Adopt or Foster a Rescue Dog in New Hampshire, Friends of Homeless Animals, INC.

I am presently a Foster Mom for Friends of Homeless Animals, INC. and live in Weare, NH.  Our primary breed is Boston Terriers but we do have quite a few breeds for adoption in all sizes!  Our motto is, Small Dogs with Big Hearts but now we also have the Big Dogs with Big Hearts too!

I've grown up with dogs as a part of life.  My aunts had a kennel when I was young and raised whippets.  They showed and trained just about every breed dog as well.  They had German Shepards, Mastiffs, Collies, etc.  Our family adopted a stray from the 'dog pound' as it was known when I was only 15mo old.  Dee Dee was a Shznauser mix breed and what a great dog she was...she treated me just like one of her puppies...

My mother told the story of me getting too close to the street and Dee Dee grabbing my diaper and pulling me back from the traffic.  Dee Dee was always there to lick my face when I was sad.  Growing up like this, it is no wonder I am a dog lover!

Our rescue group and adoptions are very strong in almost all of the NE states, except for NH.  I really do not see that many adoptions going through for my home state and don't know if it is because we are not advertised enough or people just don't know we are here...

I know when I first came to NH from FL, I had 3 dogs.  They were all over the age of 14 at the time.  Two of them have passed away due to old age.  I still have one fiesty little rat terrier named Sissy.  I really did not know there were as many foster dogs so close that needed my help.

I would really like to get the word out about Fosters needed especially in New Hampshire.  Quite a few of the people I talk to today, do not realize this rescue group is right in their neighborhood.  Another group have not adopted thinking the dogs were too far away for them. 

Both of these concerns need to be addressed...Our rescue group and many others are in your neighborhood, you just have to make that initial call.  Almost all dogs need to be transported.  We do a lot of this with volunteers, asking the potential adopters  to meet us if they can.  Dogs that come from a long distance are transported here by truck.  Believe me, where there is  will, there is a way!

If you are reading this blog and are looking for a great dog to adopt, please visit:

Friends of Homeless Animals-Rescuing Small Dogs With Big Hearts

Then take a look at some of the great looking dogs and puppies we have up for adoption on Petfinders.

We have a wide network of volunteers who foster and help transport these dogs to your location.  Please do not think a dog is too far away for you to adopt.

We are also in dire need of Foster Homes for our dogs.  With todays economy, there are more and more owner surrenders of family pets.  We are finding there just is not enough foster homes to handle the amount of dogs.  Many dogs are being put to sleep due to no place to go.  If you find it in your heart, please volunteer to foster. 

The first thing I hear is...I could never foster!  This comes up frequently.  Actually, you can.  It is very easy to give up your foster dog to a good home knowing they will be looked after and loved and you will be able to help another dog.

If you are interested in fostering but have a few questions, please email me: chloeev@msn.com
I will be glad to share my experience with you!

Related articles by Zemanta

• PAWS Dog of the Week (phillyist.com)
• Animals First Foundation visits Pet Elements (westseattleherald.com)
• Shelter Sunday: Deaf Dane Rescue / Oakridge, Oregon (doggies.com)
• Pet rescuers struggling to find Calgary homes (calgaryherald.com)
• New York Pet Rescue (stacyknows.blogspot.com)

Foster Homes Needed for Friends of Homeless Animals

I might sound like a broken record but in this work, you hear and see some very sad tales of animals ending up in shelters to be put to sleep for no other reason than the owners simply cannot care for them anymore.  As a result, we have so many dogs and cats needing homes with fosters and cannot accommadate all the requests we receive as a result.  This is not just a thought, it is reality...animals are being put to sleep by the thousands every day.

One of the rescues we receive quite a few of our dogs from has about 40 dogs now in her house.  She is to the point of closing her doors until she can find foster homes or adopters for all the dogs.  Every day that goes by, more and more dogs are abandoned and surrendered. 

If you have ever thought you would like to make a difference and help these wonderful animals from being destroyed..Please sign up to be a volunteer at a shelter, open your home to help foster animals, whatever you can do to help.  Even the smallest task needs someone to do it! 

Our recent message from Roie Griego, the founder of FOHA.  She sent this in an email to our group, the email subject was:  PLEA FOR HELP!

Greetings to all of our wonderful volunteers, adopters, and supporters,


FOHA is in great need of foster homes at this time and we are calling on our friends for assistance.

There are many dogs needing to come into rescue.

Just this week we have rescued more than we can keep track of and more coming - the economy has hurt everyone & the pets are getting hurt the most - in my over 25 years of doing rescue - this is the worst I have ever seen things in rescue!!!!

