Foster fail = A win for Milo and Em!

Sometimes, the universe has a funny way of leading us to our special furry soulmate.

Meet Em. Em works at a university library, lives with their partner and housemate, and enjoys a balance between spending time at home and going to concerts. Growing up, Em had fish, birds and even a snake! However, there had always been a special place in their heart for a canine pal. 

As someone who had never been a dog guardian before, Em had been thinking about becoming a foster carer as a way to try out having a dog before fully committing and also giving a homeless pet a loving environment to receive all the care and attention they need while waiting to be adopted. 

“I wanted a dog but wasn’t sure if I just liked the idea of having a dog, or the actual reality of it. I thought I could ‘try before I buy’ and I’d also be helping in the process!”

After hearing about their work, Em signed up as a foster carer for PetRescue member group Rescues4Pets. Like many rescue groups, in order to keep rescuing homeless pets, they rely on foster heroes to care for them while waiting to be adopted. Fostering rescue pets in a home environment means that a pet can decompress and let their unique personality come out while they soak up lots of love and attention!

Em says about the experience:

“I’d imagined I’d foster an older greyhound because they seem super chilled, but the group actually didn’t have any greyhounds needing foster care, and instead had a litter of puppies coming into their care, and asked if I could take one in.

Little ten-week-old Milo was such a sweetheart. The first night he was home with us, he jumped up on the couch onto my chest and snuggled in my arms... He ended up being my first and only foster dog!”

After spending a few weeks cuddling on the couch and going on adventures together, Em realised they couldn’t part ways with this sweet big boy.

“Once he’d been desexed and had recovered from the surgery, the rescue group contacted me asking for some cute photos so that they could list him for adoption. I started taking the photos… and then asked what the adoption process was for him! He just seemed so perfect for me, and I couldn’t let him go. The rescue group said they knew we would be a foster fail!”

One of the best things about adopting a pet is that your new best friend could be completely different to what you initially thought you’d end up with. It's kind of like the most adorable and fun lucky dip ever!

“I always thought I would end up with a little dog. I’d trawl through PetRescue every day, looking at small dogs. Instead, I have a thirty-kilogram Mastiff, who is still an absolute baby!”

Now that a few years have passed and Em now lives with their new partner and their housemate, they and Milo’s bond remains stronger than ever.

“Milo is still similar to how he was as a puppy, but he’s certainly gotten bolder and naughtier as he’s grown up and gained confidence! I did notice a big difference in him when I left my ex-partner, I was really stressed, and he also started getting stressed. Now that things in my life are improving, he also seems a lot happier and better behaved. He’s always been an absolute sweetheart who loves everyone.

Milo is permanently attached to me inside and outside the house; if I get up to grab a glass of water he comes with me. He matches my energy but also pushes me in the best way; If I’m feeling depressed and don’t want to get out of bed, he’s there motivating me to take him out for a walk.

He's now been with me for a few years and has gotten me through career letdowns, an abusive relationship and a lot of loss. I wouldn't be here without him, and I'm so glad my best friend came into my life.”

Em says to anyone considering fostering pets:

“Do it one hundred percent! Some people foster fail, and some can keep fostering over and over again before they’re adopted (and they’re amazing!) Even if you foster and don’t find your ‘soul-dog’ in your first foster, it can give you a good idea of what sort of character and what sort of energy you want from a pet and what would suit your life. It makes the whole adoption process easier… Or, you could keep fostering different pets and continue being amazing!”

We couldn’t have said it any better 👏

Learn more about becoming a foster hero here.

Check out nine fantastic reasons to foster a furry friend here.

To find rescue groups searching for foster carers in your area, check out our Foster Care Directory. 

Did you know you can easily search for pets needing foster care on PetRescue? Simply click the ‘pets needing foster care’ box on the left side filter.