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| Foster Information and Application |
| Fostering a Sunshine Golden The steps to fostering a SGRR dog include: |
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Foster Policy!
Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue, LLC is an all-volunteer organization. Everyone involved donates their time and
labor to seeking homes for these wonderful dogs. We do not have a paid staff, an office or kennel. Every effort is
made to match a Golden in need with the right home. Our fosters enable us to do this better by providing us with
invaluable information on the habits, personalities and needs of each dog fostered.
Fostering is a very rewarding experience and helps a rescue effort greatly. Our foster program is very simple. We
follow basically the same process as adoption but instead of signing an adoption contract; a foster contract is
signed.
Fosters cannot adopt the dogs they foster. To become a SGRR foster you first must apply. Please complete
the application only if you are SERIOUS and READY for the commitment of fostering a dog. Once we receive
your application we will call your vet to ensure all your pets are current on vaccinations and preventatives; call
you for a phone interview; and finally, set up a home visit so that we can get a good idea of the type of dogs
who would be best for you to foster. This also helps you get to know us better and we can answer any questions
that you may have. If you do not hear from us, it does not mean that you are not approved, sometimes we cannot
match foster dogs to your home and lifestyle; our rescue dogs need special attention and training.
We expect that if you offer your home for fostering, it is with the understanding that you are working toward
helping a deserving Golden find a final home, and not with the goal to "pick and choose" a Golden you may wish to
adopt.
If you would like to help us with this huge undertaking by providing a temporary home to a Golden in need, please
fill out our Foster Application by clicking the "Continue" link below.
Thank you for your interest. Fostering a rescue dog is a rewarding experience that your family will carry with them
for the rest of their lives.
Sunshine Golden Retriever Rescue, LLC is an all-volunteer organization. Everyone involved donates their time and
labor to seeking homes for these wonderful dogs. We do not have a paid staff, an office or kennel. Every effort is
made to match a Golden in need with the right home. Our fosters enable us to do this better by providing us with
invaluable information on the habits, personalities and needs of each dog fostered.
Fostering is a very rewarding experience and helps a rescue effort greatly. Our foster program is very simple. We
follow basically the same process as adoption but instead of signing an adoption contract; a foster contract is
signed.
Fosters cannot adopt the dogs they foster. To become a SGRR foster you first must apply. Please complete
the application only if you are SERIOUS and READY for the commitment of fostering a dog. Once we receive
your application we will call your vet to ensure all your pets are current on vaccinations and preventatives; call
you for a phone interview; and finally, set up a home visit so that we can get a good idea of the type of dogs
who would be best for you to foster. This also helps you get to know us better and we can answer any questions
that you may have. If you do not hear from us, it does not mean that you are not approved, sometimes we cannot
match foster dogs to your home and lifestyle; our rescue dogs need special attention and training.
We expect that if you offer your home for fostering, it is with the understanding that you are working toward
helping a deserving Golden find a final home, and not with the goal to "pick and choose" a Golden you may wish to
adopt.
If you would like to help us with this huge undertaking by providing a temporary home to a Golden in need, please
fill out our Foster Application by clicking the "Continue" link below.
Thank you for your interest. Fostering a rescue dog is a rewarding experience that your family will carry with them
for the rest of their lives.
|
|
|
Making the world a brighter
place, one great dog at a time!
place, one great dog at a time!
"Little Pieces" by Grace Saalsaa of MidAmerica Border
Collie Rescue
(Written for those who foster)
Melissa sat on the floor, unable to sit straight and tall like her mother had always
admonished her to do when she was a child. Today, it would be impossible.
And tomorrow... it probably wouldn't be possible then either. Her mind was too
busy thinking about the dog that lay across her lap. When he came to be with
her, he had no name. She remembered that day very well. The first sight of him
was enough to break her heart into little pieces.
The woman, who had taken this dog from the rough streets where he had lived,
had tried to save him because she was unable to watch this young dog find his
own food in a dumpster outside the crack house where he lived. Nobody cared
that he was gone. His fur was very thick; so thick that she had to wiggle her
fingers down to feel his bony body. And as she pulled her fingers away again,
they were coated in old dirt. Black and white, he was supposed to be. But on
that day he was beige and dust.
He sat in the back of her car panting continuously, ears laid outward for he had
lost his courage and couldn't keep them proud and tall. He sat motionless,
waiting and limp.
