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The Bridge Named Dorothy Some dogs pass through a rescue and quietly make their way into a family. And then there are dogs like Dorothy, the ones who leave pawprints on absolutely everything. Dorothy, our sweet, spunky, sassy little pocket pittie mama, waited 183 days for her forever family. Everyone who met her, loved her. Dorothy came to TLC in September after being found abandoned with her seven puppies. Somehow, despite everything she had been through, Dorothy arrived with a wagging tail and a personality that lit up a room. She made the long trek north, raised and weaned her puppies, was spayed, underwent heartworm treatment, and along the way managed to make every person she encountered smile. It is nearly impossible to have a bad day when Dorothy is around. She had that kind of magic about her. But Dorothy’s story isn’t just about the day she found her forever family. It’s about every single person who said yes to her along the way. From our rescue partners down south to the three different foster homes she had up north, Dorothy was carried across a bridge built by people who chose to help , sometimes for a week, sometimes for months, sometimes just because they were asked. I was supposed to be just a temporary stop on her journey. One week. That was the plan. And then I met Dorothy. Immediately I knew I wanted to keep her longer. Thankfully, the foster who loved her before me understood that sometimes the bridge needs another plank, another set of hands, another person to carry a dog just a little farther down the road. So Dorothy stayed. Her final leg with me included heartworm treatment, crate rest, and three months of daily laughter courtesy of a tiny, snorting, sass-filled pittie who had absolutely no idea she had ever been unwanted. Fostering means being a bridge for a dog. And what that bridge looks like is different every single time. Sometimes it’s a few days. Sometimes it’s a few months. Sometimes it’s simply saying yes even when you’re not sure you’re the right person. After being that bridge 58 times (and counting), here is what I know to be true: Perfection is not required. On the days you feel bad because the dog spent more time in their crate because you had to work late. On the days it was just too cold for a long walk. On the days your resident dogs didn’t quite get along with their foster sibing. On the days you wish you had a fenced yard. On the days you’re sick with the flu and running on fumes. On the days life feels overwhelming and the world feels heavy. Especially on those days. Those are the days it matters most that someone said yes. Dogs like Dorothy don’t need perfection. They just need a bridge. A couch to nap on. A person to laugh at their silly antics. A safe place to rest while they heal. Someone to show them that humans can be kind. And yes, you will get attached. Of course you will. Would you really be human if you didn’t? Isn’t that the entire point of being alive, to feel things deeply, to care, to experience love even when it means saying see you later? Fostering doesn’t let you live on autopilot. It pulls you into the present moment. It reminds you to slow down. To notice the simple things, a dog sniffing the grass, learning how to play with toys, discovering the joy of a couch cuddle on a random Tuesday night. It’s laughter when they do something ridiculous. It’s pride when they learn a new trick. It’s watching a dog who once had nothing realize that life can be soft and warm and safe. And then one day, it’s walking them into an adoption meeting. You hand the leash to their new family, the people who were meant for them all along. And your heart does something strange. It breaks a little, and grows at the exact same time. Because you realize something incredible: You didn’t lose them. You delivered them home. So if you’ve ever thought about fostering but stopped yourself because… You work too much. You don’t have a yard. You already have pets. You’re afraid you’ll get too attached. I challenge you to try it just once. Because even if you foster a single dog, for that dog you have done one of the kindest things a human being can do. You gave them hope. You gave them time. You gave them a chance to live. And somewhere out there is a dog just like Dorothy waiting for someone like you to become their bridge. Happy life, my sweet Dorothy. Thank you for three months of daily laughs and for reminding me once again why I keep saying yes. My house feels a little quieter tonight.
A little emptier, and sure I am even a little sad missing that sweet girl. But my heart is full knowing that somewhere out there, another dog is waiting for their turn to cross the bridge to their happily ever after. And I’ll be ready when they do.
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