The unforgettable tale of Fergus, a dog who found a home and treatment for heartworm disease, began with a special foster event that will forever be etched in Nanci Neugebauer's memory. As a devoted volunteer for Best Friends in Houston, Nanci had been contemplating fostering another dog when an email led her to the Best Friends foster rally at BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions. Aimed at providing aid to shelter dogs diagnosed with heartworm disease, the event was in dire need of foster homes for the treatment duration.
Among the countless photos, one particular dog stood out to Nanci - Fergus. His deeply expressive eyes held an irresistible allure that captivated her instantly. Learning more about Fergus roused a compelling urge in her to provide him with a loving foster home. Despite having helped numerous foster dogs tackle varying challenges over the past years, fostering a dog during heartworm treatment was an untraversed path for her. However, Fergus's soulful brown eyes tipped the scales in his favor, stoking her anticipation of fostering a dog that required months of restful care for heartworm treatment.
Having fostered several high-energy dogs like Samwell in the past, she thought that a more subdued dog like Fergus might just be the right fit for her. Therefore, she decided to foster Fergus, intending to provide a nurturing environment till his adoption. However, sometimes things turn out even better than planned.
The Life-Saving Power of Foster Rallies
The foster rally that linked Nanci to Fergus is amongst the slew of such effective initiatives led by Best Friends at shelters in the Houston area, aiming to enlist more foster volunteers and facilitate the quick matching of foster pets to suitable homes. These rallies provide a strong platform for Best Friends to enhance the count of foster volunteers and expedite the pairing process of foster pets with loving homes.For these rallies, BARC Animal Shelter renders a selection of pets who are specifically in need of foster care. Best Friends then arranges to have willing volunteers present at the shelter during the rally to meet the pets, encouraging new foster volunteers. Cory Stottlemyer, the public information officer at BARC, contends that these rallies are instrumental in matching adoption-seeking pets in their care who may otherwise be overlooked. They also play a critical role in generating awareness about the value of fostering pets.
Responding to the Heartworm Crisis
Upon Fergus's arrival at BARC, the shelter was already grappling with a sizeable number of dogs afflicted with heartworm disease. A calm foster home environment to keep their heart rate low was essential for their treatment. Nanci prepared her home for her new foster dog and decided to meet Fergus, the seven-year-old shepherd mix. Meeting him and witnessing his soulful eyes made her forget all the doubts about fostering a dog.The Ideal Canine Patient
Fergus, fitting well with Nanci and her husband Tom, proved to be the perfect patient at his new foster home. He adjusted well with their recently adopted, ten-year-old Labrador retriever, Pearl. Once Fergus's heartworm treatment began, his treatment proceeded smoothly. To maintain his heart rate, Nanci assigned restrict walks in the backyard and established a routine quickly.Foster Volunteer Experiences a Change of Heart
After the exemplary patient Fergus completed his treatment for heartworm in three months, Nanci realized that he had not only gained weight but a family. The usually easy-going Tom, to Nanci's surprise, questioned the necessity of parting with Fergus.
A Remarkable Boy and an Exceptional Teacher
Nowadays, Fergus greets Nanci and Tom with a wagging tail whenever they return home. Nanci claims she can now see a white line forming a heart shape on his gentle and lovable face. From Fergus, Nanci has learned to appreciate what she has at the moment and attempt to make the best out of a situation. She is still planning on fostering dogs with Best Friends and regularly updates them about Fergus.Fergus has come a long way from the day Nanci met him at the foster rally. Now without heartworms, he enjoys his time in the backyard (at a preferred easy trot) and snuggles in bed alongside Pearl. He may even be looking at a future move to the Colorado mountains. Nanci fondly remarks, "He's shown us the need to love pets and people whenever we can. He's indeed a very good boy.”
Tags:
Dog
