10/30/2026
πΎβ€οΈ FOSTER FAMILY SPOTLIGHT: JANICE & BRUCE! β€οΈπΎ
30 years of helping people see betterβ¦ and now she's helping dogs see a brighter future! π₯Ήβ€οΈ
When Janice retired after a 30-year career, she knew one thing for certain. She wasn't finished making a difference.
She had spent three decades helping humans, and now it was time to help another speciesβ¦ DOGS! πΆβ€οΈ
Having moved to a new area where she didn't know anyone, Janice figured dogs would be the perfect way to fill that void.
Little did she know what she was signing up for! π€£
Welcome to rescue life, Janice!
Where dog baths are endless, ticks apparently come in bulk, convincing a dog to take medication requires the negotiation skills of a hostage negotiator, and sleep is sometimes optional! π
Janice quickly discovered that no two dogs are alike. Different breeds, different personalities, different needs⦠and every single one has something to teach us.
There have been sleepless nights worrying about sick dogs, challenging days, and plenty of moments that probably left her wondering what on earth she'd gotten herself into.
But then come the snuggles.
The cuddles.
The sloppy kisses.
And suddenly, every bit of it is worth it. β€οΈ
And then there's BRUCE! ππΎ
Apparently, Bruce didn't realize retirement came with a second career either!
But to Janice's surprise, he rolled up his sleeves and jumped right in.
6 a.m. p**p patrol? βοΈ
Playtime? βοΈ
Holding a frightened or sick dog when they need comfort? βοΈ
Being completely wrapped around a foster dog's little paw?
We're going to go ahead and assume YES! π€£β€οΈ
Together, these two have opened their hearts and home to dogs who needed somewhere safe to land.
And they don't just foster dogs. They make sure those dogs get to experience LIFE!
Trips to the Sharbot Lake Beach Farmers' Market, visits to dog-friendly stores, social outings, and adventures that help prepare them for their forever families.
Remember our boy Scotty? πΎ
Janice and Bruce helped him blossom, and during the Canadian Walk for Veterans, Scotty completed an impressive 5 km walk! That outing helped catch the attention of Rob, a military veteran himself, who saw that Scotty might be the perfect addition to his family and farm.
Sometimes the smallest adventures lead to the biggest happily-ever-afters. β€οΈ
And then there's Diesel.
Janice recently had the opportunity to visit him after his adoption and surgery. He remembered her, of course, and greeted her with plenty of kisses!
But what Janice witnessed next is something that will stay with her forever.
Diesel's new family had brought a twin mattress into the living room so he could recover comfortably after surgery. His new mom had spent hours sitting beside him, keeping him company.
There they were, together on that mattress. Diesel rolling around happily while his mom giggled, the two of them looking at each other with so much love.
Janice said she had never witnessed anything quite like it.
And THAT is what fostering is all about. π₯Ήβ€οΈ
It's not just about getting a dog healthy.
It's not just about providing food, shelter, and a warm bed.
It's about being the bridge between the life they had and the life they deserve.
It's about loving them enough to let them go.
And trust us⦠that last part isn't always easy.
Janice admits she falls in love quickly, and saying goodbye has brought plenty of tears.
But when Scotty left for his forever home, something was different.
For the first time, she didn't feel quite so weepy.
Almost as though Scotty knew, he kept giving her kisses.
Maybe those kisses were his way of saying, "Thank you. I've got this now." β€οΈ
And perhaps that's one of the greatest lessons fostering teaches us.
Goodbye doesn't have to mean heartbreak. Sometimes goodbye means you did everything right.
Along the way, Janice has found something else she wasn't expecting: friendships, connections, invitations to visit former fosters, and a community of people who love these dogs just as much as she does.
She moved somewhere knowing no one, hoping dogs might help her find her place.
And somehow, through muddy paws, early morning p**ps, endless ticks, and a whole lot of loveβ¦ she found her people too. β€οΈ
Janice says she wouldn't give any of it up for the world.
And Janice and Bruce, we wouldn't give YOU TWO up for the world either!
Thank you for every sleepless night, every medication battle, every adventure, every cuddle, and every goodbye.
Thank you for loving these dogs like they're yours, even when you know they aren't meant to stay.
Because fostering isn't about keeping them forever. It's about making sure they get their forever. πΎβ€οΈ
From all of us at Howling Hideaway Rescue, thank you, Janice and Bruce, for being such an incredible part of our rescue family!
And Bruceβ¦ we're pretty sure nobody mentioned 6 a.m. p**p duty in the retirement brochure! π€£π©β€οΈ
πΎ We can't change their past, but together, we can rewrite their future. β€οΈ
