For those who foster, any regrets?

Locke

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#1
I just started fostering an awesome 9 year old toy poodle. She is pretty much the exact opposite of what I was looking for in a dog, but I am really falling for her. I want to keep her, but I also want to foster more. Having both her and a foster is not an option.

Are there foster dogs you wish you kept?
 
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#2
Gosh I have too many jokes to make here. I want to say "No, I just keep them" but I also want to say "Is it too late to say I regret keeping Shambles?" :p

But yes, my boyfriend and I each have one. I super regret not keeping this skinny mutty puppy Elliott from YEARS ago. I just loved him so and it has been like 5 years since he was adopted and I still kick myself over him. Even JONAS liked him, so I know I made a mistake. He lives in a city about a half hour away, but I've never seen him again. My boyfriend still mentions a Pomeranian, which surprised the hell out of me the first time he said "I really wish we kept Desi." He never said any thing when we had him!

We've kept Magpie and Shambles, so we've faced that side of the coin as well. I've waffled on Elsa constantly, but have kept the word out in case the perfect situation pops up for her. I don't really dig any of the immediate rescues in this area to foster for (and individuals don't really dig my intact male) so now I'm just going to foster cats for a friend's rescue- no interest in keeping kitties!
 

Brattina88

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#3
I usually never thought about it on a serious note. I always knew if I kept one, I wouldn't be able to foster any more... and the could possibly result in a life not being saved.

With one exception. His name was Wally and he was the exact opposite of what I wanted, a big ol lazy lug of a male but boy oh boy I fell for him hard. He was like a low drive perfectly social golden in a white and tan huge cocker body. By the time I knew I wanted to keep him for sure, it was too late, the adopter had been approved and the transport set in place to send him to his home visit. I didn't have the heart to do that to his family that wanted him so bad. So, I secretly hoped his home visit wouldn't go well, and they would want a different dog because it wasn't a good match. :p
But they loved him as much as I did, I guess. I still think about him all the time, and wonder what we'd be doing right now :p But, if I would've kept him I wouldn't have had about 5 more fosters after that, AND I wouldn't have Bailey <3 :eek: ...
 

StillandSilent

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#4
Shiva. My wonderful shiba inu mix puppy that was the wrong size, wrong breeds, and wrong gender but I wanted with all my heart. If she had not been pre-placed before I ever took her, I never would have given her up.

Quiddich will be very hard as well. We have worked so hard together and he has made amazing progress. Every time I see him, my heart lights up. But he is the wrong match for Gambit and my heart kbows that his home is out there. If I didn't have coyboy, I would keep him hands down.

None of the others have touched me like they have
 
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#5
I foster failed Bayleigh. At first I was having issues about the way I failed but I'm over it now and have absolutely no regrets.

I haven't fostered that many animals, 2 kittens and a handful of puppies. Mostly overnight guests. But if there is any that I wish I'd kept it was a one-eyed, little fluffy dog. He was a white and tan Pekingese. I think they are some of the ugliest dogs out there (lol) but I really liked him. He was a couple years old. But if I would have kept him there is no way I would have been able to adopt my Great Dane. And he was one of the best dogs ever.
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#6
Yes, I regretted (for a while) not keeping Ares, a cattle dog mix. It was an amazing dog and probably everything I wanted but he found a home fast and I already had several dogs. That said, I'm very happy and lived to foster others. Otherwise most of my fosters I have been thrilled to see go. :p

I kept Arnold and I kept Shamoo, knowing I couldn't live without Arnold and knowing Shamoo meant something to come, I have never looked back with regret, they've both shaped me.

Give it some time, how's the adoptability of the pup?
 

HayleyMarie

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#7
Mitsu is a foster fail, kinnda. I took her out of a bad situation with the intent to foster her until I found her a new home, but then we found out she had a terrible heart condition so we decided to keep her.

Although she was a great dog and loved a lot. I think I would have regretted keeping her if she was healthy and would live a full, healthy life. She just was not the dog for me. And keeping her would have held back my dream Boerboel pup for a long time. Although I would have adapted and probably would have gotten over it eventually. But she taught me a valuable lesson, to live life to the fullest and never stop!

I have no regrets keeping her at all until her very last days, she was an amazing dog and Tyler's girl though and through. I miss her daily, but I think she was the kind of dog that would have been happy in any home, if she was healthy.

I really would love to do some more fostering, unfortunately Tyler gets to attached and can't let an animal go. And it would probably be pretty hard to find a rescue group that would foster out to me since I will have an intact male.
 

