Foster Stories
Real Peppermint Pig Animal Rescue
Foster parents…
Real Peppermint Pig Animal Rescue
Foster stories…
PPAR Foster mum, Susan writes:
We picked Lulu up from the shelter in July of 2013 and never looked back. We have had nine fosters since then and each one has shown us the same thing over and over again: that they can get their joy back. All dogs seem to retreat into themselves to survive a bad time. But with freedom, acceptance, peace and comfort, all seem to find their inner puppy and decide it is o.k. to let their guard down and be happy. Some take longer than others but it seems like the turning point in the dog coincides with the time they are adopted. Seems people are attracted to joyful dogs!
It is so rewarding to watch the ribs disappear, sores fade and tails begin to wag, rowdy playing start and watch dogs that have seen few grassy areas explore woods and chase squirrels. All foster families realize that we get far more back than we give. That is why we keep on saying, ‘Yes, I will take another!'”
PPAR Foster dad, Daryll writes:
Good evening everyone!! I just wanted to make a quick post about being foster’s and hopefully this could help someone make up their minds about becoming a foster. We had wanted to foster for the last couple of years and I was always on the fence about it but since we have started fostering ( on our second one now lol ) I now realize that I am only filling a small space in my house to fill a big space in their hearts. With each foster I feel like I have had them for years and we love on them no different than our own. We have nothing invested but our time and love and while it is free to give it’s more rewarding to receive! ❤️ rescue❤️Fostering
In memory of Serena 2006-2018❤️
P.S. Fostering is great!
This is Annie and Cricket our two Foster’s so far!
PPAR Foster mum, Cindy writes:
Why do I foster? Well I’ve only done it twice so far so here goes. I was the kid who grew up in an apt and could never have pets. I swear I was forever finding strays and trying to bring them home, my poor mother. I didn’t have my own home to be able to own a dog until I was in my 30’s. My first was a HUGE lesson, we did so many things wrong, and she still ended up being the best dog. We’re on our 4th now.. 2,3 and 4 at the same time.. in a VERY small house and I wouldn’t change a thing. WHY? Because they’re alive because of me. Each one is a rescue. Each one would have been euthanized if someone hadn’t stepped up and said I’ll take them. Since I cant imagine my life without them, I want to help to give that to others. Knowing that I have a hand in saving a life, in helping something feel loved for the first time has filled something in me I didn’t know I needed. I think Sarah never thought she’d wear me down 😂 but she did. My first was Nadine/Miley.. and the hardest thing I’ve ever done. She and I bonded immediately and getting to watch her come out of her scared quiet little shell was incredibly heartwarming. She’s the one that got away for me.. I love her so much and it was so hard to let her go when she got adopted, but seeing how incredibly happy and loved she is now? I did that. My next was Liberty/Pepper. Libby for short. Libby had a rough start and needed some extra care, helping her heal and learn to be loved, and now seeing how healthy and happy and gorgeous she is now? Every sleepless night or puddle on my floor or tear shed at adoption was worth it. 100% no regrets. Once I get my own new baby trained, I’m sure we’ll do it again. It gives me such a sense of total worth and I know I’m helping, one by one, do a good thing. Total unconditional love.❤❤
PPAR Foster mum, Sarah writes:
“We started fostering for PPAR in July 2014. We have fostered 160 PPAR dogs/puppies so far, and have been a part of saving hundreds more. I have witnessed miracles, I have cried, and at times I have felt like I died inside, but this is rescue; I have loved more deeply than I ever imagined I could. I have looked into the eyes of the broken, mistreated, and unloved and shown them hope, compassion, and given them life. I have made lifelong friendships with other PPAR volunteers as well as with adopters, and other fosters. I have become part of something bigger than anything I have ever been a part of before. We save lives, we are family, and we do whatever it takes for the animals. This rescue stands apart from all others. The compassion, the care, the quality of the people who are behind everything we do, are nothing short of amazing. What happens within PPAR, and the volunteers who dedicate their time to running the thrift store so that PPAR can operate successfully, is nothing short of amazing.”
Foster mum, Melanie writes:
Here is my story.
1) When and why did you start fostering for PPAR? We started nine years ago. I had been giving serious thought to fostering children. I just felt like there was something else I was supposed to be doing besides just raising my own family. One day I was eating at the Chinese restaurant next door to the old location and saw a handwritten sign in the Pig’s window about fostering. I filled out the application and brought my family the following Saturday. That happened to be my wedding anniversary, and I convinced my husband to let me do this fostering thing as an anniversary present. There were so many dogs running around and so much barking! I remember a very big guy in a cage who had been shot in the leg and was recovering in the Pig’s care 😞 Joyce told us to take some time to get to know the dogs and then pick out one to foster. My youngest son AJ was about 5 years old at the time, and he focused on this funny looking little dog with way-too-short legs. I tried to convince him to pick a different one, but AJ was stuck on this guy. Then my other three kids ganged up on me, and suddenly Earl was in our car on his way to being my first foster.
2) About how many have you fostered? I wish I had kept count, but definitely over 100. I mostly foster puppies, so we will have two or four or more at a time. We’ve had two mamas give birth here. The most fosters I’ve had at one time was our foster Ophelia and her 11 puppies ❤️ We also have a serious love of black dogs over here.
3) How has fostering impacted your life? When I pick up a new foster, it’s like Christmas morning. My husband wasn’t really on board at first and pretended to be grouchy, but he is the first to post about them on Facebook or take them around town to show them off. My kids love it when I bring home a foster, particularly the puppies. Their friends will see the photos on Snapchat and drive over immediately to see our latest fosters. I have had friends and neighbors adopt our fosters, so pretty much every day I can see someone who has traveled through our home. And my husband, the original grouch who used to threaten to drop the dogs back off to the Pig while I was sleeping, has now become the Dog Man lol.
4) Tell me about one or more very special fosters you’ve had. What was special about them?
Back to Earl.
We played for a couple of hours with Earl at our house on his first day, and then my husband and I went to dinner for our anniversary while our kids went to friends’ houses. We came back after dark to Earl barking like we were robbing his house. I slipped off my heels to walk quietly across my wood floor — and promptly stepped in Earl’s 💩. That was the beginning of almost three months of our time with Earl. We would bring him to the adoption event every Saturday, and I’d get a call from Joyce at the end saying this wasn’t his day and to come pick him up. I was falling in love with this funny guy who barked at anything like he was a giant guard dog, who would be a pillow to my daughter as she did her homework, and who genuinely smiled when he was happy. I figured no one was going to appreciate his quirkiness and assumed one day Joyce would just tell me to keep him. I stopped calling to see if he had been adopted and would just come at the end of the day to get him. Then one Saturday I walked in and Joyce informed me this couple had decided to adopt Earl. My first thought was to grab Earl and run, but the more I heard about this wonderful couple, the more I knew Earl had hit the jackpot. I’ll admit I had to wear my sunglasses while I said goodbye, but I knew this match was meant to be.
For anyone thinking about fostering, this is what you need to know. You give a little piece of your heart to each dog, but when they get matched to their forever home, it’s an amazing feeling to know you had a part in bringing joy to another family.
5) Have you “foster failed”? Yes, twice. Once my daughters couldn’t part with Sparkles and last year my husband – remember the guy who didn’t like dogs? – insisted on keeping Zoey.
6) Why do you think more people should foster? There is nothing better than hearing a dog with a tough backstory give that contented sigh while plopping down at your feet. It’s a small way to make a difference in this world.
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