Joys of Fostering The Bill Foundation always tries to find their rescues a foster home before resorting to boarding a new dog. Not only does fostering provide a healthier atmosphere for the dog but helps us get to know the dog. This information becomes key to finding just the right home for their personality. Many dogs end up in the shelter system for no other reason than being the wrong "type" of dog for their owner. Many people adopt/buy their dogs based solely on appearance rather than taking into account dog's temperament and personality. Here at the Bill Foundation we feel that foster care allows us to get to know these dogs, discover their quirks and then better match them to the right human companion. Besides this very practical reason for promoting foster care, ask any foster volunteer and they will tell you how rewarding it can be. Here are a few of our foster stories along with Bill Foundation Dogs and Parents.   Noreen has been working with The Bill Foundation from the beginning and has been involved with dog rescue for six years having also worked with other rescue groups in the past.  She is a big supporter of fostering. "I guess I find the most rewarding part of fostering is to see the change the dogs go through" she told us, "We get these terrified little creatures who are sometimes so filthy and matted that we can't tell what color or even what kind of dog they are. It's wonderful to see these dogs come into my home and instantly sense that they are safe. Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of kindness and some food and these dogs are forever grateful." Last year alone she fostered nine dogs. Daniel has also been working with The Bill Foundation from the beginning.  A tireless volunteer, he not only fosters dogs, but makes trips to the shelters, works the Sunday fairs and hosted a TBF garage sale at his home.  He is pictured here with his former foster dog, Greta.     Karen has been working with the Bill Foundation also from the beginning as well as rescuing dogs on her own. "They just seem to find their way to me," she tells us about rescueing what she lovingly calls her "Kiss-Bulls".  Pictured with her current foster, Charlie, who is a great example of a Kiss-Bull. He has gone through extensive obedience training and has personality plus! Right now, he thinks he is a lap dog and wants nothing more  than to give wet sloppy kisses.  One of our foster moms, Karen, got involved in the foster program after losing one of her own dogs. She wasn't ready to adopt a new one and thought this would help fill the terrible void left by the loss of her friend.  Not only did it help to ease the pain, but also made her feel better by helping to find homes for these unfortunate dogs.  When asked how she was able to give up the dogs to someone new she replies, "It's like babysitting or teaching school - the kids can be loads of fun, but they're not yours - besides, they never grow old, they never die, but live on in your memory (and scrapbook). And most importantly, you are helping a dog find a new and loving home who might otherwise have met a far worse fate."   Ramesh began working with The Bill Foundation this past year at the Sunday Dog Fairs, but wanted to do more.  Here he is with this current foster, Hope, a four month old puppy.  Since Hope has been staying with Ramesh, she has blossomed and is no longer a terrified, skittish little girl. In this case, fostering truly has helped this little one become more social and ready for adoption Sioux, pictured here with Winthrop, adopted a Bill Foundation dog last year and also continues to foster dogs. She enjoys fostering and Van (her adopted TBF alumni) has new friends to play with on a regular basis. Tessa is pictured here with her foster dog Maisie (on her lap) and her dog Tucker, also a rescue.  Tessa is a first time foster mom but is doing a bang-up job with darling Maisie. When Maisie first came to us she was shy, scared, very unsocialized with no obedience skills.  With Tessa's help there has been quite a change in Maisie. She is now very social, loves people and other dogs, is leash trained, housebroken and an all around happy dog. She goes to the park everyday, spends a lot of time with her and has showered her with affection. It is a very lucky family that will be able to adopt the new Maisie. To the right are Janaki and Wade.  Janaki has also been around since the formation of The Bill Foundation and has fostered quite a few dogs.  In addition, she works the Sunday Dog Fairs. Wade is her current foster.  A darling dog, he would make a great family addition. For whatever reason people become involved in fostering dogs, opening your heart and home to one of these rescues can be a very rewarding experience.  Consider becoming a foster parent today.