fostering harry.
February 21st, 2010I’ve always considered fostering, but the thought of it honestly freaked me out. I couldn’t imagine taking care of a dog and inevitably growing to love him, only to give him up to his forever home. So while it sounded really awesome in theory - I knew I just didn’t have the guts to do it.
But on Christmas Eve 2009, Los Angeles Best Friends Animal Society volunteers went to the Balwin Park Shelter and rescued a group of dogs from euthanasia - including this little Bischon-Poodle mix named Harry.
Poor guy was in REALLY bad shape. He was lifeless in his cell at the shelter, and upon closer examination volunteers discovered he was badly wounded. It looked as if he’d been dragged on asphalt by a car, resulting in a big, painful patch of road burn on his side. He had also developed hot spots around his back legs and tail, probably from all the anxiety of being in the shelter.
They bathed him, groomed him as much as they could, and off he went to the vet for boarding.
With so much recovering Harry needed to do, it seemed that it would be best for him to heal in a foster home instead of yet another scary, cold cage in boarding. My friend and Studio Manager thought he’d be a perfect fit for my house. Maeby and Zoey love small dogs and I work from home. The ONLY REASON I really had to say no was my own selfish anxiety about growing attached to Harry and eventually giving him up.
So I sucked it up, got over my fears, and in early January I went to the vet to pick Harry up.
See the giant patch of road burn on his side? Poor guy had wounds on his legs too.
It’s been about 7 weeks now since Harry has come to live with us. He had to wear a cone for the first month, learn to be in a crate, and learn to be home alone. I can’t lie - it’s been a long journey. He had EXTREEEEEEEEME separation anxiety and couldn’t stand being in a crate. Once when I was out of the house for an hour, he actually CRACKED the bottom of the plastic crate trying to get out!
But our little man Harry come a long way in the last 7 weeks!! His wounds are completely healed, his hot spots are gone, and he loves hanging out in his crate even if I’m home. Harry is extremely obedient - if I tell him to “go inside” his crate, in he goes. He learns commands very quickly - I taught him sit, stay, and shake in a matter of minutes. Harry loves all dogs big and small and doesn’t have an aggressive bone in his body. He has complete respect for Maeby and Zoey, and doesn’t have rude doggie manners other than trying to snatch food from my hand (but he quickly learned not to do this too). His favorite thing in the world is cuddling and having his belly rubbed. Best of all, Harry is 100% potty trained! He still has some minor separation anxiety issues (especially compared to how he was 7 weeks ago) and loves to follow me around from room to room. We’re trying out best not to enable his clingy-ness by only giving him affection when he’s calm, relaxed and not asking for it.
Harry is still a little withdrawn and hasn’t completely emerged from his shell. He doesn’t quite know how to play, but every once in awhile something in his head clicks and he goes bonkers playing with Maeby and Zoey. He’s come such a long way since I met him 7 weeks ago and I know he’s ready for his forever home. Overall Harry is an AWESOME DOG and whoever gets to adopt him is one very lucky person!
My hope is for Harry to get adopted in Los Angeles so I can have a photoshoot with him and his new lucky owners someday. But until that day comes, we’ll continue to love him and get him ready for his new life.
And check out how handsome our little man Harry is now!
Interested in adopting Harry? Email me: grace at shinepetphotos dot com.
As far as the fostering experience goes, would I do it again? Absolutely. This is our way of contributing to the rescue process - a karmic act of gratitude for the people who fostered Maeby and Zoey before we adopted them, and for the people who will foster our future rescue dogs. It’s really amazing to be a part of the rescue cycle and can’t wait for our next dog (which won’t be until 2011 since The Boyfriend has made me promise we can only foster 1 dog per year!)
February 21st, 2010 at 6:58 pm
That is so great of you to foster! You have made such a big differenc in Handsome Harry’s life- he is looking so great. Well done
February 21st, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Harry looks great. And those b/w pics are simply crushing. Seriously talkative eyes. You’ve done a fantastic job with this boy. Thanks for taking that step.
I don’t get to do much in the rescue process but the little bit that I do is probably the best part of my week and the best part of me.
February 21st, 2010 at 7:18 pm
He’s so beautiful! You are doing a great thing!
February 21st, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Oh, Grace! This post was lovely. By the fourth “after” shot of Harry, I was crying. He’s actually smiling!!
I’m so glad he was rescued and given a chance. Best of luck finding him a home. I’ve had a lot of luck with Craigslist as a way of getting the word out, but of course you have to screen the heck out of potential adopters. I found a dog in December that looked much like your Harry and within 2 weeks found him a super awesome home with the two sweetest folks you could imagine — from Craigslist! Check out my horrible iPhone pic I took on “gotcha” day: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jisou/4243264038/
Fostering is so much fun. Wait until how PROUD you feel when you see Harry with his new, doting parents.
