wisewords WALKING THE TALK
Marlane Barnes Fosters Rescue Dogs by Sandra Murphy
A
ctress Marlane Barnes recently made her feature
film debut as Mag- gie of the Irish Coven, in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part II, building on a growing résumé of films, TV and theater credits. A current resident of Los Angeles, she actively supports the nonprofit Best Friends Animal Society, a local no-kill facility, and serves as national spokesperson for Spay First. To date, her foster dogs include India, Birdie, Archie and Wally, with more to come.
Why is fostering rescue dogs important? Fostering is a good way to find the right dog for your personality and circumstances. Dogs aren’t accessories, chosen on looks alone. Fostering allows you to see what breed, size, tem- perament and activity level works best. When India, the first dog I fostered, was adopted, she went to a home that suited her nature and needs. Birdie, a 6-year-old golden retriever-beagle mix,
came to me when her shelter time was up. Af- ter two months, Birdie was placed with a family that was willing to deal with an older dog’s health issues, and it’s worked out well for all parties.
What do you try to teach the dogs to make them more adoptable? We take a lot of walks during our six to eight weeks together. Teaching
them to sit, be petted, take treats gently and behave well on a leash all helps. I also expose them to new experi-
ences. We visit the coffee shop, meet kids and take hikes; in these ways, I learn what the individual dog enjoys. It takes some of the guesswork out of the equation. Fostering is like a halfway house for dogs; after living with them, I can vouch for them, as well as voice any concerns about the family situation. I feel strongly that the dog must be treated as part of the family, whose schedule has to work with having a dog, and that dog in particular. It’s a matter of finding the right person for the
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