When it comes to fostering animals, everyone knows there’s a chance they might not be a forever home. But that doesn’t stop them from opening their hearts to the pets that need them.
One man recently got the best news ever – he found out that he was going to be able to keep the foster dog that he had grown to love.
When the Hoang family first started fostering their dog Toby, they said it was only on a trial basis.
In fact, they weren’t sure if their household could even handle another dog.
At first, it didn’t seem like Toby was going to be a good fit for them. He was nervous and unsociable, not even wanting to leave his carrier. And it’s not really a surprise considering that Toby had made a long trip from South Korea where he had been abandoned by his first owner.
He was rescued by Band for Animal, an organization that works to keep dogs out of the meat market.
From there, the little dog went on a long journey to the United States, where he met his new family.
Although it was a rocky start, the Hoang family made it their goal to give Toby lots of attention, until finally, he felt like he was at home with them.
The person he bonded with the most was his new foster father, who grew to love Toby more than anyone could have ever guessed.
But soon, his foster mom could see that there was no way that the little dog could leave them.
“We had two families who wanted to schedule a meeting with Toby, and when that happened, I just realized how crushed my husband would be without him,” said Ann Hoang. “It had only been one week but my husband and Toby were inseparable. My husband is such a giving person, always putting others before himself. He’s never really asked for anything or wanted anything badly. Toby was the first experience where I could see he would be heartbroken without him.”
So, Hoang set up an elaborate plan with the help of people from the rescue agency.
With their help, she worked on a surprise for her husband. They would arrange to adopt Toby.
As Hoang broke the news to her husband, Toby barked and wove back and forth between them. And then something happened that no one expected: the happy foster dad burst into tears.
“Oh, my goodness, I thought he would be happy but never in a million years did I think he would cry so much,” Hoang said. “I have never seen him react this way to anything before! He is sensitive but this was more than I’ve ever seen.”
He grabbed Toby and gave him a big hug.
And then he just couldn’t stop crying – and laughing. Watching their dad weep uncontrollably, the whole family started to laugh as he snuggled his new friend.
Toby himself might not have been crying, but there’s no doubt he’s happy that he made his way from the streets of South Korea to his new family.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
