21 May Foster Friday: Meet Yingzi & Jia
As a part of our 10,000 lives saved celebration we will be featuring the stories of some of our fosters, both Northern and Southern, old and new. As a rescue that does not have a shelter facility, fosters are a vital part of our rescue.
Meet Yingzi & Jia, northern fosters with LHK9!
What is your position in the rescue?
We are Northern fosters
What year did you join?
2017
Why did you decide to join Last Hope?
We have always loved animals but weren’t sure if a dog would fit into our lives. After watching our friend, Kate, foster for LHK9 since 2015, we felt it would be a wonderful thing to do. So, after our 8 year old guinea pig passed away we submitted a foster application.
How many fosters have you had?
About 20. We have had a few long term fosters (> 3 months), and due to our work schedules and lifestyle, we take breaks between fosters.
What do you think has been the biggest change in the rescue since you started?
The rescue as a whole is definitely getting more professional as we grow!
What is your favorite adoption story?
Rocky was our biggest foster (about 70lbs) and he was returned due to multiple behavior-related incidents that occurred with his first adopter. When he was first returned, he lived with another foster, Brian, for a few weeks but we ended up taking him after a change in Brian’s schedule made it tough for him to foster. After about a week, we heard Rocky had a new adopter and it was Brian! Brian said he just realized he couldn’t live without Rocky so he quickly sorted out his work situation and submitted an adoption application. We were very happy to hear the news. The day before he was due to be adopted and go back to Brian’s house, we took Rocky for a walk and, unfortunately, Rocky nipped a dog who was walking by us. We felt terrible and as though we failed Rocky but Brian insisted that he still wanted to adopt him. The moment Rocky and Brian reunited outside of our home, we could tell they were made for each other. While we were happy that Rocky found his home, Brian’s words moved us so much. Quoted from him: “I look forward to building this bond and working with Rocky through his behavioral issues. Fostering really changed my life and my heart. I used to be cold and emotionless and this has opened me up so much. Truly I feel blessed”. A few months later, we saw a video of Rocky calmly lying on the floor tolerating another dog’s rough play. We now believe in miracles and true love.
What is your favorite foster story?
We started fostering Gannon after he was returned due to training difficulties, he was our first high energy dog and our physically strongest foster. He did give us some headaches at the beginning and we almost asked to move him to another foster home but we decided to give him some time and quickly found out he is very smart and food motivated. With the help from the rescue’s training team and other great fosters, Gannon’s behavior improved very quickly and he showed lots of potential! Considering his energy level and eagerness to play with other dogs, we were looking for an adopter who lived in the suburbs and with another playful dog, but the first three potential adopters weren’t the best matches. The adoption team realized that instead of an outlet for his energy, what Gannon really needed the most was a strong leader who could focus the majority of his training on structure and boundaries. After 3 months with us, he was finally adopted by a couple who did not have a yard or resident dog but had the experience and now Gannon is thriving. We look back at that experience knowing that although it was so hard, we learned so much from him. We learned how important training is for a dog and once you really learn what that dog needs, you can find their perfect match.
What is your favorite part of volunteering with Last Hope?
Besides learning a lot about dogs, we are also amazed by how well organized this 100% volunteer-run rescue is.
What is the most important thing you have learned since you started volunteering?
Training a dog is all about training the human, providing the environment and structure that will help a dog thrive.
What advice would you give to a new volunteer?
Don’t be shy to ask questions! Everyone in the rescue is willing to help. If you love dogs, this is going to be the most rewarding experience you will ever get. Every time a dog is adopted, all the work and all the training you put in is well worth it. Plus, you will get to know more people and get more training experience with each dog.
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