Dog foster parents like Isabel Klee and her fiance, Jacob, always want what’s best for their fur babies. Knowing what’s right isn’t always easy, especially with a foster who’s facing multiple medical concerns, and sometimes it can be heartbreaking, too.
Isabel’s most recent foster dog was a blind, senior pup with several medical and behavioral concerns, but all she and her followers saw was a dog in need of love. They worked tirelessly to make Zero more comfortable in the two weeks he was with them, but it became increasingly clear that love couldn’t heal everything. On December 20, the couple said goodbye to their beloved foster boy, but not before a final act of love that left everyone sobbing.
Zero may not have been in good health at the end of his life, but oh boy, was he loved. The sweet senior dog spent his final night on Earth cuddled in the arms of people who adored him (and even adopted him), and he tried some of the most delicious treats he’s ever known. Jacob and Isabel couldn’t have loved him more if they tried.
Commenter @lifewithralphboys had everyone sobbing when they wrote, “They loved me so much they called me theirs and still understood my comfort was worth their grief.” Pass the tissues, please!
Related: Moment Terrified Rescue Dog Finally Lets Foster Mom Pet Him Has Everyone Emotional
Because he would sometimes nip out of fear, blind (and mostly deaf) Zero was labelled as a ‘behavioral case’ at Muddy Paws rescue in New York City. Even after addressing painful medical and dental concerns, he spent hours every day barking, howling, and trying to get comfortable. They ultimately decided that his cognitive issues left him with little to no quality of life, but they still wanted him to have one night of comfort, cuddles, and love.
Isabel and Jacob have done so much for Zero in his final few weeks, and adopting this senior dog before he crossed the rainbow bridge was the ultimate act of love. Sadly, so many shelter dogs never get this kind of comfort and care, but maybe Zero’s story will inspire others to foster and adopt senior dogs from their local shelters.
Isabel’s Foster Dogs
Isabel has been sharing her life as a dog mom, foster mom, and bride-to-be on her social media accounts, @simonsits, for several years, but she recently went mega-viral when one of her foster dogs, Tiki, touched millions of hearts. The resilient little pup went from terrified to confident in Isabel’s care, and he’s now living happily with a forever family who adores him more than he ever knew possible.
Tiki and Zero are just two of the dozens of dogs whose lives Isabel has changed for the better. She is the epitome of a loving and dedicated dog foster mom, and the love she and Jacob showed Zero will live forever in the hearts of so many people. Thank you, Isabel, for everything you do!
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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Dec 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.