Foster Care

When Riley first came into our home he was to be here only a few days, until he was delivered as a Christmas gift that is. Well today is April 6th. He's still here. Whenever someone says "oh what a cute dog!" or " I wish we could have a dog like him" My response is "you can!!!" Well a couple of weeks ago someone told me to call her before I just dropped him off on some unsuspecting kind family.
We have been busy and now that he has acclimated himself to being our outdoor dog, we spend less and less time with him. He never comes inside anymore and my walks with him are few and far between. Good intentions have all flown out the window and I find myself back into old habits. So Riley suffers. I let my friend know that if she seriously wanted him, he was hers. She has 2 kids, other dogs and lives in the country. Her hubby said no to the offer at first, but when their son reminded his dad that "I never got a dog after my last one died" the deal was sealed.
Now next week when they are out of school for spring break Riley will hopefully find his "forever home". My daughter wonders how I can possibly give him away. It's not going to be easy. He has become are part of my life. I look forward to his laughing expressions and I have enjoyed seeing him play in the yard after so many weeks of being afraid. But this was never to be a permanent deal. I guess it's kinda like being a foster parent. You love the child, nurture the child, and see it's every need, but in the end you hope that God will send a couple who need that child as much as the child needs them. Foster care for a dog is ok, a child would be really hard!
So if this works out and next week Riley goes to live in a loving home where he can play with other dogs and little girls and growing boys and sniff the woods for rabbits all day long, then we done good. He did not live out his final days in a 6 by 6 concrete pen, but instead got a second chance! That's a good thing.