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Help a Shelter Dog – Foster for Just One Weekend


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I’m raising money for Labs & More Rescue of San Diego

Please share this post with friends and family or click here to make a donation.

Chia the shepherd mix for adoptionI always want to adopt more dogs; I always want to foster.

But I can’t always do these things.

Sometimes I feel frustrated I can’t do more to help dogs.

So here’s one thing many of us CAN do:

We can take a shelter dog home as a short-term foster for just 1 night or just 1 weekend.

That’s what I’m going to do this weekend, and I’m so excited!

My fostering plan for next weekend & how you can help

I volunteer for the rescue group Labs & More based out of San Diego.

This is a group that rescues Labs and other large dogs from kill shelters in southern California.

Since Labs & More does not have an actual facility to house the dogs, it depends on volunteer foster homes. In the past, I fostered Lana & Orie.

There is always a need for more foster homes, so some of the rescue’s dogs are kept at boarding facilities while they wait to be fostered or adopted.

On Friday I’m going to pick up one of the dogs in boarding and give him or her a break for the weekend. I don’t know who I’ll be getting yet. I’ll find out tomorrow (Thursday) and let you know!

Halloween Mutt Run San Diego

We’re Running with our Foster Dog in a 5K!

Labs & More is hosting a 5K Mutt Run/Walk on Saturday to raise money to keep on rescuing dogs.

My husband Josh and I are signed up to run in the 5K with our weekend foster dog. (Our little trio will even run in matching Halloween costumes! Are you curious?) Perhaps the dog will get adopted at this event. If not, we’ll take him or her home and then back to boarding on Monday.

I am hoping to raise $150 as a donation to the rescue

I would LOVE if you made a donation. This organization is important to me and it makes a difference for so many dogs in the region.

I also set up a PayPal button for those who prefer to donate through PayPal.




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Are you interested in fostering a dog for a weekend?

Ask your local shelter or rescue if this is an option. If it isn’t, perhaps you can set something up anyway.

Even short-term fostering like this is helpful for many reasons:
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  • It gives the dog a break from shelter life.
  • The dog receives love, attention and exercise.
  • You learn more about the dog and report back to the shelter to help the dog get adopted. Is he good with other pets? Is he housebroken? Kennel trained?
  • You can take cute pictures of him for his profile page in a home, yard or park with other pets, kids, etc.
  • It’s fun and rewarding for you!

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Plus, if you have pets of your own, it helps them socialize and learn to share their space. My animals are all seniors now and they’ve had more than 100 animals visit us over the years. They’re such good sports!

Have you ever fostered a dog for the long or short term?

What advice would you give to help someone get started with fostering?

Let me know in the comments!

*Please share this post with friends and family*

Jen Gabbard

Friday 6th of November 2015

I called a couple of rescues around my area to see if they were in need of any weekend fosters - waiting to hear back from one of them. I don't think they've heard or considered this brilliant idea before. I'd imagine the ones I called would be thrilled to help get the dogs out of the kennel for a weekend - I'm crossing my fingers. I'd never commit to adopting a dog on a permanent basis because of Laika's resource guarding.... BUT having a dog for a few days to see how it goes would be awesome for Laika - she'd have a playmate, the dog would get some freedom, and I could feel it out to see if adding another dog to the home would ever be possible.

Lindsay Stordahl

Friday 6th of November 2015

Oh wonderful! I hope it works out. Don't worry, after a weekend of two dogs I'm like ... oh now I remember why having one dog is nice. Way less work. :)

Patti

Tuesday 27th of October 2015

I brought Linus home for just one afternoon to see how he acted in a home environment as he was quiet anxious in the kennel. Three and a half years later...he is still here.

Lindsay Stordahl

Tuesday 27th of October 2015

Haha! Good boy, Linus! :)

Kimberly Gauthier

Wednesday 21st of October 2015

I want to foster for a weekend, but (1) I'm afraid that we have too many dogs and it'll be overwhelming and (2) I worry about getting attached.

Lindsay Stordahl

Wednesday 21st of October 2015

Haha. I know! It's hard ...

Jessicavy

Wednesday 21st of October 2015

That's so cool! I can't wait to see pictures of your group costume! I did a weekend foster a few weeks ago. Someone found a kitten that was only about 3 weeks old and I'm kinda the rescue group's default bottle-feeder (they say it's because I have experience, I know it's because I have no life, hah!). I'd been wanting to take a little break from fostering, but she wasn't much work so I felt a little guilty when I pawned her off on another bottle feeder a day or two later. Now I'm really glad I did, because the next foster fell in love and has decided to keep her! They gave her the cutest name: Pocky! I'm over the moon.

Lindsay Stordahl

Wednesday 21st of October 2015

Oh so cute! I'm so glad the kitten got adopted. I love that you foster and bottle feed such young kittens. I would like to do that at some point, even though I probably have no clue how difficult it can be at times. I know they don't always make it :(