This young boy from Louisiana had the most adorable way of letting his foster dog’s future family know how good a girl she is.
Last year, Roman Duncan’s family fostered a dog named Maggie from North Shore Animal League America. The Duncans adopted Maggie, a young pup who had been rescued by the Duncans.
Roman and Wyatt, Wyatt’s younger brother, quickly formed a strong bond with Maggie’s sweet dog during her early months. Their parents were able to teach Maggie basic obedience skills and help her feel at home.
Throughout the entire experience, the boys’ parents made it clear that they were only fostering Maggie and that another family would eventually adopt her when she was old enough.
Still, Roman couldn’t help but feel sad when it came time for Maggie to leave for North Shore Animal League America’s adoption center in Port Washington, New York. So, Roman did one last act of affection for Maggie.
Roman wrote letters of recommendation for Maggie’s future family to list down all the reasons she’s “the best dog you could ask for.” Aside from being cute and potty trained, the boy noted that the pup loved fetch, other dogs, kids, and cuddles (adorably spelled as “cutelleyes”).
“We love Maggie. I hope you do, too,” wrote Roman in one of his notes.
Roman placed the letters and photos of Maggie into Maggie’s paperwork as they loaded her onto the animal transport truck. The dog made the journey along with 50 other adoptable kittens, puppies, dogs, and cats.
Karla Agostinello, rescue team manager for North Shore Animal League America, was pleasantly surprised to find Roman’s sweet notes and cute drawings when she opened Maggie’s file.
“I was so touched,” she said. “It’s hard (for fosters) to put the animals on the truck. So I do get a lot of letters from adults—but children, not many. So this is why it touched my heart so much.”
The good news is that Maggie has since been adopted by a loving family, and the shelter made sure they got Roman’s letters.
“She’s doing great. She spends her time with [the Duncan] family was very beneficial to her,” Agostinello said.
She’s currently working on connecting Roman with Maggie’s adopters so he would know what a great job he had done in fostering her.
Now that Roman’s story is attracting attention, North Shore Animal League America hopes it inspires other families to consider fostering pets.
“Foster families are so important because they’re the pet’s first stop—the first family,” Agostinello said. “They’re instilling a foundation of love and care.”
Foster families help to keep stray animals out of shelters by ensuring that they are not euthanized due to lack space.
Agostinello also noted that Roman’s parents did the right thing by making it clear that fostering is a temporary arrangement.
“You definitely have to set the expectation before you even bring the animal home: ‘We’re not keeping this animal, but we can do it again and you can love another animal,’” she said. “I always tell foster families, ‘Goodbye is the goal.’ They’re doing so much good.”
As demonstrated by Roman’s heartwarming letters, fostering animals can help kids learn compassion and responsibility. North Shore Animal League America also conducts a “Mutt-i-grees” program in classrooms to help instill caring for pets.
“The impact that animals have on children is honestly incredible,” Agostinello said.
North Shore Animal League America has fostered and adopted more than 700 animals since its inception in 1944.
Visit North Shore Animal League America’s website to learn more about pet fostering opportunities.
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