If you would really like to help homeless dogs, consider becoming a foster family. The foster home is an important part of the rescue world – without qualified and caring foster homes, fewer dogs can be saved. The ability to provide a temporary home to a dog in need is an immensely rewarding experience.  
Here are the top 10 reasons you should consider taking a foster dog into your home.
1/Comfortable environment - Some dogs don’t do well in a shelter environment. They may be elderly or frightened of the smells and sounds. These dogs have a much greater chance of being adopted if they’re placed in a home environment and are given some TLC.2/Free veterinary care - If a foster dog needs veterinary care, it is the responsibility of the shelter-rescue to provide it. Some shelters-rescue groups even provide food and other supplies to their foster homes.3/Companionship - Fostering a dog can be a rewarding experience for anyone of any age! As long as you are allowed to have pets in your home, you can enjoy the companionship of a dog needing a temporary home.4/Help with adoptive match-making  - You will learn the little details about the dog’s personality. This is an incredible gift to individuals looking to adopt a dog. You will be able to inform them of all the strong points as well as areas that need to be focused on if they are considering adopting your foster.5/Playmate for your other dogs - If you already have a dog, fostering can provide your dog with a companion and playmate.6/Great experience for children - Fostering teaches children about compassion and generosity.7/Allow shelters-rescues to help one more dog - You are making room for another dog at the shelter or in the rescue group. One more open run or kennel means one less dog put to sleep. Fostering means that you save a life.8/Learning opportunity - You’ll be able to learn about canine behavior, grooming and social interactions as you spend time with your foster dog.9/Participate In Positive Changes - Having a foster dog allows you to actively participate in the rehabilitation of a traumatized or needy dog. Witnessing the progress your foster makes due to the attention and security given in your home is priceless.

10/Satisfying experience - Most of all, fostering is incredibly satisfying. The day your foster dog finds his perfect forever home might be a sad one for you, but know that the dog would not be where he is without all of your efforts and affection!

Acknowledgement to Luigi Aero, September 2010

MAPR took in Knox a few weeks ago.  He was surrendered to Rescue by his owners. They could not cope with his separation anxiety and fence-jumping.  Knox was boarded in the kennel Mid-Atlantic uses for almost a week.  He began to look for me after a few days, responding to my coming and going.  At the end of the week, I thought I would bring him home to foster him in my house; why pay to just have him hang out in a run. And besides, only seeing him for an hour or so each day, did not really provide an understanding of the dog; what his problems really were.  I have Standard Poodles of my own so I thought it best to keep Knox separated from my gang. But that quickly changed. Knox refused to be crated, becoming almost frantic in the largest varikennel I own and forced his way out of it.  And despite all my usual careful and controlled gating, the next thing I knew, there was Knox in the midst of my Poodles.  To my great surprise and relief, they accepted him without a quarrel.  The presence of my dogs seems to have had a steadying influence on him.  That and time, patience and love. This dog had no joy about him when he came to Mid-Atlantic.  Now he plays with toys and romps around in the fenced dog yard with abandon.  It is very rewarding to see him blossom bit by bit.  He still needs work and will need a home willing to give him patience and love, but I am confident that Knox is going to be just fine.

I have owners wanting to surrender older Poodles. I make no judgment on their reasons; people are having a tough time financially or they have found the dog or they rescued it from someone else - all legitimate reasons. And a Rescue is a far greater option than a shelter.  But these little old ones have almost no hope of being adopted or it would take a long time to find them homes.  This little rescue group must pay for board to hold dogs. We have very few foster homes.  I saw the following video this morning - it  breaks my heart.  http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F_j_83VH3yp0&h=YAQFIT641AQGcg4l2oG9hapaZUHDdJ5T5GNBe9cMf5oMnbA 
If anyone has any suggestions, I am open to hearing them. 

Somehow the "colored" dogs always seem to find homes first.  Chili, Louie's brown brother, went home on Wednesday, so cream-colored Louie is left waiting.  He is a really sweet guy.  He will be a good companion.  I am always sad to leave him at the kennel. He is very patient.  He believes, as do I, that there is someone out there for him.

These guys are doing very well. They are really nice dogs and are not a bit of trouble.  I decided to change the one guy's name from "Lumpy," to something a bit more pleasing, so he will now be known as "Louie."  The weather in Maryland was unseasonably warm when we went for our daily walk today. As we walked behind the kennel, the members of the local firestation were all outside enjoying the sunshine.  Both boys got lots of love and pats from the men and women there. Everyone enjoyed the visit.  I was proud of the boys; they were excellent goodwill ambassadors.