The Bridge to Recovery: How Medical Fosters Help Dogs Heal

Medical fosters are the bridge between survival and a new beginning. They open their homes to dogs recovering from surgeries, illness, trauma, and long-neglected medical needs. They work hand-in-hand with the Saving Grace Veterinary Clinic and partners, giving each dog the safety, comfort, and care needed to heal. Brooke has been doing this work with quiet strength and uncommon dedication for years. Her experience shows how crucial fosters are to the entire rescue system and how much one person can change a dog’s future.

Below is her story, in her own words.

1. How did you first get involved as a Medical Foster at Saving Grace, and what drew you to this type of hands-on caregiving?

I’ve fostered with Saving Grace for almost 7 years, starting with large puppy litters back-to-back until 2022, when I switched to exclusively medical fosters. I have a background in animal medicine and always wanted to be a veterinarian. In college, I worked at a veterinary clinic in Wilmington, NC where I learned a lot. My passion has always been helping animals in need, so volunteering as a medical foster is a perfect fit. I usually get amputees, but I rarely turn down any dog in need. From upper respiratory infections to eye removals or deep lacerations, I’ve fostered them all. Amputees amaze me with their resilience, bouncing back as if nothing is missing. Since these dogs have had tough pasts, it motivates me to show them that life as a dog can be good.

2. Many of the dogs you take home arrive with serious medical needs. Can you describe what those first days often look like and how you help them start healing?

The first day or so of having them in my home, I try to just let them be and let them rest, and I sit back and observe them. I try not to bother them any more than I have to. By day 2 or 3 of surgery or after starting medicines, they tend to start being a little more active. You can tell they are starting to feel better. Most still need crate rest, so depending on the dog’s need, we take short walks or potty breaks and then back into the house. I give them lots of bedding to be comfortable lying in and toys and stuffies if they are ready to play a little or snuggle.

3. You work closely with the Saving Grace clinic team and veterinary partners. What does that collaboration mean for you as a foster and for the dogs in your care?

The Saving Grace Clinic team is exceptional, helpful, caring, and always available for questions or concerns. Having their support is a real relief. Medical fosters benefit from skilled vet techs and doctors who all have big hearts and want the best for each dog. Volunteer veterinary partners take their time with each sick dog to find the best solutions. The medical team is approachable, easy to collaborate with, and always receptive to concerns. I couldn’t do this without them.

4. Is there a particular dog whose recovery has stayed with you and captures what medical fostering can do for a dog’s future?

One of my favorite medical fosters that I will always remember was a floppy, clumsy hound mix named Tassel. He was an older puppy who had a deformed front leg, and it just kind of flopped around. He ended up having the front leg amputated, and he was free of the floppy limb. He was such a great foster; he helped another amputee puppy I had at the same time overcome his challenges. This puppy had a back leg removed from another shelter, and he was not bouncing back like most dogs do. His good back leg was too weak to hold him up, and he was not strong enough to walk on his own. Tassel decided this pup was his new best friend. Even though Tassel had just had the same surgery himself, he pushed this other pup to move around, to gain strength, to eventually be able to walk a little. By the time I had them both for a couple of weeks, I had seen so much improvement in this pup, and it was all because Tassel wouldn’t let him just sit there.

Seeing all my fosters come into the program with medical needs and before my eyes, you see how relieved these dogs are that they are finally starting to feel good and can actually start being a dog. This is the rewarding part of fostering. We, as a team, got them all better and ready to find their forever homes. Knowing these dogs do go to wonderful homes and get that second chance at life is why I do it.

5. What would you say to someone who is considering fostering, especially a dog with medical challenges, but isn’t sure they can do it?

You should definitely give it a try. If it’s your passion to help dogs in need, then this could be the rewarding volunteer opportunity for you. You have a team of people and other fosters like myself who are always there to help along the way. Fostering medical dogs is a deeply rewarding experience that can be challenging at times, but it is often less difficult than anticipated and offers flexibility. By providing a safe, calm environment, you directly contribute to a dog’s recovery and ability to be adopted. Observing their progress and knowing you were a vital part of their second chance is a fulfilling experience.

Saving Grace is not just a rescue; it’s a promise to every dog they take in that they will be cared for, loved, and given the best chance at a happy life. I hear people say all the time, “I could never foster, I get too attached.” It can be emotionally challenging to let a dog go, especially at first, but focusing on the “happy ending” of their adoption to their forever home helps manage these feelings. Knowing you are literally helping save one dog at a time. Without fosters, these dogs don’t get a second chance.

Brooke shows what is possible when a dedicated foster steps in to guide a dog through recovery. Her partnership with our clinic team, her willingness to take on difficult cases, and her calm, compassionate care gives dogs their best chance to thrive. Saving Grace can welcome medically vulnerable dogs because people like Brooke stand ready to help them heal.

To explore how you can be part of something that changes everything for a dog in need, consider fostering, volunteering, or donating today.