SILVER LINING

by Pam Smith

     I am a Foster Volunteer for Lab Rescue.  In December 2003 our beloved Walker was diagnosed with lymph node cancer at age eight.  It was a very rapid and debilitating cancer, and we were left with about two good weeks shower him with attention and love.  This was an extremely difficult time for my family since we had also lost our beloved fifteen year old, Sadie, the year before.  And now for the first time in my life I was without a dog.

     Then one day, about a week or two after Walker’s passing, I drove past a Lab Rescue event that was taking place on Brookside .  I immediately thought to myself that although I was still "grieving" and definitely not interested in "replacing" Walker with another lab, it surely couldn't hurt to stop and just love on some labbies.  After stopping and loving a little on every lab there, I met Shirley.  Shirley explained to me about Lab Rescue and what they did.  And I shared my story of love and loss, and how I would love to have another lab, but, reserved about "replacing" Walker so soon.  That's when Shirley told me about fostering and that Lab Rescue was always in need of new fosters.

     After getting the basic information, I left to go back to work.  I just couldn't stop thinking about the labbies and Lab Rescue and pretty much made up my mind, I was going to become a foster, after all, I knew that I had a lot of love to give, and technically would not be "replacing" Walker.

     So, I went straight home and told my family what I had decided. My husband Randy and son Dane were excited and definitely on board.  That evening I went to Lab Rescue 's website and filled out an application to foster.  After being approved, I got the call I had been waiting for; Lab Rescue had a foster for us. Our very first foster. 

     I was so excited! All I knew is that she was an eighteen month old yellow female named Emma.  And that she had been pulled from a "kill shelter" in Missouri .  She was in need of hip surgery, which was performed by the wonderful Vets at Woodland East, and was ready to come home with us.  I met Shirley the following Monday at Woodland East to meet my new baby.  The moment I saw Emma in that waiting room, I fell in love.

     The next two weeks, were wonderful.  Emma stepped into our family like she had been there forever.  She definitely filled the void in my heart that was left from the loss of my two labs.  I remember having to take her downstairs to potty (we live in an upstairs apartment), so Randy would walk her to the top of the stairs and then lift her up and carry her downstairs.  This was such a cute sight because she would just look at him with those loving eyes and that tail would be thumping; then carry her back upstairs.  As the first couple of weeks passed and her hip improved, the vet said it was time to let her use those stairs....our first  time we took her, she got to the top of the stairs, sat down and looked straight at us, as if to say, "Well, aren't you going to pick me up?".  I knew that Emma was meant to stay with us, almost like destiny. 

     We decided that we were going to adopt Emma. I just couldn't imagine life without her.  And she has been perfect.  It’s amazing when you truly "connect" with a pet and I feel sorry for anyone who has not experienced the true love and joy that a pet can bring into your life.

     Since adopting our first "foster" (I'm sure this has happened before) in January 04, we have fostered nine beautiful labs: Tank, Cala, CD, Rio , Hutch, Shasta, Teaka, Cloe, and currently Crash.  Fostering is a very important part of what Lab Rescue is all about.  It's hard to save a lab without a temporary, loving home to place them.  I have to admit and am asked often, "Isn't it hard to part with a lab that you have grown to love?" And for me, yes sometimes it is.  Knowing that I have helped give this wonderful lab a loving home and a new lease on life is definitely worth a few tears of good bye.

     Maybe you are in a situation where you are able to foster.  Lab Rescue offers all the help you need, food, crate, vet costs, and most of all the support of a wonderful group of labbie (all dogs really) and loving volunteers.  If you think you may be interested in fostering, please go to the "Informative Links" area on our website and click on "volunteer or foster a lab (info and application)."

     Maybe you are just a lab owner yourself, unable to foster, but would like to help support Lab Rescue in other ways.  Lab Rescue is always in need of donations, whether it is a cash donation to help with food and/or medical costs, or items such as crates, collars, and leashes etc.