Everybody meet Louise! She's recently fostered Evie and Oscar. She came onboard just in time for Christmas and has been helping us out a fair bit by fostering, offering vet advice and help with the Sydney Pet Expo.
Louise describes her experience fostering in an email to me this week, thanks Louse!
I suppose it's about time I wrote something about myself! My name is Louise (or Lou as most people call me) and I am one of the newest foster carers. I am a vet (it goes without saying that I love all animals!) and I live on acreage near Richmond in NSW, with plenty or room for dogs! Labs have been my favourite dog breed for over 13 years, ever since we got our beautiful lab Taiha. We had 3 labs for 10 years, but sadly in July last year, we lost our beautiful Max, just 6 weeks after we had to put our old crossbreed dog to sleep. So it was a quiet household for about 6 months with just 2 labradors that soon became even more spoilt, as I was so upset about losing the other 2 dogs. Chanel and Taiha now think they can make themselves comfy on my bed whenever they feel like it!
I have always been a huge animal lover and have for many years been involved with foster caring cats and kittens from the Animal Welfare League, as I have always wanted to make a difference for animals in need. I had never foster cared any dogs until joining lab rescue though, probably because we always thought that 4 dogs was enough. But when we were down to only 2 dogs, I decided that I wanted to use that extra room to help dogs that needed some love. So I contacted Lab Rescue and I'm so glad I did! Our first foster dog I fell in love with very quickly. Oscar- the blind chocolate lab- is such a darling that we have decided to keep him because I couldn't bare to send him to a new place to adjust again to new surroundings. Unfortunately I was told by the eye specialist last week that Oscar's cataracts are almost certainly not removable. I was a bit sad that my wish to have his eyesight restored could never happen. But being blind doesn't stop Oscar for one second and he loves going for runs with me and going swimming.
My 2 old labradors are so easy going and loving that being a foster carer has been no problem so far. Except for dogs that don't like cats- they are the only problem (we have 10!). After only a few months with lab rescue I have already experienced so much happiness and joy seeing the foster dogs and how happy they can become when they are shown the love that they deserve. I parted with Evie today, the first labrador I have had to let go to a new home. It was really hard saying good bye to such a beautiful girl, but she provided us with so much joy and entertainment while she was with us it is satisfying knowing that she is now going to a loving new home. When I dropped her at the airport I shed a few tears and the lady who worked at the transport company told me that I am doing such a good job finding dogs new homes. And it's so true. My younger sister was so upset to see Evie leave that she said she doesn't want any more foster dogs because it's too hard to part with them. I agree that it's hard to say good bye, but in the end we have to put our own emotions aside and keep doing what we are doing because the dogs need us to. It's far too easy to turn a blind eye to sad things like dogs that are dumped and are without homes, but it takes a strong person to see what needs to be done and do it, even if it means you become attached to the lovable creatures and shed a tear or 2 along the way. I know that I will always want to keep the dogs that I foster care because most labradors are just so lovable, but I'm going to try to continue being strong like I was today even if it's upsetting, because I will continue to remember that all the foster carers are doing such a wonderful thing and we should be proud!
It has always been my dream to one day have my own animal shelter, and perhaps now that I'm a vet I will have a combined animal shelter and vet clinic. But until I have the funds and the space to do that I will be satisfied by helping any animals I can that I come across at work, and by helping Labrador Rescue, which is such a worthy cause. Hats off to Katherine and to everyone else who is involved in some way with Labrador Rescue. The world needs more loving people like us! :P
I think Louise has captured foster carer's feelings extremely well. We are all sad saying goodbye, but there's ALWAYS another one needing care. And we use the happy endings stories and photos as comfort, knowing that these dogs have just been given an amazing second chance of life.
Keep it up Louise, I'm sending another dog your way soon!
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Gill