Foster Friday: Oscar

Oscar the Almost Boxer

When I applied to foster for SCBR, there was a beautiful white boxer in a Central Florida shelter they were trying to find a place for.  Well, to make a long story short, another rescue pulled that guy, Bill came and did my home visit and a few days later Oscar showed up.  I knew Oscar was a hound-boxer mix and heartworm positive and good with other dogs but that was about it.  I had never fostered dogs before but I thought it would be a good way to test the waters before jumping in and adopting.

When Oscar came to me, he sort of knew some of his basic commands, but he's really good at picking up new things.  It was only a few weeks before he knew he needed to sit before I would put his leash on to go out, that he wasn't allowed out of the garage without me, sit, stay, lie down, and box (the command I use when I want the dogs to go in their crates).  He's a super sweet boy and also now knows his leash manners when we walk.

 Oscar LOVES kids!  He couldn't understand why my friend's daughter thought 'in and out of the box' was the best game ever, but he played along anyway and had a great time.  He is the happiest, sweetest boy when the kids come over to play.

Who remembers the 'More Dogs More Happy' picture?  Oscar is definitely a happy guy and all of that happy can be a little infectious!

While Oscar was with me, I learned a lot.  I learned why SCBR rescues boxers, almost boxers and honorary boxers (Oscar is an awesome almost boxer).  I learned heartworm treatment really isn't as scary as it seems.  I learned some dogs really just don't like to be up on the furniture.  I learned Oscar likes food.  ALL sorts of food.  I learned all sorts of new training methods and discovered some hands-off approaches for correcting behavior.  I learned how completely awesome foster dogs are.  I learned that I fall in love with any dog that comes into my home within a matter of minutes and I will be simultaneously heartbroken and over the moon when that dog finds a new home.

Oscar is spending the weekend with a great family in the Tampa Bay area this weekend and they have decided they really like him.  For a heartworm positive guy who had very little hope in a central Florida shelter, Oscar sure has come a long way.  It's hard to let a foster go, but knowing this loving (and incredibly loveable) guy wouldn't be here without the foster homes he stayed in before he came to me makes it a little easier.  I am incredibly happy for Oscar and he has come such a long way it's impossible not to be proud of him.

He will always have a place in my heart and in my home if he should need one ever again.

But I doubt he will.