But the thing that was the most disturbing was the look in his eyes. They were
quiet eyes, sunken into his head - and they watched her. They were alive with
thought. He was waiting for her to do something "to" him. Little did he know at
the time that, instead, she would "give" something to him. She gave him one of
the little broken pieces of her heart.
She reached out to stroke his head and he instinctively squinched his eyes shut
and dropped his head, waiting for the heavy hand. With that little bit of
movement she gave him another one of the broken pieces of her heart.
She took him home and gave him a bath. She toweled him dry and brushed
some order back into his coat. For that, he was grateful and even though his
own heart was loaded with worms, he accepted yet another piece of her heart,
for it would help to heal his own.
"Would you like some water, big boy?" She whispered to him as she set down a
large bowl of cold well water. He drank it up happily. He had been dehydrated
for a long time and she knew it would take him most of the week to re-hydrate.
He wanted more water - but it was gone. Ah... that's how it is, he thought to
himself. But he was grateful for what he had been able to get. "Would you like
some more?" and she gave him another bowl along with another little piece of
her heart. "I know that you are hungry. You don't have to find your own food
anymore. Here's a big bowl of good food for you. I've added some warm water
and a little piece of my heart."
Over the four months that he stayed with her, his health improved. The heart full
of worms was replaced piece by piece with little bits of her loving heart. And
each little piece worked a very special kind of magic. When the warmth of love
and gentle caresses are added, the little broken pieces knit together again and
heal the container it resides in. That container becomes whole again. She
watched each little broken piece fill a gap in the gentle dog until his quiet eyes
radiated the light from the little pieces. You see, kind words gently spoken turn
the little pieces into illumination for the spirit that resides within.
He rested beside her, happy to be with her always. Never had he known such
kindness, such gentle caresses; such love. His health had returned, his spirit was
playful as a young dog's should be and he had learned about love. Now his
heart was full. The healing was complete. It was time to go. There was another
person who had another heart that was meant to be shared with him. So she sat
shapeless on the floor because all the broken pieces of her heart were with the
dog. It is difficult to sit tall when your heart is not with you. She wrapped her
arms around the dog that sat with tall, proud ears for her. Lean on me, he said.
And she gave him one last thing that would keep him strong; that would keep
the pieces of her heart together long after he had gone on to live his new life.
She gave him her tears and bound them to the pieces with a simple statement
made from the ribbons of her heart. "I love you, Joe." And Joe lived happily
ever after.
Melissa sat on the floor, straight and tall like her mother had always admonished
her to do when she was a child. Today, it would be possible. And tomorrow...
it probably would be possible too. Because her mind was busy thinking about
this, the next dog that lay across her lap. Where did she get the heart to help
yet another dog, you ask? Ahhh... it came with the dog. They always bring a
little bit of heart with them. And when the rescuer breathes in that little bit of
heart, it quickly grows and fills the void left by the last dog.
Reprinted with permission.
Collie Rescue
(Written for those who foster)
Melissa sat on the floor, unable to sit straight and tall like her mother had always
admonished her to do when she was a child. Today, it would be impossible.
And tomorrow... it probably wouldn't be possible then either. Her mind was too
busy thinking about the dog that lay across her lap. When he came to be with
her, he had no name. She remembered that day very well. The first sight of him
was enough to break her heart into little pieces.
The woman, who had taken this dog from the rough streets where he had lived,
had tried to save him because she was unable to watch this young dog find his
own food in a dumpster outside the crack house where he lived. Nobody cared
that he was gone. His fur was very thick; so thick that she had to wiggle her
fingers down to feel his bony body. And as she pulled her fingers away again,
they were coated in old dirt. Black and white, he was supposed to be. But on
that day he was beige and dust.
He sat in the back of her car panting continuously, ears laid outward for he had
lost his courage and couldn't keep them proud and tall. He sat motionless,
waiting and limp.
But the thing that was the most disturbing was the look in his eyes. They were
quiet eyes, sunken into his head - and they watched her. They were alive with
thought. He was waiting for her to do something "to" him. Little did he know at
the time that, instead, she would "give" something to him. She gave him one of
the little broken pieces of her heart.
She reached out to stroke his head and he instinctively squinched his eyes shut
and dropped his head, waiting for the heavy hand. With that little bit of
movement she gave him another one of the broken pieces of her heart.
She took him home and gave him a bath. She toweled him dry and brushed
some order back into his coat. For that, he was grateful and even though his
own heart was loaded with worms, he accepted yet another piece of her heart,
for it would help to heal his own.
