From Foster to Family Member

Providing a foster home for a pet means caring and providing for a pet on a full time but TEMPORARY basis.  The idea is to provide a healthy interactive environment until a permanent home can be found.  When it comes to providing a foster home for pets, I’m pretty lousy.  They all end up living with me permanently.  It has just always worked out that way.

I was determined I’d be a good foster home for the most recent critter that found it’s way to my door.  This time, I told myself, it simply isn’t possible to keep this pet, a little dog who had been on the streets for at least five weeks.  Not wanting to add any more pets to the pack, I felt safe allowing this one in on a TEMPORARY basis.  Even if I got attached, there was no way the dog would fit in, would pass all the necessary tests.  What are the odds?

To become a permanent family member, this dog would need to exercise great discipline and not chase the cats, would need to leave the bird alone, would need to leave the turtle alone when she’s out basking on the rocks around the pond, would need to NOT be a barker, would need to be house-broken, and most importantly, would need to not only get along with but play with my other dog Nikon.  Not gonna happen.  I’m safe, or so I thought.

Two weeks later and this silly little dog has proven herself up for the challenge.  Nikon adores her and she adores Nikon.  They play for hours together.  She leaves the cats alone and has passed all the other tests with flying colors.  I have failed at fostering once again.

Here is Nikon and Comet (her new name) during their first mini photo shoot (just a few frames after an editorial shoot with Chihuahuas).

Here’s a grab shot of the two of them on the couch. They had been sleeping but opened their eyes a split second before I pushed the shutter button.  For my photographer friends, this photo was shot in very low light at ISO 12,500.  Not bad for basically shooting in the dark.

Here is my first ever video.  I’m not hanging up the still camera anytime soon.  Actually, this was shot with my still camera on video mode.  Not the greatest quality but at least I was able to capture Nikon and Comet during one of their extended play sessions in my messy office as I was trying to work.