Story #57: The Foster Who Never Left
As told by Patti Sweeney: Adopter, Foster, Volunteer, and Donor
I started volunteering at Anderson Humane almost five years ago.
We had just lost our beloved wiener dog of 18 years, and our house felt empty. We were not ready to have another dog, but I missed that daily connection. Volunteering felt like the perfect way to get my dog fix without bringing one home.
When you volunteer at a shelter, you see dogs come and go. Some stay longer than you hope. Some leave and come back again. And every once in a while, one tugs at your heart in a way you cannot explain.
For me, that dog was Max.
He arrived on a transport and quickly became a favorite among staff and volunteers.
He was loving, smart, and full of personality. The only thing working against him was his age. He was older, and for some reason, he kept getting overlooked.
He spent more time at the shelter than any of us thought he should.
Eventually, a friend of mine began fostering him.
She would send pictures of how happy he was in her home, how he relaxed away from the shelter environment. Around Christmas, her family planned to travel and she asked if I would watch Max so he would not have to return to the shelter.
We were not going anywhere, so I said yes. It would be nice to have a dog in the house, even temporarily.
What none of us knew was that my dad was going to pass away on Christmas Day.
Two days later, Max was scheduled to come stay with us.
My family and I were overwhelmed with arrangements and grief, but a promise is a promise. About two hours after we finalized plans for my dad’s funeral, my friend dropped Max off.
He was unsure at first, looking around the house, searching for his foster mom. We gave him space. Eventually, he joined us on the couch, and that first night we all took turns giving him attention.
I decided to sleep in the spare room. I figured I would not sleep much anyway, and Max was in a new house, too. I put his dog bed next to mine.
He hopped in and immediately started snoring.
I remember feeling surprised at how comfortable he already was.
Later that night, as everything from the day began crashing in on me, I started to cry quietly in bed. Suddenly, Max jumped out of his dog bed and came to my side. I told him it was okay and to go back to sleep. Instead, he climbed onto the bed and lay next to me for about five minutes. He licked my hand, rested close, and then calmly returned to his bed.
That moment broke me in the best way.
A few days later, after my dad’s funeral, our house was filled with people.
Max handled the chaos beautifully. It was almost as if he welcomed everyone in to help us celebrate my dad’s life.
That night, back in the spare room, I felt the bed shift again. There he was. He lay his head on my chest and simply stared at me. It felt like he knew I needed that extra love.
Somewhere in those quiet moments, everything changed.
When my friend returned from her trip, we were already falling deeply in love with Max.
I asked if we could keep him just a few more days.
Those few days made it clear. He was not just visiting.
One evening, my husband and I were sitting at the kitchen island talking about our day. Max was nearby, as always, ready to offer one of his quick leg licks as he passed by. My husband looked at me and said, “Are you going to adopt this big lug or what?”
I could feel my heart skip a beat.
I always felt there was something special about Max when he first walked into the shelter.
But when he walked into our home during one of the hardest weeks of our lives, I knew he was meant to be part of our family.
The hardest part was making sure we were ready to open our hearts again after losing our wiener dog. People say your old dogs send you the next one. I truly believe that is what happened.
The two of them would have been best friends.
The next day, I walked into the shelter for my volunteer shift and filled out the paperwork to make it official.
Max finally had his loving home.
We have had him for over a year now, and it feels like he has always been here. Everyone who meets him falls in love instantly. It feels like all the stars aligned: a great friend, my dad, our old dog, and perfect timing.
Volunteering at Anderson Humane, I see the compassion every single week. The dedication. The way staff and volunteers go above and beyond for every animal that walks through those doors.
Max had been shuffled around for far too long. Now he is home.
And in many ways, he helped heal ours, too.
Ready to start your own rescue story?
Meet adoptable animals at Anderson Humane by visiting ahconnects.org/adopt, or help make the next 60 stories possible by donating in honor of our 60th Anniversary.
Interested in becoming a Volunteer?
Visit ahconnects.org/volunteer/ for more information on how you can get involved.
Interested in starting your own Foster Journey?
Visit us at ahconnects.org/foster-2/ for more information or email fosters@ahconnects.org
