Weekend at Warren’s: A Foster Story

It started on a Friday night at the Humane Society of West Michigan. I headed in for our Foster and Volunteer party, and when I arrived at the event, my weekend changed.  

​I’m Warren Fosler, Content Coordinator at Humane Society of West Michigan, and that night I was asked, “Do you want to foster a puppy for the weekend?” I looked down and saw two adorable little puppies who had come in the day before, Oscar and Benson. The pups were timid and very attached to each other, and the goal was to provide them with some time alone to gain more confidence without their sibling. 
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After some consideration, I said “Sure, why not?” I didn’t have plans for the weekend, so I figured I could take one little guy home. For context, I had fostered through the shelter once before, my dog Rory who I ended up adopting. Rory has a lot of energy and can be a bit much at times. She loves other dogs but also has her tough moments, so I had a few concerns. My other dog, Malcolm (also adopted from HSWM), loves other dogs and I knew would not have a problem. After the party, I picked up Oscar and headed home. 

The First Night 

When we arrived, I quickly put Oscar in my bedroom and shut the door so I could take my dogs outside to burn off some energy and do a proper introduction (and pee). When we came back in, both dogs immediately wanted in the bedroom. After the initial introduction, some sniffing, and a little nervousness from Oscar, things started to calm down. 
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Next was dinner time for all the dogs. While Oscar ate, my dogs gave him some space, though they kept a close eye on him. Rory didn’t quite know what to do with herself. There was a new dog in town, after all. Malcolm had the look of, “Oh please, not another one,” since Rory can be a pretty strong-willed little sister.  After dinner, to my surprise, all four of us cuddled on the couch. The sniffing continued, but everyone seemed comfortable enough.
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My initial nervousness faded. 

Later that night, I tried to get Oscar to play. Since he was skittish, it took a bit of reassurance, but before long he was happily frolicking around with a lamb chop toy in his mouth. That’s when we faced our second test. Rory is the type of dog who thinks, “You’re playing with a toy? I want that toy.” No matter how many other toys you offer her, she always wants the one someone else has. Oscar lay there squeaking away, while Rory stared longingly at his lamb chop. She eventually went in for the steal, and Oscar let out a little yip, clearly saying, “No, this is mine!” and Rory politely backed off. 
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Most dogs give in and let Rory have the toy. But somehow, this nine-pound puppy stood his ground her better than her canine friends. He is only four months old, but he already knew how to stand up for himself. 

Teaching Oscar

That night, we all went to bed and slept in our respective spots. Malcolm curled up on the pillow next to me, Rory slept on my left, and Oscar tucked himself in on my right. Saturday morning came quickly. We jumped out of bed, ate breakfast, and headed outside. Oscar had never walked on a leash before, so I wanted to start getting him used to it. With all three dogs leashed up, we ventured out into the cold. Oscar stuck close, walking between my two dogs, then circling back to me, spinning around and tangling us all together. 
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Oscar followed Malcolm straight into the deep snow, unfazed, and both did their business outside. He has done incredibly well with house training so far. Yes, there were a few accidents indoors, but he’s a puppy, and that’s expected. What surprised me most was how well he could hold it and wait until we were outside on walks. He’s a smart boy who learns quickly. 

Throughout the rest of the weekend, we played, napped, and bonded. Oscar grew more confident, playing more, running around, and learning from my dogs. There were moments when Malcolm or Rory told Oscar they needed space, and he respected it. On Friday night, Oscar would have backed away immediately, looking for somewhere safe. On Saturday, he simply found a new place to lie down, showing no nervousness at all. By Sunday, my dogs had even accepted some light cuddling with him. ​

What Oscar Taught Me 

Oscar is an amazing puppy. He has the sweetest personality, he’s been easy to train, and overall, he’s a true gentleman. The only sounds I’ve heard from him are a few tiny yaps and the little “hmph” he directs at the ice maker as I write this.
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This foster weekend was eye-opening for me. It reassured me that my own dogs still do well with others. It also gave me a new perspective on what our fosters experience. I learned what it’s like to bring a shelter pet home, watch how they adapt to a new environment, and see how they fit into daily life. ​

​I spent a lot of time observing Oscar. I learned what he likes, how his personality shines, and how quickly he can recover from fear. He’s still skittish, but he’s curious and brave, and he’s learning that the world doesn’t always have to be scary. ​

Why I Won’t Be Adopting Oscar 

I’ll be taking Oscar back to the shelter tomorrow. I always knew our time together would be short, but I’m so glad we had it. You might be thinking, “You’ve only said amazing things. He sounds like the perfect puppy.” You’d be right. Oscar is the perfect puppy. 
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I don’t want to adopt Oscar because I know he will find a loving home quickly. He’ll make that family’s life better. He’s cute, affectionate, and he loves other dogs. He deserves a family that will love him just as deeply as he will love them, and I know his perfect match is out there. ​

Final Thoughts 

To whoever ends up adopting Oscar, I know you’ll love him. He’s easy to love and has endless affection to give back. Play with him often, take him on walks in the deep snow, and give him all the lamb chops he can possibly have. Seriously, he loves those things. 
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P.S. Keep a close eye on your cords and papers. ​