In each issue this year, meet a local foster parent and discover why they open their home and heart to pets in need.
by Laura Kistner
I’ve been fostering dogs since 2019, but in many ways, it feels like something that was always meant to be part of my life. Growing up, I spent time with my grandparents in Texas, who lived on 86 acres. That’s where my love for animals really took root. Being around them, caring for them and understanding their needs shaped something in me that never really went away.
When my husband and I retired, we found ourselves at a new stage in life with more time at home. That’s when fostering became a natural next step. I saw a Facebook post about a rescue in Colorado and decided to apply. Since then, we’ve fostered for both Mountain Pet Rescue and Ward-Wiseman Animal Haven in Collinsville. What started as a simple decision has turned into something much bigger than we ever imagined.
Over the years, we’ve fostered more than 600 dogs. Some stay only a few days, others a few weeks. When we take in a mama dog and her puppies, they’re usually with us for six to eight weeks. Every situation is different, but the goal is always the same: give them a safe place to land.
We treat our home as a temporary stop where dogs can rest, heal and learn what it feels like to be loved. They come to us from all kinds of situations — abandonment, abuse or life as a stray. It can be heartbreaking to see what they’ve been through, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. You can see the change in them, sometimes almost immediately. A full belly, a soft place to sleep and kindness go a long way.
We foster at least three litters of puppies a year, and during those times, our dining room turns into a large pen for the moms and their babies. It’s a busy, messy and joyful season in our home. Our kids and grandkids love being part of it too. They come over often, helping socialize the puppies and giving them even more love and attention.
Some fosters stay with you more than others. There was Mama Hazel, whose family moved away and left her behind. Neighbors stepped in to feed her and eventually reached out for help when they realized she was pregnant. We took her in, and just two weeks later, she gave birth to 12 puppies. We lost three, which was hard, but Hazel was an incredibly sweet and devoted mother through it all.
Another mama dog came to us after giving birth in an abandoned shed. She was terrified, especially of men, and only bonded with me. She became aggressive toward my husband and other family members, making her unadoptable. Cases like that are difficult, but they remind us how deeply past experiences shape these animals.
Then there was Hank. He had been picked up as a stray using a catch pole, and the experience left him scared and anxious. He struggled with abandonment issues and hated being left alone. We worked with him for several weeks, slowly building trust and confidence. Today, he’s in a loving home, going on mountain walks and living the life every dog deserves.
Not every story ends with goodbye. We had one foster — a Lab mix — who had chewed her paws down to the bone while in the shelter. The stress and anxiety she experienced were overwhelming. We couldn’t bring ourselves to let her go. She became our foster fail and a permanent part of our family.
Fostering isn’t always easy. It can be emotional, and sometimes the stories stay with you. But we keep going because we know what comes next for these dogs. A better life. A real home. A second chance.
And being even a small part of that is worth everything.
