By Uchenna C. Okeke
Every foster journey begins with a simple act of saying “yes” and sometimes that yes lasts a few weeks. Other times, it changes a life forever.
Welcome to Fosters Who Became Family, a series celebrating the unexpected bonds that form through fostering. These are stories of pets who arrived as temporary guests but became permanent members of the family.
PART 1: BERNIE – THE 2-WEEK GUEST WHO STAYED FOREVER
Bernie was foster number two for Anne and Tom. With full-time jobs and a calendar that included HSLC board meetings and other volunteer duties, they weren’t looking to add another pet to their family. They simply wanted to help. But from the day he arrived, Bernie made his position very clear. The bathroom. Behind the toilet. For 8 hours. He wasn’t being dramatic. He was terrified.
So, Anne and Tom waited. Left food out. Talked softly to a cat that looked away and ignored them. They gave him the one thing he needed most: time. By the evening, he decided to finally venture out from the bathroom, but the first few days were slow. He watched TV from across the room. He cautiously tested the couch and gradually learned that these people would not chase or harm him. Eventually, Bernie decided the humans weren’t bad. Trust, for Bernie, came in inches. Before long, he was joining them on the couch or at their desks, quietly becoming part of their everyday routine. He particularly liked the screened-in porch, his “catio,” where he could lounge on various chairs and cushions, enjoying fresh air and garden views, while hidden from unexpected visitors.
Then something shifted. Bernie had stopped feeling like a guest. He wasn’t just learning to trust Anne and Tom. They were quietly making room for him in their lives, too. The thought of Bernie going to someone else suddenly felt wrong. He had picked their couch, their quiet evenings, and, without anyone realizing it, a place in their hearts.
The decision to adopt wasn’t part of the plan, but by then, it was the only decision that made sense.
“We decided to keep him for ourselves. HSLC gives foster caregivers the right of first refusal,” Anne says.
Today, Bernie is still very much Bernie. Doorbell rings? He’s under the bed before the chime fades. New guest? He’ll review their application and get back to them in a week. Other cats? Not in his contract. Bernie has made it abundantly clear that this is a one-cat household.
But give him access to his beloved catio, and he’s the happiest cat alive. In fact, Anne laughs, “He loves his catio more than life itself. Some nights, we have to pry him out of there!” By all accounts, Bernie is living what Anne and Thomas simply describe as “a good life.”
And that’s the thing about fostering. Fostering isn’t just about saving pets. It is about giving them the time, patience, and space to become who they’re meant to be. It is about learning that love doesn’t rush. It waits. It listens. It earns trust one small moment at a time. And sometimes, the ones who take the longest to let you in are the ones who leave the biggest paw prints on your heart.
Could your home be the place where the next foster story begins? Click here to take the first step.
August 19 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Join us for Yappy Hour at Spanky’s Shenanigans!
📍 Outside in the back patio area, HSLC will have a table set up to:
✔️ Answer questions about our life-saving work
✔️ Promote our very PUP-ular “Christmas in July” auction
✔️ Raise awareness for the doggies who need us
🍴 Come hungry—Spanky’s is generously donating 10% of all food sales to HSLC!
Related Events
August 9 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Find your PURR-fect match at our special Clear the Shelters adoption event! HSLC has many fur-babies hoping to find their forever families. Come meet them at the Petco in Leesburg from noon to 2pm on Sunday, August 9. For a sneak peek of our adoptable animals, please visit the Humane Society of Loudoun County website!
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’re excited to offer special month-long adoption incentives to help more animals find loving homes. During the entire month of August 2026:
Adoption fees for adult and teenage cats will be completely waived!
BOGO on kittens! Adopt two kittens into the same household for one adoption fee!
If a particular animal catches your eye, complete a no-obligation application today to expedite the application process.
Related Events
July 19 @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
HSLC has many furbabies hoping to find their forever families. Come meet them at the PetSmart in Leesburg from noon to 2pm on Sunday, July 19. For a sneak peek of our adoptable animals, please visit the Humane Society of Loudoun County website!
If a particular furbaby (or two) catches your eye, complete a no-obligation application today to expedite the application process.
Related Events
September 5 @ 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Come watch some silly cat videos for a good cause!
CatVideoFest is a joyous, communal, theatrical experience featuring the latest and best cat videos, while raising money for cats in need through partnerships with local charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters.
