From Fostering to Adopting - My Experience with DOMINO, Dogs of Malaga in Need Organisation

In 2024, I decided I wanted to try fostering.

I already had my dog Coco, and after she had lost her best friend the year before, I wanted to foster to help a dog in need. At the same time, I also wanted to see how Coco would be with a new dog in the house.

I got in contact with Petra, the president of DOMINO Dogs of Malaga in Need Organisation. She had a dog, Benji, who had been rescued from the Perrera and was looking for a foster home.

Benji moved in, and it very quickly felt like he had always been there. He fit in naturally, and he brought something out in Coco again. She started playing more, engaging more. What I didn’t know at the time was that these would be the last months of her life. I’m just very grateful she had that time, and that Benji was part of it.

At the beginning of this year, I felt ready to foster again - although this time I was very aware that I was prepared to adopt if it felt right. I contacted Petra, and she told me there was one brother left from a litter of puppies who still needed a home.

There wasn’t much hesitation after he came home with me. I decided quite quickly to adopt him.

Because I’ve had such a good experience with DOMINO - fostering, adopting and also being a member - I wanted to share it. They are always in need of foster homes, members and support.

About DOMINO - Dogs of Malaga in Need Organisation

DOMINO stands for Dogs of Malaga in Need Organisation. It is a small, volunteer-run animal welfare organisation in the Málaga region that has been active since 2019 and is officially registered as a non-profit organisation.

The organisation focuses on rescuing dogs from difficult situations, including the Perrera, and helping them find safe and permanent homes.

Most of their dogs stay with foster families, where they receive training, stability and the care they need before moving on to their forever homes. When there are more dogs than foster homes available, the organisation also uses kennels temporarily.

Before adoption, the dogs are prepared according to Spanish regulations. They are microchipped, vaccinated, treated for parasites, tested for common Mediterranean diseases, and neutered or spayed. Dogs travelling abroad are also prepared with their EU pet passport.

They rely on foster homes, adoptions, memberships and donations to continue their work.

If you’ve ever considered helping, there are several ways to support them:

• Foster

• Adopt

• Become a member

• Donate

• Buy one of their dog calendars

• Commission a watercolour portrait of your dog, painted by Petra
  

I have a watercolour portrait of Benji as a puppy, and it’s something very special to have.

They share updates, available dogs and information on their Facebook page and Instagram.

Fostering was something I wanted to try, and it turned into something much more permanent than I expected - twice.

Even fostering for a few weeks can completely change a dog’s future.

If you’ve ever thought about fostering or adopting, maybe this is your sign to look into it. Even becoming a passive member, buying a calendar, or simply sharing their posts can make a difference.