Dogs fostered with Luv
Senior Megan Brennan plays with her foster dogs, Tia and Samantha. (Photo by Bre Gregory)
February 16, 2009 • written by Sam Forsey, Entertainment Editor
Filed under Feature
Seconds tick off the clock as the execution time draws nearer and nearer for Shih Tzus Tia and Samantha at the local pound. Suddenly, their savior appears in the form of senior Megan Brennan, her mom Sandi Brennan and a dog-devoted organization named 4 Luv of Dog.
The dogs, saved from their unfortunate dilemma, have gone on to be fostered in the Brennan household until a more permanent home can be found for them.
Megan first found out about 4 Luv of Dog in a presentation through a class competition. She quickly introduced her mom to the idea and the two began fostering dogs in June. They have hosted several dogs in the past and are now on numbers four and five with Samantha and Tia. Thanks to the care of the Brennans, the doggy duo are now well-groomed and overall healthy.
“They were so funny looking when we first got them,” Megan said. “They looked like Chewbacca.”
While they keep busy with their own fostering activities, they are both quick to promote and encourage participation with 4 Luv of Dog.
“They are all volunteer and they are always looking for foster homes, or someone to go walking or even running with the dogs kept at Sheyenne Kennels,” Sandi said.
The main restriction for fostering a dog through the group, besides providing a safe and suitable house for the dog, is the age requirement of 25 years. High school students can still get involved and participate by taking the dogs without homes for walks, and by participating in fundraisers.
“This summer, I had my own dog to walk, because not all of the dogs have foster homes, so they have to live in kennels,” Megan said. “There are opportunities to walk them if you can’t foster them and that helps out a lot, too.”
4 Luv of Dog isn’t the only organization in the area that helps with the care of animals, but the group has some qualities that make it unique.
“[4 Luv of Dog] rescues all dogs, while the Humane Society only rescues dogs they think will be adopted right away, which is kind of mean,” Megan said.
Interested volunteers can check out the Web site at 4luvofdogs.com.
“On the Web site, it’s really easy to get started as a fosterer, a walker or even just volunteering,” Sandi said.
After Samantha and Tia are adopted, Sandi claims they are going to take a small break from fostering to give some more time for graduation preparations for Megan and for remodeling a portion of their home. Megan insists, however, that her mother always claims a break is coming between every new foster dog, but that it never happens.
“We started out and we were just going to do one and we got rid of that one, but then we got another,” Sandi said. “It’s kind of addicting because you say you’re done, but then they call and say that these dogs are going to be put to sleep, and you can’t have that.”
For now, Samantha and Tia are perfectly cared for and content at their home with the Brennans, but with any luck they will soon be adopted into a permanent household. For Megan and Sandi, whether it be now or later, fostering dogs will continue to be part of their future.
“It’s hard; you get attached to the dogs,” Sandi said. “Megan and I have cried many times when they leave, but you have to think when you let them go, you can go get another from the pound.”
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