Originally Published July 23, 2024
I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like a happy dog. When you watch this video, you’ll see some happy dogs. You’ll know they’re happy because their tails are wagging. Additionally, I’ve noticed that when people are around happy dogs, the people are happy, too.
Happiness is waiting for you!
So now I have a secret for you. There is an enormous amount of untapped happiness waiting for you at your local animal shelter or humane society. They are looking for people to foster animals that are waiting to make you temporarily happy. I say temporarily because you will just be taking care of that animal, temporarily, until someone else adopts it. I call this version the Happy-Foster-Feedback-Loop…HFFL for short. Here is how the Happy-Foster-Feedback-Loop works.
First: You foster a dog.
Second: That makes the dog happy.
Third: The happy dog makes you happy.
(Note: this can also work with cats.)
“…everything’s covered”
Fostering an animal is a lot like an extended buddy sleepover…and you don’t even have to pay for their food. The organization you’re fostering with takes care of that. Maureen Thompson fosters a dog for the Tallahassee Animal Shelter. She says, “…everything’s covered. They will give you a dog crate, they will give you dog bowls, they will give you the food …there’s vets on the staff of the animal shelter…there should be zero expense for you.” Wow! With a deal like that, I’m lucky my parents didn’t trade me in to foster a shelter dog.
Fosters always have a lifeline
When you agree to foster an animal from a rescue organization, you should expect them to ask a few questions about your living situation. It’s NOT because they’re sniffing around your private business. They do this to understand better the type of dog/animal they may ask you to foster. This background information is a happiness multiplier for both you and the foster animal. Grayson Walters with Tallahassee Animal Services, says they also start their foster folks out with an orientation, so they’re prepared if the unexpected arises. Across town at the Leon County Humane Society, Lisa Glunt explains, “The fosters always have a lifeline. The foster parents always have, depending on who their coordinator is, whether they’re fostering cats or dogs or one of the other animals we get in, they always have a staff member who they can reach out to in an emergency situation.”
If you want a friend, get a dog
Speaking of reaching out…that is one of the common misconceptions I have found about fostering a rescue. These organizations don’t just drop the animal in your lap and take off. They have all kinds of support for you when you need it. And the foster people have even formed social media groups to help each other. Politicians say: If you want a friend, get a dog. I say: If you want more social media friends, foster a rescue dog. (Side note: That is an example of “good” social media.)
So, now you know about the Happy-Foster-Feedback-Loop. To start the process, contact your local animal shelter (City of Tallahassee foster information) or humane society (Leon County Humane Society foster information). Just about every county has one. And if you’re reading this online, it’s just one Google tab away.
Mike Plummer is a content producer and editor for television at WFSU Public Media. He spent 25 years in commercial television as an art director, commercial director, promotion manager, station manager and creative services director before coming to WFSU in 2008. Mike likes to find the “unusual” or “out of the ordinary” stories in our Local Routes. He says the best part of his job is getting to know people he would otherwise probably not get a chance to meet. Mike is widowed, has a rescue dog named Dexter, and is constantly at war with the vines growing in his backyard.
