MEET OUR HOST
I’m Jackie — a former Peace Corps volunteer, current foster mom, and the founder of Homeward Bound Guesthouse, the first guesthouse in the U.S. dedicated to dog fostering outreach and education.
When I brought home my first foster dog, Hercules — a mastiff-mix puppy removed from an abusive situation — I was all in, but felt overwhelmed. His anxiety was intense, and I struggled to find clear, trustworthy guidance on how to help him feel safe.
I’ve continued to foster many dogs since then, and with each one, I’ve learned something new — about the dogs, about myself, and about how much there still is to learn from those who’ve been doing this work for years.
I've experienced firsthand how isolating those early days of fostering can feel — and how hard it is to find practical answers without spending hours piecing together advice from the internet. That's why this podcast exists. It's for anyone who’s new to fostering, thinking about fostering, or already in the thick of it with a dog who’s unsure, shut down, or still learning what safety feels like.
Each episode offers compassionate support — from short Foster Fast Track lessons that explain common fostering concepts like the 3-3-3 Rule and crate and rotate, to deeper conversations with leading voices in animal welfare and behavior.
At its core, Dog Fostering 101 is about the small, everyday choices that help foster dogs feel safe, build trust, and find their way home — and the meaningful ways fostering changes the people who open their homes and hearts to them.
Because fostering doesn’t just transform dogs. It builds patience, perspective, and compassion in the humans who care for them. It stretches us, softens us, and reminds us what’s possible when we show up with consistency and care.
Fostering really does change lives — at both ends of the leash.
Now go snuggle and pup, and have a great day!🐾
