Foster Friends
Becoming a foster mom has been one of the most meaningful parts of my life. Every time I open my home to a new dog, I get to watch them begin their journey toward the loving forever family they’ve always deserved. It’s a gift—not just for the dogs, but for me too.
Fostering brings me joy!
My own dog, Puka, was rescued off the streets of Los Angeles in 2011. She’s the greatest gift I’ve ever received, and because of her, I felt a deep pull to “pay it forward” and give other dogs the same chance at a happy life.
Since then, I’ve fostered dogs both independently and through local rescues. Each time, I see how fostering not only changes that dog’s life, but also helps the bigger picture—every foster pup means one less dog sitting in a crowded shelter, which makes room for another life to be saved.
Fostering is about more than just a temporary home. It’s about helping a dog feel safe, loved, and understood. You get to discover their personality, watch them grow into themselves, and give them the confidence they need to shine in their forever home. And while it’s never easy to say goodbye, seeing them thrive with their new family is the most rewarding feeling of all.
If you’re an animal lover looking for a way to make a difference, I can’t recommend fostering enough. It’s one of the simplest, most impactful ways to give back—to your community, to yourself, and most importantly, to a dog who needs you.
Little Richard Simmons n.k.a. Ouija
Rescue: independent
Ouija was my first foster dog. I got a random call one day from a guy I barely knew asking to help him with some dogs he pulled from the shelter. I was pretty new to the rescue world at this time and I wanted to start fostering so when I heard that there was a dog in need I jumped on the opportunity to help! Shortly after rescuing Ouija a woman contacted me saying she saw Ouija's picture on Instagram and fell in love. I knew she was meant to be Ouija's mom from the first day we met. It was truly love at first sight.
ADOPTED! July 19, 2015
Follow Little Richard Simmons on Instagram: @domesti_katie
Sir Clefton
Rescue: independent
My friend sent me a picture of a dog in the shelter with a text message saying, "He looks like Puka!" And boy, did he ever! Clefton looked just like my Puka dog with his white coat, red patches, and cleft lip. I stared at the picture and immediately made a plan. The next day I drove to the Downey shelter to meet and rescue this doppelgänger. When I met Sir Clefton at the shelter he was nothing but smiles in the play yard. I remember he wiggled his way right up into my arms, fearless and friendly, and I knew right then that he was coming home with me. I fostered Clefton for 4 months before his forever family claimed him, but man, it was worth the wait because Clefton's family has become some of my closest friends here in Los Angeles. Puka and I still see Clefton on a regular basis for play dates and hang time.
ADOPTED! November 3, 2016
Follow Clefton on Instagram: @matildabeans
Kat n.k.a. Sharkey
Rescue: A Purposeful Rescue
Kat was brought to the shelter with a severe injury to her back leg. Nobody knows what happened to her, and unfortunately, her back leg had to be amputated. A Purposeful Rescue pulled Kat from the shelter after her surgery and gave me the opportunity to foster her. Kat was the first ortho pup I had ever cared for and the first pup I fostered for a rescue organization. I learned a lot from working with A Purposeful Rescue and I am forever grateful for all of the guidance and support APR showed me while fostering Kat.
ADOPTED! March 2017
Follow Sharkey on Instagram: @juno_n_sharkey
Will
Rescue: Best Friends Animal Society NKLA
Will was in and out of the shelter system for years before finding his forever home. The shelter really stressed Will out, and he never showed well to people looking to adopt a dog. Best Friends Animal Society reached out to me asking if I would take Will in so he could have some time to decompress outside of NKLA. I was super excited to foster Will, because I knew that Puka and I could really help him relax and find his forever home. When I brought Will home, he was a completely different dog than when he was at NKLA. Will was quiet, and polite, and besides stealing your shoes and needing some on-leash training, he really was a perfect dog! I provided BFAS NKLA with countless pictures, videos, and notes all about Will and I blasted social media with his face. I was determined to let the world know how awesome he was. And shortly after I returned Will to NKLA, he was adopted.
ADOPTED! September 19, 2018
Rosie
Rescue: Road Dogs
After adopting Puka, I wanted to learn more about dogs with cleft lips and cleft palates. I reached out to a variety of rescuers, vet techs, and doctors inquiring about clefts in dogs and over the years I had become very knowledgeable about clefts and how to care for them. The rescue community connected me with Road Dogs Rescue and The Labelle Foundation who had a beautiful clefty named Rosie in their care and gave me the opportunity to foster. I tube fed Rosie for the first week and then weaned her off milk to solid food. She was a huge part of my life, and one of the best things that had ever happened to me. We spent 6 glorious months together and then out of nowhere we met a woman in our neighborhood who was looking for a companion for her dog Smokey. Rosie loved this idea so much I remember her crawling all over this stranger's lap and drowning her in snotty clefty kisses as if to say, "This is what the rest of our lives could be like together!" And just like that, Rosie found her forever home.
ADOPTED! June 14, 2018
Willie
Rescue: Deity Animal Rescue
I put a call out to the rescue community saying I was interested in fostering a puppy, and immediately I heard back from Deity Animal Rescue about Willie needing a home. Willie was born with deformed front legs so getting around was a challenge for her. I loved Willie from the very first picture I saw and I wanted to help her get better. Together we championed physical therapy and surgery. And now Willie can do all the fun things that Puka and I like to do - running, hiking, swimming, I always find a way to include her. She is an even mix of 'fun time at the dog park' and 'chill time on the couch'. But as easy going as Willie's personality is, she will need ongoing specialized care for the rest of her life. Knowing this, I decided it was best that she become a permanent member of our family.
ADOPTED! January 25, 2021