JessLough

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#8
Not dogs, but I foster ferrets. Though, I also run the rescue, so my situation is a bit different.

I've been on both sides. There has been a ferret I was glad to see go to their forever home, a couple I hate that I had to give to their new home, and a couple I have kept.

Both Nacho and Ella are foster failures. Ella is a special case, as I *was* keeping an eye open for a young female ferret to add, after I lost Rascal. She just happened to be the right ferret, probably not the best time. I was fostering her, somebody showed interest in her, and I had to make the quick decision to adopt before they could. That said, absolutely no regrets for either of them.

Wedgey, I wish I would have kept. I wish I could have kept. Unfortunately, she was very obviously not happy with other ferrets, so it was not in her best interest to keep her.

Gucci (Spock), who was bonded with Prada, passed away while in my care. I wish he hadn't, because I would have kept him in a heartbeat. He was just so, so sweet. That said, his cage mate, Prada, was complete opposite, and I was happy for him when he got a new home. He just didn't fit in here. Same as Marlee, sweet ferret, but she was ferret aggressive, so it was nice and relieved much tension when she moved on.

I think it's normal to, especially with your first foster, want to keep them. You really do have a bond with them, because they depend on you. Only you could know though, if you really do want to keep her. There's definitely a special feeling you get when you hand them off to their new home, especially those that are with you for a while. :)
 

crazedACD

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#9
Well, yes and no. I'm happy with my current dogs. I can make a case for why I'm glad I don't still have this or that foster dog.

But...I had an older Walker hound mix that was so nice, so awesomely laid back, she is close to my heart. We were trying to sell the house at that point and moved across the country, so it wasn't feasible to keep a (tenth!) dog. She came from a rescue hoarder, and went to a fantastic home with an older couple that were enamored with her.
Maggie!
 

Locke

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#10
Thanks for sharing all your stories. I went into this thinking it would be no problem giving her up since she is not/was not what I typically want in a dog, but she's kind of everything I want in a dog now!

Give it some time, how's the adoptability of the pup?

She's pretty adoptable: small, cute, affectionate, smart, house trained, active and agile...the only thing she has "against" her is her age, she's 9 years old. Not old for a small dog, but not young either.

 

meepitsmeagan

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#11
I'm on my first foster experience as well. It will be very difficult to give this dog up. She is such a sweetie. However, she doesn't fit the bill for what I want in an ACD and even though DH is head over heels for her, he also realizes that in the long term, she isn't the dog he wants.

I would be ECSTATIC to see her placed in a sport home, doing either agility or flyball. She's so drivey, I think she would be awesome at either. Maybe even disk with the right person.

So, yes, I will be sad to see her go... but she isn't right for our home and thus stays a foster.

Only you can decide what's best for you and your home. Imagine yourself a few years down the road. Do you think that you will be happy with a dog that is opposite of what you originally wanted out of a dog? There will always be more dogs in rescue. This dog could find a perfect home where they will love it forever. The right dog is out there for you (whether it be rep. bred or rescued). You just have to decide whether that right dog is the one that is cuddled up next to you now, or one you haven't met yet.
 
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#12
There was only one dog that I absolutely wish I had kept - he was an older Cocker Spaniel, and he was the best dog ever.

One of my best friends ended up adopting him, so I still get to see him, and I know he's very happy and well taken care of. If she (or one of my other dog friends) hadn't taken him, I probably would have kept him.
 

noludoru

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#13
I like this thread.

No failed doggie fosters here, but there was one cat I wish I'd kept with all my heart. It was a purely logical decision to adopt her out, and it was in her best interests, but I wish I had been able to keep her.
 

SpringerLover

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#14
Yes and no.

I'm on my fourth foster now. The circumstances weren't right to keep my first one but if I could have, I would have. And they're still not right, so I'm really glad I didn't. She is quite literally in THE perfect home for her. I love her new owners so much for acknowledging who she is and embracing it.

Stryker


now Ruca

best shepherd baby ever

The second was short term. Very, very sweet girl. Very much adored people. Very, very shy. I liked her, but she wasn't what I wanted or needed. Luckily she ended up in a home on an apple orchard where she really doesn't have to leave the property much, so from what I hear, she's doing very, very well.

