Corrimal dog lover Roz Elliott with Kayla.
Foster a dog; save a life
January 12, 2010
Section: News
DOGS on death row can be saved through an innovative fostering program.
Corrimal resident Roz Elliott, whose two dogs were saved from pounds, is fostering eight-month-old mixed breed Kayla until she is permanently adopted.
“I can’t achieve world peace and I haven’t got a cure for cancer but I can save a life,” Ms Elliott said.
She came across the website rockysk9rescue.com, run by Blacktown dog lover Merna Karam.
Ms Karam and her team of volunteers save dogs from the pound, have them desexed, wormed and registered before leaving them with foster families while looking for permanent homes.
“It costs nothing,” Ms Elliott said. “All you have to do is love and feed them.”
She said the rescued dogs were temperament tested to ensure they weren’t aggressive and were safe to be around children and other dogs.
“It’s a great way to get to know different breeds and you have a pet with no long-term commitments.”
Anyone able to foster or donate toys, blankets or food should visit rockysk9rescue.com or contact 0405 320 601.
- Jan 19, 2010 @ 11:05am
I am one of the foster carers for Rocky's rescue & it is so rewarding when you find a loving home for these helpless ones we call mans best friend ! Think of those tiny little breeds that take nothing & give back plenty of love. The more Foster Carers we have the more LIVES we can SAVE!!!
- Jan 16, 2010 @ 09:17am
This is a wonderful idea and fostering is a great way to help if you cannot personally take care of a pet.
- Jan 16, 2010 @ 08:51am
Fostering can go a long way to calming an anxious animal so that they can find their forever home with a loving family. Kennel areas are always loud and can be terrifying to an animal. A calm, happy animal is easier to find a home for!
- Jan 15, 2010 @ 02:45pm
will look into foster care when I am sadly left without my two, ty all who do this, all they need is a loving heart!
- Jan 15, 2010 @ 06:52am
Hubby and I can't afford a dog on our own and are already owned by 2 cats. However, we will be working with a rescue to foster senior dogs and dogs from abusive homes. We feel that this will give us an opportunity to help retrain, if necessary, and to allow a dog to blossom rather than show badly by being left in a kennel for a long period of time. We wouldn't have to pay vets bills (which is what's stopping us from owning) and the pleasure of helping either a family in distress or helping a sad dog finding a happy forever home.
- Jan 15, 2010 @ 06:08am
If more people would volunteer to foster animals for rescues, they could free up more space to save more lives. It is my prayer that everyone will consider helping those homeless little creatures in this coming year by fostering them. We need to step up to the plate like those who dedicate their lives to rescue.
- Jan 15, 2010 @ 04:38am
Fostering a dog can only be rewarding. You save a life, you change as person, you give, you take, you share.
- Jan 15, 2010 @ 01:24am
Thanks Ms Elliott, life is precious.
- Jan 14, 2010 @ 10:28pm
What a fantastic idea this is - everyone wins, the dogs, and the foster-carers. As Ms Elliott says, "A great way to get to know different breeds, and you have a pet with no long-term commitments." (Although I imagine some long-term relationships will happen along the way!) And saving a dog from death row must give a great sense of fulfilment - well done to all concerned . What a beautiful photo - Kayla looks so gentle and affectionate - who could resist her?
- Jan 14, 2010 @ 09:51pm
Fostering animals is a really awesome idea. It can & does save lives.
- Jan 14, 2010 @ 09:48pm
What a terrific idea! A win for everyone.
- Jan 14, 2010 @ 05:20pm
What a wonderful compassionate soul. I wish I did not live so far away. Every family should have a chance to foster a dog. The children will feel proud that they helped save a life and the bond of loyalty that dogs give in return is like none other. GOOD Luck in this venture. You make the world a kinder place to live in. Thank you!
- Jan 14, 2010 @ 02:43pm
Anybody that takes the time to help the voiceless what Ms Karam is doing is wonderful, she is an angel!!!! Have taken note of the email and number for future reference for donations etc.
- Jan 14, 2010 @ 11:55am
Thank you for this very important article. Most people who buy dogs from pet shops don't realize that most of the dogs come from 'puppy mills' where dogs are treated like breeding machines that flood the market with an over supply of dogs which in turn shelters and pounds end up with overcrowding. Due to this situation thousands of healthy dogs and puppies too, are killed each year. By adopting a dog from a rescue organization like Rockys-K9-Rescue, people save a life and become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Merna Karam, who runs Rockys-K9-Rescue has dedicated her life to rescuing dogs from death row. At times she rescues dogs that are minutes away from being put down and then desperately runs around looking for foster cares who can give them a temporary home until a permanent home comes along. Foster Carers play an important part in helping re-home dogs as they get to know the dogs and can give feedback to Merna who can then find the right home for the dogs so that the dogs and their new family are both happy. Being a foster carers gives one a sense of personal satisfaction, so if you think you can contribute to saving a life then please call Merna and she will fill you in on how to be that special foster carer.
Comment count: 15
thankyou everyone for taking the time to read the story and your lovely comments .keep spreading the word every bit helps.together we can make a difference.just letting someone know is one way you can help.