Lucky Dog reminds me there is good in the world

Aly Getz, Driver, Handler, Foster, and Dogs Day Out Volunteer with a rescue dog
Aly Getz, Driver, Handler, Foster, and Dogs Day Out Volunteer

Fostering and volunteering with dogs is one of the greatest privileges I’ve ever had! I’ve been fostering for over 5 years and have gotten to be a small part in the stories of countless animals. My journey started in high school when I convinced my parents to foster. It was my favorite thing to be involved in as a family and it taught me so much.

I had never lived in a home without a dog until living in a dorm in college and I couldn’t stand not coming home to one. So as soon as I was in my own apartment, I started fostering on my own. It was a lot to juggle between classes, work, and fostering but it was always so worth it.

Throughout my fostering experience, I’ve heard over and over “I couldn’t foster and give them up, it would be too hard!” I didn’t say it was easy, and I am shamelessly part of the “foster fail” club! But it’s way harder to imagine who I’d be missing out on saving if I didn’t keep saying goodbye.

The sad truth is that there will always be another who needs saving. If I hadn’t said goodbye to my very first foster Joey, I wouldn’t have been able to save Gus. And if I hadn’t said goodbye to Gus, I wouldn’t have been able to drive 20 hours to save Polly who was used for backyard breeding and then thrown from a truck. When I fostered Luca and her brother in college, they were Parvo and Coccidia positive, very devastating diseases in puppies. When Albie crossed the rainbow bridge, I knew Luca was mine forever.

No matter what community of rescue I’m involved in, I’m reminded that for all the terrible that there may be out in the world, there are also selfless and loving people who advocate for the innocent and are willing to stand up and be their voices.

After “foster failing” with my girl, Luca, in college, I took a break from fostering to finish school, graduate, and acclimate to DC! I’ve been itching to find that community again and Lucky Dog has been just that. Since starting to volunteer with LDAR in April, I have been so fulfilled. My roommates and loved ones have noticed that I am visibly happier when I have plans to volunteer.

LDAR has so many opportunities to be involved too, fostering isn’t the only way! I started as a driver and handler, then started doing days out with dogs in boarding, and am now back into fostering! LDAR is my constant reminder that there are good people in the world and it has provided me with community. I’ve already been honored to be a small part of so many Lucky Dog’s stories and each one holds a special place in my heart.