On Saturday my foster dog Stella found her forever home.
She’s been with me for almost six weeks and not having her around today was so, so strange. I’m used to being greeted first thing coming downstairs and then being pulled out the door for our morning walk around the subdivision.
After that it was the excitement of breakfast and then some playtime with “football” and “Crinkles” followed by some napping so I could sit down and get some actual work done.
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The day was interspersed with trips outside, tummy rubs, play breaks and the pawing of my leg when Stella felt I’d been working too long and needed to pet her more instead.
Granted, today is a Sunday so it’s already an off day, but it was still weird not to have our routine or for Stella to join me in watching football. The big, loveable ball of fluff instead I’m sure spent her day today bonding with her new family.
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Stella gained a new fur-sister on Saturday, Katie, a 10-year-old golden retriever. She got two new human sisters (adorable little Eva and big sister Maggie) and a new mom and dad.
Her new family is absolutely fabulous. Stella and I met them last Saturday for the first time and again on Thursday up at Jericho Lake Park (which is beautiful if you haven’t been there before). For being such a big dog, Stella was my “gentle giant” and is so good with Eva. She did so well and I just knew right then this family would be a perfect fit for her.
And my foster group, Casey’s Safe Haven, agreed.
So on Saturday I packed Stella up and we drove out to Geneva for her official adoption. She went home with her family that afternoon.
I am so happy for Stella and her new family. They decided to keep her name so Stella is still Stella and may even be called the host of names my mom and I gave her (Stella Bella, Stella Louise, Stella Lou and Stella Marie, just to name a few).
Stella now has a HUGE fenced in backyard to run around and play in and plenty of family members to take her for walks and give her ton of tummy rubs. She is right where she needs to be.
Letting Stella go after all this time together was hard. But it was so rewarding. And that’s what fostering is. Hard, but rewarding.
I’ll be taking a little break from it just to get my own life back to a bit of a routine (and clean all the fur floating around the house and my car!), but I would definitely encourage anyone who is interested to look into fostering.
There are some great foster rescues right here that post on Patch and they are always looking for loving homes to foster their dogs (and adopt them too!). I encourage you to take a look at our boards for foster organizations and adoptive pets. A few are: Casey’s Safe Haven (the group I foster with), H.E.L.P. and Rover Rescue.
If you ever have any questions about fostering please don’t hesitate to ask me. I’ve only fostered two dogs (two lovely, beautiful dogs) but if there’s anything I can possibly help you with I am more than happy to help.
All the best wishes to you and your new family, Stella.
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