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Original poster

Withdrawn guide dog leaving their fosterer to go and live in their forever home

85 replies

lovenotwar149 · 28/03/2025 20:05

So I have been a trainer fosterer for a guide dog that got withdrawn quite recently on health grounds. I am now his respite fosterer and he is with me F/T as he is not in training anymore. A home has been found for him and its looking likely that he will/may leave me in 2 wks. This may of course change.
He has lived with me and I have looked after him since Oct '24, a strong bond has formed.
I wanted to ask if anyone has been in my situation? I want to know how/if I will feature in his life after me? Do I get to meet the new owners? Can I pass on my details etc Can I offer , if they live nearly, to have him if they plan a holiday away etc.
I also want to suggest that a 'transition' occurs. i.e. can the new owners have him just for an afternoon to start with , or perhaps for just 1 night while he is still living with me. Im pretty sure my dog is going to be upset at going from seeing me all day everyday to not seeing me at all and to be with complete strangers!? Seems harsh not to have some transition period for the dog. How potentially unsettling for him.
Of course I will be finding this out from the GD assoc , but the rehoming officer is away atm,so I thought I would ask on here and see if anyone has any personal experience of this. Many thanks :)

OP posts:
noctilucentcloud · 03/04/2025 21:46

lovenotwar149 · 03/04/2025 19:51

Update - A home has been found for him and he will be leaving me next Wednesday.

My perspective: "How lucky are they to have you, how lucky indeed! Have the best time, I'm very excited for your next chapter! Love you very much indeed!"

I am feeling pretty strong and I am so happy a forever home has been found for him and that he doesn't have to go to another fosterer. Result.

P.S. Will there be any tears, most probably, but hey...its all good :)

Well done on changing your perspective and feeling ok about it. Have a lot of fun with him between now and Wed.

lionbrain · 03/04/2025 22:13

Aw Op tears are ok and allowed.

So glad he has his new home and he is a lucky boy to have come from the most loving foster home. He is just getting more and more love a very lucky dog.

Look after yourself

Twiglets1 · 04/04/2025 15:34

I can relate to what you’re feeling @lovenotwar149

Im raising a guide dog puppy, have had him since he was 8 weeks old and he’s leaving me in June or July.

He seems incredibly settled with me and my family so I dread him leaving and the thought he could be upset. But he has boarded a couple of times and he settled very quickly with the boarder too so I know really he’ll be ok. It’s a hard thing to have to do but dogs are very resilient. You’ve done a good job in making your dog happy and that will help them to move on confidently to the next chapter.

Original poster
lovenotwar149 · 04/04/2025 17:06

Thank you for those warm and heartfelt messages, very appreciated :)

OP posts:
abracadabra1980 · 04/04/2025 19:32

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 29/03/2025 07:15

I have always rehomed rescue dogs and never once known or heard of one wasting away pining for its previous owner in real life. They just get on with it.

Edited

I have to concur with this. Unused to be a regional Rehoming coordinator for a large UK breed rescue. When rehoming the dogs, they literally took 48 hours to adapt to their new environment. I would have the [distraught surrenderer] calling me months later, asking how Surrenderpup was coping. It sometimes took me all my decorum to not tell them that their 'baby' has happily moved on and forgotten about them really quickly 🤣 I did feel for them though. And I still now think it is only the bravest who admit that they can't cope and do actually surrender their dog.
OP as others have mentioned, could you not afford a dog walker or boarder once you go back to work, if you really want to be a foster fail?

godmum56 · 04/04/2025 19:40

"And I still now think it is only the bravest who admit that they can't cope and do actually surrender their dog."

This absolutely

Original poster
lovenotwar149 · 06/04/2025 07:02

What do people think of this...

When I drop him off next Wednesday , I want to give the rehoming officer a box of chocolates and a thank u card to pass on to the new owners who will be collecting him from the centre later on that day.

I genuinely want to say THANK YOU to them for homing this beautiful beautiful boy. Do you think that will be received well or do any of you have other thoughts on this? Please share......

