Lessons From the Foster Dogs Who Passed Through My Home
- Jessica Grossman
- Dec 10
- 3 min read
Instead of writing a “goodbye to 2025” post about everything I learned at work… I realized I want to write about something else. I want to write about the dogs.
The ones who have come through my home, slept on me on my couch, shed all over my clothes, and taught me about love and life. And look — being a foster mom isn’t elegant. It’s middle-of-the-night cleanups. It’s excessive amounts of laundry and wiping up pee for the tenth time that day. It’s standing outside in the freezing cold, half-asleep, whispering, please pee, please pee, please pee before bed.
But each dog that’s passed through our home left me with something.
#1 Gusty — the dog that I healed her body and she healed my heart. She showed me how to welcome something new while still staying connected to where I came from.
#2 Irina — true and steady confidence. She walked into every room like she belonged, quietly reminding me what real leadership looks like.
#3 Horchata — we all have our bad moments, and in those moments, we are still lovable. She reminded me that love isn’t earned by perfection.
#4 Metro — love brings us out of our timid shell. I watched her transform after being found in an abandoned train tunnel simply because someone believed he was safe.
#5 Olga - She reminded me that my presence alone — just being there — is enough (evidenced by her howling when I wasn't lying next to her crate for the night).
#6 Polly Pocket — a tiny bundle of energy who never rested, tireless but so smart, who reminded me how hard puppies are.
#7 Winston — how to still love and crave connection in a world that’s been cruel to you. He’s a 99 lb dog who just wanted to be a lap dog — teaching me that even the biggest, most intimidating beings need affection and trust.
#8 Baby Maria — those who care for others need breaks. (And yes, even Gusty needed a breather from her relentless puppy energy.)
#9 Casper — we all lose our way sometimes. After a couple tougher fosters, it was Casper who brought Gusty’s confidence back. Sometimes the one we think we’re helping ends up helping us.
#10 Pine Cone — emotional contagion is real, and we impact others more than we even understand. Bad behavior doesn’t make a dog “bad.” Offering positive alternatives is the best medicine for learning and trust.
#11 Peach - Love is the greatest gift of all. She was dumped at a gas station, yet she still approached the world with an open heart, showing me how resilient love can be.
At the heart of all of this is Lulu. My first dog. The love of my life. My security blanket who held my love for almost 15 years so I could grow up, mature, and learn how to carry it myself. She’s the one who taught me how to love in the first place — so that one day, I could be the love for all of them.
And if I’m being honest, part of why I get to live this life — this mix of purpose, work I love, and a home full of second chances — is because I’m an entrepreneur. And because you have supported my business, trusted my work, and believed in what I’m building. Your support is what allows me to write a post like this at all.
So here’s my real goodbye to 2025:
Not a list of accomplishments — but a year measured in heart, healing, and the 11 little lives that passed through my home and made it fuller.