"Foster failing" is a term that often get thrown around in the rescue circles. I have pointed to one of my own dogs and proudly declared, "That's Harvey, he is our foster failure!" before I noticed the puzzled expressions of the people listening to me.

To 'foster fail' actually means that you adopt the dog/cat you are fostering, which actually is a bit of a misnomer. Sure, you didn't succeed in successfully fostering an animal from a shelter to it's new home, but it is anything but a failure. Typically, the 'problem' with keeping a foster is that you no longer have room in your home to take another foster dog. But many of us who love fostering continue, and often the adopted dog becomes an excellent ambassador for new fosters. And really, who can fault anyone who can't part with a lovable little shelter pup who becomes part of the family without any even realizing it has happened until it is too late to let them go?

We sincerely appreciate and admire the people who can foster one animal after another and send them out the door with their new forever family. You are the foundation upon which this whole system works! But, every time a foster home calls and says, "What happens if I want to adopt?" I just tell them, "No problem, it happens to the best of us!" We would like to take a minute to recognize our own foster failures that are now a permanent part of the BDAR family.

Amber

We decided to adopt Amber because our beagle mix was getting depressed whenever fosters left the home. But when we got Amber and her sister in, Chloe perked up and was happier so we decided that Chloe needed her own dog so we adopted Amber. Now whenever fosters leave the home, Chloe isn't sad anymore since Amber is there to play with her.

Digit

Every time that an app would come in on her I would cringe. Finally, after a close adoption call with a nice family (which would normally be a happy occasion) we realized that she had become part of the family.

Jeffrey

15 minutes home and email went out to Missy. Our Jeffrey. We love them all, but, this boy had all of Ray's heart instantly. Wiggled deep into mine since adoption.

Sebastian

Because there are just so many cats that need homes and as far as cats go, he's pretty nifty.

Jules

I was hesitant to tell my husband that I felt in my heart that she was already home and I felt that no one needed her as much as we did. I told him while he was sitting down and he leaned back, grabbed his heart and said "oh, thank God, I think so too!"

Chloe

She was our 55th and 59th. She knew she belonged with us long before we did. She came back at just the right time and helped fill the hole in my heart left from Rex's passing. I will be forever grateful.

Seamus (R) was my first foster. He had one meeting and was passed up. I was miffed on his behalf and decided he just needed to stay with me forever. LOL! Maxwell (L) had been shuffled around to various places, including two animal shelters, a vet tech program, adopted/returned. I couldn't stand to see him be passed around any more, and made him a permanent part of my family.

We couldn't bear the thought of this guy spending one more moment questioning where his place in the world is. He had already chosen us, so we made it official!

I have a soft spot for older dogs and when I was warned that he might be a longer foster because he is a pit bull I knew he was the one I wanted to give a chance! This boy is the exact reason why stigmas about senior dogs and pit bulls need to change. This sweet, patient, charismatic 12 yr old brings so much joy to out lives and he warms every heart that meets him.

Syd

He was our 4th foster dog. We kept him mostly because Rex, our only dog at the time, liked him and because my sister begged me to. He gives the best cuddles and is a wonderful foster brother.

Gus

He was being boarded and on the way home
From the boarding facility Trevor said...this is my dog. I said--this is a foster dog? And he said "nope this is my dog" and now he is 15 years old and wears a diaper every day.

Duff

He was our 20th foster. We really did try to get him adopted, but he kept coming back to us. He was treated poorly in his past life and has a bit of a mean streak because of it. But, we know how to manage it and when to give him his space. He is silly and makes it his job to bring the fosters out of their shell.

Bear

One sentence: my husband. Haha! This one is Bear, he was a BDAR foster and at the Dog Jog he was there, up for adoption. My husband kept following the people who were interested around and glaring at them!

Toby

During his intake Britney Wallesch walked by him as he was sitting with his paws crossed and said, "I don't know what it is about that dog but if I didn't allready have a million dogs I would adopt him." That planted the seed and then about three weeks later I told him he was going to stay.

Lily

She decided she was in her forever home on her second day with us, and spent the next 2 months convincing us of the same. We finally realized she was a part of the family and we loved her too much to let her go. She chose us.

Pork

When the adopter called and said they had to give him back because he got into a fight with their dog I know I shouldn't say this but I was a little happy he was returned. Well after a couple of weeks of going back and forth I just went in and adopted him. When I told my sister I was adopting Pork she started crying and told me that the first time she met him she felt he needed to be in our family.

Harvey

We had successfully fostered about 5 dogs in a row, but then Harvey came along. I was dragging my feet to take his pictures, and my husband adored him. Then, I caught myself telling people he had a pending adoption. Matt called and said he didn't like seeing Harvey on the website for adoption. That was that!

Fiona

My husband was suckered in to loving her the MOMENT she came to “temporarily” live with us. It wasn’t until a pretty serious medical emergency happened that I realized she was meant to be my dog. She had a little recovery time after a surgery, and I knew during that time she was already in her forever home.

Maizie

Maizie was returned from her first adopted family because she just didn’t get along with kids. Turns out, I’m not having kids! The lady who was supposed to meet her thankfully chose another dog from BDAR that she met just prior to Maizie’s adoption time. HOORAY! I immediately told BDAR that this sweet thing was already home.