{"id":7212,"date":"2026-04-06T07:38:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T06:38:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/?p=7212"},"modified":"2026-04-06T07:38:37","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T06:38:37","slug":"family-not-quite-ready-to-adopt-after-dogs-death-decides-fate-of-new-foster-in-unanimous-vote-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/?p=7212","title":{"rendered":"Family Not &#8216;Quite Ready to Adopt&#8217; After Dog&#8217;s Death Decides Fate of New Foster in Unanimous Vote (Exclusive)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mb-4 text-lg font-bold\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Lehman family began fostering dogs after losing their 17-year-old Jack Russell terrier mix, Lokey, in 2025<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sunny, a foster puppy, quickly bonded with the family, leading to a unanimous decision to adopt her<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Danielle Lehman tells PEOPLE that they plan to continue fostering dogs despite adopting the 6-month-old puppy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When Danielle Lehman and her family lost their beloved Jack Russell terrier mix, Lokey, in November 2025, their house felt uncomfortably quiet after over 17 years of hearing the pitter-patter of nails on hardwood floors and the distinct jingling of dog tags.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">While they &#8220;weren&#8217;t quite ready to adopt&#8221; another dog, Lehman tells PEOPLE they &#8220;thought fostering would be a great way to have a pup in the house without a long-term commitment.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In January 2026, they began fostering through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pawsitivetailskc.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Pawsitive Tails;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Pawsitive Tails&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Pawsitive Tails<\/a> in the Kansas City area, helping find homes for six dogs before getting a call in March 2026 that would forever change their family dynamic.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As Lehman, 41, was packing up the car to pick up a foster puppy, she got a message saying the dog had already been adopted, so the shelter asked if they&#8217;d be open to taking another dog instead, a mixed-breed puppy named Sunny.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Danielle Lehman, her husband Ethan Schachter, their son Oliver and Sunny the dogCredit: Courtesy of Danielle Lehman\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"736\" height=\"960\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/7JDwSeDXhJL09xZnTIhcSg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEyNTI7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/8eb64a245e30421d8bb7725677107be1\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Danielle Lehman, her husband Ethan Schachter, their son Oliver and Sunny the dog<br \/>Credit: Courtesy of Danielle Lehman<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Looking back, Lehman calls the moment &#8220;fate.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The second she brought Sunny home, it was like she was already part of the family.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;After the first week, my husband started dropping hints that he wanted to adopt this one,&#8221; Lehman says. &#8220;They had a really special bond from the beginning.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It wasn&#8217;t just her husband, Ethan Schachter, who fell in love, but also her 9-year-old son, Oliver. The mother of one tells PEOPLE that just two weeks into fostering Sunny, they knew they couldn&#8217;t let her go.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Sunny the dogCredit: Courtesy of Danielle Lehman\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"736\" height=\"960\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/c_e3QRi4vWJID8EPAXpOnw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEyNTI7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/b55675d938b6390ff81796079564c92c\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p><i>Sunny the dog<br \/>Credit: Courtesy of Danielle Lehman<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Although we weren&#8217;t planning to adopt another family member until after some summer travel, I think we all knew it would be hard to find a dog that fit into our family as well as she did,&#8221; she shares.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Still, the family decided to hold a &#8220;vote,&#8221; which they captured on camera and later shared on TikTok. In the video, each of them wrote down whether or not they wanted to keep Sunny, and then shared a short reasoning behind their vote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In the end, they came to a unanimous decision to adopt the 6-month-old, each writing on their respective ballots, &#8220;She&#8217;s home.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Lehman insists that they wouldn&#8217;t have &#8220;held a vote if there were any question&#8221; about whether or not they wanted to adopt Sunny, noting that she had &#8220;been checking in with my husband and son all week&#8221; leading up to making the viral video.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I just wanted to find a special way to document the adoption process and surprise the boys with the outcome,&#8221; she shares. &#8220;Even though I had a strong feeling about how they were both going to vote, it was really special to see them share in their own words why they wanted to adopt her.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Lehman says she has been &#8220;touched&#8221; by the response to her video, which has since amassed nearly two million views.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;There&#8217;s something special about connecting with strangers over a shared love for dogs, and I&#8217;m glad our video brought so many people so much joy,&#8221; she says.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Despite adopting Sunny, Lehman says they are excited &#8220;to continue sharing our fostering journey with the world.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">She says one of the reasons they felt like Sunny was such a &#8220;great fit&#8221; for their family was because she is &#8220;so friendly with other dogs,&#8221; meaning they can continue fostering in the future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We are starting training this week and hope she will be a great big sister role model,&#8221; Lehman shares. &#8220;A lot of people say, &#8216;I could never foster \u2014 I&#8217;d just want to keep all of the dogs.&#8217; While it&#8217;s true that we have loved \u2014 and felt some heartbreak \u2014 over every dog we&#8217;ve fostered so far, it has been the most rewarding experience to find them a forever home.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;With each dog we say goodbye to, we get to save another, often times from a horrible situation,&#8221; she adds. &#8220;We set out to find Sunny the perfect forever family\u2026 but the universe had other plans. Sunny was already home.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/family-votes-to-adopt-foster-puppy-after-death-of-dog-exclusive-11937141\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:People;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;People&quot;}\" class=\"link \">People<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEED TO KNOW The Lehman family began fostering dogs after losing their 17-year-old Jack Russell terrier mix, Lokey, in 2025 Sunny, a foster puppy, quickly bonded with the family, leading to a unanimous decision to adopt her Danielle Lehman tells PEOPLE that they plan to continue fostering dogs despite adopting the 6-month-old puppy When Danielle [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7213,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[1438,7571,1987,7580,1403,333,7573,819,7574,69,7572,56,1385,409,7569,7566,7575,915,531,1335,7576,6484,417,116,1309,1124,7579,7581,67,320,66,245,95,7570,4387,482,252,542,1504,2627,2524,7567,7577,41,7568,7578,1115,511,456],"class_list":["post-7212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets-news","tag-adopt","tag-adopt-dog","tag-began","tag-continue","tag-danielle","tag-death","tag-death-decides","tag-decides","tag-decides-fate","tag-dog","tag-dog-death","tag-dogs","tag-exclusive","tag-family","tag-family-ready","tag-fate","tag-fate-foster","tag-felt","tag-find","tag-foster","tag-foster-unanimous","tag-fostering","tag-great","tag-home","tag-husband","tag-jack","tag-lehman","tag-lokey","tag-pe-ts-fun","tag-people","tag-pets-news","tag-puppy","tag-ready","tag-ready-adopt","tag-russell","tag-shared","tag-shares","tag-special","tag-sunny","tag-tells","tag-terrier","tag-unanimous","tag-unanimous-vote","tag-video","tag-vote","tag-vote-exclusive","tag-wanted","tag-week","tag-year"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7212\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pe-ts.fun\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}