Bryce

Dogs smile, and this is an undeniable fact. (See photo at left.) Anyone who disagrees is simply both visually and emotionally impaired. But dogs can cry, too. I know this with upsetting certainty, as I have seen Bryce do it several times.

Bryce is the lionhearted, 8-year old Bernese Mountain Dog/Retriever mix that my husband and I are currently fostering. He arrived at a shelter two years ago as an "owner turn-in," with no more information than that. Despite a photo that looked like a prison mug shot, he was soon rescued by Noreen Reardon and the Bill Foundation.

The care and compassion of these individuals and many more have kept Bryce's smiling face around for so much longer than we all imagined. He has battled bladder cancer twice now, and is currently in the midst of fighting its third recurrence. With the exception of the woeful days connected with his latest treatment, he has been happy and strong.

He has so much personality: he is confident, nosy, defiant, sensitive and often moody. (Sometimes he reminds me of myself!) He can be alternately needy, then independent; curious, then disinterested. He will sometimes parade through the living room, pass the couch purposefully, and sit quietly…only to stare at the opposite wall with his back to us.

He is beloved. More than anything, Bryce is determined. He is determined to continue living his cheerful, comfortable life. I believe he knows, somehow, that he is one of the lucky ones. What he doesn't know is that he would not be so lucky without the wonders of the foster system.

I myself did not understand fostering, nor can I admit that I wanted to consider becoming a foster parent. I just wanted a dog, and not the kind purchased from a store or a breeder. I knew I would look for a rescue, but I had no plans for taking on a dog only to give him away later.

However, Bryce's special situation has made me recognize the necessity of fostering, which ultimately makes room for more pet rescues. One has only to visit a pet adoption and witness these unwanted, abandoned and forsaken pets to understand the urgency of the situation. It requires an army of unselfish individuals to make a difference.

That's why I urge everyone to at least consider fostering or adopting a dog before purchasing one from a store or a breeder (an estimated 25 percent of all dogs in shelters are purebred!) If you are reading this, you are certainly off to a good start. But more people must become educated about the facts, and through education, become impassioned advocates.

Approximately 40 percent of all dogs are given up to shelters during their first year in a new home. If organizations like the Bill Foundation are unable to rescue these pets, half of them will eventually be euthanized – between 3 and 4 million pets per year! This is a dilemma that will not be resolved overnight. We must all do what we can, without surpassing the limits of our abilities and therefore furthering the problem.

I am prepared to continue helping, even after Bryce's body finally gives out and his smile fades away. I know we will open our home and hearts to another. We will not only be giving a fulfilling life to a deserving and worthy companion; but we will pave the way for other dogs to be given that same opportunity.

I hope Bryce's determination and our story will inspire you to join us on this crusade.