[Dailydrool] Take in ONE homeless hound a year - and be part of the solution.

[Charlie Meyer]

Bravo, Sylvie!

While every volunteer effort in rescue and every donation works  
wonders, nothing adds more value to the rehoming process than  
fostering.  As a board member in BROOD, I know that rescues are really  
in the adoption business. Many homeless hounds end up in pounds and  
shelters because they weren't properly incorporated in their first  
homes.  The downside of domesticated dogs is that they can't fend for  
themselves (OK, having Piglet OEBE, I know they can easily get into  
mischief on their own or in cohoots with similar four-legged  
company.)  Fostering combines the desire to help with experienced home  
training to best find and KEEP them in a 'forever' adoptive home.

Qualifications: You already have the desire to help by what you do and/ 
or give to rescue.  You already know more than you think from your own  
Basset. You've already housetrained a dog with a world-class nose.   
You know many of the breed's traits, quirks, and needs.  The next step  
is the step of faith: opening your door to a homeless hound.

Support: Virtually all rescues cover the cost of veterinary care for  
the foster.  Help is a phone call or email away.  Many rescues even  
reimburse boarding when you're away. Think of it the other way: a dog  
we don't have to kennel is like a four figure annual donation to  
rescue.   BROOD spends five figures every year in kennel care alone.

It's easy to get attached to the foster.  Why, one of my cherished  
possessions lost in my house fire, was the "I Flunked Fostering 101" t- 
shirt. As a guy, I soon realized in rescue that it isn't the women  
that get too attached, it's the guys. If I can let go, you can too.

Sure, there are some legendary foster homes out there.  I recall  
'Shameless' Suzanne "It's Suzanne. Hang up or else we'll have another  
Basset on our hands" Fitch walking her own and fosters in shifts to  
stay under the radar of the CondoGestapo.  Or any number of Olympian  
fosters out there who make it look so effortless. They all started  
like you: by opening their home to make that most direct of acts of  
kindness to one needy Basset.

Many rescues cannot afford kenneling bills. Even rescues like BROOD,  
which is blessed with a GREAT kennel, rely on fostering to keep dogs  
moving to the forever homes they deserve, and keep helping that next  
shelter Basset that needs rescuing.  We don't adopt out to kennels, or  
only to the most Basset-savvy of homes.  Few of our adopters come  
armed with decades of Basset experience. For many, it's their first  
dog; making the kind choice of adoption from the start. You were there  
once, too.

Be part of the solution. Call or email your rescue's foster person  
today.  They will challenge you, respect your limitations, and be  
there to help every step of the way.  There are foster opportunities  
from short term holds, to that untrained youngster, to heartworm   
therapy/special needs dogs, to senior/geriatric 'last home' fosters  
(my niche).  There's a special joy in watching that bewildered,  
sometimes frightened Basset transform in mere days to your kind home.  
And when it's time to go to a forever home, any tear in parting is  
overcome by a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in caring. You  
might well see a Basset you helped at a Waddle or other activity  
wagging its' tail with their adoptive family.  Tears of happiness then  
are OK too. You made a very special difference.

Amid all the sadness that lands needy Bassets in homelessness, can you  
please set another bowl?

Charlie Meyer
West Virginia Coordinator
Basset Rescue of Old Dominion, Inc. (BROOD)
Droolassic Park
Keyser, WV

Basset Hound Rescue: Work With Women. Pick Up Dogs.