I have a soft spot for animals of any kind. In my imaginary world I would like to own all sorts of animals including lambs, sheep, horses, dogs and chickens.

The reality of my world is I live in a small apartment that has a strict no-pet policy with repercussions of having a pet being immediate eviction.

When I moved into my apartment in December 2012, I understood the rules and struggled leaving my 4-year-old Shih Tzu named Gilbert to live with my parents for a shorter commute to work. There are many days that going home to his wagging tail would be nice but I see him on the weekends and take him to a dog park in Birmingham on Sunday afternoons to hopefully make up for the fact I had to leave him to live in a place that worked for me, but not for him.

What I didn’t take into consideration was how I would turn down all of the lovable pet faces I have come across while living in my apartment that often appear on the side of the road or recently, in my arms.

I went to the Chilton County Humane Society to write about a story encouraging readers to foster animals in their homes for two weeks so they can be sent for adoption up North (published in the May 14 edition of The Advertiser).

As I was doing the interview with several of the humane society representatives telling me about foster pet parenting, a lady came to drop off two dogs she could no longer take care of.

I couldn’t help but notice one of her dogs, a black and white Daschund mix trembling in her arms as he looked around to assess his current situation.

Although I’m not sure he was entirely thrilled about being dropped off at the humane society, there was little he could do other than simply look cute.

He was passed around from several different ladies sitting at the table cradling him like a baby and finally ended up in my arms.

There was no way I could abandon him, but I couldn’t take him. I finished up my interview and came back to work but couldn’t stop thinking about the dog I left at the humane society.

I called about him the next day only to find out he ran away and no one could locate his whereabouts.

Sources close to the situation said when the time came to go inside the crate, the dog bolted with several adults unable to catch him.

Although I know I would not have been able to house the cute little dog at my apartment, I was willing to find a place for him with my parents to foster for a few weeks so he could find a permanent home up North.

Even though I know everyone can’t have a pet live in their home, I hope the ones who can will consider foster pet parenting a pet from the Chilton County Humane Society.

It isn’t permanent; it allows someone up North to adopt a pet and it provides a few weeks to live with a cute face in your home.

For more information about pet fostering an animal, contact 755-9170.

Emily Etheredge is a staff writer for The Clanton Advertiser. She can be reached at emily.etheredge@clantonadvertiser.com.