Since my husband and I started fostering for MAPR last fall, a lot of my friends have asked me how my life has changed. The answer is: not much on a daily basis, but once in a while, it feels tremendously different. When I get up in the morning, I’m still greeted (as I have been for the past 8 years from my forever dog, Rocky, and our recent addition, Max) by a chorus of puggy snorts and Chewbacca noises—but there are just more of them. One of my favorite activities, barbequing on warm evenings, has not changed much either—except instead of knowing that one little pug is hoping intently for a dropped hot dog (too bad he doesn’t realize they are veggie dogs…he’ll still eat them though), there are a few pairs of deep brown eyes watching me in keen anticipation. So in many ways, fostering is just doing what I’d do with my own dogs naturally, albeit on a larger scale. Once everybody has adjusted the “pack” is still the same. (Just don’t ask my cat—she might tell you differently!)

But, at the same time, fostering changes my life quite a bit when it comes time for a dog to be adopted. There is a weird mix of sadness and happiness, like watching a good friend leave town for an exciting new job. Selfishly, I don’t want them to leave, but I know it’s a move in their own best interest. There is a flourish of activity for a few days while coordinating a meeting time with the dog’s new family, getting all her medical records in order, and making sure her favorite toys are ready to make the trip with her. The house is a happier place to be when we have a foster dog, so it feels emptier by comparison once they are gone. But, knowing that we are helping that dog and another family to delight in their company makes that sadness go away. In the end, I’m glad to have had the opportunity to get to know the dog, and take away the memories of the time together.- Jessica D’Amico, MAPR Foster, MD