Fifteen foster puppies may seem like a lot at a first glance, but then you zoom out and find that plenty more will follow. Ellen Moser ‘21 and her family have been fostering puppies for two years. First, there was Max, he was taken in as a foster from Last Hope Animal Rescue in Cedar Rapids on New Year’s Eve two years ago.

“We picked him up,” Moser said…”You know, it was kind of a new experience for us, even though we’d always been around dogs.” Max was malnourished and a little wary of people.

“Sometimes if we came up to him too fast he’d let out a little grumble, but he would never ever approach us aggressively,” Moser said.

However, as his third birthday rolls around the corner on September 28, he is healthy and wonderfully happy. Moser and her family had little intention of keeping Max, but they fell in love with him rather quickly, ”Within two weeks he was ours, we had adopted him.”

Moser has seen dogs come and go, making sure to find good homes for them along the way, although at first it was hard to resist the urge to adopt them all.

“I think we’ve built a lot of strength since then to not keep them. I think that since it was our first foster we were so weak, but [Max is] also such a special dog,” Moser said.

In one particular instance, Moser had to say goodbye to a beloved friend. A five month old mutt that quickly stole her heart. When Sassy was adopted Moser had just undergone surgery and took comfort in taking naps with the puppy. ”It was bittersweet because I love her so much and now she’s gone, but she’s with a good family.”

“I guess she feels bad for them..she is very kind and has a big heart,” said Antonio Negro ’21, Moser’s boyfriend. When Negro was asked how he supposed Moser felt about fostering he responded, “She really likes how cute the puppies are and wants to help.”

Moser has a past of engaging in volunteer work and helping people. While in eighth grade she helped out in the special needs classroom. Since she was young she’s had a passion for volunteering.

In the end, Moser’s work with dogs seems to make her a happier person, and she truly has a passion for helping people and animals. After high school, she hopes to study as a pediatric psychotherapist while working with kids who have autism or down syndrome.