Meet Jenna, Rob and Family!

 

My husband, Rob, and I have been married for 12 years. We have two daughters: Clara(16) and Kennedy (9). Both daughters play softball. Kennedy also plays basketball and swims. We're always on the move! When we're not at a sports field, we love to relax at the beach and enjoy some downtime. We also have a dog named Waffles. Waffles is a 5 year old foster fail from Lab Rescue. 

 

I began fostering during the COVID pandemic because of the increased need for fosters. I was also contemplating adopting another dog which my husband was firmly against; however, I managed to persuade him to agree to fostering. I already had two senior dogs that had been with me throughout my adult life. Ultimately, our third dog, initially a foster, became a permanent member of our family. We are on our seventeenth foster dog since 2020. 

 

My favorite aspect of fostering is the significant role I play in the dogs' lives. The onset of COVID-19 brought an influx of dogs in need and with everyone at home, we could truly assist and savor the added love and joy in our household. I cherish the fact that I, along with other volunteers, am instrumental in the adoption process. I get to interact with potential adopters, observe their interactions with my foster dog and ultimately decide if they're the perfect match! It’s also a valuable experience for my children. Fostering is teaching them responsibility, dog behavior cues, training techniques and the joy of extra kisses.

         

Aside from Waffles, Midas was a favorite dog we fostered.Parting with him was difficult. His background really tugged at my heartstrings. His owner was deploying and couldn't take him.. Midas was very shy and standoffish at first and then BOOM.He came out of his shell with his charming personality. He was a well-trained gentleman who got along with everyone and everything. During a meet-and-greet, his unexpected growl at a boundary-less dog took us by surprise. My family interpreted that as a sign we should keep him but I was determined to maintain our foster-only policy despite the crossed wires. Midas was adopted on my daughter's birthday, which turned out to be a bittersweet day as we didn't realize how much everyone had grown to love him. I reminded my children that adopting another dog might mean we'd have to stop fostering so for us, fostering is the best of both worlds.