Last spring I decided I wanted to provide a foster home for dogs. It was time to give a little something back and as a dog lover it seemed like the perfect fit for me and my family. Once I was approved I needed to pick out my first foster. As I scrolled through the PAWS website looking at the adorable faces I saw Bear.

That was it – I never finished looking at the rest of the dogs nor did I go back to any that I had previously seen. He was the one – I could feel in it my heart!! I could not wait to meet him and start my new adventure as a foster Mom. When I saw him for the first time in person it was all over – I knew the instant he looked into my eyes that this was no foster dog – he was part of my family.

So, I am proud to say that I became a “foster failure” my first time around. Although I adopted Bear I have continued to provide a foster home to other dogs who need one. Each one has been wonderful and it is hard to let them go. But seeing the joy on the faces of their new families takes the sadness away. Bear has opened up a whole new world for me.

I love volunteering with this wonderful group of people and will continue my work as a foster and as an adoption coordinator for as long as I can.

My two young children really enjoy the dogs that we welcome into our home. My six year old is always eager to tell people that “we find dogs their forever home”. This has been a life altering experience for all of us and I feel blessed that we are part of the PAWS family. The dogs and the people involved have given me infinitely more than I could ever give back!