Making a Difference

Animals come to Friends of Noah through no fault of their own. Sometimes a ‘happy tail’ isn’t a happy situation for everyone involved. We feel those stories, while sad, are also important to share.

One such painful story was Tootsie. When Tootsie’s owner found herself homeless with nowhere to go, she made the heart-wrenching decision to surrender.

Tootsie went into foster care. Her foster family fell in love with her and ended up adopting her.

We understand that no one asks to be put into these situations. We are grateful that Tootsie’s owner found the strength to reach out and ask for help. While we are unable to foster all the animals, we will attempt to do what we can to help.

A Stray Once Saved my Life

A Stray Once Saved my Life
by Mary Watson

Ryder

Why did I become a foster mom? Years ago a tiny, elderly, very ill stray dog showed up at my doorstep. Unable to locate the owner I kept him. His vet bill was astronomical but he lived 4 happy years in my care. During this time I had a serious health crisis. This tiny dog actually saved my life. Now I am returning the love that Jorgie Snitzel unconditionally gave me. He gave me life. I want to be that steppingstone to health and happiness for these precious poochies.

Ryder is my first foster. He is adorable! A snuggly little boy. He fit in well with my two fur girls. He loves walks ( wearing a harness) and playing ball. He uses pee pee pads but will go outside with my girls. He receives a treat after doing his business. Ryder follows me everywhere! He is an absolute darling and will need a parent that will let him snuggle.

Thank you Mary for stepping in to be a Foster Hero to Ryder!

Being a Foster Can Change Your Life

Being a Foster Changed My Life

Claire

My first foster was an adult cat I called Claire.  She had a pretty face, was orange in color, and a definite cat "regal" personality.  I fostered her at my home for several weeks. Once she was spayed and had a medical checkup she moved into the Mounds Cat Room. It didn’t take long to receive an adoption application! The couple who applied were delightful and down-to-earth. Once the background check was completed, I took Claire to their home for a ‘meet and greet’. I had to laugh when I walked into their home and found the biggest cat tree I had ever seen made just for Claire.  There were toys scattered everywhere and the couple were anxious for her to settle in. Needless to say, Claire settled her into her new home beautifully!

Bridget

I received a phone call from a couple whose puppy was more than they could manage and they wanted to surrender it to FoN.  I went to their home where we had a long discussion but they felt it was in the best interest of everyone if the puppy left with me.  She was quite young so I contacted another volunteer for some ‘puppy’ supplies. Right away, she got along great with my olders. Soon, she was spayed, vet checked, and ready for her forever home.  Several people were interested in her including a friend of mine.  I knew it would be an exceptional home and was delighted to think she would grow up in such a loving family. I took 'Bridget' for a visit and my friend was crazy about her and couldn't wait to adopt her. At the end of the visit I got very teary eyed and my girlfriend started to laugh at me saying "Bridget has her forever home with you and everyone knows it".  It seemed everyone, but me, did know it. So I am a foster failure and I've couldn't be happier about it.  Bridget is so smart, she has earned her Canine Good Citizen title, is doing well in agility classes and makes friends wherever we go. 

I had mixed emotions about being a foster, but thinking about it, I believe it is right thing to help others along the way in life, no matter in what capacity.

Want to learn more about fostering for Friends of Noah? Click below!

Buddy

Buddy

While Buddy was waiting to get into our Adoption Center he was hit by a car resulting in a broken pelvis. Buddy will be spending a month in a small crate while he recovers. During his recovery, he is being treated to plenty of wet food (which will also help with any constipation issues caused by the pain meds), and a treat ball to keep him slightly entertained in his confined space. There is a possibility he will have arthritic issues as he gets older.

We are so grateful to a Foster Hero who stepped up to care for Buddy during this time. Friends of Noah will have Buddy available for adoption once he is fully healed, vaccinated, and neutered.

Want to learn more about fostering for Friends of Noah? Click below!

Why We Foster

RJ

We have always had dogs. In fact, we got our first one shortly after we met. Our dogs have all been Schnauzers, but we like all dogs, and are “dog people”. Through our 49 years of marriage, we have raised one daughter and 4 dogs (Tuffy, Farfy, Abby, and Schnitzel). Our daughter currently has Cooper (Schnitzel’s brother/littermate) and we often take care of him.

