The local Greyhound race track is closing and they're expecting up to 300 Greyhounds needing fosters/homes.
I have always, always, always wanted a Greyhound. Hubby has been hesitant because he wants a dog from puppy age. (I've tried to explain that getting a Greyhound at any age is kinda like getting a puppy because they don't know how to be people dogs yet).
Is this a realistic way to find out if we're fit to be doggie parents? The biggest commitment to pets we've had together is a boa constrictor, gerbils, hamsters, and betta fish. Oh yeah, and we have two people-children also. We do pretty good with them (they are potty trained, at least ).
I just want to make sure that it is okay to think of being a doggie foster mom as a test drive. If it is not for us, it would be easy to get out of without having made a major commitment to an animal. If it is for us, then I see us adopting one of our fosters.
The kids would understand, too, that we're helping doggies find families and not get *too* attached until we come across the right doggie.
in my head the plan is to foster a few until we find the one for us to keep, then maybe foster 1-2 more at a time. they say that fosters last about 2-8 weeks per dog, which to me seems like a pretty quick turn around and not *too* long to get attached.
buffettbride wrote:I just want to make sure that it is okay to think of being a doggie foster mom as a test drive. If it is not for us, it would be easy to get out of without having made a major commitment to an animal. If it is for us, then I see us adopting one of our fosters.
The kids would understand, too, that we're helping doggies find families and not get *too* attached until we come across the right doggie.
I think you need to accept that you will get a little bit attached- the stupid pregnant stray cat in the garage bites me just about every day and I'm still starting to like her.
My ship she has a rudder, but I don’t know where to steer
buffettbride wrote:I just want to make sure that it is okay to think of being a doggie foster mom as a test drive. If it is not for us, it would be easy to get out of without having made a major commitment to an animal. If it is for us, then I see us adopting one of our fosters.
The kids would understand, too, that we're helping doggies find families and not get *too* attached until we come across the right doggie.
I think you need to accept that you will get a little bit attached- the stupid pregnant stray cat in the garage bites me just about every day and I'm still starting to like her.
Yeah, I'm sure there will be those moments--but I know I'll be just as happy knowing I helped a doggie find his/her people and I know I'll know when a doggie is for us and when a doggie has other people.
ph4ever wrote:It's a great idea, but I must ask - did y'all get the yard fenced? You know the area by the garage?
We have the fencing to go there, just needs to be put up.
that's something you want to do first then - greyhounds like to run. I can see you running down the street trying to catch one
Haha. Yeah. The fence would go up first of course.
I'm more worried about the neighborhood cats. I'm not a cat person, but the cats around us do a good job keeping the bunnies and mice away so I'm not about to complain.
ph4ever wrote:It's a great idea, but I must ask - did y'all get the yard fenced? You know the area by the garage?
We have the fencing to go there, just needs to be put up.
that's something you want to do first then - greyhounds like to run. I can see you running down the street trying to catch one
Haha. Yeah. The fence would go up first of course.
I'm more worried about the neighborhood cats. I'm not a cat person, but the cats around us do a good job keeping the bunnies and mice away so I'm not about to complain.
if you keep one I'll send Bailey to school them on evil bunnies and how to be a mouser. Bailey's better than the cat.
Well...(said in my best Bubba voice) I've been on sabbatical.
ph4ever wrote:It's a great idea, but I must ask - did y'all get the yard fenced? You know the area by the garage?
We have the fencing to go there, just needs to be put up.
that's something you want to do first then - greyhounds like to run. I can see you running down the street trying to catch one
Haha. Yeah. The fence would go up first of course.
I'm more worried about the neighborhood cats. I'm not a cat person, but the cats around us do a good job keeping the bunnies and mice away so I'm not about to complain.
if you keep one I'll send Bailey to school them on evil bunnies and how to be a mouser. Bailey's better than the cat.
That's awesome. Last spring we had a lot of evil bunnies around our house (under our porch, even). Victoria's best friend who lives behind us got a new cat last summer. No more bunny problems.
buffettbride wrote:I'm more worried about the neighborhood cats. I'm not a cat person, but the cats around us do a good job keeping the bunnies and mice away so I'm not about to complain.
The greyhounds will do a fine job keeping the bunnies away too.
Good for you guys for doing this. But as others have said here, I couldn't do it. I would get attached to them. Two weeks is way more than enough time for that to happen.
buffettbride wrote:I'm more worried about the neighborhood cats. I'm not a cat person, but the cats around us do a good job keeping the bunnies and mice away so I'm not about to complain.
The greyhounds will do a fine job keeping the bunnies away too.
Good for you guys for doing this. But as others have said here, I couldn't do it. I would get attached to them. Two weeks is way more than enough time for that to happen.
I think getting attached is the risk I'm going to have to bear. I'm sure there are limits on how many you could foster. We couldn't reasonably support more than 3 doggies at a time anyway, MAX. Two would be ideal.
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