“Sarah V. has been fostering Laverne and Shirley for seven months now. These two are super special because they are very bonded and live for each other. Not only is Sarah committed to keeping them through adoption to find them the perfect home, she’s committed to keeping them together, even if that might take longer. Laverne has had extensive orthopedic surgery on one leg, which has had its challenges due to infections and slow healing. After multiple visits, it was determined that she needed a specialist’s help. The specialist requested that the rescue buy a PEMF unit to help promote healing and speed up her recovery.
Before DPA could even try to purchase the much needed device, Sarah made the decision to purchase it on her own so that we didn’t need to divert the cost from another animal in need, or from Laverne’s next surgery.
Sarah give so much of herself on a daily basis as a foster, but also selflessly acted on behalf of our rescue and saved another life in the process. For those reasons, she is a pawsome person.” -Jessica D., DPA!’s Medical Coordinator
It is clear that Sarah embodies everything it takes and more as a foster. Read more about her below:
How did you get involved with Fostering with DPA?
Shortly after moving to Dallas, I wandered into Community Beer Company, unknowingly during a DPA event, immediately fell in love with every dog there & needed more pups in my life….of course I mean, I wanted to support DPA’s mission. 🙂
Tell us about a few of your fosters.
I’ve been fortunate to be able to help with full-time & temp fostering so no shortage of tail wags & slobbery kisses. Peaches, one the temps, was an older gal and blind, but man-o-man, was she a strong independent woman and oh so fun! Simone, the definition of play hard, nap hard; her snores could be heard in the next room. Archer, the most kind-hearted goofball I’ll ever be lucky enough to love on and share a pillow with; many nights he would wriggle under the covers & come up to lay his head right next to mine. And my favorite duo, sister’s Laverne & Shirley, the poster children for the ‘Who Rescued Who’ bumper stickers. From where they were in December to where they are now, watching their journey as they learn to be loved and learn how to be dog has been an even greater learning experience for me. And add in that they’re a basically a comedy-duo–quite a dynamic pair, we have no shortage of laughs rolling with all their silly-sister-pranks.
What is your favorite animal adoption story?
My first full time foster, Ivy, is my favorite adoption story. Ivy was as sweet and eager for love as a pup could be, but she was also timid & very scared. She’d sit 4-feet from me, smiling & wagging her tail but would cower & shake if I reached out to pet her, so we just hung out 4-feet apart for a while. After some decompression time, she learned that a lap is her favorite spot & cuddling is the best way to spend a day, but she was still very unsure of everyone else; she’d smile & wag at my neighbors but wouldn’t let them near her. Skip to just a few days later, 5 minutes in to our first adoption event I was beyond shocked to see Ivy jump into a stranger’s lap. Not a stranger for long, that lap was half of a most wonderful family & they completed her application at the event. Ivy just knew those were her people.
What do you love most about fostering with Dallas Pets Alive?
I love that DPA provides us the chance to give them another one.
I love that we can go pick any dog there, but that DPA works so hard for those that have the fewest options.
(I’ve only picked up end of day dogs & every single one of them has been simply amazing. Without DPA’s continuous effort, I wouldn’t have known anything about them or that they were in need.)
What would be some words of wisdom to new DPA Fosters?
It hurts and it’s hard. But you’ll never be sad over the shared smile between your foster & their people. (And picking up a new one the next day helps a whole lot too!)
Give us a fun fact about you!
I’m working on fostering dogs & horses all over the map, 4 states & counting, and have 2 rescue horses, Doc & Indy.
Be Pawsome like Sarah. Apply to be a Dallas Pets Alive! foster today!
