More Than a Foster: The One They Chose

I'll admit it... I'm a failure at fostering. 😉 And I hate failing.

In mid-June, I received a picture from National Newfoundland Rescue of a dog who needed a foster home. "I can do this," I told myself. "I know I can foster a dog and help prepare her for her real home."

After all, that's exactly what I tell the cats at our local Humane Society. I'm simply there to help them decompress from the life they've just left, learn to trust again (or for the first time ever), and open their hearts for the next chapter of their lives.

But about two weeks before Rosie was scheduled to arrive, I received her photo.

The moment I looked into her eyes, I knew.

"Uh-oh... she's not going to be just a foster. She's coming home."

That night—and for several nights afterward—just as I was drifting off to sleep, she came to me. She wanted me to know that she already knew she was coming to her new home, and that her new name was to be Rosie.

The message was so clear.

She also let me know that she was being sent to me (and my son Brian, and Bear) courtesy of my pack on the other side.

That didn't surprise me at all.

The night after Laki transitioned last August, my whole pack came to me. They introduced me to the dog that would one day find her way to us and become part of our family. At the time, I didn't know when she would come or where she would come from, but I never forgot her sweet face and gentle eyes.

When I first saw Rosie's picture from the National Newfoundland Rescue, I immediately recognized her. When I looked into her eyes, my heart sang. She looked so much like the dog they had introduced me to that night that everything just clicked.

They knew Bear had become quite "dog lonely," and they also knew I had hemmed and hawed long enough about bringing another dog into our family.

As usual, they knew what I needed before I did.

Before Rosie even arrived, I sent Reiki to her to help ease what would be a major transition. Whether a pet is leaving a loving family, a shelter, a foster home, or a situation that wasn't ideal, moving into a new environment is a big adjustment. Even when the change is for the better and the new home is filled with love and the best of intentions, it can still feel overwhelming. They're leaving behind everything familiar, and it takes time to adjust to new people, routines, smells, and sounds before they begin to feel safe and realize this new place is home.

It's common for pets to experience fear, uncertainty, and elevated cortisol levels as their nervous system remains in a heightened state of stress during those first few days. Reiki offers a gentle way to support them through this transition, helping them relax, feel more secure, and settle into their new life at their own pace.

In our case, Rosie arrived just a few days before the Independence Day fireworks began.

And I truly believe that Reiki helped soothe her.

Yes, she's afraid of fireworks. The first time she heard a boom near our house, she bolted. Thankfully, her destination of choice was our garage—not an escape route.  It wasn't the easiest way to begin a new chapter, but with Reiki's soothing energy, a few other loud-noise strategies, and a lot of patience, we made it through together.

As I write this, a thunderstorm is rolling through. Rosie is still a little nervous, but she's lying at my feet beside Bear. Bear is fast asleep, dreaming away, while Rosie stays close, a bit uneasy but overall settled and safe.

It's been about four weeks now, and she has been an absolute joy. She is sweet, gentle, incredibly loving, and she looks to Bear to show her how things work around here. He has embraced his new role as her big brother beautifully.

In fact, he's even helped with her ear infection. Now, Bear absolutely hates ear drops and ear cleanings. Yet for Rosie's sake, he patiently goes first. I pretend to put four drops in each ear and give them a good massage, while the cap stays firmly on because his ears are actually just fine. Then I uncap the bottle for Rosie, and after seeing how Bear cooperated so calmly, she lets me treat her ears without a fuss.

Thanks, Bear!

We still have a few bumps to work through, but with Reiki, patience, understanding, and a lot of love, we're getting there.

And this has been the most wonderful thing I have ever failed at.

Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.