"Would you like some water, big boy?" She whispered to him as she set down a
large bowl of cold well water. He drank it up happily. He had been dehydrated
for a long time and she knew it would take him most of the week to re-hydrate.
He wanted more water - but it was gone. Ah... that's how it is, he thought to
himself. But he was grateful for what he had been able to get. "Would you like
some more?" and she gave him another bowl along with another little piece of
her heart. "I know that you are hungry. You don't have to find your own food
anymore. Here's a big bowl of good food for you. I've added some warm water
and a little piece of my heart."
Over the four months that he stayed with her, his health improved. The heart full
of worms was replaced piece by piece with little bits of her loving heart. And
each little piece worked a very special kind of magic. When the warmth of love
and gentle caresses are added, the little broken pieces knit together again and
heal the container it resides in. That container becomes whole again. She
watched each little broken piece fill a gap in the gentle dog until his quiet eyes
radiated the light from the little pieces. You see, kind words gently spoken turn
the little pieces into illumination for the spirit that resides within.
He rested beside her, happy to be with her always. Never had he known such
kindness, such gentle caresses; such love. His health had returned, his spirit was
playful as a young dog's should be and he had learned about love. Now his
heart was full. The healing was complete. It was time to go. There was another
person who had another heart that was meant to be shared with him. So she sat
shapeless on the floor because all the broken pieces of her heart were with the
dog. It is difficult to sit tall when your heart is not with you. She wrapped her
arms around the dog that sat with tall, proud ears for her. Lean on me, he said.
And she gave him one last thing that would keep him strong; that would keep
the pieces of her heart together long after he had gone on to live his new life.
She gave him her tears and bound them to the pieces with a simple statement
made from the ribbons of her heart. "I love you, Joe." And Joe lived happily
ever after.
Melissa sat on the floor, straight and tall like her mother had always admonished
her to do when she was a child. Today, it would be possible. And tomorrow...
it probably would be possible too. Because her mind was busy thinking about
this, the next dog that lay across her lap. Where did she get the heart to help
yet another dog, you ask? Ahhh... it came with the dog. They always bring a
little bit of heart with them. And when the rescuer breathes in that little bit of
heart, it quickly grows and fills the void left by the last dog.
Reprinted with permission.
To My Foster Mom
There I sat, alone and afraid,
You got a call and came right to my aid.
You bundled me up with blankets and love.
And, when i needed it most, you gave me a hug.
I learned that the world was not all that scary
and cold.
That sometimes there is someone to have and to
hold.
You taught me what love is, you helped me to
mend.
You loved me and healed me and became my
first friend.
And just when I thought you'd done all you do,
There came along not one new lesson, but two.
First you said, "Sweetheart, you're ready to go.
I've done all I can, and you've learned all I
know."
Then you bundled me up with a blanket and
kiss.
Along came a new family, they even have kids!
They took me to their home, forever to stay.
At first I thought you sent me away.
Then that second lesson became perfectly clear.
No matter how far, you will always be near.
And so, Foster Mom, you know I've moved on.
I have a new home, with toys and a lawn.
But I'll never forget what I learned that first day.
You never really give your fosters away.
You gave me these thoughts to remember you
by.
We may never meet again, and now I know
why.
You'll remember I lived with you for a time.
I may not be yours, but you'll always be mine.
author unknown
There I sat, alone and afraid,
You got a call and came right to my aid.
You bundled me up with blankets and love.
And, when i needed it most, you gave me a hug.
I learned that the world was not all that scary
and cold.
That sometimes there is someone to have and to
hold.
You taught me what love is, you helped me to
mend.
You loved me and healed me and became my
first friend.
And just when I thought you'd done all you do,
There came along not one new lesson, but two.
First you said, "Sweetheart, you're ready to go.
I've done all I can, and you've learned all I
know."
Then you bundled me up with a blanket and
kiss.
Along came a new family, they even have kids!
They took me to their home, forever to stay.
At first I thought you sent me away.
Then that second lesson became perfectly clear.
No matter how far, you will always be near.
And so, Foster Mom, you know I've moved on.
I have a new home, with toys and a lawn.
But I'll never forget what I learned that first day.
You never really give your fosters away.
You gave me these thoughts to remember you
by.
We may never meet again, and now I know
why.
You'll remember I lived with you for a time.
I may not be yours, but you'll always be mine.
author unknown