It’s common these days to know someone – or be someone – who adopts and fosters pets in order to get them to a new, loving home. For the past fifteen years, Linda Greiner has been that someone. Having a massive love for Shelties for years, Linda decided to adopt her dog Sashi from Shetland Sheepdog Placement Services of New Jersey (SSPSNJ) instead of purchasing a new puppy back in 2001. Giving this little dog love and comfort that she had not previously known filled Linda with a sense of warmth and purpose. Since then, she has continued to foster and adopt through SSPSNJ and has loved every dog that has come through her door.
Linda is often asked about the fostering process, how hard it can be, and why she participates in it. She maintains that fostering is her passion because of how it helps the countless dogs who end up in shelters only because their previous owners were unprepared to take on the full responsibility that a dog presents. She believes every dog deserves a chance to join a loving family, and her experiences with SSPSNJ inspired her to spread awareness about fostering and adopting dogs.
Linda wrote and published her first children’s book, Sashi, the Scared Little Sheltie (Brown Books Publishing Group) based on the real-life adoption of Sashi. Sadly, Sashi had been placed in a shelter by her previous owners because they were not prepared to take on a herding dog with a natural instinct to chase everything. But with love, attention and care from Linda, Sashi grew into the dog she was meant to be. Following the success of her debut book, which received a Moonbeam Children’s Award and a Mom’s Choice Award, Linda published a second book, called Sashi Adopts a Brother, about her experience of taking in a second Sheltie. Similar success followed the publication, and she has recently released yet another book about one of her most memorable foster experiences, Sashi and the Puppy Mill Girl. Linda hopes to continue spreading awareness and knowledge about Shelties, fostering and adoption, and the proper care of pets through these engaging and heartwarming stories inspired by real, furry friends. A portion of the sales proceeds from all three books are donated to Sheltie Rescue. Learn more about Sheltie Rescue and the Sashi series at www.Sashi-the-Scared-Little-Sheltie.com.