I became interested in fostering last year; I've always grown up with dogs and missed having one around. However, my apartment is pretty small (as you'll remember from last year's Apartment Therapy's Small Cool Contest) and I do like to travel, which isn't ideal with a dog around. The whole fostering process wasn't very difficult; I attended an orientation session, followed by a phone interview and I was put on the list to view the animals available for adoption. It took me several months to actually choose which dog I would adopt. I felt like I had to pick the right one for me, whereas in the end, I think I chose Cody because I received several notifications that he needed to find a foster home and I felt bad that no one was adopting this gorgeous dog. From what I've found out, Cody was purchased by his first owners from Kijiji. Shortly after bringing him home, he had developed severe allergies - and not just to certain kinds of food, but seasonal ones as well. His owners had tried skin scrapings and allergy tests, but in the end they could not afford to pay his veterinary bills. When Cody first came to the Toronto Humane Society, he was severely underweight, had scratched off most of his fur, and was in septic shock. The staff at the shelter were not sure if he was going to make it.
I brought Cody home on January 12th of this year, which was initially supposed to be a 6-8 week foster but had turned into a little over 8 months. I remember messaging my friend after the first few days of having him and telling her I can't do this. It's been two days, she replied. Touche. So I stuck it out and soon coming home right after work and taking him with me everywhere just became a normal part of my routine. Sure, it was difficult sometimes, especially since in an eight month span, Cody managed to break a bone in his paw, get sprayed and scratched by a skunk, eat a number of my things, blatantly pee in my car while stopped at a red light and take several poos in the hallways of my building (right after being walked). I'm sure there are plenty of other things that I'm forgetting but I'm trying not to cry in public here. I'm going to miss him so much and I've been prolonging having to go home today since it's going to be so quiet without him there.
I took yesterday off and drove out to Long Point Provincial Park to spend a day at the beach with him. You can tell from the following pictures that we had a blast! And while today was one of the saddest days I've had in a while, I hope he's going to a good home and that his new owner loves him just as much as I do. I've been told he will send me pictures and I can come visit. And although it was difficult to let Cody go, I recommend fostering as it provides a dog with a break from the shelter; which can be a very stressful atmosphere, especially for one with medical issues.
If that doesn't look like pure happiness, I don't know what does.
I can't even count how many times I had to yell out "leave it" to the numerous dead things lying around the beach he tried to eat. He did manage to snatch up a headless dead fish complete with bones when I wasn't looking.
It's so hard to get a good picture of him. He won't stay still for long!
I mean we read the sign. We just didn't listen.
I seriously love how he pees like a girl.
Notice the long trail of drool.
After two hours of trying to get to the end of the island (and only getting about halfway), we headed back to swim and lay in the sun.
I bought him a hamburger on the way home and he ate it in one bite (look at those crooked little teeth!).
It's funny that yesterday, the day I took him to the beach, ended up being such an unnaturally gorgeous day for this time of year (that I wound up with a huge sunburn by the end of it), whereas today, as I write this post from a Starbucks while waiting for my car to be fixed, it's grey and rainy outside. I couldn't have asked for a nicer day yesterday; it almost feels like it was the last warm summer day, saved specifically for us.
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