Fostering a focus this international dog day

Why local groups say fostering dogs is more important than ever.

Spencer Fry is known as a dog guy, creating Waggin’ Wheels an indoor gym for dogs.

This international dog day, he’s doubling down by taking on a foster dog.

“I always wanted to foster. And then recently, I found out that ‘Fly With Me’ covers all the costs,” he explained as to why now is the perfect time. “For someone that has two dogs already and has the capacity to actually care for the dog still, but maybe not financially, it’s a perfect opportunity to help a dog in need. And hopefully find the dog, their forever home.”

Fly With Me dog rescue mostly focuses on saving dogs from the United States, and this weekend will see more incoming rescue pups. They have put out a request on social media for anyone looking to foster a dog.

“They’re still looking for about ten foster parents for dogs, 40 pounds and up,” explained Fry.

In an email to CTV, Fly With Me rescue explained the dogs coming in as,

“They are currently at a kill shelter in Georgia and will be arriving this weekend. We are always in need of fosters and adopters. Anyone interested in fostering or adopting can submit the application on our website as a first step.”

“They are so passionate about finding the dogs in the homes. But they haven’t had any complaints about the dogs at all,” said Fry of his experience with the foster dogs. “Because when you are dealing with the dogs coming up from the southern United States, you don’t know where they’re coming from. So, this is an organization that really does put the work in, first and foremost, to vet the dogs and make sure that they’re fit for the home.”

Most non-profits looking for people to foster animals provide the supplies needed.

“The SPCA supplies everything, so food, dishes, beds, treats, the dogs and all the good stuff that goes with them including present bags,” said Liz Sangollo, Foster Coordinator for the Nova Scotia SPCA Dartmouth shelter.

Fry offers free runs for rescues and fosters as part of his business model.

“I’ve been working with fly with me for a few months now. I run foster dogs for free and they’re the first organization I connect with,” Fry explained. “And since then, I’ve learned that they’ve that their dogs very well. I’ve run, a number of their dogs, all great personalities, very friendly. Very few issues with any of them, if at all.”

The Nova Scotia SPCA also said that fostering is a great step towards dog ownership, and there are lots of dogs in need in the community.

“They get to see even if they have the time available to even look after a dog because a lot of people, especially with puppies, don’t realize how much work a puppy is or how they get into everything,” said Sangollo.

“Fostering is so important because it allows more dogs to be rescued. So fostering is kind of that bridge between the shelter and finding their forever home,” added Fry. “This allows the shelter to take on more dogs, especially ones that might be more in need, more care. And also it’s really important because the home environment is much more positive than the shelter environment.”

August 26th is known as international dog day and the SPCA had this message to share.

“The foster program, having all the dogs, cats, bunnies in a foster home, it’s great to kind of see them thrive in an environment where they’re just able to adjust to themselves,” said Sangollo. “They don’t have the stress, or to worry about being anxious because they’re around sounds and dogs, cat, the smells and people patting and touching them.”

“They just are going have their own space to let them just be them and watching them thrive out of their little bubble and just blossoming into a butterfly.”

Both Fly With Me and the Nova Scotia SPCA stressed that without people fostering pets, they wouldn’t be able to do what they do to help them.

And of course, the long-term goal of adoption is top of mind for Sangollo too.

“Although for international dog day we have at least three of our long-term dogs going home today, so that’s a great way to start off the international dog day.”