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 06/04/2025 07:05

lovenotwar149 · 06/04/2025 07:02

What do people think of this...

When I drop him off next Wednesday , I want to give the rehoming officer a box of chocolates and a thank u card to pass on to the new owners who will be collecting him from the centre later on that day.

I genuinely want to say THANK YOU to them for homing this beautiful beautiful boy. Do you think that will be received well or do any of you have other thoughts on this? Please share......

I would be happy to receive a little gift and card. But would be equally happy with just a card tbh. The main thing is the human connection ... a few words and a bit of information about the dog that will help his new owners to understand him.

EmpressaurusKitty · 06/04/2025 07:38

My foster cats always took a crocheted blanket & favourite toy, and I told the new owners they were welcome to get in touch whenever they had questions.

It never occurred to me to give them chocolates or cards tbh, although a couple of them brought gifts for me for having looked after their cat.

I know it’s a bit different because you won’t be meeting them, but I think a note or card is a good idea.

jambunny · 06/04/2025 08:43

I’m a puppy raiser so well used to handing them over to a new home. I’ve also looked after lots that have moved in with me for holidays and I’ve got to be honest, they’re very adaptable and don’t give a backward glance.
You will miss him, but dogs live in the present so as long as his needs are being met, he will be happy. They don’t have the same emotions as humans which is fortunate as you wouldn’t want them to be upset.
Guide dogs can pass on your details to the new owner if you ask them to but ultimately it’s up to them if they want to contact you or not - you may get lucky. Does the new owner live in your area? I can’t see GD staff having the time or inclination to facilitate a settling in period, unless the dog is particularly anxious. Fingers crossed for you.

Twiglets1 · 06/04/2025 08:50

EmpressaurusKitty · 06/04/2025 07:38

My foster cats always took a crocheted blanket & favourite toy, and I told the new owners they were welcome to get in touch whenever they had questions.

It never occurred to me to give them chocolates or cards tbh, although a couple of them brought gifts for me for having looked after their cat.

I know it’s a bit different because you won’t be meeting them, but I think a note or card is a good idea.

I too got a crocheted blanket that came with our guide dog puppy - it apparently had the smell of his mother on it. But tbh he wasn’t very interested in the blanket, more interested in his new toys and bed.

What was more useful was the note that came with him which told me a few of his favourite things and helped me to get him settled & happy in his new home. Plus the mobile number of the woman who had looked after his litter since birth, so I could message her with any questions.

Twiglets1 · 06/04/2025 08:54

jambunny · 06/04/2025 08:43

I’m a puppy raiser so well used to handing them over to a new home. I’ve also looked after lots that have moved in with me for holidays and I’ve got to be honest, they’re very adaptable and don’t give a backward glance.
You will miss him, but dogs live in the present so as long as his needs are being met, he will be happy. They don’t have the same emotions as humans which is fortunate as you wouldn’t want them to be upset.
Guide dogs can pass on your details to the new owner if you ask them to but ultimately it’s up to them if they want to contact you or not - you may get lucky. Does the new owner live in your area? I can’t see GD staff having the time or inclination to facilitate a settling in period, unless the dog is particularly anxious. Fingers crossed for you.

Thank you for posting that.

I’m a puppy raiser on my first puppy & I don’t know about OP, but it really reassures me to hear you say that. I always think - he will be ok, he’s adaptable - but it’s nice to have it confirmed by someone that has done it lots of time before including boarding.

Original poster
lovenotwar149 · 06/04/2025 08:55

Ok thx.
Yes I have notes about him etc to pass on which the rehoming officer has too been sent a copy.
I just thought I'd send a box of chocs and a thank you card with a message like....
To my new owners,
Thank you for having me. My respite fosterers said I was a very good boy, I hope you think so too.
Love (dogs name)

Bit cutesy, and a bit fun too. And its warm, I like that.

