The Ultimate "Foster Fail" Success!

After being with us almost a year, we're overjoyed that Harstine and Dixie have been adopted together in a very special "foster fail."

Harstine was rescued on Harstine Island where he had been a stray for some time.

Life on the run left this big boy feeling uncertain of new people and experiences.

His trust must be earned over time.

Dixie was also found as a stray. Upon examination, our vet found a pellet lodged in Dixie's neck. She had been shot!

And though Dixie has always been a sweet pup, she doesn't easily connect with humans, much preferring the companionship of other dogs over people.

The story of how these dogs, who were abandoned and scared, found safety and family is incredibly heartwarming.

Grab some tissues! You're going to need them as our fosters share their decision to shift from temporary to forever with these two precious dogs.

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Enjoy this beautiful story shared from Harstine and Dixie's fosters, turned adopters, in their own words.

Temporary.

That was the word we clung to. A bridge, not a destination. We help dogs decompress, learn what it feels like to be safe, then send them to their forever homes. We have said it out loud, more than once, like a rule not meant to be broken.

Then came Harstine. A BIG scared galoof that stole our hearts from day one, but the goal was to help him find his way. We said, "He will make an incredible dog someday." We meant it.

Then came Dixie. On a hot August day, she needed help.This shy girl chose life with her own agenda. We laughed and said, "She's going to make somebody so happy; she is such a good girl." We meant that too.

As fosters, we spent countless hours trying to prepare them for their future. The applications that came in were close matches, but nothing that seemed perfect.

Then something happened that we didn't plan for.

Harstine changed his routine, brought ballies to us, and relaxed in a way we had never seen. Dixie started looking for us, enjoying car rides, helping Harstine balance his fears. 

The last few applications, something would tighten in our chests.

Letting them go would not be helping them, it would be breaking something that had already come together.

We had failed, as fosters.

We didn't let them go.

We signed the papers, we quit calling it temporary, and after almost a year in our care, we made it official.

Here's the one thing nobody tells you about "failing" like that. It doesn't feel like failure at all.

It feels like Harstine, bringing his toys to share, and waiting at the gate when "dad" comes home.

It feels like Dixie, running full speed to jump in the car for a ride.

It feels like home.

We set out to be a bridge. Instead, we became the destination. And we wouldn't change that kind of failure for anything.

~ Tina and Sean
Harstine and Dixie's adopters

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Something to Celebrate!

Seriously, is there anything better than an adoption (or two!) that was meant to be?

Join with us in singing "arooh!" along with Harstine in this video to celebrate his and Dixie's new beginning.

To Dixie and Harstine's fosters/adopters, thank you for never giving up on them. For dedicating hours, months to helping them know love, safety and what it means to be part of a family.

We're so thankful that these two are finally, officially home!