ARL foster dad or mum and volunteer Ning Pan has traveled all through the world, and is at the moment working in the direction of the aim of touring to all 50 states (with solely 4 states left to go)! However one in all her favourite locations to journey is to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Heart.
Ning began volunteering in October of 2021 on the advice of a co-worker. Having lately misplaced her beloved rescue canine Eva in 2020, Ning was prepared for some animal love in her life once more. Pretty quickly in her volunteer journey, Ning observed the vital want for foster households, and determined that fostering might be a great first step to welcoming canines again into her and her household’s on a regular basis lives.
Her first foster expertise was with Kaylee and Macie, two senior Rat Terrier mixes. She took them house simply earlier than the vacations, they usually remained in her take care of 7-weeks earlier than they had been adopted collectively to a loving new household.
Since these first two fosters, Ning has fostered six extra canines! One in every of which was a “foster fail”, Buddy. “Foster fail” is an affectionate time period for when a foster dad or mum adopts their foster animal. However in fact, it’s by no means a failure when an animal finds a loving house, which was the case for Buddy! Buddy was initially adopted by another person, however then needed to be returned as a consequence of a household emergency. When he got here again to ARL, Ning knew that he was meant to be a everlasting member of her household, they usually made it official by adopting him the identical day he got here again.
After adopting Buddy, Ning has continued to foster. Presently, she is fostering a canine concerned in an energetic regulation enforcement investigation. This explicit canine has been in ARL’s care since Might of 2022, and has been in Ning’s take care of over 6-months now!
Legislation enforcement circumstances involving animals can take a very long time to resolve, so having a foster who is ready to present that animal with a secure place to land whereas they await launch to adoption is totally invaluable. Foster properties cut back stress for the animals and permits them some reprieve from shelter life, and on the identical time, it opens up the ability to take care of extra animals in want. That is a part of what motivates Ning to proceed fostering.
Though many individuals might ask her, “how are you going to do it”, “don’t you fall in love with them”, and “isn’t it unhappy” when requested about fostering. Ning is fast to elucidate how the achievement of the life-saving impression that foster care has for animals in want far outweighs any unhappiness she might really feel saying goodbye to an animal. She additionally retains in contact with the adopters of lots of her fosters, and receives comfortable updates that assist fill her cup with hope for different animals in want.
We’re so grateful to Ning for all that she does for animals in want, like Buddy and the 6 different fosters which have come and gone via her house. She makes a lot life-saving work doable, and for that we’re eternally grateful.
Be taught extra about fostering and volunteering at ARL.
