Today was an eventful day; and it all started last month.
I'll explain. I have felt like our family is incomplete. I am by no means "baby hungry," but I am pretty "puppy hungry." While I don't know if we could actually take on a second dog to call our own at this point in our lives, I still knew I wanted another one. We were at first concerned about space, food, financial burden, and mostly space. We still talked about it and dreamed about it. One of the biggest things we talked about is how much better Roxie does when she's around other hounds. It was a daydream I liked to entertain often. We'd talk and talk and talk and laugh about it. Every so often after adopting Roxie I'd get an email asking for anyone to open their home to foster, because too many dogs were coming in and there was not enough room for them all. How can you turn down a rescued dog? Many people associated with American Greyhound have more dogs than should probably fit in their houses, but they foster them and love them until the lucky dog finds its forever home.
Finally I was getting overly excited about my daydream, that Rhett said, "Maybe we should try fostering first." I just stared at him with a grin on my face. He made the deal with me that if I would be the one to ask permission from our landlady, and be the contact for American Greyhound, he'd be happy to foster. Then it was Rhett who started bugging me about it. He'd ask almost every day if I had contacted our landlady yet. At the time we decided to offer our home as a foster place, there were a few problems with the pipes in the building and I think some other things were going on. I wanted to catch my landlady in the best mood possible, so I waited. I waited almost 2 weeks to make sure everything was good and no complaints were made or repairs needed to be done around the place. Funny how the tides turn and Rhett was the impatient one to get another Grey into our home.
Our landlady took a few days to think it over, and when she got back to us she commended us for our efforts in rescuing dogs. She has rescued many herself. She told us that as long as it was only one other dog at a time, we were welcome to foster. Overjoyed, I shared the news with Roxie's foster mom first, who then put me in contact with the foster coordinator. That was around February 17th. Due to some unforeseen personal circumstances, we didn't contact the coordinator until late February.
Then we waited a little more. March 1st rolled around and I got a call back. There was a girl who was being returned to AG and would need a foster home. Because she had already spent a year as an adopted pet, she was used to retirement, and would likely make a great first foster. We said yes. The time and date for the return of the dog was set, all I was told is that her name was Tory. Of course I looked up her old bio on AG's website. Her racing name was Tory Lane, how cute is that? There wasn't much said about her, but I could see she was a beautiful brindle, and good racer.
That brings us around to March 10th. While I am typing this, it has still been less than 12 hours since we received Tory. During the 10 day wait, I had a myriad of emotions run through me. I thought to myself, "these circumstances had better be pretty extreme to be returning a dog. The only way American Greyhound could get Roxie back from me is over my dead body." I was upset at the person who would so casually cast aside a dog after having them for a year. How can you do that? I also felt bad, because if that person is anything like me, the circumstances must be extreme to return a dog. How am I to know what this pup's situation is? I wasn't sure I wanted to meet this person who was returning their sweet dog for fear of either crying, or wanting to punch them in the face.
Before I continue my story, I would like to say that I do understand when people have to return a dog. Perhaps the dog just doesn't blend well with the family, perhaps there's safety issues, or perhaps the adopter just wasn't as prepared for a dog as they thought they were. Most of these cases can be determined within the first few weeks with the dog, which doesn't really allow the dog to adjust to a "forever home." Many Greyhounds who come into AG's care require special care and treatment. Some are dependent on Prozac just to function. It's not easy to take in a dog like that. If you are unable to take care of a dog, I am all for it being returned to a place where it will be taken care of and loved. I'm grateful to the man who kept his contract with AG and returned the dogs to the rescue (Rhett and I had to sign the same contract with Roxie. We cannot ever give her to anyone else, or sell her [the thought horrifies me], if we have to give her up, the contract states she must return to American Greyhound.)
Rhett and I arrived at the determined meeting point (in Indiana) around 2:30. It was cold and windy outside. Tory immediately came up to greet us. She gave me kisses and jumped up to sniff Rhett. She had a brother with her who would be going with another foster family. The man who was returning them came around the car with an armful of things for the dogs. He looked very nice, he greeted us with a warm smile. He started dropping off the food bins, the dishes, we got a kennel for Tory, then this man brought out a stuffed alligator, and said, "this is Tory's toy that she just can't live without." I realized in that moment this would be a heartbreaking scenario for me. I wanted to give this man a big hug and tell him I'd take the best care of her ever. The American Greyhound president, Jeff, was there. He talked to the man quietly, and before leaving wished him the best of luck (with his wife, I think he said?) I knew this was an extreme circumstance. This family really could not take care of these two beautiful dogs (who looked very well taken care of). I don't know what is going on in these peoples lives, and this man whose name I don't even remember held himself together very well. I am sure he had already said his goodbyes to the dogs, but I saw sadness in his face. I did almost cry for him there, but I held myself together. I don't know if I could ever have the strength to do what he did with such a calm demeanor.
Now here I sit watching her sleep in her kennel, which we set up right next to Roxie's kennel. Praying that she will be happy, and learn to love us, and know this is in her best interest. She's been so unsure about everything. She's much bigger than Roxie, but her voice is a lot higher. She talks to us a lot. Whines and grunts and even little barks. I can't tell exactly what she wants, but she had a lot of nervous energy today. We took her on a walk to a small dog park where, after a few minutes on the leash, we let her off the leash. She didn't really enjoy the freedom the way Roxie does when she's off the leash, but at least she got some energy out. She and Roxie seem to be getting along. I'm hopeful this will be a good friendship for the both of them.
Whoever this man is, keep him in your prayers awhile. Keep Tory in your prayers, too. I'm praying she will open up to us, trust us, and find a good forever home soon. Mostly I pray she will be comfortable and at ease here with us. I can't imagine what she and her brother must be feeling, nor do I know how deeply their feelings extend. She's a good girl with a lot of love to give.
I'm finally a foster mom! It's new and exciting and a little nerve-wracking. I feel like I want to do so much for Tory, but I don't know what or how. I guess we'll learn together. I am so grateful to be part of the foster team at AG, though. I've been wanting to be more involved in the rescue, and I finally feel like I am. I needed this. As much as I know I was meant to be a nurse, I know I need to help rescue dogs my whole life long. Rhett and I have a lot of compromising to do. He says 2 dogs is the maximum we can ever have, 3 if we're fostering. I say 10 to 12 would be acceptable :) Of course we'd need a yard first, and I don't want to leave the city just yet... So we'll keep our one and continue to foster one more at a time, until we can do more. Though I am also helping by donating some art work of mine to the annual "Winning Hearts, Not Races" American Greyhound auction! April 9th, I'm so excited! It's a whole big to-do with some pretty awesome auction items. My paintings will be part of the silent auction. I just hope they do well and bring in a little extra money for the Grey's.
I truly believe in rescuing dogs. If you need anymore proof, just look at my life 18 months ago. I was a depressed and anxious wreck. Now I'm a happy dog mom and also a foster mom. #adoptdontshop
Woof woof!
Mary, Rhett, Roxie, and Tory
