12/12/2023
"Why don't you just keep her? She's so happy with you!"
I've heard this a lot in regard to Charlene, and it's such a common sentiment directed toward foster parents in general. It's a perfectly valid question! I love Char like she was my own dog, I really do. She's a fantastic little companion, she's sweet and friendly and affectionate and silly, and I love her to pieces. She's a GREAT dog! However... if I adopted her, that would be the end of fostering for me, at least for the foreseeable future. She needs a home with no other animals, so as long as she's here, I can't help any other dogs (or cats). I can't pull any from overcrowded shelters, can't assess what their personalities are like in a home environment to increase their chances of adoption, can't provide a quiet place for stressed or sick ones to heal. Saying goodbye to foster dogs is always a tough sacrifice with plenty of bittersweet tears, but I do so knowing that they're getting a great forever home, and it makes room for me to help another one.
Charlene is now my longest term foster, having been with me for 11 months. Yes, it will be difficult to let her go and I'll cry my eyes out when she leaves. But I know that her forever family is out there somewhere, and when they finally come along, it will be well worth the wait. ❤️
Adoptions have been very slow lately and shelters are in need of foster parents more than ever. Please consider reaching out to your nearest shelter/rescue group to find out how you can help by fostering an animal!
If you'd like to meet Charlene, please contact Baltimore Humane Society.
