When Chelsea Cesaro-Sanchez and her husband, Brenedy, attended The Hotel at the University of Maryland’s Dog Adoption Day, the plan was to “just look.” Several adorable dogs in need of good homes were vying for their attention. But the dog that didn’t seem interested in them was the one they couldn’t ignore.

Young German shorthaired pointer/Lab mix, King, did not live up to his namesake. He was rail thin and skittish. Even at less than a year old, it was obvious he had a rough life.

Giving Fostering a Go

The couple decided to foster King to help him learn to trust people, and “just looking” went out the window. Of course, Brenedy knew from Day 1 that they were setting themselves up for a foster fail, where they would ultimately keep King for themselves. As King began to warm up to them, they fell head-over-heels and officially adopted him on November 12 — their wedding anniversary.

With a new family and the new name, Cruz, King also has a new lease on life. It took a few weeks for him to come out of his shell around mom and dad. Now, he’s thriving at home and the dog park. Understandably, warming up to strangers took a little longer, but Cruz is making great strides.

Foster Fail, Take Two

A few months later, Chelsea and Brenedy decided to work with K-9 Lifesavers again when fostering a three-month-old Bernese mountain dog/Golden Retriever mix named Harlo. This time, it only took four days to make their foster fail official and adopt Harlo as Cruz’s little sister!

Their personalities may be opposites — Harlo is the class clown, and Cruz is the teacher’s pet. But these two are inseparable.

While adoption wasn’t the plan in either case, Chelsea and Brenedy can’t imagine life without either of these rescue pups.

Tips for Dog Fostering and Adoption

With two foster fails under their belt, they have a few tips for anyone interested in fostering or adopting a dog in the Tri-state area:

• Work with K-9 Lifesavers – this local nonprofit made the whole process seamless, and team members were always available and responsive to questions. The organization partners with a boarding facility in King George, Virginia, but fosters are essential for puppies and younger dogs rescued from high-kill shelters until they find their forever homes. Even young adult and senior dogs benefit from being in a home. Plus, placing a dog in a foster home can double their chances of being adopted. The Cesaro family had such a wonderful experience with K-9 Lifesavers that they plan to continue supporting the organization in ways that don’t involve more fostering (for now)…
• Be patient – it takes several weeks or months for a dog to adjust to his or her new surroundings. You probably won’t know your foster pup’s back story, which could include abuse or mistreatment.
• Be prepared to fail in the best way – if you decide to foster, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your pup find the perfect family, especially when it’s yours!

If you’re ready to foster or adopt a dog, K-9 Lifesavers is a great place to start. Or, be on the lookout for The Hotel at the University of Maryland’s future dog adoption events.