Shortly after we were married, my husband and I rescued a dog via Pen Pals, a program that connects local area rescue dogs with inmates at Virginia correctional centers to train and socialize dogs in need of adoption, while also providing rehabilitation and life skill development opportunities for inmates. It is a wonderful program that we were happy to support and were thrilled to start our family together with Shoney, a well-behaved and sweet pup. Four kids quickly followed to complete our competitive and fun-loving family - Shoney was a lucky dog surrounded by lots of love.

I began my journey with Lucky Dog Animal Rescue as a foster parent in March, right as quarantine started. My husband and I already had one dog, Pooks, and figured we could open our home to one more dog! We spoke with Lorenna and went through the Foster Screening process - I was so worried something would go wrong and we would not be able to give our love to another puppy! Thankfully, we passed all of the tests and it was time to try finding a pup.

My journey into fostering could not be told without first rewinding to 17 years ago when I got my first (and only) dog. I had wanted one my entire childhood, and it was during my early 20s when I was a poor dental student, in the middle of exam week, during the hardest semester of my life, that I had the bright idea that I was going to get a puppy. And so I got one.

I can’t remember a time when we didn’t have rescue animals. My sister (now a veterinarian) had a lot to do with that!

I have lived all over the world and have almost always had a rescue dog. But when I met my now wife, Andi, I did not and was so happy to meet her rescue, Roxy. Roxy was around 45 pounds and 4 years old and she climbed onto my lap and got as close to me as possible and looked at Andi as if to say, yes, I like this one! (Thanks, Roxy!)