If you haven’t heard the term before, fospice isn’t an exotic spice or some millennial slang. Fospice is, however, something profoundly indescribable. It’s an experience that juxtaposes all that is happy and joyful and melds it with an excruciating heartbreak. In the dog rescue business we have plenty of families looking for puppies and bouncy dogs.

Josiah came into the rescue not so young (approximately 10-11 years old) and not so bouncy (limited vision and hearing, raspy breathing, vomited frequently).

So how would rescues convince families to foster a hospice dog? I won’t even try, so instead I’ll tell you a story…It’s The Life of Josiah. There’s a bit of drama, a throne, a Pinocchio transformation, and Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Jillian and Amanda were excited to be in their first house, and in September of 2018 fostering Josiah would make it a home. Of course Josiah was going to make Jillian and Amanda work for it. The dangling of food would not fool Josiah into giving free kisses. He was aloof, and his fosters were going to work to gain his trust. Slowly Josiah was opening up, and before long he was described as being their shadow, following Jillian and Amanda around. It might not seem like a major milestone, but the first time Josiah elected to sit on the couch was an exciting moment. After that, the couch was described as his ‘throne.’

And after the conquering of the couch, Josiah discovered that belly rubs felt pretty good.  

He was transforming. Josiah went from a shell of a dog dying in a 4-by-8 box to a real dog with adventures, warm beds, and a loving family of his own.

But the magic didn’t stop there. It happened during Josiah’s other favorite thing: ‘walk time.’ Suddenly this 10-11 year old German Shepard mix that was hard of hearing and seeing, curiously turned into a young bouncy puppy.

Josiah passed on August 25, 2019, having experienced a wonderful life with his moms Jillian and Amanda. Although Josiah’s loss was sudden and can be described as an excruciating heartbreak, there are zero regrets. Fospice is a profoundly indescribable experience and if anyone has the opportunity to foster a senior or hospice dog, I am certain you would feel the same.