Fostering has helped fill the empty spot which was so evident when we lost Schnitzel 2 years ago. Buddy and Charlie, our first fosters, were full of fun and provided lots of entertainment for us. There were some bumps in the road, but the best part was seeing them happy with their new home. We feel dogs are deeply caring animals and deserve to have a loving family.

We are now fostering RJ who has proven to be a wonderful distraction during the quarantine time. Life would have been harder the last few months if it wasn’t for him! What we lack in experience with training, Lori Rockwell (FoN Volunteer, DVM Behavior Consulting) is available to help. We do our best and are rewarded when each dog is happy in our home and in their forever home. They do so much for us, we want to do all we can for them! ~ Bob & Linda Edwards

Want to learn more about fostering for Friends of Noah? Click below!

Mama Panda and KITTENS!

Lori Rockwell, DVM, took in a very pregnant, but somewhat fearful, Panda at the end of March. On April 7th, she gave birth to 3 bundles of fur!

Panda is getting friendlier by the day and is a good mama cat. Her kittens are now about 5 weeks old and are the bundles of furry energy you would expect!

You can follow Panda and her kittens on our Facebook page as we posting weekly videos! Thank you Lori for being a Foster Hero!

Be a Foster Hero!

Meet Ed

Ed came to us as a surrender from an Amish Puppy mill where he was used as a breeding dog for 7 years. When he arrived, he was very nervous and had urine staining on his legs and tail. His mouth was severely infected and he had 17 teeth removed.

Even after enduring obvious neglect, he has blossomed into a loving "fur ball" of happiness!

He now has a Beautiful New Life and Family!

If it hadn't been for Fostering, who knows what Ed's fate might have been. We have fostered hoarding cases, puppy mill dogs, strays and animals no longer wanted by their families. Our goal is to help animals stay in their home but it's not always possible.

Without Fosters, we cannot help these animals that need us.

If you can find it in your heart & can open your home to help these animals to heal and go on to a better life, Please fill out an application to foster dogs or cats.

Jeanie Firn

When I first thought about fostering, I was wondering if I had the time, if I had the experience, if I really wanted the extra work involved.  I finally just gave it a go and was given my first foster dog.  Everything changed. It reversed the way I thought and the worries I had.  I realized the time spent was of the best quality.  I was smiling at little things and progress being made and that made my heart a little bigger.  I didn’t have a lot of professional training, but I did have love to share and that’s what really matters.  I found out the work involved was not work at all.  It was putting out a little to gain a lot.  To watch that dog find himself and show love for others is the biggest reward ever received.  It is the blending of two hearts being shared by many.  You just make the world a little nicer.

Kacie Harrier

Kacie Harrier, owner of Canine Clips Grooming in Janesville, is fostering Simba and Kip. They are thriving under Kacie's care. Kacie has said many times that she wants to help any way she can. The kittens are able to be seen at Canine Clips.

Becky & Fiona

Becky is a single mom of two teenage boys, Taylor (17 yo) and Caleb (14 yo) and a nurse in Janesville, WI. Taylor will be a senior at Parker High School and is a hockey player. He plans to join the Navy after graduation. Caleb will start his freshman year at Parker High School this fall and is a bowler. I am also a dog mom to the best dog ever, Fiona. She is an 11 yo beagle mix and if you ask my kids she is spoiled rotten.

We were lucky enough to dog-sit for Fiona’s previous family when they went on vacation a little over a year ago and we had made the comment that “she is so sweet we would keep her”. The family responded with “great we will bring her stuff when we get back from vacation”. The previous family had adopted from the local humane society and had her for about 10 years however, their situation had changed and they felt they didn’t have time for her. Unknown to me, they had wanted to re-home her but didn’t want to take her back to the humane society. We fell in love with little miss Fiona. She really is the sweetest thing you will ever meet and the best addition to our family.

We became fosters for Friends of Noah at the beginning of this year a bit unexpectedly. While at work, I had agreed to foster a 6 month old labradoodle puppy for someone for “just a few weeks”. Unfortunately, due to health problems, the owner was never able to come back for the puppy and my boys and I were faced with the task to re-home the puppy. My biggest concern was that the puppy obviously had a lot of life left to live and I didn’t want her to end up with the wrong family for her. Knowing that I didn’t have the resources to do background checks, vet checks and all of the steps that a good adoption process should have, Friends of Noah was suggested to me by a coworker. This is how we became part of the Friends of Noah family.

While sometimes letting go of the fosters is tough, we love fostering for Friends of Noah. It is great to give the fosters all the love they deserve while with us.