How many of you are like me, failed fosterers?! Jan in the US is one, for sure! Here’s the story of one of hers.
I have been crazy about greyhounds for years. I did my research and was sure that this was the dog for me. I adopted my first greyhound about three years ago from Regap of Illinois. Once I felt comfortable having a big dog in my house (greyhounds aren’t really that big but I have always had small terriers) I started thinking and hoping to add a second hound to my family. Unfortunately my Mom was not too happy with the idea of adding a third dog to the house. I already had a wired hair fox terrier and two parrots besides my greyhound Luka. She felt it would be too crowded and crazy with a third dog.
Every time Regap got new hounds in I would look at them and I would always find two or three that caught my fancy. I even looked at other greyhound rescue group’s web site at the hounds they had available. I would always find a few that I would have loved to adopt. I just couldn’t help myself.
A few times I even asked a few questions about specific hounds. I guess I like to torture myself.
My friends started adopting older Momma dogs. First Barb and Sue adopted Gypsy. She is a sister to their hound Lunar Star, same parents but different litters. My Luka is really sweet on Gypsy. Then Todd and Lisa added momma hound Daisy to their pack. My friend Rita was adopting Take a Chance on Me and she asked if I wanted to go to our kennel when she picked her new girl up. I had my eye on a beautiful black and white cow dog but he was adopted before we could go to the kennel.
I went to pick up Chance with Rita and her family and I brought my hound Luka along for the ride. The first thing Mona Moore, Regap’s director said to me was “when are you adopting another hound?” Well, the one I liked is adopted. I suggested another dog but Mona felt she was too young to have with my Mom, who is 79. I have the perfect dog for you- she leaves and comes back with the most beautiful black hound- her name was Grey’s Pitch Black. She was 8 ½ years old. She had run over 170 races and had two litters of pups. She was introduced to Luka who was standing frozen in the middle of the room. He had a look of panic on his face- he thought for sure he was being returned. I reassured him that he was going to meet a new friend. Pitch Black sniffed him and walked around the room. She ignored the cats and small dogs we have to test our hounds with.
Mona’s husband George offered to give her a quick bath and put her in the back of the Jeep. What is your Mom going to do- just tell her she must have jumped in the back of the Jeep and you didn’t notice her. No- I couldn’t do that to my Mom. I started to brainstorm. What to do? I would have Mona call the house when I am at work and ask for me. When my Mom tells her I am at work she would start talking about Pitch Black and tell her how black dogs stay at the kennel so much longer than the rest and how she really wants to find a foster home for this sweet momma dog. Mona is the supreme greyhound salesperson. No one can say no to her. The plan was set. I told Mona to lay it on thick. Fingers and toes were crossed.
The day of the call came. Then I got scared. What if Mom said No. I wouldn’t have any wiggle room. Better re-think the plan. How about this- Mona was bringing hounds to our local greyhound favorite vet. She could bring Pitch along and I will make sure I am there at the office with my Mom. Mona needed to drop off the paperwork for Rita’s new dog and I love to drive. I will tell my Mom that we are going for a drive with Luka and we need to stop and pick up paperwork for Rita. I see Rita at the meet and greets and this was all true-so far.
Of course it was cold, windy and icy the day we were to meet. I pulled into the parking lot and there was Mona with a SUV full of hounds. I bet she could use some help getting them all into the office. My Mom replies “I’ll just wait in the Jeep”. My heart sank. No! “Mom- Mona would be disappointed to know you were here and didn’t stop and say hello.” OK- I’ll get the door for you. We walk the pack of hounds inside. Mom sits down and Mona says to my Mom- “could you do me a favor and hold her leash? I just brought her along to get her out of the kennel. She has been there so long she is getting depressed.”
“I think she has lost weight since I saw her a few days ago” I said.
My Mom takes her leash and almost on cue Pitch puts her front paws on Mom’s shoulder and gives her a big kiss. Did Mona say something to her- like you really need to lay it on thick and show some extra sweet loving? Pitch stood by Mom’s side the entire time we were there.
After a few minutes Mona mentions fostering and then asks my Mom if she would consider fostering Pitch. My Mom said no. I looked at Mona and Mona kept talking. After a few seconds I asked my Mom why we couldn’t do this. “Well, what if Luka doesn’t like her?”. “They have already met and he is fine with her “I replied . “ I think you need to get Luka and bring him in to meet her. “ Mom- “they met last Sunday and they are fine together.” Then Mona tells my Mom that if she takes her home and it doesn’t work out or is too much for her that she will come right out and pick her up. I told my Mom that I would take the next day off of work, Friday and I had the weekend too so if it didn’t work I could take her back.
Well, OK. Score!!
We load Pitch Black into my Jeep and drive home. When we get there Luka gets a case of the zoomies and my fox terrier checks her out. Oh no, not another big dog!! As I am sitting in the living room I hear my Mom say “ This is your home now. You don’t need to be afraid. We love you and will take care of you.” This is looking good.
Two months later Pitch’s name is now Peace. My Mom is rubbing her ears and telling her how lucky we are to have her. This is the perfect time to ask- “Mom, can we keep her?” “What do you mean, keep her, she is our dog”. “Umm- no she’s not. She belongs to Regap, we are just fostering her.” To which my Mom replies “this is our dog and she isn’t going anywhere. She belongs to us.” So I tell Mona to send over the paperwork, this girl is forever in our hearts and home.
Postscript- My Mom figured she was set up but went along with it and is happy she did. Peace is the most loving, beautiful girl and I have never been happier. And Luka wants the world to know- she is his sister, not his girlfriend!
Sadly Peace passed away in 2014.
And this is Neka