The Highlight of  My Foster Experiences...Princess

By Lonna Harrison, (SSMR VA State Coordinator)

Several very kind and caring people were touched by Princess's story on our website when she first came to stay with Lonna- and donated very generously for her rehabilitation and medical needs. Princess' success story was a real team effort and Lonna, the person who rescued her from the shelter and fostered her to health, was at the heart of it all...thanks to all who made her happy ending possible, including her new family. We hope Princess's story inspires others too.

I have worked with rescue for six years and have been an approved foster home for all of them.  In my tenure as a foster home, we have personally fostered 26 dogs.  I know that sounds like a lot, but it is all worth it.  Every foster we have touches our lives in many different ways.  Whether they are with us for only a day or two or six months, they all have unique tragic stories, and are just so happy to be loved.

The most rewarding rescue I have had the pleasure of working with is Princess.  Princess was rescued 2 days after Christmas in 2005.  She came from a shelter in Virginia.  We learned of rescue from a worker at the shelter, without the knowledge of the shelter.  The shelter manager thought that it would be more humane to have Princess put to sleep than to allow rescue to rehabilitate her. 

 Needless to say, they were very surprised when we showed up and asked if we could adopt her.  After much debate, we managed to get her released to rescue so she could start her new life. 

When she arrived at my house she weighed 100 lbs and had demodetic mange over her entire body.  She had very little hair, and what she did have fell out shortly after we began her treatments.  When she arrived, she was so starved for attention that she would not leave our sides.  She tried desperately to be a lap dog, and would flop on our laps every chance she had.

Slowly after the six months we had her she began to bloom into a very lovely, very BIG girl.  She loved to go and visit the dog park where she could go and play with the other puppies.  She also loved to visit out local Petsmart where she literally stopped traffic.  We never managed to get in and out of the store in less than 3 hours.  We didn’t mind bragging about our breed, and she just ate up the attention.

Once she was up to a healthy 130 lbs and over her demodex we began looking for the right home for her.  We met with a few people, but Princess did not choose them.  Then we were contacted by a family in Ohio, and took a long road trip to meet the family. 

 When we arrived, she immediately liked the family.  She allowed them to walk her on the leash and feed her treats (which was not possible with the other families). 

Now, she runs and chases with their other rescue puppy.  She and the family’s 5 year old son are now inseparable.  She loves to sleep in his bed, but occasionally gets a bit too snuggly and likes to lie on top of him like she did with us. 

Her new mommy calls me weekly to update me on her progress and to thank me for allowing them to adopt her.  I think that is the most rewarding part of rescuing, and more specifically fostering.  The fact that you know you have made a difference in not only the life of the dog, but also made a family complete.

~ Lonna Harrison