Amanda & Mike

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A FOSTER PARENT? 2 YEARS

WHY DO YOU FOSTER? WE’VE TAKEN IN OVER A DOZEN DOGS AND TO SEE THEM COME INTO OUR HOME SICK, SCARED OR CHALLENGED IN SOME WAY AND IN A SHORT TIME THEY HAVE COMPLETELY OPENED UP AND CHANGED, IT’S AN AWESOME FEELING. THESE BABIES JUST WANT LOVE AND TO FEEL SAFE AND WE ARE HAPPY TO GIVE THAT TO THEM. AND IT’S FUN! HAVING RANDOM DOGS COME IN TO PLAY WITH, IT’S AWESOME!

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? I’LL BE HONEST, IT’S HARD TO SEE THEM GET ADOPTED AND GO TO THEIR FOREVER HOMES. YOU’VE CARED FOR THEM, LOVED THEM, PLAYED WITH THEM, IT’S DIFFICULT BUT THAT FEELING FADES QUICKLY WHEN YOU SEE WHAT AWESOME FAMILIES HAVE ADOPTED THEM. WE WATCHED THIS ONE FOSTER MAISY FOR A WEEK. SHE GOT ADOPTED BY A FAMILY WITH A 2 YEAR OLD SON AND IF YOU SAW THE PIC ONLINE AT CRR, IT WILL MELT YOUR HEART. THIS LITTLE BOY AND 5 MONTH OLD MAISY BECAME BEST FRIENDS IMMEDIATELY. THAT PULLS AT YOUR HEART STRINGS!

WHAT’S BEEN THE BIGGEST SUCCESS? OUR FOSTER RIVER CAME TO US AS DEFINITELY THE MOST CHALLENGED WE’VE HAD TO DATE. HE WAS EXTREMELY SICK, SCARED, HIGH ANXIETY, OCD… THIS LIL MAN WAS A HOT MESS EXPRESS! IN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS HE HAS GROWN INTO THE SWEETEST, GOOFIEST, LOVING DOG! IT’S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO AN ANIMAL WITH A LITTLE LOVE, PATIENCE AND SECURITY. IT CHANGES THEIR WORLD AROUND.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING FOSTERING? IF YOU’RE ON THE FENCE ABOUT FOSTERING, CONSIDER WHAT IT MEANS TO HELP THESE DOGS. YOU OPEN YOUR HOME FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET THESE DOGS OFF THE STREET, OUT OF THE SHELTER AND OUT OF THE EUTHANASIA ROOMS. YOU WATCH THEM GROW, COME OUT OF THEIR SHELL AND ACTUALLY BE HEALTHY, HAPPY ANIMALS! IT REALLY MEANS THE WORLD TO THESE RESCUE DOGS. THEY ALL DESERVE A CHANCE AT A HAPPY LIFE!