Help create a little free dog rescue library

What books would you recommend to foster homes?

The other week my friend (hi, Yujia!) mentioned that she’d like to start a library for foster families through the dog rescue she volunteers with. I begged to be involved—books + dogs + rescue is like my Christmas dream?!—and she made a joke about how of course I couldn’t help because nonprofits obviously hate receiving donations. 🤪 (Yeah, I had that one coming.)

My friend Taylor Finton’s book, which I included in my initial roundup!

After a little more silliness in the form of GIFs, we collected a smattering of titles:

The most on-the-nose guide

• How to Foster Dogs by Pat Miller

Enrichment-focused books

• The Happiest Dog on the Block: Canine Enrichment Activities to Keep Your Pet Young and Healthy by Taylor Finton

• Canine Enrichment for the Real World by Allie Bender and Emily Strong

General canine insight

• The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs by Patricia McConnell

• Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know (updated) by Alexandra Horowitz

Separation anxiety

• I’ll Be Home Soon! How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety by Patricia McConnell

• Be Right Back! How to Overcome Your Dog’s Separation Anxiety by Julie Naismith

Training-specific titles

• Beyond the Basics: Unlock Your Dog’s Behavior by Denise Fenzi

• Control Unleashed: Creating a Focused and Confident Dog by Leslie McDevitt

• Control Unleashed: The Puppy Program by Leslie McDevitt

• Control Unleashed: Reactive to Relaxed by Leslie McDevitt

• Rocket Recall by Simone Mueller

Aaand one for my fellow creature nerds

• Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? by Frans de Waal (I fully realize this is less directly applicable than the others… but come on y’all. You know me. I could not resist!)

What would you add?

This is just a start. I’m trying to think about what would most benefit someone who is 1) volunteering their time to help rescue dogs with varying behavioral and health needs, which means 2) they probably don’t have a ton of extra free time and also 3) need information to be accessible.

Hit me with your other recommendations in the comments, via direct message, or in an email to haley@pawsandreflect.blog!

Speaking of fostering…

I miss it terribly. Scout never loved being a foster sibling (and she very much loves her converted van—we made the right choice) but one of the saddest parts of full-time travel has been my inability to keep volunteering in the rescue world.

So please join me in reminiscing on our year of fostering!

On fostering: But how do we let them go?

What I’d tell myself before fostering a dog

Deciding to foster with our fear-reactive resident dog

Our fostering process integrating two unfamiliar dogs

My non-social dog is actually a good foster sibling

Changes to our foster dog integration process over time

Although Sean, Scout, and I don’t have plans to leave van life any time soon, we do know we’ll foster again when we’re able. A big ol’ thanks to those of you fostering, volunteering, donating, and otherwise supporting the ethical future of the dog-human bond right now 💛