Photo: Sophie celebrating the holidays with her new family.
Open Your Home and Heart
At Heartland, our mission is only possible because of our dedicated foster families. Their compassion gives animals the chance to heal, feel safe, and thrive—and we are incredibly grateful for the difference they make.
Fostering is a rewarding way to help animals in need by keeping them happier and healthier while they wait for adoption, increasing the chances of finding a new home, and allowing Heartland to rescue more animals.
Foster Love in Action: Sophie’s Story
Sweet Sophie is proof of how life-changing fostering can be. Sophie came to Heartland in May after being surrendered to Chicago Animal Care and Control. She arrived sad and shut down, and a tragic accident led to the loss of her front leg. Despite our worries, Sophie showed incredible strength and spirit throughout her recovery.
Sophie’s two dedicated foster moms, CJ and Judy, “shared” the responsibility of fostering her. When one traveled or could not watch her, Sophie packed her overnight bag and stayed with the other foster mom.
During her time in foster care, Sophie learned to run, splash, and swim—her favorite activity—and never let three legs slow her down. In September, she was adopted into a loving new home.
Fostering saves the lives of animals, but it is also deeply fulfilling for the foster families.”You get to help an animal heal, feel safe, and learn to trust, which was definitely the case with Sophie who went through so much trauma in a short amount of time,” CJ said.
“It feels great to know your care directly saves a life and creates space for another animal in need. I was so proud that Judy and I gave her what she needed to become ready for her amazing forever home.”
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