10/10/2026
Tomorrow, we will be welcoming Chloe to Decator's Place/Mid Missouri Malamute Rescue after she has spent approximately TWO YEARS living as a stray here in Missouri.
Two years of surviving on her own, and now she finally gets her chance at a better life!
But I want to talk about something else for a moment, because I think there is a huge misconception in rescue that needs to be addressed.
Chloe was pulled because someone committed to fostering her. I made it very clear that I had nowhere else for her to go, as I did not want to up the load here, especially considering I am currently dealing with a fractured femur and cannot physically do what I normally do to help. I asked multiple times if this person was sure they could commit, and I was reassured that they could.
So we moved forward and pulled Chloe.
Then, right after I tagged Chloe I received a message from the foster “Sorry, I can’t help” Excuse me?? Just like that!
Thankfully, we are a facility-based rescue, and although this puts additional pressure on us, we have a place for Chloe to land. She will be coming here tomorrow, and we will honor the commitment we made to her.. as that’s what we do.
But here's the thing… had we been a foster-based rescue, this situation could have put us in a REALLY difficult position. Not that it hasn’t anyways… I now have put yet more work on everyone else here like I specifically did not want to do😭
People seem to believe they are helping a dog by telling a rescue they will foster so the rescue will pull that dog from a shelter or other dangerous situation. And then they go on to think that once the dog is tagged the rescue will simply figure out the rest regardless if they honor their end. I had this experience when I first started this rescue and that is exactly why we do not use fosters.. other than the minimal I already know I can trust. It was a lesson I learned long ago, but unfortunately apparently needed a reminder course in!😡
But what happens when a rescue has nowhere for that dog to go?
What happens when there is no facility, no spare kennel, no backup foster, and no emergency placement available?
Not every rescue out there has the luxury of a facility like we do.. what would’ve happened to Chloe then?
Offering to foster is typically the very reason a lot of these rescues say YES to saving a life. So when you bail it’s a huge deal! We, like every other rescue, have learned some hard lessons along the way .. so at Decator’s Place we never pull dogs based on pledges we hope will come through, and we never pull a dog without having a backup plan should things go awry, and we never put any stock into anyone yelling they want the dog prior to it getting here and being assessed and placed for adoption.
I have an incredibly high regard for people who genuinely open their homes and foster. They are invaluable to rescue, and we could never thank our reliable fosters enough. But offering to foster is not just saying something nice on a Facebook post or agreeing because you were asked. It is a commitment to a living, breathing animal whose future may depend on you following through!
If you cannot commit, then DON’T! No one is forcing you to say you’ll foster.. so just don’t! There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying you aren't in a position to foster. But there is something wrong with saying you’ll foster, making a commitment, and then bailing.
So if you say you will foster a dog, please mean it!
We are fortunate to have a facility where we can accommodate dogs when plans fall through. That doesn't mean it comes without additional work, expenses, and pressure on our already stretched resources. It simply means we have a place to turn when someone else doesn't follow through.
But I assure you Chloe is not going to pay the price for a broken commitment. She spent two years trying to survive on her own, she deserves better, and she is going to get her chance.
Tomorrow, we will honor our commitment and welcome this girl to Decator's Place❤️🐾
And to anyone considering fostering: please remember that when you make a promise to a rescue, there is a dog on the other end of that promise. Don't make it unless you are prepared to honor it!
— Decator's Place – A Malamute's Haven ❤️
Added donation links for anyone wanting to help with Chloe’s expenses. She has had no shots that anyone is aware of, and she tilts her head to one side, potentially from an ear infection, but we will not know for sure what is going on with her until we get her to the vet. But after two years on the streets, she will definitely need some care❤️THERE IS A $200.00 MATCH FOR HER VET CARE..LETS GET THOSE FUNDS FOR CHLOE EVERYONE!
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZK6U2B5ZY6AB4&fbclid=IwdGRjcATcUkd0ZGNwBMM7tHRkY3AEk6KXdGRjcARXg8hjbGNrBFeDugEdoU3_CLei8B80lT24aT3foJAarYQ_K8wRT0hZJvGXHEG-imaxjWyeBV2A
https://account.venmo.com/u/decators_place?fbclid=IwdGRjcATDO750ZGNwBJOijFREQ1AEV4PbZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEeoFrCekvIfBUVQCXeKpOk5qCmZNzn0g7S3NvRxWgQQ6I7r8iZPTzb9HTSzas_aem_pbuFdz-kMkJaWvPU1rKCTg
https://cash.app/%24decatorsplace?fbclid=IwdGRjcATDO8l0ZGNwBJOig3RkY3AESyq1Y2xjawRLKqlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR5SD3JvKVcbH70oGH82aBM89mhABF02Dm4OEE9D3I4uDFp0sPYCvUucPqJngA_aem_DAjMLGPZ6bFO5wUKVupDkQ
