Sarah C. had never fostered a pet before taking on Penny, a two-year-old pit bull-mix at the ASPCA.

“I’d always been interested in fostering, and I had the time,” says Sarah, who handles business development for a nonprofit and works out of her Manhattan apartment. “When I saw Penny’s profile, I felt like I’d be able to cater to her needs.”

Sarah picked Penny up from the ASPCA on May 2. Before the month ended, she was smitten and wanted Penny in her life permanently.

After adopting Penny on May 31, Sarah sent a note to the ASPCA Adoption Center that read, in part, “Thank you!! She’s gonna have a great life!”

“When fosters fall in love and adopt their animals, we call that a ‘foster fortune’, and it’s a reason to celebrate,” says Eileen Hanavan, Director of Volunteer and Foster Engagement. “Though adopting their foster pet may mean some caregivers have to stop fostering, it also means that a deserving shelter animal has found a loving home, which is always a win.”

Penny was surrendered to the ASPCA on April 17 by her previous owners, who were facing personal challenges that limited their ability to care for Penny properly. 

The following day, Dr. Melanie Benetato, an ASPCA veterinarian, examined Penny.

“She was underweight, with unpleasant-smelling fur and long overgrown nails,” says Dr. Benetato. “Her previous owner reported that she had been losing weight despite being fed twice a day.”

Because the source of Penny's underweight body condition was unclear, ASPCA medical staff started her on a bland diet that was easy for her to digest. They also submitted blood work to identify what was causing her weight loss. 

Penny’s lab work showed no evidence of underlying disease, but she had diarrhea that was treated with medication, which she ate in small balls of wet dog food. She was also treated for an ear infection.

“At that point, she was gaining weight, so we decided to send her to foster care,” Dr. Benetato says. 

Sarah reports that Penny is a sweet dog who enjoys being around other pets and dogs and is friendly with children. She was initially nervous about loud noises, but this resolved over time.

“She is extremely gentle with everyone,” says Sarah. “I think that’s a rare quality to find in a dog. She can read a room really well.” 

Penny gained several pounds on Sarah’s watch and is now at an ideal weight.

She enjoys her local dog park and spending time with Jasper, a neighbor’s dog. Penny is also fully housetrained and may soon join Sarah on a road trip to Chicago, Sarah’s hometown.

Sarah, who grew up with dogs, says her foster experience was “absolutely worth it.”

“It’s one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” she says. “But it can be tough because you get attached. I wasn’t planning on adopting, but I couldn’t help falling in love.”

“Penny’s transformation was made possible by Sarah, a brand-new, dedicated foster who had the support and guidance of our medical and foster teams,” says Eileen. “Her story is a great example of how collaboration with our foster caregivers is making magic happen for shelter animals.”