COUPLING DOG CARE AND BUSY CAREERS: THE MUTTLY CREW FETCHES A COUPLE’S POINT OF VIEW ON DOG PARENTING AND FOSTERING
LINK TO INSTAGRAM: @EASTCOASTCANINERESCUE
When we looked to Jackie and Ben for dog parenting advice, we knew we were barking up the right coupled tree! Work does not end at their (virtual) offices. These two social distance, while they ensure their fur-children get enough exercise and maintain some routines to keep their adorable heads on straight. The pair is also active in the foster community.
Jackie, a tax accountant and rescue volunteer, and Ben, an IT account executive, are “furever” parents to 2 furry children. Their daughter Sadie is a Border Collie / Lab mix. And they describe their son Cooper as having everything in him! In 2019, young Cooper was already in the picture when they started fostering Sadie. Jackie and Ben had found their son at a pet store and adopted him at 7 weeks. They fostered before and while raising Cooper. But he was bothering the furry guests a bit too much. Then a pregnant Sadie came. And Cooper’s life changed! She got sick. The couple nursed her back to health. Cooper then got his furever sister.
Ben and Jackie managed to do something deemed very challenging by pet parents. Get their dog to embrace the new bi#ch in town! These successful pet parents have had dogs in their lives since childhood, and that experience shows. They work together to build a good home for their mutts!
Adding to their pooch expert resume is easy with Jackie continuing her rescue volunteer efforts. She works with East Coast Canine Rescue. During this pandemic, when foster applications are soaring, she has been actively helping matchmake new parent hopefuls and pooches. She is also busy conducting online home visits.
We asked them for key tips on being great pooch parents – together! Check them out.
Tag team responsibilities. Ben and Jackie split up all duties. Work is busier at different times for them. For Jackie, it’s tax season. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Regular exercise for the dogs (and parents) helps everything! If you can’t do it outside, try to manage it indoors. They can run in the hallway back and forth and chase the ball. Pre-pandemic, they usually would take the dogs out to hike 4 times a week. Regular daily walks are a must!
Sometimes a puppy is too young for an older foster. Cooper wanted to play too much. And that was too much for an older foster. It worked out better as Cooper matured.
For rescues and foster parents: vet each other! Make sure the foster parents are ready. But also make sure it’s a good, legit rescue doing good things.
If you can do this, you may be more prepared to have 2-legged kids! You will see a lot of dog poop and throw-up. You’re caring for them 24/7. It’s better than nothing. We are very patient.
Be ready to say goodbye to furniture and plants! Cooper usually eats our plants and Sadie does time to time. The furniture has been destroyed too. If you don’t want it ruined, move it.
It’s nice to have a pup-sitting backup. We both have dog-loving and pet-experienced families. We are lucky to have our parents watch them if we need to travel or be out long.
Nothing about fostering is easy. Fostering is bittersweet. The first couple of days are the roughest. People always get scared of getting attached. We love them. It’s a great feeling watching them get adopted because you love them. If the foster time is short, it’s easier. If they move quickly from you to their new home, you can avoid getting as attached.
It’s a good to crate train puppies and avoid retractable leashes. Trust us.
Everything can be fun with the dogs. Work is easier. They are happy to go anywhere and do anything. There is always something to do. It’s a party every time we come home.