In each issue this year, meet a local foster parent and discover why they open their home and heart to pets in need.
by Ronni Hull
Fostering shelter animals has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life. My passion started when I was young, growing up in a very rural area in Eastern Oklahoma, where there were no shelters or rescues. People would often dump dogs and puppies, and they always seemed to find their way to our home. My family never turned them away — we cared for them and gave them a safe place. That’s where my heart for fostering began.
Now, fostering and volunteering for the Oklahoma City Animal Shelter is something my family does together. I began fostering and volunteering in 2023. My son, Jett, has been able to grow up learning compassion, patience and responsibility through this experience. He’s learned what it means to open your home and your heart, even when it’s hard to say goodbye. Every foster that comes through our door is loved like our own, and each one leaves a lasting impact on us.
Our two dogs, Quincy and MaxAnne, have been incredible with every foster. They help them feel safe, teach them boundaries and show them what it means to be part of a home. Watching that has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.
Seeing the transformation is one of the most special aspects of fostering. Many dogs come in scared or unsure, and over time, you watch them gain confidence, trust and personality. Saying goodbye is never easy, but it’s always worth it knowing they’re going to a loving forever family.
Fostering has given my life a deeper sense of purpose and passion. Being able to help dogs that might not have had a chance find loving homes means everything to me. I honestly believe fostering not only saves animals, but it changes people too. I encourage anyone to consider fostering. You might be saving a life, but it could also change your own.
Journey, whose shelter name was Brownie, is one foster who has stayed with me. She and her sister, Cookie, had shared a kennel for more than 70 days at just 9 months old, and the stress was clearly getting to them. I remember walking through the shelter and catching a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye as she frantically bounced off the kennel walls.
Her space was filthy, and she looked overwhelmed, barking and jumping in a way that could easily scare someone off. I was about to leave for the day, but something in me said I couldn’t walk away without helping her. The moment I got her outside, everything changed. She leaped up and wrapped herself around me, like she was asking for a chance. In that instant, I knew I had to foster her.
What made Journey so special was how completely she proved my first impression wrong. I had been nervous, thinking she might be difficult, but she turned out to be incredibly gentle, loving and wonderful with my son and our dogs. Not long after, she found the perfect forever home with a family and even a sister who looks just like her.
Journey taught me an important lesson. You can’t judge a dog by how they act in a kennel. Behind that stress and fear was a dog just waiting to be seen, and I’m so grateful she got her happy ending!
