Pet adoption is the perfect way to add a new family member. But if a pet is too young to be adopted, it must be fostered (寄养) first. That's how a puppy named Maggie that was rescued by the North Shore Animal League America (NSALA), ended up being fostered by a sweet six-year-old boy.
The animal rescue organization in Port Washington needed to find a foster home for Maggie because she needed to be trained with basic obedience (顺从) skills and to become comfortable with a home environment. NSALA put out a call for a foster family.
Roman Duncan's family was the lucky one chosen for the job. The boy fell in love with the puppy and was able to be part of her growth during those formative months. The family always made it clear to Roman that Maggie would eventually be adopted and move to a different home.
When it came time for Maggie to be adopted, Roman couldn't hold his tears. He decided to write letters to the puppy's future family. He wrote letters about his furry friend, saying "Maggie is so cute and loves to play fetch. She is the best dog ever," and slipped the notes and some photos into Maggie's paperwork.
The rescue team were surprised and then incredibly touched by the notes they found when opening Maggie's file. NSALA made sure that Roman's notes reached her adopted family. The boy's gesture is exactly what pet fostering is about.
A dog or cat that has gone through terrible sufferings such as being abusing needs to learn what it means to live in a home. Fostering helps reduce the animal's stress and makes it trust people again. It is also an opportunity for people who love pets but can't have them full-time due to some restrictions. Pet fosters can get to enjoy helping a pet in need. If you are interested in pet fostering, contact a local shelter or animal rescue near you.