Shanin's Homepage - Foster Dogs

My boyfriend, Andrew, and I are foster parents for the Leon County Humane Society. Back in Gainesville I was also a dog foster parent for the Gainesville Pet Rescue. As a foster parent, I get to know the animals in my care and their unique personalities and I help in finding them good permanent homes. Many people ask if its hard to give up the pet after "getting attached." For me it is not so difficult, as I feel that I am doing a good thing. For other foster parents, however, having the pets leave their care is the hardest part. LCHS often loses good foster home because the pets get adopted by their foster parents and do not have room for new fosters. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, don't hesitate to contact a rescue group in your area.	Being a foster parent is not for everyone. It takes patience, love, time, and did I mention patience! The Humane Society commits to these animals for whatever length of time it takes to place them in permanent homes. LCHS adopts dogs, cats as well as rabbits. The majority of our pets come from local animal shelters. Here in Tallahassee, the Tallahassee-Leon Community Animal Services Center (AKA the Shelter) is run by a separate organization from the Humane Society. People often get us confused. The Shelter runs a foster program as well; however, unlike LCHS, they don't solely rely on their foster program for their adoptions since they have an animal holding facility located in Tom Brown Park.
--Updated Wednesday October 27, 2004--

Terra "Tatli" is a chocolate brindle female Terrier mix, approximately 3or 4 months old. She was found by the side of a busy roadway. She is very playful with other dogs and does not seem shy around people or other animals. We are working on crate-training and potty-training. Terra (Italian) refers to her earth-colored markings. Tatli, which is the name we have been calling her, means "sweet" in Turkish and so far she is living up to her name.	Tasha is a spayed female shepherd mix approximately 7 months old. She was rescued as a young puppy from a undesirable situation, of which she has not fully recovered. She is a timid dog who is always happy and playful, but very cautious of people. She is great with other dogs as well as cats and is crate-trained. Tasha has not yet been adopted, but she is back with her old foster home.


Harry is my 10th foster dog since October 2002. He is an older male Beagle with a calm disposition and possesses a Houdini-like ability to get out of a fenced yard. He was found wandering the neighborhood and was taken care of up until now by friends mine. Harry has gone to his new home in time for Christmas.	Sisters Peanut and Butter (who I renamed to Princess Buttercup) are both small (around 20 lbs) Beagle/Basset mixes. They are one-year old playful puppies who I am potty and crate-training. Peanut (all tan in front) and Buttercup (tan and white) both went to new homes to be companions to children. Peanut came back to the program and has been since readopted.


Moonpie is a 2yr old Shar-Pei/Pit mix that is full of energy! She has some skin problems that I am trying to cure her of, but she is so very sweet and affectionate and she loves attention. Moonpie is getting adopted this weekend by a family ready to give her the love she deserves.	Cookie is a rescued Shih Tzu found wandering FSU alumni village. He is just the sweetest little dog. Here he is pictured after a haircut. Cookie is so good and sweet that I just had to keep him myself. He is now part of my family.


Bailey is a Cocker Spaniel mix of about 6 years. He is energetic and friendly and very loving. Bailey did get in trouble for giving my cats chase every now and then. Bailey was adopted by a nice family in Monticello.	Maddie came to me full of puppy energy and a sweet disposition. She is a Beagle/Fox Hound mix and went to a family to be companions with their other adopted dog Millie. It was love/play at first site.


Hershey is a Boykin Spaniel and a doll of a dog. She was just dying to be someone's companion for life and she did get very attached to me. She was adopted by a woman who was looking for a companion like Hershey.	This little guy is Kipper - he was my second foster dog with LCHS in December 2002. He was rescued from the Thomasville Humane Society and was pretty sick when I got him. A little cleaning up and he became a beautiful and very happy little dog. He is a young terrier mix, full of energy and very smart. My Aunt Caron is his new mother.

All photos taken by and are property of Shanin Tia Speas Click to join LeonCountyHumaneSociety