First Graders Foster Over 100 Puppies and Transform Lives

In 2022, first grade teacher Brooke Hughes had an idea that seemed almost too good to be true. What started as a “crazy idea” has since grown into Foster Tales Puppy Therapy, a groundbreaking program that is transforming lives, both human and canine.

During the pandemic, Hughes fostered puppies on her own and shared them with her students over Zoom. “Even through a screen, the connection between my class and the puppies was something special,” she says.

She wanted her students to learn empathy, responsibility, and self-regulation in a hands-on way, while also giving puppies a chance at better lives.

Soon, local rescues began sending puppies to her classroom. The students had to earn the right to foster the first pups by showing attention, focus, teamwork, and kindness. The excitement was palpable when the puppies arrived.

Some kids had never been around dogs and were initially nervous, but it didn’t take long for both the children and the puppies to gain confidence.

Since the program’s start, Hughes’ class has fostered over 110 puppies, all of whom have found forever homes. The benefits for the students have been enormous. Shy or struggling kids blossom when they are caring for a puppy, and everyone learns patience, teamwork, and empathy in a deeply meaningful way. 

Hughes notes, “For the puppies, it’s equally powerful - they become well-socialized, confident, and ready for adoption after spending their days surrounded by love and attention.”

Some foster puppies have even been adopted by families connected to the school, creating bonds that last a lifetime. One of the most recent pups, Dusty, now lives with a student’s family. The class continues to welcome new fosters, including Monty, Rudy, and Pippa, rescued from an overpopulated shelter in Alabama.

Foster Tales Puppy Therapy is proof that small ideas can have a huge impact. For Hughes and her students, every puppy brings a chance to learn, grow, and make a difference, while also saving lives. And with each new litter of foster pups, the program continues to leave a lasting paw print on the hearts of everyone involved.