little black kitty from the pound. We even had two foster animals when she and Cosmo overlapped for about two weeks.

I can’t wait for our next fostering experience. But for now, I am going to enjoy some downtime.