One of the truly unique things about adopting a dog from a foster home is that the foster family has had a chance to get to know what the dog is like in a home setting. They can tell the adopter about the dog’s habits, quirks, likes and dislikes which helps to make a better fit for both the dog and the adopter.
X-Port Paws
This one is near and dear to my heart. Michelle and Liz started this organization after meeting as part of my launch team for 100 Dogs & Counting. They set out to save the hardest to save – the dogs already marked with an X on their kennel card to be euthanized. They’ve now saved thousands and do it all from their homes in Florida and North Carolina. they’ve built a network of trusted fosters, transporters, veterinarians, and supporters who make miracles rescuing the hardest to save.
Here is the mission: Our focus is to save dogs from the kill lists (marked with an “X” Code Red), simply because they’re too old, too Pittie, too behavioral, too medical or too black. We leave no dog behind.
I’ve worked with them to save dozens of lives now from euthanasia lists in Tennessee and Texas. They trust my judgment and never say no. Their willingness to jump right on board and do the necessary work (and find the necessary funds) to save the dogs I eventually foster, blows me away. Every time.
You can support their work (and mine) through donations.
Operation Paws for Homes (OPH)
We have fostered dogs and puppies (and a few kittens) for Operation Paws for Homes (OPH) since 2015. OPH is a network of foster homes throughout parts of Virginia, Maryland, DC, and Southern Pennsylvania. These really cool people rescue dogs (and cats) from high-kill shelters in the south, running two transports each month. They also work with a shelter in India to bring a small number of dogs to the US for adoption.
OPH saves over a thousand lives each year. They also assist shelters with donated food/supplies, and their Spay-it-Forward program.
Most of my foster puppies are saved through OPH. They are an amazing organization, saving more every year.
Fierce Love Rescue
FLR is a small foster-based rescue just ten minutes north of us in Stephens City (but with foster homes all over northern VA). They have a committed team of volunteers who save dogs near and far. To date, they’ve saved over 500 animals, including all kinds of pets beyond dogs and cats (sugar gliders?). I love being able to help my local rescue and jump in when I have an available crate.
FLR is completely volunteer run and depend on donations to save lives. They are small but they do big things.
Humane Society of Shenandoah County
We foster both dogs and cats (plus kittens and puppies) for HSSC. It is a 501(c)(3) all-volunteer organization that helps the animals often turned away or not accepted by the municipal county shelter. HSSC is completely foster-based and does not have a building.
HSSC runs twice-monthly spay/neuter transports for residents and their rescue animals. They also operate TNR programs within the county, and assist pet owners in keeping their pets in their homes. I can’t say enough good about the work they do. Without HSSC, the county shelter would most likely euthanize many more animals.
I believe that too often HSSC does the work that the county shelter should be doing, but chooses not to do. Our county shelter is rarely (if ever) full, yet HSSC has over 100 animals in foster care. HSSC saves the county tens of thousands of dollars and receives zero county funding.
Another Good Dog™ 