OP posts:
Original poster
lovenotwar149 · 06/04/2025 08:57

jambunny

Yes , this was most helpful/reassuring, thx

OP posts:
Original poster
lovenotwar149 · 06/04/2025 09:00

I'm no hoping that the new owners contact me. I have passed on my contact num if they want/choose to. Ball's in their court...rightly so.
I do know that his new owners have been puppy raisers for GD in the past and now they want their own dog. I was happy to hear this news about them,

OP posts:
Original poster
lovenotwar149 · 06/04/2025 09:00

Not hoping

OP posts:
EmpressaurusKitty · 06/04/2025 10:28

That should make them smile.

As for the staying in touch - at first it was so I could help them & then later more for me, because I love getting occasional updates.

@lovenotwar149, every time a cat leaves I’ve put my favourite photo of them up on the wall, I like seeing them all together. Although now there’s a bigger photo of Kitty & me next to the collection. Would you enjoy something like that?

Vibgyor · 06/04/2025 11:20

If his new owners have been puppy raisers in the past they are very likely to get in touch as they’ve been in your position.

I would definitely send a nice card but I think the chocolates would be overkill.

When we got our dog had the puppy raisers sent me chocolates I would have thought it was a bit full on and almost trying to emotionally blackmail me to stay in touch which I wouldn’t have warmed to.

Instead I received a note that our boy had been a wonderful puppy, they loved him very much and would be delighted to hear how he is getting on but they totally understand if I preferred not to. That felt right to me (and of course I have sent them photos and videos etc).

Original poster
lovenotwar149 · 06/04/2025 12:43

Vibgyor

I would definitely send a nice card but I think the chocolates would be overkill.

I hear you!

OP posts:
Vibgyor · 09/04/2025 06:11

Hi OP I think today may be rehoming day and I just wanted to remind you that you have done an amazing thing and I hope you are ok.

Twiglets1 · 09/04/2025 06:33

Hope it goes well @lovenotwar149

I expect there will be a few tears today but you’ve done a great job and as I know from personal experience, it’s impossible not to love those puppies despite the fact you know they aren’t yours.

Be kind to yourself ❤️

Original poster
lovenotwar149 · 09/04/2025 08:51

Thank you for remembering.Very touched! I am due to take him to the centre for handover @ 10am....so very soon indeed.
I'm feeling strong, we just had our last play in the garden together, he's in very good form...so am I actually. Many tears y'day ,today I'm smiling, atm anyway...lol!
I have a massage booked at 3pm...definitely gonna be kind to myself today!! xx

OP posts:
EmpressaurusKitty · 09/04/2025 08:58

lovenotwar149 · 09/04/2025 08:51

Thank you for remembering.Very touched! I am due to take him to the centre for handover @ 10am....so very soon indeed.
I'm feeling strong, we just had our last play in the garden together, he's in very good form...so am I actually. Many tears y'day ,today I'm smiling, atm anyway...lol!
I have a massage booked at 3pm...definitely gonna be kind to myself today!! xx

The first one is always the hardest, OP.

Original poster
lovenotwar149 · 09/04/2025 11:52

It went very well. Held it together very well indeed,I think I did the crying part y'day and got it out of my system.
I wanted to have a positive energy about myself for the dog to feed off. And let me tell you that he went to the centre with a WAGGING tail which was delightful for me to see. He looked very happy indeed!
Phew!!
I dont mind either way , but it would be very nice if I do hear s'thing from his owners about how he's getting on. If not I will put my trust in the universe on this one.
Have a lovely day people!! xx

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 09/04/2025 12:44

lovenotwar149 · 09/04/2025 11:52

It went very well. Held it together very well indeed,I think I did the crying part y'day and got it out of my system.
I wanted to have a positive energy about myself for the dog to feed off. And let me tell you that he went to the centre with a WAGGING tail which was delightful for me to see. He looked very happy indeed!
Phew!!
I dont mind either way , but it would be very nice if I do hear s'thing from his owners about how he's getting on. If not I will put my trust in the universe on this one.
Have a lovely day people!! xx

I hope you do hear from them shortly. I think they will be able to tell from your message that he is well loved and you would appreciate an update just for peace of mind.