Being a foster parent to a pup may be challenging, but it’s incredibly rewarding! Giving a pup the love and care they need to overcome their struggles and finally seeing their happiness makes it all worthwhile.
It’s a feeling well known to foster mama Tamara.
One Scared Pup
Source: The Dodo
When Tamara took in a foster pup in need of extra love, she immediately knew it wouldn’t be easy.
“She was hiding in the back of the crate, facing away. She wouldn’t make eye contact and curled up as small as possible,” Tamara told The Dodo.
Even the next day, when Tamara checked on her, the pup remained in the back of the crate, still trying to disappear from the world.
Source: The Dodo
All Tamara wanted to do was scoop her up, cuddle her, and reassure her that everything would be okay. But knowing that pups in such situations need time to feel safe, she gave her the space she needed.
The next day, however, a small breakthrough happened—the pup inched to the edge of the crate to eat.
She even held eye contact with Tamara, a moment of trust she had been avoiding since they first met.
Source: The Dodo
That same afternoon, the pup cautiously stepped out of her crate, gave Tamara’s hand a quick lick, and then retreated. It was a small gesture, but one that reassured Tamara they were making progress.
“She was probably thinking, ‘They’re feeding me, it’s warm—maybe this is a safe place!’” Tamara said.
And then, something incredible happened.
Magical Friendship
One day, Tamara’s son decided to approach the pup with some food in his hand. Gently, he called out to her—and to everyone’s surprise, she came!
“She just suddenly ran out, her tail wagging, and she said hello. My son looked at me and said, ‘Mom, she said hi!’ He was pretty, pretty excited,” Tamara recalled.
Source: The Dodo
From that moment on, everything changed for the better.
The pup, now named Parker, fully came out of her shell and began embracing every moment with her foster family.
Watching Parker transform from a timid pup into one who eagerly played with every human she met filled Tamara’s heart with pure joy.
Source: The Dodo
However, this also meant Parker was ready to find a family of her own—something that happened sooner than expected.
New Life
As soon as Parker arrived at her new home, she settled in right away.
She instantly bonded with her new family and formed an immediate connection with her furry sibling, Willow, as if they had always been together.
“She really blossomed, and it’s crazy to think she was ever that same dog,” said Kristen, Parker’s new mom.
Source: The Dodo
Now, Parker is living her best life, filling her days with playful adventures and endless cuddles with her loving family.
Good girl, Parker!