Our Foster Journey
Because of Duke, we realized we still had a home, a safe place, and love to share. 🐾💙
When people hear “Because of Duke Foundation,” they often think first about financial assistance for veterinary care or adoption support.
Those are an important part of our mission.
But, there is another part of Duke’s legacy that has changed our lives in a very personal way.
Because of Duke, we became foster parents.
How Duke Changed Our Hearts
After losing Duke, we were not ready to welcome another dog into our family.
Nick felt ready to welcome another dog into our home.
I did not.
The thought of another dog felt IMPOSSIBLE. I could not imagine filling Duke’s place in our hearts.
However, as we built Because of Duke Foundation, I spent countless hours learning about the animal shelter crisis and rescue organizations. All of a sudden, we realized something we had never considered before…
We had a home, a safe place, and love to share.
Fostering became our compromise.
To be honest, for a long time we could not imagine fostering. We admired the people who did it, but we honestly did not think we were strong enough. Duke gave us the strength. The realization that we could foster changed everything.
What we did not expect was that fostering would become one of the most meaningful ways we continue Duke’s legacy.
We are not replacing Duke, we never could.
Instead, we are sharing the love he taught us with dogs who need it most.
We are able to foster, literally, because of Duke 🐾💙
Meet Our Foster Dogs
Teddy
Certified Teddy Bear & Heart Healer. True happy, loving, people pleaser.
Teddy is a 2-year-old brindle pittie found as a stray, about 65 lbs of pure sweetness who trains like a dream (he'll do anything for a treat).
Teddy became our very first foster. He was the first dog to walk through the door after Duke.
He reminded us that opening your heart again does not mean leaving another behind. It simply means allowing love to grow.
Teddy will always hold a special place in our story because he helped us discover what fostering could become.
Watching Teddy settle into our home confirmed that fostering was not just something we could do. It was something we wanted to continue doing.
Blake
Attention Lover & Ultimate Happy Boy. Our resilient sweetheart, excitedly waiting to run around pain free again.
Blake is a 4-year-old lab/pittie mix with a torn CCL and a personality so gentle it'll break your heart
Soon after Teddy came Blake.
Blake arrived needing patience, stability, and medical care while preparing for TPLO surgery.
He has taught us that fostering is not always easy.
Sometimes it means helping a dog heal before someone else gets to enjoy the healthiest version of them.
And we are honored to be a part of that chapter for Blake.
Please Note
Our foster dogs are cared for through their rescue organization and are not financially supported by Because of Duke Foundation.
We share their stories because rescue advocacy is a core part of who we are.
Our hope is that by opening our home, and by sharing these stories, we can encourage more people to consider fostering, adopting, volunteering, or supporting rescues in whatever way they can.
Not everyone can foster. But, everyone can help.
If you're considering fostering, reach out to your local rescue or shelter (or us!)— they need you more than you know
Because of Duke, Teddy and Blake have a safe place to land
Without Duke, Teddy and Blake would never have crossed our path.
Our hope is to continue opening our home to dogs in need for years to come.
Every dog who becomes part of our family, even for a little while, will become part of Duke’s legacy.
We look forward to sharing their stories with you.