Thanks to our ongoing partnership with Alamo Drafthouse, a portion of CatVideoFest ticket proceeds from each and every show goes directly to the Humane Society of Loudoun County to help local cats in need. HSLC will also be bringing adoptable cats to Alamo’s lobby on Saturday, September 5 (Times TBD).
Buy tickets: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Related Events
July 22 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Join us for our “Christmas in July” Yappy Hour at Spanky’s Shenanigans!
📍 Outside in the back patio area, HSLC will have a table set up to:
✔️ Answer questions about our life-saving work
✔️ Promote our very PUP-ular “Christmas in July” auction
✔️ Raise awareness for the doggies who need us
🍴 Come hungry—Spanky’s is generously donating 10% of all food sales to HSLC!
Related Events
June 17 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Join us for the first Yappy Hour of the year at Spanky’s Shenanigans!
📍 Outside in the back patio area, HSLC will have a table set up to:
✔️ Answer questions about our life-saving work
✔️ Sell fun HSLC merchandise
✔️ Raise funds and awareness for the doggies who need us
🍴 Come hungry—Spanky’s is generously donating 10% of all food sales to HSLC!
Related Events
May 13 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Join us for Yappy Hour at Spanky’s Shenanigans!
📍 Outside in the back patio area, HSLC will have a table set up to:
✔️ Answer questions about our life-saving work
✔️ Sell fun HSLC merchandise
✔️ Raise funds and awareness for the doggies who need us
🍴 Come hungry—Spanky’s is generously donating 10% of all food sales to HSLC!
Related Events
April 15 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Join us for the first Yappy Hour of the year at Spanky’s Shenanigans!
📍 Outside in the back patio area, HSLC will have a table set up to:
✔️ Answer questions about our life-saving work
✔️ Sell fun HSLC merchandise
✔️ Raise funds and awareness for the doggies who need us
🍴 Come hungry—Spanky’s is generously donating 10% of all food sales to HSLC!
Related Events
For many animal lovers, the question isn’t if they want to help—it’s how. For Laurie Lewis, a new Humane Society of Loudoun County (HSLC) foster, the answer was clear: fostering offered a way to help not just one dog, but many.
Having fostered—and adopted—dogs in the past, Laurie knew firsthand the joy of opening her home. This time, she made a thoughtful decision. Instead of adopting again right away, she chose fostering so she could continue making a difference for multiple dogs over time. “Fostering was something I wanted to get into again and hopefully help more than one dog,” she shared.
Her journey back to fostering came after the loss of her own dog—a difficult goodbye, made even more complex by the fact that he didn’t get along with other dogs. When the time felt right, fostering became a meaningful next step. “After I lost him a year ago, it seemed like a good time to start fostering.”
For those who feel a pull toward fostering but hesitate, her advice is refreshingly honest: yes, it can be an adjustment—but it’s worth it. “It’s always a challenge to bring a new pet into your household. You just have to have patience. Animals just want love.”
And then there’s Goose
Goose isn’t just any foster dog—“He’s the friendliest dog I’ve ever met. Everyone is a friend,” she says. Goose is a cuddle enthusiast, a kiss-giver, and a self-proclaimed lapdog despite his strength—especially when it comes to his favorite game of tug-of-war. He loves chasing balls (though returning them is still a work in progress), enjoys leisurely sniff-filled walks, and bursts into joyful zoomies across the yard.
More than anything, Goose wants to be near his people. A home full of love and companionship would be perfect for this affectionate, social pup.
In return, Goose has given just as much as he’s received. “He’s my shadow and a great companion,” she shares. “I know more people in my neighborhood now because he always wants to say hello.” Thanks to Goose’s outgoing personality, daily walks have turned into moments of connection—with neighbors, new friends, and plenty of admirers who can’t help but comment on how handsome he is.
Behind the scenes, fostering isn’t something you do alone—and that’s where HSLC steps in. From providing medications like monthly flea and tick prevention to offering vacation fosters, help is always just a call or email away. “HSLC has been very supportive and responsive,” she says. “It makes the whole experience easier.”
And while fostering usually means saying goodbye, it’s also about something bigger: giving a dog a second chance at life.
“I’m so glad he’s not in a shelter anymore and I love having him,” she says. “Goose is a very special dog. He’ll be a great companion for someone. He has so much love to give. I’m glad to be able to care for him until he finds his forever home.”
Could you be that bridge for a dog like Goose?
Fostering doesn’t require perfection—just patience, compassion, and a willingness to open your heart home, even temporarily. And in return, you’ll gain something truly special: the chance to change a life… and maybe your own, too. Learn more and apply today!
