The Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) foster team is a group of dedicated individuals who provide extra care and support to animals when the shelter is full or when an animal needs a little extra one-on-one time. While it’s often hard to say goodbye, SAS foster parents are happy to send the animals on to a loving, forever home; then, sometimes, the connection that is formed is so strong that foster parents end up being the forever home for the animal in their care, often known as a “foster fail.”
Below, SAS volunteer foster parent, Allison, shares her own foster fail story.
We have been fostering for SAS for a few years now. It was our way of having a dog without having a dog. We have had a number of pups that we have loved and sent on their way to their forever homes.
Our last fosters were Honey and Badger. They were sisters from the same litter, and they looked adorable in the picture on the foster request email. We’d never had two dogs at the same time, but they looked cute and manageable.
Pretty girl
I made an appointment to go meet the dogs and pick them up. Upon arrival, I was told that Honey was off at a medical appointment, but that I could take Badger and come back later for Honey. And then I overheard, “Oh, did anyone mention Badger is afraid of everything and everyone?”
The staff at SAS brought Badger out, and she would not come anywhere near me. I waited patiently because I didn’t want her to have to go back to the kennel. Then, unexpectedly, Honey came back from her appointment early. When they brought Honey out, she came right up to me and jumped right in the car. Once Honey was there, Badger came over and let me hold her leash, staying at the far end — but she wanted to be with Honey, so she got in the car, too.
Once we got back to the house, Honey was all over the place getting love from my (human) girls. It took Badger a little bit of time to warm up. She still stuck to Honey’s side, but she was doing OK with the girls. She was very afraid of my husband at first and would do some amazing acrobatics in our small house just to get away from him.
Watching the neighborhood
Honey and Badger came back with us in May 2020, so we had all summer with them. We have a fenced yard; because of the pandemic, the whole family was home working and learning, so we would often take the opportunity to sit with the dogs in the yard. They were very entertaining when playing and very into chasing squirrels on walks. Their squirrel fascination required two people on walks, so that each person could manage one dog rather than both of them overpowering one single person if they caught sight of a squirrel.
Sadly, Honey died in September, and we were pretty worried about how Badger would react. She was a little confused for a few days — but with the loving family around her, she did OK. We were still debating if we would keep her because we like to travel, and a dog didn’t really fit into our lifestyle. But we were very worried about sending her off to someone else without Honey around, so we made the decision to keep her.
Honey and Badger relaxing
Badger has warmed up to all the girls; when my husband is not around, she is totally relaxed and an absolute goofball. Over time, she has learned not to be terrified of my husband. Occasionally, she will take treats from him, but she is still very wary around him.
Badger becomes a permanent part of the family
We are not the greatest at training her, though she has picked up a few things that are super cute. She will give a “high 5,” which I just LOVE — my girls laugh at me because I love it so much. When she wants to get on the couch or the bed, she will “ask permission” by gently putting her head on the couch or bed — and she won’t come up unless she is told she can.
The city environment is not the greatest place for her, as she is still very anxious about noises, people, cars and bicycles. We like to joke that she won’t go for a walk unless she has her entourage with her. She needs at least three of us to get her out, but we don’t mind.
— Allison
If you’re interested in supporting Seattle Animal Shelter pets and programs, consider donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.
