These are just a few of the hundreds of sweet faces that have been saved by our Puppy Foster Transport Program over the past three years. These are the innocent little ones who would likely have died in the pound if not for the dedication and hard work of our Puppy Transport Coordinator, Becky McCraw. If we don't get more support for this programs, others like them may not be so lucky.
In the last 3 years, Becky has personally fostered over 300 puppies for this program. She, along with her husband Scott, cared for these babies, often from birth. They have spent countless sleepless nights trying to nurse frail little ones back to health from the illnesses they were exposed to in the pound. Too many times, they have held those little lifeless bodies when they finally gave in to their sickness.
They have taken in terrified, pregnant dogs from Bedford residents that reached out for help, caring for the momma while she nursed her babies and then ensuring her spay once her babies were weaned.
They have spent their days and nights vaccinating, cleaning, feeding, walking, cuddling, and coordinating spay/neuter and microchipping for these puppies. Becky leaves early in the morning to take the puppies to the vet and then drives back immediately after work to pick them up, often a few times a week.
They spend hours scrubbing kennels clean after every litter, decontaminating to try to avoid contagious deadly illnesses like Parvo.
Becky does all of this while also working a full time job and serving as the President of Bedford Humane Society.
The only vacation I have seen Becky and Scott take in the two years that I have known them was to travel North to see some of their former puppy fosters at a Pawsafe reunion.
Animal rescue takes an emotional toll on those truly dedicated to the cause. Fostering, alone, takes an even greater toll. Fostering the numbers and fragile populations that they do takes a toll we cannot begin to imagine.
After three solid years of fostering several litters of puppies nonstop with very little support, it is time for Becky to take a break. For the next six weeks, she will be unavailable to save any puppies from the pound or the community.
We thank those few foster homes that do step up to support Becky in her dedication to saving as many puppies as possible and we do not want to discount their help. It is invaluable and we know they understand Becky's pain.
However, without significantly more foster homes willing to foster puppy litters for 2-10 weeks, we may not be able to continue this program again in the future.
If you would like to learn more about what is involved in puppy transport fostering, email sunshine@bhsva.org. Please help us continue this very important program in the future.