Good luck, little munchkin! And you too, Grace!
February 21st, 2010 at 7:29 pm
Oh man did your post make me teary! You give me such hope. I, too, want to foster dogs (after our two rescues have passed of course–the time isn’t right now), but I don’t know if I have the guts. I’d get so attached I am sure. Harry is adorable. I fell in love with him at the very first photo and his story. You gave him the best gift–love. Keep us posted… especially WHEN he gets adopted because I know he will!
February 21st, 2010 at 8:25 pm
he looks amazing! so proud of you grace
February 21st, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Amazing pictures and you are awesome fostering him. Thank you!
February 21st, 2010 at 10:07 pm
Congratulations on doing all kinds of great work with your rescue support, fostering, and of course your amazing photography! It warms my heart to see Harry’s handsome transformation, and to know that he is receiving all the proper training and socialization. I do hope he finds a forever home soon. Again, great work!
February 21st, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Good for you! And good for your boyfriend putting restrictions on it. Fostering can become an addiction, so setting limits is important. Harry looks like he is doing great under you care and love. Keep us informed of his progress.
February 21st, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Thanks for sharing these gorgeous photos! You are simply awesome for fostering this sweet boy in need. Keep up the good work!
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:41 am
…you’re a good egg grace chon!
February 22nd, 2010 at 6:45 am
harry’s precious. kudos to you for making his life so much better! adam and i received our photos this weekend and they look great. we’ve already hung a collage in the hallway. thank you, thank you, thank you!
February 22nd, 2010 at 7:38 am
What a wonderful story and your pictures really explain the emotions of Harry from rescue to his transformation. Congrats on being the foundation to Harry’s new future of love, happiness and a forever home.
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Such a sweet face he has! I feel the same way about fostering - its totally a karmic act. Sounds like you were the perfect foster parents! I’m sure he’ll find a great home in no time flat.
February 22nd, 2010 at 9:05 pm
Good for you, for taking that brave leap into fostering!! I know how hard it can be, but what a wonderful gift you can give to a dog in need.
“To the world, you are a rescue person. To the rescued dog, you are the world!”
Harry is absolutely beautiful, and I can’t wait to see him find his forever home.
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:42 am
It takes a lot to foster a dog! I did it with a 2 week old puppy. Saying goodbye is hard but it’s such a great feeling when you’ve found a family that loves him as much as you do. Looks like he’s made an amazing transformation already!! What a sweetie pie he is.
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:57 am
Grace,
That is so amazing! You have done such an incredible job with Harry, He looks beautiful!
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:35 am
You are an amazing photographer…but more than that…you are a good person with a beautiful soul. Harry is lucky to have found you.
February 23rd, 2010 at 4:48 pm
What wonderful and touching photos! Thank you so much Grace for the photos and giving Harry such loving care! We are so lucky to have you in our lives.
February 23rd, 2010 at 4:57 pm
I LOVE HARRY!! He is such a nice gentleman!! Thank you for giving him a place to be until he finds his forever home!
February 26th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
What a handsome boy. I would love to be brave enough to do this and someday maybe I will. We rent so having dogs coming and going isn’t really an option. I hope Harry finds an amazing home!
March 1st, 2010 at 11:05 am
If I could take on another dog, I would adopt Harry in a second! We adopted our Ernie last march, who is also a Bichon/poodle mix. And I’ve gotta be honest, it’s probably the best mixture of two breeds I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen a dog smile like my ernie does until I saw your pictures of harry. Every description you gave is the same as my pup! So anyone out there reading this, please do yourself a huge favor and adopt that little guy. You will be eternally grateful for the amount of happiness he will give you.
March 1st, 2010 at 12:09 pm
this is too cool, grace! i have always thought about fostering too, but timing hasn’t been right. and like you, i’m always so worried about how attached i’d get!
i hope harry finds a FABULOUS home!!!
March 3rd, 2010 at 5:02 am
[…] Reposted with permission from Shine Pet Photos. […]
March 13th, 2010 at 6:16 pm
It’s people like you that make the world a better place!
March 23rd, 2010 at 8:55 pm
I just revisited this post thanks to your note on Facebook and it STILL brings tears to my eyes. Your photographs of him really make me want to just snuggle him. I hope his potential new peeps feel the same way! Good luck!
August 2nd, 2010 at 11:08 am
[…] who read the blog regularly and follow me on facebook probably remember that I started fostering my first foster dog Harry back in January. The poor guy came to us so abused and broken - when I looked at him I literally felt like I was […]