Fostering a shelter dog can require flexibility, commitment, and lots of patience, but watching their life change with a little time and love is worth every moment of effort. For the perfect proof, look no further than dog mom @rachelishaa and her most recent foster dog, Murphy.
When Rachel visited her local shelter to meet a dog with ‘zero interest,’ she met a terrified, shaking, and shut-down Murphy. There was no question that she had to bring him home to foster, but she had no idea what a different dog he’d become after he had a safe space and lots of love. This is a perfect example of how fostering saves lives!
It’s heartbreaking to see the poor pup cowering in the corner of his crate, but little did he know just how much things were about to change. Every milestone and ‘first’ was as special as the last! From his first time leaving the shelter to his first time meeting his forever family, it was all possible because of Rachel’s selfless decision.
“You literally brought him back to life,” commented @bryancolects. There’s a little more light in his eyes in each video, especially once he opened up to his Dalmatian dog brother. Sometimes, a little reassurance from a confident canine sibling can be the missing link!
Related: Foster Shih-Tzu Sweetly Plays With a Toy For the First Time and It’s Pure Sweetness
Murphy couldn’t have found a better foster home, but it’s clear that his forever home was meant-to-be, too. Viewers loved how “his forever sibling looks like his twin,” and how Murphy embraced the change with confidence and an open mind.
Of course, none of this healing would have been possible without Rachel’s decision to foster. Even though many people would have a hard time saying goodbye to a foster pet, the heartbreak is still smaller than the joy of changing a dog’s life. @Bpkeyzie praised, “Thank you for fostering, and not adopting, so you’ll have space for the next dog that needs you. Fosters are the best.”
Helping Shelter Dogs Decompress
As Rachel’s honest video showed, welcoming a shelter dog into your home isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Many shelter dogs need time to decompress and get used to their new environment—and that’s OK!
During these fragile first days, give a rescue dog their own space to relax and recuperate. Make sure they have the option to join the rest of the household at their own pace, and get them started on routines as soon as possible. It can take days or even weeks before a rescue dog starts to show their true colors, but when they do, it’s the most beautiful thing.
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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Apr 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.