From foster to forever: a Mumsnetter’s journey with rescue dog, Lola

If you’re considering adding a furry friend to your family, rescuing a dog through fostering or adoption can be a rewarding path to pet ownership. Not only do you provide a loving home for a dog in need, but you also gain a loyal companion and will learn valuable lessons along the way.

To shed light on the benefits of rescuing a dog, we spoke to Mumsnet user Lovethat, who - after posting a picture of her dog, Lola, on our recent Dog of the Month thread - has shared more on her experience of taking Lola in as a foster dog and eventually adopting her permanently.

Lola is a lively foxhound/beagle/border collie cross who found her way into Lovethat’s life at just 16 weeks old.

“Both myself and my husband have always had dogs, we had three at the time and had discussed fostering with a local rescue centre”, Lovethat shared.

“They were really struggling to find foster homes with people that were home most of the day and also had dog-friendly resident dogs.

“Lola had been placed into emergency foster care due to her family not being able to cope with her. She’s a bundle of energy who needs both physical and mental stimulation.”

As Lola was a puppy, Lovethat and her DH needed to make some preparations in their home ready for Lola’s arrival to make it easier for her to settle in, while not upsetting their resident dogs. 

These include setting things up like a crate for rest and alone time, stocking up on their favourite food (like Pedigree®’s wet and dry dog food), preparing to establish daily health routines like taking care of their oral health with Pedigree® DENTASTIX™, and pre-empting things like separation anxiety in pets. 

To help ease separation anxiety, you can try giving your dog a distraction, like a Pedigree® JUMBONE™ chew and only leave them for short periods of time to begin within. 

“Our dogs are used to other dogs coming into the home and are polite and understand how to interact with other dogs.

“We took them all out for a walk and then Lola went into the house first to have a sniff around and we then introduced them to the rest of the pack in the back garden – let chaos reign. 

“We are big fans of letting the dogs suss each other out, and as long as no aggression is seen we don’t step in. Our older dogs corrected her when she got a bit too energetic but that also teaches Lola what’s acceptable in [the] dog world.” 

Of course, not everybody considering fostering will have resident dogs already. Regardless, whether it’s your first, fourth or ninth time fostering, the steps above are ones you can take to make the transition easier for all involved. 

“I work from home, so [I] was constantly there for her during her first few weeks”, Lovethat shares, explaining how crate training, separation anxiety and tummy troubles were all things they needed to address after bringing Lola home. 

Despite initial intentions to see Lola off to her forever home, though, Lovethat and her family quickly fell in love. “I was adamant that it was only a foster placement”, she admits, “but my husband has said that he knew as soon as he picked her up that we’d never let her go.

“She really is a special soul. I couldn’t ever imagine her not being with us.” 

Adopting Lola

The decision to adopt Lola permanently came after Lovethat recognised the deep bond she’d formed with the family, especially with their border terrier. 

Now three years old, Lola has blossomed into a confident, loving member of the family. These days, Lola’s life is filled with cuddles, playtime with her canine siblings, long walks and runs in enclosed dog parks, followed by plenty of naps as Lovethat’s family work. 

“I feel so much happier that Lola is with us rather than being passed around. It gives me a huge sense of achievement that we’ve done something good. I’d like to say selfless, but that’s rubbish, she gives us so much more than we’ve ever given her.

“She rules the roost and is so much more confident. But somehow more loving than our resident dogs. I don’t know if it’s the breed or the fact she’s so attached to us.

Of course, both fostering and adopting a rescue dog can come with its challenges. But, ask anyone who rescues, and they’ll likely say the same thing. 

“There is no better way to help an animal than with your time”, shares Lovethat.

“They give you so much more than you can ever expect and it’s a great feeling to see them move onto their forever home. 

“We still keep in contact with some of the families that have adopted dogs we’ve fostered and it’s so lovely to see them happy.” 

Advice for potential rescue families

For those considering adopting a rescue dog, our Mumsnetter offers these pearls of wisdom. 

“There are so many dogs out there that deserve a safe loving home – every dog does.

“Speak to other families, use the people who have been there, seen and done it. Have patience [and] don’t push the dog. Often they just need space and will come to you when they’re good and ready.

“We try to expose her to different experiences - we take her to dog shows, socialisation training courses and of course, a trip to the pub is also a good experience for her.”

To help potential foster families, Lovethat recommends following ‘the rule of three’: three days to decompress, three weeks to learn your routines and three months to feel at home. 

Oh, and “dog hair and muddy paw prints a fact of life”, according to Lovethat. 

When choosing a dog to rescue, it's important that you get as much information as possible to make sure they are the right pet for you. 

With the help of Pedigree®, we have a complete guide to adopting a dog in the UK that gives in-depth information and guidance on the topic. Families should consider:

• Their lifestyle, which should match the breed’s needs ie energy level, space and time commitment 

• Making the decision as a family, ensuring all members are on board with the responsibilities of a pet

• Their budget by factoring in costs for food, veterinary care, supplies and, like Lola’s case, potential behavioural or socialisation training 

• Your home by dog-proofing your living space and getting everything you need for their arrival like food/water bowls, bedding, toys, training pads 

• The dog’s age - puppies, adult dogs and senior dogs all have different needs

• If you’re fostering, looking into adopting like Lovethat’s family did 

• And remember - be patient, allow time for adjustment as the dog settles into your home and family routine

About Pedigree®

Pedigree® believes that every dog deserves a forever loving home. We're for all dogs, big and small, they make us better people and deserve quality dog food in forever loving homes. We work hard to develop products that will help keep your dog happy and healthy.

About the author

Rebecca Roberts is a writer, editor, and content marketing expert hailing from Leeds. Here at Mumsnet, she brings parents content designed to make life easier. With a dog herself, she knows all too well how much joy a pet can bring to a family. 

Beyond her role as an editor here at Mumsnet, Rebecca can be found balancing life as a working mum of two toddlers and when she’s not at her desk, you’ll likely find her at a local playgroup, in a nearby coffee shop, or walking the dog.

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