PAWS Humane: Sadie’s Story

A few months after I began working in animal welfare, my husband, Dave, and I decided to become
foster parents to dogs who might not otherwise have a chance at a new life. I worked at an open
admissions shelter in 2012, taking in nearly 5,500 animals each year. The individual kennels were
cramped and absurdly loud. It was a difficult environment to work in. I can only imagine how stressful itwas for the dogs who had to live there 24/7.

Dave and I hoped to give our foster dogs respite in a quiet and loving home environment. We were
excited to hear about our first prospect, a two year old Boxer who came to be known as Sadie.
In 1938, the AKC published this description of the boxer breed standard: “The character of the Boxer is of the greatest importance and demands the most solicitous attention. He is renowned from olden times for his great love and faithfulness to his master and household. He is harmless in the family, but distrustful of strangers, bright and friendly of temperament at play, but brave and determined when aroused. His intelligence and willing tractability, his modesty and cleanliness make him a highly desirable family dog and cheerful companion. He is the soul of honesty and loyalty, and is never false or treacherous even in his old age.”

I couldn’t wait to meet my new foster dog and rushed into the kennels when I heard she had arrived. My heart sank when I found an emaciated and completely hairless dog. Her legs and feet were swollen and her skin was bleeding and oozing pus. It was hard to believe this animal was still alive, and I marveled at the idea that anyone thought she could possibly recover from this state.
I was worried about how Dave would react when I brought this creature home. Most people have limits as to how far they are willing to go for an animal that is not their own. But Dave isn’t most people. He is a saint, and he is dedicated to a life of service. He welcomed Sadie with open arms.
We both knew that Sadie might not make it, but were resolved to do whatever we could for her. I carried her into the house, wrapped her in a blanket and put her in bed next to me. If nothing else, I wanted her to know she was loved and was not alone.

Slowly, Sadie did recover. She gained weight, got over her cold, her skin healed and her hair grew back. She came into our home at the beginning of October 2012 and marched in the Christmas parade, where her forever family first saw her. It was a match made in Heaven and, to this day, I get to follow her on Facebook with her lovely family.

Fostering has an amazing, lifesaving impact on the sheltering system and the options are endless. You can play the field like Dave and I, or you can specialize in kittens, puppies, medical fosters, scaredy cats and dogs—you name it. At Paws Humane Society, we have a robust foster care program. If you’re interested in learning more, please check out our website at www.pawshumane.org.