Reba


The third was... heartbreaking for me. She was my ideal pet, who very well may have been capable of more. She's in a good home. One that also adores her for who she is, but we're all working together to help them make her feel more secure, and learn to be braver. They have no interest in returning her, but they didn't realize how much they have to pay attention to when she IS being brave and reinforce that. She made a ton of progress here, and regressed quickly when she wasn't getting specific feedback. I did hear last week though that she's started following them from room to room selectively, which is a big deal! :)

Dixie, now Dany


And my current foster is Gaby, who should have no problem finding a home. Her only issue is that she walks horribly on a leash, but it's a work in progress!

Gaby!
 

Julee

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#15
I foster and train service dogs. I miss Ranger, and his entire situation was quite traumatic for me - because I failed to create a proper contract and irritated the wrong person, he is gone. I have no idea where he is. I likely never will. I search the Craigslist and Petfinder for San Diego frequently in hopes of finding him again. 110% my fault. I have enormous regrets regarding that, and the whole situation that unfolded around it stuck me in a pretty dark place for a pretty long time. I won't ever stop looking for him, but as far as that entire situation... well. Dwelling on it does me no good.

Deke, Ranger's brother, I placed recently as a working service dog after having him for 8 months. I LOVE Deke. I remain his co-owner, but he lives about 100 miles away. He's such a stellar guy. I would have never had the experience of training him had I not had a home lined up for him at the time of adoption, but good god, did that dog just steal my heart. I miss him horribly, though I'm thankful he's not too far away. I'll see him again sometime this year.

Bloo... well. Bloo is no longer a foster, even though that makes our lives significantly more difficult for the next however many years... it was the right decision for us. She's what we needed, with a couple of difficult quirks. Rick and I wouldn't trade her for the world.
 
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#16
Well, the BT was an almost failed foster. He was originally going to be a short term foster, like a couple days. But we fell in love and decided to try it a bit. Then his demons started to show and we just weren't in a place or environment fitted to working them out. I miss him, my husband even more but he is doing awesome in his home now.

There have been other dogs over the years but one, oh man, I never even fully named him, we just called him chunk lol. Rott mix. Had him and his brother that were dumped in an empty lot as young pups. We found a home for his brother really quick but Chunk stayed with us for a bit over a month...I LOVED that dog. Bawled like a baby when he left.
 

DJEtzel

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#17
I have fostered almost 20 dogs now, in the last three years.

I've had to euthanize one, place some in different foster homes, and I've cried over some.

The only one that I ever really thought about keeping was Tug, the pit mix foster that I placed just about a month and a half ago. I LOVED Tug, so much. BUT, as much as it hurt, getting to see how well he is in puppy class and with his new owner really made it better for me.

I don't anticipate falling that in love with another foster again, though.

It's probably for the best. XD
 

Airn

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#18
I was happy to see my one and only foster. (I might have more, but probably only sporadically.)

Mr. Carrot Cake/Duke/Whatever was a hell of a first experience to foster. A nippy, completely untrained puppy. He peed everywhere, annoyed Gwen and had SA.

Everyone was pretty convinced I would fall in love with my first foster. If you're worried about it, get a dog you KNOW you won't mesh well with :rofl1:

At least he made me realize I DON'T WANT A PUPPY. I've never had a puppy (all of my dogs were at least 6 months old when I acquired them) and I'm freaking glad they were.

I would like to foster again but with Gwen and two ferrets, it would have to be a special dog. I also can't find a local rescue/shelter that doesn't irritate me. Not to mention, I'm a bit scared I'd be stuck with a dog. I don't like not knowing when (or if) this dog is leaving.
 

RottenFlower

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#19
I wish I would have kept Frank, my one eyed pomeranian. He was the coolest dude ever, and (like me!) his favorite foods were black beans & feta cheese. I cried and cried and cried when I left him, even though he went to my stepmom's cousin, who adored him until he died of CHF. It broke my heart and I cried for days.

I decided I'd honor Clyde's memory by fostering for Rottie rescue, and boy did that bite me in the arse. Not only did I foster fail right out of the gates, I did it *again* with my next foster. I have removed myself from the "foster" list at this juncture, and will reconsider it in the future if I can foster puppies. I don't enjoy raising puppies, and have generally had no qualms fostering them... although I was once told that maybe I should just not foster Rotties, since they appear to be my kryptonite. ;)

I've fostered countless puppies & kittens, and three ferrets; however, if you look around my house now, out of nine animals, six of them are foster failures. (All 5 dogs and one of the 4 cats.)
 

StillandSilent

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#20
I forgot all about Dick Cheney! He was the most wonderful crab of a persian and I dearly wanted to keep him. But he really needed to be a single animal, so I had to let him go. He is in the perfect home and provides love and comfort to his new owners elderly mother. I still miss him, though
 

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