Foster Failure or Let Go?

[Petunyaone]

Okay... I need your help. I am on the fence here and need to get pushed in one direction or the other.

I have 2 fosters here and they have been here since March. They are a bonded pair (husband and wife) that were surrendered because their owner passed away.

When they came to us they literally did not move. They just sat there. Well, now they are happy and playful and just little loves.

Tazi, the girl, just has the sweetest little face and loves to give kisses. She has had a special place in my heart since I got her.

Marco Doodle has such the personality. I went out on a house check last Tuesday and brought them with me to meet the potential new family. Well, I wasn't there 5 minutes when their dog lunged at Marco and blood was gushing out of his eye. When the bleeding stopped, luckily his eye was okay, but he had a rip in his lower eyelid. Off to the vet I went for a $200 surgery to put stitches in his eyelid. So now, I am attached to him.

We have 2 families that are interested in them. One is a semi-retired couple who pug-sit for their nephews pugs and just love the breed, love the pug personality, will let them sleep on the people bed and have waited to add a dog again to their family once they retired and had lots of time to give them.

The other is a younger couple who already have 2 pugs, work 40+ hours a week, love their current pugs to pieces, but don't allow the pugs to sleep on the people bed because of their snoring. While I don't doubt that they would be wonderful pug parents and love these pugs with all their heart, they sleep on the bed with me now and I can't imagine not having my pugs sleep with me. But they are a great family... and they feel a connection with them and their past.

So here's my problem... I am having a hard time letting them go anywhere. On one hand, I think that they would be a great addition to my family and would love living here forever (2 more foster failures to add to my list).

Then on the other hand, I think that there ARE people who are willing to adopt them and love them, so I shouldn't be so selfish... I should let them go to a great home like a good foster Mom and wait for ones that don't have anyone that is willing to adopt them... like the older ones or sick ones.

What do you think?

Here's Tazi, she is 7 years old and dieting, she has lost 3 pounds since I got her:



And here is Marco, he has also lost 3 pounds:

[tocents]

OH goodness, that's tough. I guess it all boils down to what is best for these two sweeties-would they be happier staying with you or with the semi retired couple? I guess you could do a home visit with the older couple and see how everyone responded and go from there? You do have a very valid point about them being adoptable and saving room for the ones that aren't as easy to place but then again, if they are already "home" in their minds....

(Of course, what do I know. I could not even tag along on a transport run without bringing home a pug-so I'm always leaning toward "keep them" but I'm trying to be objective. )

(Sorry I'm not much help!)

[tall grass pugs]

Keep them. They sleep on the bed now and won't be retrainable. The old couple really just wants one dog. Keep them.

[ForeverHopper]

Dawn, it's always a tought decision to let them go or keep them. I just went through this back in March with Stinky. There was a loving family that wanted to adopt him but it wasn't the right family (BTW,they just adopted 2 of our rescues earlier this month). I wanted to keep him and he would make #6 in the house. I knew it would be alot with 6 pugs but I knew I could take care of them all too. With the rescue's blessing, I adopted him and do not regret it at all. He's a blessing and makes my husband and I laugh every day. I now handle temp. fostering until a foster home is available. So sad for me...I'm the foster coordinator for the rescue.

I know the love for Tazi/Marco is there. If you can take on more responsibilty with them as long term as well as continue to foster and/or temp foster, then adopt them. If you're not sure, then give the potential adopters a chance. I would look more into the retired couple first. The family that adopted 2 of our rescues originally wanted one but after the meet & greet and explaining to them 2 is actually easier than one, they adopted both. They are now truly happy parents of both.

[Fla. Pugs]

Keep them. They sleep on the bed now and won't be retrainable. The old couple really just wants one dog. Keep them.

They need YOU! If it was me I would have to keep them or I would suffer many sleepless nights. Good luck!

[FourteenLegs]

Oh that's a tough one!! You have to weigh up the "heart over head". Your heart says they stay, but if they do does that mean one less home for all the future pugs needing foster parents? It sounds like they have a great "option B" with the retired couple, but I can tell how difficult this is for you. Bless you for caring.

[never2manypugs]

That is a tough one. This is one of the reason why I haven't fosters - I truly think I would want to keep them all!
If I were you, I would be keeping them. They have opened up to you, come out of their shells and now have a loving home. Yes, it probably would be harder to foster in the future but like I said before I would probably be a foster failure anyways.
The other option would be to bring both to the retired couple and see how everything works. If they truly are looking for just one, then you definately have your answer.

[ladiepug]

This is a tough one! I would first, call the semi retired and talk to them. Explain these 2 need to go together. If they are adamant about only 1, then there is your decision. If they are open to 2, ask them if you can take them out and spend an hour or so to see how they get along. Once you get there, you can see how they react to them and how the pugs react there. I think this will give you your answer. Either you will see the love and know that this is their "forever home" (which will be heartache for you but you will know what is best) or you will know it isn't right and that will help with your decision. Good luck! I know I would keep them all if I could (and that iswhy I haven't been able to foster yet)!

[seniorpugrescue]

If I were you, I would be keeping them. They have opened up to you, come out of their shells and now have a loving home.
The other option would be to bring both to the retired couple and see how everything works. If they truly are looking for just one, then you definitely have your answer.

Everything she said above I DITTO. But I am partial to the keeping them aspect ...... for their sake. You already know the answer in your heart don't you?
Blessings, Irene

[PugLady3]

The semi-retired couple sounds great. Have you met them yet? We fostered Auggie and Bailey who were a bonded pair - 10 & 11 years old - for almost 9 months. We really thought that they were going to be with us for the rest of their lives (and that was ok! ). One day, we got in an application for them & I just knew it was the one. My gut was right and they are now loved and spoiled just as much as if they had stayed here, they only have to share the attention with one other 9 year old puggy brother (who loves them to pieces too) instead of my three, and that left me open to foster again. Only you know for sure if you can let them go & it's easier for me to say this because they're with you & not me , but I say give the older couple a chance.

Now...can somebody please talk me out of keeping my foster puppy Murray?!?