Sweet, sweet lady. YOU did a good and brave act. I've never been brave enough to foster OR even volunteer at an animal shelter. I know I'd turn into old "dog" lady! May God comfort and heal your heart and mind during this time of loss. And, yes, it is a loss! One day at a time sweet girl. 💞
5 years ago
| 8
Lou, You were specifically designed to have such a loving heart for animals. You followed your plan. You loved this cute little pooch, gave him security, and formed a sweet bond until he found his forever family. I think you gained much needed knowledge. You are not crazy or too emotional. When you are ready for your next family member to adopt they are going to be so lucky to have you.
5 years ago (edited)
| 5
My husband always says I have a “ big heart.” I cry at sad commercials and animals being hurt and little kids being upset. I’m glad you’re that way, too. It’s why we all love you so much! You make us laugh, sure, but you show your humanity, too! 💕💕. Hang in there, hone
5 years ago
| 1
Oh, Lou. I'm so sorry. It's hard. We fostered about two months after losing our dog a few years ago. The foster was a great dog but she had an insane prey drive and kept trying to kill our cat, basically. Otherwise, she was pretty much a perfect dog. But the problem with the cat just wouldn't go away and we knew it wouldn't work out for us so after nearly a month of fostering her, we drove four hours round trip to return her to the rescue. I cried on the way up, I cried as we dropped her off, and I cried the whole way home, telling my husband, "We should go back! We can work it out! She's so sweet! I love her!" And she was sweet and I did love her but we weren't the right fit for her. BUT .... happy ending. Back home, I wrote an email to the rescue owner telling her what I thought the dog needed in a home. (No cats, a fenced yard, maybe someone who works from home or is home a lot.) Two months later, to my surprise, the rescue owner wrote me back and told me that she'd been adopted into a home with no cats, a fenced yard, and a doggie mama who worked from home. I bawled my eyes out -- sad because I still missed her but SO HAPPY that she'd found the perfect forever home. You did a good thing, Lou, but it doesn't make it easy. That's part of why it's good .
1 year ago
| 1
Lou, I love the kind of person you are, in bittersweet recognition. You feel so deeply and care so much that it hurts you, yet you continue to offer what you have as offering in order to contribute however you can. Your heart never stops loving easily and quickly, and that's a strength even when it feels like a weakness because they always leave us too quickly, no matter how much time we get with them. To be able to repeat that in order to continue doing the most good is beautiful. Love is always the secret ingredient. As someone with "too many" animals and heaps of surgeries and medications to provide as they age and develop new problems... I can relate. It's possible the dog gets to come back to you, or it's possible that they'll be a perfect fit. It's a win/win for that sweetheart, thanks in part to your sacrifice. You rock, Lou.
5 years ago (edited) | 0
I'm in a loony bin every single day. I live in Turkey where we have thousands of strays, very few people/ngos looking after them. I've fostered so many, sadly have had sooo many animals die in my care ... It's the most awful feeling when you lose an animal - even when you get them adopted, which you know is the best solution for them. But our hearts ache for the loss. But I keep on fighting because there are sooo many souls out there that need us, our love, support, care, to clean up that pee/poop and say I love you no matter what. I hope you feel well real soon, focus on the amazing work you do for these animals. It's all about love love love ... and love is every where, forever and always.
5 years ago
| 2
I think it shows how deeply you care. I don’t think I could do the foster thing I would get too attached. You can never tell when a dog will come along and steal your heart, stay strong.
5 years ago
| 1
Oh, I feel your pain! I fostered three kittens this summer, bottlefeeding two of them from just several weeks old. One found a home with my friend over 1000 miles away by the way, and the other was adopted relatively quickly. The third one I really worried about because he had a serious infection when I got him and I had to give him antibiotics twice a day for seven weeks. It completely broke my heart to let the last one go because I had lost control of where they were going and of course I figured no one could be as good a parent as I LOL. They are all adopted now, thank heavens! I fostered other kittens but kept them for less time and I found it much easier. As far as your little guy, I fell in love with him when I first saw his picture. If he fits in your house and hasn’t been adopted yet,there’s no reason why you can’t get him. Hang in there!