There are others waiting to come in as well, and always more coming in from shelters all across the country.

Because of your wonderful efforts, whether it be by adopting a dog, fostering, or volunteering your time and generous contributions, we have been able to provide veterinary care and give to our rescued dogs sanctuary in your homes until they are ready for their forever placements.

At this time we really need you to open your hearts and homes temporarily for one of our incoming dogs.

If you can not foster, please consider helping with other administrative and rescue tasks.

We can only continue to help them with your support!

If you are interested in fostering o rhelping in any other way, please let me know ASAP -

Thanks so much, Roie 401-234-4499, roiegriego@gmail.com

Please visit our web site and learn more about our rescue.  Friends of Homeless Animals, Rescuing Small Dogs with Big Hearts!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Foster homes sought for dogs in need (cbc.ca)
• New York Pet Rescue (stacyknows.blogspot.com)

Top 3 Rescue Dog Myths

Even though I've just started fostering, though my research I think I have heard it all now..and the more I hear, the more I don't want to be associated with the human race!  There are so many many myths circulating about rescue dogs that just are not true.  These myths actually keep great family dogs from securing a loving, secure forever home life.

Myth #1 - It is dangerous to adopt a rescue dog. Most are dangerous, that's why people dumped them.

In today's society, this myth should never be uttered again.  More and more today, most shelter dogs are owner surrenders due to 'cannot afford anymore', 'cannot pay vet bill', etc.  These dogs range in age from 1yr to 15yrs.

Now, imagine your family pet.  You've had him for 15yrs and really love this dog but suddenly find yourself without a job and children to feed.  This is a situation I would hope you have family that could help you out, or neighbors, your church, etc.  Some people do not have those options.  They are forced to give their beloved pet up in order to make sure their children can eat. These people have no choice.

Then, there are the other people who just grow tired of the dog...its old, doesn't play anymore, we want a puppy. The new fad is another breed, etc.  These people take their dogs to the shelter to be euthanized because they just don't care.

Are these dogs dangerous? Absolutely not.  They are the victims of our times, bad choices and judgement by people who have no right owning animals.

There are a few who are strays and have not been domesticated.  These animals have no future in rescue. The rescue actually meets the dogs, sizes them up, asks questions about the dogs to learn more and if they displayed agression in the shelter, they probably will not be rescued.

Myth #2 - Most rescue dogs have hidden illnesses and you take them home and later face huge vet bills.

Most rescue dogs before even going into foster care are taken to the vet and have a very rigorous exam. They have all shots, are neutered or spay, if injured, mange, etc. are cured and if need special diets the vet will prescribe for them.  The rescue dogs are probably the best and most well cared for dogs I know!  They are kept on their heartguard, flea and tick medicine, dental appt.'s, etc.   They also are given the best dog food to keep them healthy. We would not take all this care for the dog and then feed them food scraps.

Myth #3 - Rescue groups do not tell you about all the negatives of the dog, they just want you to take the dog without disclosing all the 'bad' along with the adoption.

This is the one that probably really bothers me the most!  We foster these animals in our homes.  If you love animals, you know how bonded you can get to an animal.  My animals become members of my family.  I would never 'push' my animals off on anyone. 

First of all, all adopters go through a very rigorous adoption process.  This is to make sure they are seriously interested in the animal.  We also want to make sure and tell the potential adopter everything we can to make sure the dog is a 'perfect fit' for their home.  It does us no good to place a dog with an adopter only to have them call us back and say the 'dog just isn't what I thought they would be'.  Now, the dog has been uprooted from his foster home, went to another home where he might have picked up bad habits or worse than that...been abused, and try to work him back into the system.

No, the best way is to make sure everyone knows exactly what temperment, physical limitations (if any), training the dog has BEFORE the adoption. We also make sure the household the dog goes into is a match for the dog.  We would not take a high energy dog and put it into a home with an elderly woman in a condo.

I fully believe these myths are circulated by people who do not fully understand the Rescue dog adoption process.  It may be kept alive by puppy mill owners who hope the majority of people will still want to buy that cute little doggie in the window at the pet store.

Being a foster, I do hear people who give me compliments for helping these animals.  I really don't understand because I don't see myself doing anything out of the ordinary. I basically am at the right time and place.  But without my adopters,  I would not be able to help as many dogs as I have in my short time as a foster mom!  I truly love and cherish my adopters as they are very unique people who really care and choose to give these dogs a second chance at life!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Animal groups rescue feral dogs (cbc.ca)
• Foster homes sought for dogs in need (cbc.ca)
• Carrie Underwood Fetches Attention for Animals (cmt.com)