I have always been one of those people who wants to save every stray or hurt animal I see, but I had a difficult time convincing my parents that it was a good idea to pull over to pick them up. They didn’t understand why having three dogs of our own and volunteering countless hours with our local Humane Society wasn’t enough for me. Don’t get me wrong — I absolutely adore my dogs and volunteering always gives me a sense of purpose, but there were still so many homeless animals that needed to be loved. So, when I was old enough to be driving on my own, I would pull over for any of these stray animals, hoping that I would be able to save them. Unfortunately, I wasn’t very successful until my senior year of high school, when that all changed.

I had been babysitting after school like any other day, but on the way home, I saw a dog trotting down the side of the road. She resembled my black lab, just a smaller version, and her companion was a little black furball of a puppy who was struggling to keep up with her. Thinking this would probably be a failed attempt like all the rest, I pulled my car over to see if I could at least scare them away from the road before they were hit by a car. It was the middle of winter, and they were soaking wet, covered in mud, with no collars. I had very low hopes for how this would play out. I hadn’t even bothered closing my car door, so I was beyond shocked when the mom jumped into my car and sat in my passenger seat, mud and all, like she belonged there. Meanwhile, her puppy was just wiggling all around my feet, so I scooped her up and snuggled her shivering little body as she licked my face.

Finally! I had successfully rescued two strays, except they didn’t act like any strays I had ever seen. So I called someone from the shelter, which didn’t have any room, and they were able to locate the dogs’ “owners." It turns out that the stray mother had given birth to a litter of six puppies under their porch, most likely after being dumped by her previous owner. The homeowners had been kind enough to feed the mother, but this was the opportunity that they had been looking for to shed the unwanted responsibility.

Since the shelter was full and my family happened to have an extra dog run, complete with two dog houses, I volunteered to be a short-term foster for these seven dogs. It seemed like such an easy decision. Food and vet costs were covered by the Humane Society, so I just had to love them and care for them. However, as time went by, I grew unbelievably attached. Needless to say, when they finally left for their rescue in New York, I sobbed. I knew I couldn’t explain to them why this was happening or chase down the transport van to take them home, and I began regretting my decision to be a foster. But in the coming weeks, seeing the photos of my sweet foster babies in their new homes, with families of their own to love and spoil them beyond anything a high school senior could ever give, made everything worth it.

That’s when I knew I had found what I had always been missing, and even though I am in college now, I still foster any chance I get during my breaks at home. I have had 39 foster dogs to date, and each one has touched my heart for different reasons. Some of them have been litters of puppies that have never been loved by humans or lived outside of a shelter pen. It is so amazing to watch their fear and skittishness subside, replaced by playfulness and affection. Most of these dogs have been scarred by neglect or abuse, so building trust and accepting human contact can be hard for them.

Perhaps my most rewarding foster dog was an old cattle dog mix who was rescued from a severely neglectful situation. She spent an entire summer with us, very slowly acclimating to a new life where she was no longer stuck in a small pen with no room to move, to a place where she was showered with attention, love, room to run and her first bath. After this period of transition, she was adopted by a family that adores her, and I love seeing photos of her enjoying her new life, including daily walks on the beach where she can chase seagulls!

Every time one of my foster babies boards the transport van, or “freedom bus,” I feel like a piece of me leaves with them. Being a foster mom for these dogs is the most challenging yet rewarding thing I could ever be a part of, but I’d be lying if I said that saying goodbye gets easier. It is so tough to know that I haven’t been able to give them the “furever” home that they deserve, but that’s not always what these animals need. Sometimes they simply need someone to take them in, to show them what love is and give them a chance.

So, when you think you can’t handle being a foster because you’ll get too attached, you are absolutely right. But seeing how you are able to make a difference will heal the hurt of letting them go, and there will always be more animals that need you to save them, so that void will be filled quickly. These animals depend on us to give them a chance at the life they deserve. If you would like to provide a foster home for dogs (or cats), contact your local animal shelter or Humane Society. Their needs are so great, and there are countless opportunities to serve as a volunteer and help improve the lives of these helpless animals.