Grandmama, a senior dog rescued from the streets of Louisiana, has settled into a steady bedtime routine at her foster home in New Jersey after years of living outdoors. Studies show that fostering dogs has a positive impact on their behavior and welfare, as even short-term stays can reduce stress and lead to happier, more confident pets.

Rescue organizations may handle many animals at once, but in Grandmama’s case, her foster carer, Danielle Vitti, is focused on her individual rehabilitation. Grandmama arrived in poor health and is now undergoing heartworm treatment while her foster works to give the comforts she likely never had. In fact, rescue organizations often face challenges such as recruiting and retaining enough suitable foster homes and managing limited funding and staff time to support these programs.

Vitti fosters dogs through Real Dog Rescue in New Jersey. She said the dog’s condition on arrival suggested a lifetime spent outside: “Based on her condition, it seems like she spent her entire life outdoors,” Vitti said. Currently, there are no exact counts of dogs in shelters across the U.S., but estimates indicate a significant rise in shelter populations, with around 177,000 more cats and dogs in shelters than in the previous year.

Found as a stray in Louisiana, Grandmama was extremely sick with heartworm disease, underweight and neglected when she reached the rescue. In the days after arriving at Vitti’s home, she discovered a set of Lamb Chop plush toys and began carrying them one by one into her crate. This heartwarming behavior illustrates how nurturing environments can invoke instinctual comfort-seeking behavior, a testament to the life-changing impact of foster care on dogs.

Those early actions became a nightly ritual. Vitti described how the dog climbs the stairs to the bed and tucks each toy in: “It feels like she’s never experienced this kind of softness before, so we’ve made it our priority to give her everything she’s missed: pup cups, short beach walks, cozy naps, and lots of gentle snuggles—all mindful of her heart condition,” she said. This emphasis on gentle activity is vital, especially as foster dogs navigate health challenges, such as Grandmama’s ongoing heartworm treatment.

Vivid moments from the foster home underline the shift in Grandmama’s life. She climbed up and down the stairs to Vitti’s bed and carried each Lamb Chop toy one by one, tucking them into bed with her. Vitti even noted the timing of the habit: “Last night it was 11, and she decided that was the perfect number.” As Grandmama settles into her new routine, it showcases the transformative power of foster care and the importance of prioritizing their emotional and physical well-being.

Vitti posted a video of the routine to TikTok on December 2, sharing the scene of Grandmama lining up her toys and settling in each night. The foster described the dog’s progress from arrival through treatment and rehabilitation, and said Grandmama is expected to be adopted Friday. With each passing day, the bond between Grandmama and Vitti grows stronger, reinforcing the positive outcomes associated with fostering.

Grandmama remains in medical care for heartworm but is showing signs of comfort and restored routine in a home environment. Vitti and the rescue are prioritizing gentle activity and soft bedding while treatment continues, with adoption planned once her health allows. As part of this rehabilitation, fostering serves as a crucial element in helping dogs like Grandmama recover from neglect, demonstrating that a loving home makes all the difference.

Foster-based rehabilitation is central to the rescue’s work; Real Dog Rescue places dogs in home settings to recover and prepare for rehoming. Observations from Grandmama’s foster highlight how quickly some dogs respond to steady care and small comforts after prolonged neglect, reinforcing the importance of fostering in the broader context of animal rescue.

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