How I started Fostering

In 2004, the e-mail from Sally, the director of Lake Erie Greyhound Rescue read, something like:

“Winnie has been diagnosed with cancer. She has been undergoing chemotherapy for 6 weeks.  Her greyhounds, Twiggy (11) and Kacey (7) have been at the vet in the kennel for 6 weeks at a cost of $1500.  Winnie is getting ready for a second round of chemo.  The vet has said the dogs can stay there again, but Winnie is hoping they be fostered while she goes through this chemo.  She has had Twiggy for 7 years and she would like to occasionally be able to see both dogs, but specifically Twiggy. They live in North Olmsted.  If anyone can foster for her, please let me know.” With tears in my eyes I read this message to Bill.  I said, can we take them? He said yes.

Twiggy

I cannot imagine what those  dogs thought while they were at the vets office kennel.  Those cages are meant for short term stays.  So I called Sally. Told her we would foster.  She was silent, then she said, ‘thank you so much.  Winnie will be delighted.”  So after a few more calls, we went to get Twiggy and Kacey.  Twiggy I learned from Winnie, was a champion and retired at the age of 5, and she and her husband got Twig about a year before he unexpectedly died.  Kacey she got to keep Twiggy company about 3 years ago.  Twiggy was a tiny previously Champaign brindle, but at the age of 11 was now gray and black, brindle.  Spunky as could be but was on Rimadyl for pain as needed.  Kacey, was a stunning boy. He had the markings of a husky, but the body of a greyhound.  He was an incredible dog.

Kacey

We arranged to keep them for at least 6 weeks with weekend visits, when Winnie felt good enough.  I talked to Winnie every week.  The 6 weeks turned into three months, with a couple of visits.  I almost had to insist they go home, but they did.  She called one day, a few months later and said she was going on vacation and could the dogs stay with me.  Of course they can.  I went to get them and when I walked in, they were very glad to see me.  Winnie said they had not greeted anyone like that in many years.  They liked what I came to call their Country home…

About 6 months later, Winnie called, another cancer.  “Can you take them?”  Of course we can.  I really don’t remember too much about them, except Kacey was a very nice dog.   But when there was snow, he was a coward.  Ollie, Kacey and Ginger would look outside and see the snow and turn around.  Twiggy, the tiny old greyhound, would go out without a coat, and put her head down in the snow and just plow through it and return.  Then the others would go out.  She was the leader of the pack; although, she let Kacey think he was.  But when he failed to lead the way she wanted, she would yell at him.  And he would hang his head and tuck his tail and scamper away.  She was an amazing dog.

Winnie died while the dogs were here.  Twiggy knew when Winnie died.  At 1038 p.m. Twiggy stood up and just started howling.  I looked at the clock, and thought ‘that is weird, she’s never done that before’.  Then I thought, uh oh.  Winnie must have passed.  The next morning, Winnie’s son called and said she died last night.  I asked what time, and he said it was around 1035. 

In one of many conversations, Winnie had told me that if she died, her son was coming from Colorado to take the dogs to Colorado with him.  He arranged for me to keep them for a couple more months until he could come back and get them.  We kept in touch for awhile.  In 2009, twiggy died.  She was 16.  Twiggy was cremated and put with Winnie’s ashes. Kacey died shortly after, he was 9.  Although I don’t remember a lot of stories, they were my first foster dogs and they hold a special place in my heart.  I  cried when they died.