8
JANUARY 2014
DOGGIERESCUE.COM MAGAZINE
By Andy Crook
Scooter is foster dog # 9 for me! We’ve been fostering for Doggie Rescue since 2008 and I fondly remember all of them.
I grew up with a lovely Welsh Border Collie that my parents picked up from Battersea Dogs Pound in 1966, and that selfless preservation of a vulnerable life was instilled in me from infancy. It was only later in life when I settled down and bought a house with my partner Nikki who was a volunteer at Doggie Rescue, that we thought how much sense it made to take on a dog that through no fault of its own had been abandoned to the whims of human society.
Fostering was perfect for us, we both work long hours and also have a soft spot for the older dogs that end up in rescue through no fault of their own. They adapt so quickly to a new home environment, surprisingly quickly.
Our first foster was Socks – the Keith Richards of dogs – world wise and slightly worn round the edges he soon settled in to our busy life schedule. It’s funny how just as you’re getting settled with a dog along comes a lovely family and adopts him. I have often been asked by close friends how I deal with building a bond with each dog and letting them be adopted by someone else. It is very hard to explain but it boils down to the satisfaction of giving a dog a chance
“ Scooter, our current foster doggie is a 13 year old Terrier x who is just so happy ALL the time and so very affectionate. He acts more like a 5 year old doggie and loves cuddles, loves his short walks every day and LOVES his food.” Andy
and knowing that they are moving on to a forever home that is going to be absolutely perfect for them. And yes, I do get attached to them and its very hard to see them leaving our home where they had so much fun and attention. But surely much better to have been given a new start and begun the healing process from a dogs’ life in a pound.
Socks came and went and is so fondly remembered, and we laugh about Sponge Bob (Benny) and his cheeky chops look, Rolf and his funny little legs and Tessa the Beagle that didn’t want to walk in a straight line and managed to wrap her lead around my legs on one night walk toppling me like a felled tree sprawling across the pavement.
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