Ann Hoang didn’t anticipate their first dog-fostering experience would have such a profound impact, especially on her husband. The Hoangs wanted to expand their pack of dogs at the moment, but they already had Charlie, their first dog, to care for. The family was unsure about their ability to handle the added burden of another dog. They made the decision to try fostering rather than adopting.
The Hoangs reasoned that if they were capable of caring for a dog in foster care, they could adopt a rescue animal. The Hoangs and Toby met in this manner.
Toby is a South Korean rescue dog who was sent to a safe house in the United States. He was saved from the shelter by the non-profit group “Band For Animal,” which works to save canines. Fortunately, the Hoangs took care of Toby right away. Toby first feared and was wary of his new surroundings. Toby gradually became comfortable thanks to his foster family’s affection and support.
Toby and Mr. Hoang connected right away when they were seated next to one another on the first evening. After that evening, Toby started to come into his own, and Charlie even grew to adore him.
The family grew closer than before. Toby won over everyone’s love in just one week. Ann Hoang was heartbroken to consider how upset they would all be if Toby was adopted.
“We had two families who wanted to schedule a meeting with Toby, and when that happened, I just realized how crushed my husband would be without him,” Ann Hoang told The Dodo. Only one week had passed, but my husband and Toby were already inseparable. My husband is a very giving person who constantly puts the needs of others before his own. Hoang said, “He’s never really asked for anything or wanted anything desperately. Ann made the decision to make contact with the shelter with the goal of formally adopting Toby. She and the staff devised a surprise for her husband because getting a dog required a house inspection.
The crew that went to the Hoangs to conduct the house inspection pretended to be prospective adopters for Toby. The staff gave the Hoangs a card after the home assessment indicating that they were allowing the family to legally adopt Toby. Mr. Hoang received the card from a staff member, and as soon as he opened it, he started crying so hard that it brought the entire room to tears.
“I thought he would be happy but never in a million years did I think he would cry so much,” Ann Hoang said, “I have never seen him react this way to anything before! He is sensitive, but this was more than I’ve ever seen.”
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