5 years ago
| 4
Lou I love animals so much that I can’t even fathom having one myself because of the guilt I would feel even just leaving the house without them. I take care of my brother’s cat Ernie and I love him so much I cry when I go home to my own place. I worked in an animal shelter cleaning cages and feeding the animals and I always would get attached to them as they came in. It’s hard when you have such a big heart for furry friends and they leave. You aren’t at all crazy and grief takes a long time to process. I hope that you are able to find a way to cope with the loss
5 years ago
| 5
Oh. My. God. I had 4 small male dogs, and last May decided to be a foster in order to help in some way. So, we took in 2 little 3 pound Yorkshire terriers (a mother and daughter who couldn’t be separated). Well, after the rescue I volunteered for flaked over 5 times, actually setting up meetings to come see and take pictures of the girls and never showed up (no call, nothing), we have fallen head over heels for them. They had a volunteer pick them up and bring them to us, then basically just left them here with zero communication or concern. So needless to say, we now are the very proud owners of SIX DOGS, and I know I can never foster again. I get attached and fall in love, and we cannot have anymore dogs!!!! I’m so sorry you are going through this, I know exactly how you feel. Sending you love and healing vibes so hard right now. It’s so hard when you really want to help in some way, but you end up ripping your own heart out.... It will get better, I promise. You are a beautiful person with a big heart Lou, and the world needs more people like you. ❤️❤️❤️
5 years ago (edited)
| 2
Lou, it’s really amazing to foster. But it’s difficult as well. Keep in mind what the prospects for your fosters were before they were rescued, what they’re lives are like now, and to know that you made it possible. I used to foster as well, and I haven’t forgot a single one ❤️
5 years ago
| 1
Our family lost our beloved yellow lab a few years back and I was so scared of how I would feel putting him down because I was obsessed with him haha. (My parents dog but I picked him out when I was in college). I didn’t think I could ever feel a way about a dog again because he was so special and we had an amazing bond. I found it very hard to live without a dog’s warmth and the way they smell so good and the experience of walking into the house and having this adorning creature embrace you with joy. Every.Time. So much oxytocin back and forth between animal and humans. It’s the best. He was also my security blanket and therapist when I was sad. They become entrenched in the everyday mundane tasks. They are always there- a part of your everyday life. It is very, very hard to lose that. I think fostering would be torture personally so good for you for doing it. I will say, I felt a little bad about starting my search for my own dog months after ours passed. But it was the greatest thing we ever did. And my 2 year old lab puppy is everything I could have hoped for and more. Somewhere along the line you realize that it’s not about feeling bad thinking you’re replacing your doggy or pet that has passed away. It’s about the absolute privilege to take in another awesome little fur baby and give another beautiful animal a chance at a wonderful life. I know our guy is so happy to have us. I hate to think about me not opening my home up again to a pet quickly as they need us to so badly. Whether you get a new pet, adopt one, or foster one, it’s an amazing thing to do. I would encourage you to just start looking again for a permanent guy. You have so much love to give. Maybe you can have a permanent friend to take care of and continue to foster. So you still have a friend in the house that’s always with you when you have to say goodbye to the other friends you so kindly take care of. It’s a big commitment to get a new one, but it is always SO, SO worth it ❤️
5 years ago
| 3
Completely understand how you feel. And you are intitled to feel exactly how you feel. The only time I tried to foster a dog I couldn’t let her go and we’ve had her ever since. The two days she was gone from me was hell. It ripped me apart as well. Yes a dog can do that people. It’s almost worse than a bad break up. My thoughts and love are with you. Nothing I can say will magically make any difference. I only wanted to tell you someone understands completely and you seem like a very strong person to me!
5 years ago
| 1
I've lost 2, very loved dogs in the past 8 months. They both died of old age. I don't think that I could handle fostering a dog and giving him up. I bond way too easy. I've recently taken a job with my local humane society. And they're always needing foster homes. But I know myself too well. I would have to adopt whoever I fostered. That's just how I am. And I'm not ready yet. I'm still grieving my loss. So I can empathize with what you're going through. You're much tougher than me. And what you're doing for these dogs is very angelic.
5 years ago
| 1
He probably misses you just as much... 😢 Maybe it won’t be the right fit and you’ll get him back! You never know ❤
5 years ago
| 18
Two years ago our cat died. We had lots of cat food left and noticed our neighbors feeding a grey stray. So we started feeding him too. He won’t let us get close but he doesn’t run if he sees us like he does with others. Few months ago the hubby heard a cat crying for help in the laundry room. Emaciated but super sweet and looked like it could be the son of our grey feral friend. Got attached in the days leading up to the vet then found out he was chipped. Lived in our building and his owners had been looking for him for a month. Hurt so bad even though we’re happy for his humans and his bff kitty who had all missed him.
5 years ago
| 4
Fostering when done right- loving the animal- HURTS when they leave. It is grieving. But I think mixed in there is tremendous joy which can also cause tears. So proud of you for fostering.
5 years ago | 0
I’m a foster child I wish people felt this way about the kids they took in I hate living here
5 years ago
| 12
Fosters always say your heart breaks a little when they go to their forever home so theirs never has to again. It's one of the most wonderful gifts you can give to an animal in need. The best solution for a broken heart is to go out and get another foster! ❤
5 years ago | 0
My pet of 17 years died last year and I’m still sad. I don’t think I can get another pet or foster one yet. I understand your pain.
5 years ago
| 6
skip2mylou
Hey Guys, Holy Christ, it seems like I only post here when I’ve been devastated by some pet related incident. Today is no different. You’ve seen this cute little guy in my last few videos, Vincent. I fostered him for 10 days and he found his forever home yesterday. This was the plan. Pick him up and get him ready for adoption. Well, now I literally want to die, I’m so upset. And I don’t use the word literally as freely as most do. WTF is wrong with me? I feel like my heart has been ripped out, again. What made me think I could do this? And if I hear one more person tell me how I should/could have kept him, I’ll scream. I followed a plan and stuck to it. I wanted desperately to foster an animal since we lost Abbey so recently and I knew we weren’t yet ready to adopt. I needed to help some how and thought this would be a good start. A dog in whom I had no emotional interest. I love a big fat old bully type girl who needs help trusting again. I can do that. Then, off one of the 5 vans filled with dogs and puppies from Texas came this scruffy 12 pound terrier boy who couldn’t seem to care less about me or where he decided to pee in my house. Well, I haven’t stopped crying since I last saw him 35 hours ago. That’s right, even in my sleep, if you can call my drug induced coma sleeping. And food? Who can eat when feeling like this? These feelings are not too different from a bad break up. A break up where I encouraged him to find someone else and then realized that it may have actually been me all along. I’ve done everything short of bribing the woman who runs the rescue to get him back for me. All the reasons my family and I decided not to get a dog so soon suddenly seemed less important, even fading away. If I think hard, I can remember. But mostly I remember a hairy little guy who loved me, followed me everywhere, slept on me, and made me smile. I am not looking for some munchausen by proxy sympathy here since I continuously find myself and get myself into this situation. I just feel like you are all a part of my family who deserve to know what this crazy Louzer is up to. Have any of you attempted to foster and ended up in a loony bin? That’s where I’m headed. The LOUny bin. 💕oxoxo Lou
5 years ago | [YT] | 267