A Second Chance
I’ve wanted to open my home to fosters – both animal and human – for a while, and with me working at home due to COVID-19 precautions, it seemed like the perfect time to give it a try, especially as shelters around the area cut back services and in-person adoption visits. I couldn’t bear the thought of someone like my fur babies, Scarjo and Juan Pablo, literally sheltering in place, scared and lonely, so I filled out a foster application with the Humane Educational Society detailing my home and habits, my forever pets and their personalities, and what I thought I could offer a new dog.
I got a call the next day: “We think we have the dog for you.”
Red had been given up by her owners in late February, and it was clear she knew it. A seeming Golden Retriever mix, her warm brown eyes were soft and kind, but there was mistrust in them. It probably took us 20 minutes of gentle coaxing to get her into my car.
After I moved Red into my finished basement, everything changed. She began to open up almost immediately. She pranced around from room to room, her tail wagged, and she started pawing for pets. She literally smiled, and her eyes did, too.
Three days later, I got another call: “We have someone who is interested in adopting Red.” And now, she was ready.
(To see photos of Red and her transformation, click here.)
– Jennifer Bardoner, editor