Guest Blogger, Shane Kroetsh knows first hand what it's like to have your world turned up-side-down. He shares with us the trials, tribulations, love and heartache that come with being a foster family to dogs.
My wife and I always had dogs when we were growing up, so it was an easy decision to adopt the friendly little mixed breed begging for attention at the Calgary SPCA in the summer of 2002. We had Keisha before we were married, owned a house, and before our three boys were born. When she passed away in early October of 2014, one can understand that she left an immense hole in our lives.
It took time, but around August of 2015 we decided that it might be time to welcome another four legged family member in to our home. Things weren’t like they used to be though, life was a lot busier, and to be honest we didn’t really agree on what to look for, so we decided to foster. Since then, we’ve had nine dogs come through the house, each of them teaching us something new along the way.
It took time, but around August of 2015 we decided that it might be time to welcome another four legged family member in to our home. Things weren’t like they used to be though, life was a lot busier, and to be honest we didn’t really agree on what to look for, so we decided to foster. Since then, we’ve had nine dogs come through the house, each of them teaching us something new along the way.
Our fostering journey started with Jenny the Greyhound, brood mom and the perfect introduction to the breed. If you haven’t experienced the world’s fastest dog sprinting past you at full speed for the sheer joy of running, you definitely should. Jenny was my first great lesson in letting go.
Monty and Switch, 8 week old mixed breed brothers, were only with us for 6 days as their adoption papers had already been submitted. They taught me that maybe puppies aren’t so bad after all.
Hedy & Rossi, 8 week old mixed breed sisters, taught me that I was right the first time, puppies are chewing and pooping and peeing machines. The exact reason is now lost to me, but we ended up adopting one of them, the dominant one at that. Ruby, formerly known as Hedy, may not always be the dog I personally wanted, but I honestly believe she’s just what we need. She continues to teach all of us more every single day, I only hope that we pay attention enough to truly learn the lessons being offered.
Kuta, the new mom who arrived the day after weaning her litter, came from a spay and neuter clinic in Onion Lake where over 70 animals were surrendered. Kuta taught me a little about dog physiology, and how nice it is to have a relaxed personality in your life.
Kuta, the new mom who arrived the day after weaning her litter, came from a spay and neuter clinic in Onion Lake where over 70 animals were surrendered. Kuta taught me a little about dog physiology, and how nice it is to have a relaxed personality in your life.
Tucker, the shepherd mix, was so scared and shut down when we got him that he would not walk on a leash or willingly ride in a car. Tucker taught me that at times, I have a lot more patience in me than I would have thought. He also showed us that complacency is dangerous when dealing with a dog that suffers from separation anxiety, and the general wellbeing of things like your TV remote, shoes and couch should always be a concern.
Trixie, the young Pitbull mix, taught me not to always be a sucker for the “urgent” cases, and to read between the lines of a carefully worded biography. She also taught me that a 55lbs dog can jump a 7’ tall fence with very little effort, repeatedly.
Finally, there is Shane the Lurcher. The term Lurcher means that he’s a Greyhound mixed with another hound breed generally used in illegal field trial racing. He has taught me that no matter how rough your life has been to this point, it doesn’t mean you can’t be happy and well-adjusted once the bad stuff is in the past. Oh, and having two grumpy old men named Shane in the house can be a good thing.
Shane Kroetsch
"Writing my way out of here."
"Writing my way out of here."
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