When the author and her husband Ralph bring Freddy home from a Connecticut animal shelter as foster parents, they’re not quite sure what to expect. Freddy is a good dog. Freddy also wants to be the boss.
An older dog and has a slightly dislocated rear right knee, Freddy develops Cushing’s disease caused by too much cortisol. The tests and meds for Cushing’s are costly. Would anyone be willing to adopt Freddy with this disease? And what about the way Freddy bullies the other dog in the home, Grady?
Well. Having a bad knee and Cushing’s doesn’t dampen Freddy’s spirit. Freddy isn’t even dispirited when he has to wear a cone collar after surgery to remove a mast cell tumor. With his health and behavior issues, the question of whether or not Freddy will find a forever home is up in the air.
Caring for Freddy is a handful. After more than 24 months, the author and her husband hand him off to a couple other foster homes. He does well with an experienced dog trainer as his next foster mom. But he’s still looking for a [forever] home. The shelter considers classifying Freddy as a “Sensational Senior Beagle,” making any adopter eligible for financial help with paying Freddy’s veterinarian bills.
After nearly three years in foster care and many medical challenges, Freddy finds his [forever] home. His new family is “beagle savvy.” They live close to the veterinarians who can oversee his medical treatment. And offer loads of love.
The ending could bring tears from a turnip. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.
Foster Freddy Wants a Family is a sweet read. Honest and authentic, it’s the true story about what it takes to foster a dog who wants a forever family and the ups and downs that come with the foster commitment. Additional photos of Freddy are included at the end. Note Freddy’s “Arro Sheet.” This is a list of tips and tools for families considering fostering a dog to help make the animal’s transition to its new home easier. Real-life examples are included.
Speaking of tips, why the foster family didn’t bring Grady to the shelter for introductions prior to bringing Freddy home is unclear. Why the animal shelter didn’t provide instructions on establishing firm boundaries and alpha leadership right out of the gate is also unclear. The author observes, “My first time as a foster mom had many ups and downs. Everyone in the household would have benefited if I’d had training on how to add another dog to a home, how to train the dogs to get along, and how to teach them to respect me as the head of the household.”
That being said, Freddy is the true-life chronicle of a foster family and their loveable, eccentric dog who won a forever place in their hearts. Well-written and briskly paced, it offers an “inside look” at dog fostering. Heartfelt and heartwarming, each page is saturated with love, grace, and gratitude for a neglected stray who ultimately gave much more than he took.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who’s considering fostering or adopting a shelter dog. Or anyone who’s ever given their heart to a needy animal. Indeed, if Freddy persuades just one person to foster or adopt a shelter animal, it will succeed in spades. Just like the unforgettable bagle who taught one family about what it means to love unconditionally with a full heart..
Reviewed by Kristine L. Rating: 4.5
