Foster Program
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Click on logo to be redirected to Phoebe and Friends
| Present Foster Doggies |
| Boy puppy (yawning) |
| Girl puppy. |
| Past Foster Doggies (adopted) |
| Puppies' mom with brothers and sisters at Animal Service. |
| Princess, Jack, and Dagmar playing |
JACK (formerly known as DAKOTA)
PRINCESS
Everything started when we invited to the R.D.Os. of M.B. Day event Pet Rescue (www.petrescuemiami.com), and they
put us in contact with a wonderful young lady: Xiomara Mardcovich and her organization, Miami Pets Alive
(www.miamipetsalive.org). She has found time on her busy schedule devoting herself to save dogs (among other critters).
About a month before the event’s big day, she forwarded an e-mail from Animal Service to me. The e-mail, as many that
would follow, showed a bunch of doggies’ pictures, with a brief description including words like: fearful, tail chaser, young
puppy, Hookworms, etc. These words described the reasons why these dogs couldn’t be adopted or were surrendered by
their owners. And also the fatal words: In and Out. These words meant the date the dog was received, and the date the
dog needed to be rescued or would be PTS (put to sleep). These e-mails were talking about helping with fostering these
dogs until a permanent home would be found.
Fast I learned different terminology, as example: Hookworms, which describes a parasite that can be easily eliminated with
the appropriated medication, and others. I also learned that because of this fearful, or Hookworm descriptions these dogs
were considered not adoptable, and the only way to save them was through a rescue organization, since they weren’t show
to the public.
When I got this first e-mail, I couldn’t sleep knowing that if I didn’t do something, lives would be lost. I spoke to Roby about
fostering. We decided that we were ready to do it. The hard work came when we had to choose the ones we were going to
save. The best option was the ones who didn’t have a disease and were small, so we could fit them in our tiny condo. At
the next day I was in my way to an unknown world: Animal Service.
This was how the first two foster dogs came to our lives: Princess and Dakota. But not the end of the story. Once we had
the dogs, Xiomara posted their pictures on her web-sites. Jen Ford (another Pet Rescue volunteer) posted their pictures
on the Miami Herald. Pretty soon we had a waiting list for the adoptions.
Not all went perfect since they got Kennel Cough. After an emergency visit to the vet, every body, including Dagmar, was
taking antibiotic, and staying away from other doggies. When they were well, went with their loving adopting families.
Another great story are the puppies we are currently fostering. After I promised Roby that we would take a break from
fostering, I was at Animal Service on a transporting mission. While I was waiting for the dogs I was supposed to drive to
their foster homes, 16 puppies were surrendered without the mom. They didn’t have teeth therefore they couldn’t eat by
themselves, which meant they would be PTS. I had to do something. I rescued two. We have been bottle feeding them for
almost three weeks, and are doing great.
Aileen Sanchez, from Animal Service received the puppies’ mom a little bit later, and started what I called “the rescue
chain”. She sent an e-mail to the rescue asking to save the mom and puppies. One rescue in Coco Beach said they would
take the whole family, but needed to be transported there. A different rescue arranged the transportation. This was the
way in that this miraculous chain worked to save this family.
This people really work for the dogs, the have no means, only the will to save them. They are amazing unknown heroes.
This is the reason why I want to ask you to think in the possibility of fostering, these animals deserve a second chance, it is
not their fault that their owners surrender them, or are irresponsible enough to not spay or neuter them, and let them have
puppies they won’t take care of.
It is a great experience. It is a lot of work, responsibility, and sometimes expenses. But at the end, it gives you back 300
percent what you gave at the beginning. Just think about it, and if you have any questions, or concerns, or you think you
are ready, just e-mail: foster@responsibledogownersmb.org.
Lucia C. Greer.
put us in contact with a wonderful young lady: Xiomara Mardcovich and her organization, Miami Pets Alive
(www.miamipetsalive.org). She has found time on her busy schedule devoting herself to save dogs (among other critters).
About a month before the event’s big day, she forwarded an e-mail from Animal Service to me. The e-mail, as many that
would follow, showed a bunch of doggies’ pictures, with a brief description including words like: fearful, tail chaser, young
puppy, Hookworms, etc. These words described the reasons why these dogs couldn’t be adopted or were surrendered by
their owners. And also the fatal words: In and Out. These words meant the date the dog was received, and the date the
dog needed to be rescued or would be PTS (put to sleep). These e-mails were talking about helping with fostering these
dogs until a permanent home would be found.
Fast I learned different terminology, as example: Hookworms, which describes a parasite that can be easily eliminated with
the appropriated medication, and others. I also learned that because of this fearful, or Hookworm descriptions these dogs
were considered not adoptable, and the only way to save them was through a rescue organization, since they weren’t show
to the public.
When I got this first e-mail, I couldn’t sleep knowing that if I didn’t do something, lives would be lost. I spoke to Roby about
fostering. We decided that we were ready to do it. The hard work came when we had to choose the ones we were going to
save. The best option was the ones who didn’t have a disease and were small, so we could fit them in our tiny condo. At
the next day I was in my way to an unknown world: Animal Service.
This was how the first two foster dogs came to our lives: Princess and Dakota. But not the end of the story. Once we had
the dogs, Xiomara posted their pictures on her web-sites. Jen Ford (another Pet Rescue volunteer) posted their pictures
on the Miami Herald. Pretty soon we had a waiting list for the adoptions.
Not all went perfect since they got Kennel Cough. After an emergency visit to the vet, every body, including Dagmar, was
taking antibiotic, and staying away from other doggies. When they were well, went with their loving adopting families.
Another great story are the puppies we are currently fostering. After I promised Roby that we would take a break from
fostering, I was at Animal Service on a transporting mission. While I was waiting for the dogs I was supposed to drive to
their foster homes, 16 puppies were surrendered without the mom. They didn’t have teeth therefore they couldn’t eat by
themselves, which meant they would be PTS. I had to do something. I rescued two. We have been bottle feeding them for
almost three weeks, and are doing great.
Aileen Sanchez, from Animal Service received the puppies’ mom a little bit later, and started what I called “the rescue
chain”. She sent an e-mail to the rescue asking to save the mom and puppies. One rescue in Coco Beach said they would
take the whole family, but needed to be transported there. A different rescue arranged the transportation. This was the
way in that this miraculous chain worked to save this family.
This people really work for the dogs, the have no means, only the will to save them. They are amazing unknown heroes.
This is the reason why I want to ask you to think in the possibility of fostering, these animals deserve a second chance, it is
not their fault that their owners surrender them, or are irresponsible enough to not spay or neuter them, and let them have
puppies they won’t take care of.
It is a great experience. It is a lot of work, responsibility, and sometimes expenses. But at the end, it gives you back 300
percent what you gave at the beginning. Just think about it, and if you have any questions, or concerns, or you think you
are ready, just e-mail: foster@responsibledogownersmb.org.
Lucia C. Greer.
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