Foster mom gives pups a new leash on life

When I was 9 years old we discovered I was severely allergic to anything with fur. Years of medication and allergy shots have helped, but unfortunately our household pet situation is limited to our beta, Princess Rip-Jaws.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy a good dog story, and my friend, Karen Knight, provides me with plenty.

Karen personifies what it means to be a modern stay-at-home parent. I don’t know when she has time to sleep, let alone grocery shop. In addition to a part-time job she also volunteers at her children’s school, co-leads (with me) a Daisy troop and fosters dogs for the not-for-profit Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation.

AARF is located in Seahurst and helps dogs in a variety of ways. They rescue local dogs and place them with new owners, maintain an Angel Fund to keep dogs and their families together when the owners face financial distress, and remove dogs from kill shelters in other states, such as Louisiana.

Several times a year Karen drives to Sea-Tac airport and welcomes a new dog who would otherwise be on death row. Her favorite dogs to foster are Catahoula leopards because of their loyalty and intelligence, but Karen will take on any breed that needs help.

Since November of 2013, Karen has fostered 18 dogs. The entire Knight family takes part, including their “forever” dog, Nutmeg, who was also rescued.

For her part, Nutmeg makes an amazing foster sister and licks the faces of each anxious new arrival. She teaches almost every dog how to fetch with a tennis ball or play tug of war.

Karen’s two human children, Isaac, 8, and Faith, 5, want to grow up and rescue dogs too, just like their mom. They’ve seen firsthand the difference love makes to these animals and their new families. Sometimes it’s hard to say goodbye to the foster dogs, but there is always the excitement of a new one coming.

The stories behind many of the foster dogs are heartbreaking. Karen brought Holly home, emaciated, riddled with heartworms, and so ill she could not stomach regular dog food. Jersey arrived with a femoral head fracture, a broken tooth, and BB gun pellets in his front leg. Love, care and the donated services of Dr. Carol Earls of Brier Veterinary Hospital helped both dogs recover and become successfully adopted.

It cost AARF over $1,500 to help revive Holly and Jersey and yet their adoption fee was only $350 each.

If you are interested in adopting an AARF rescue dog you can find them on AARF’s Facebook page or Petfinder.com. If your heart is even bigger than that, AARF is always looking for new foster homes. The cost to foster volunteers is really quite little because the non-profit provides a crate, leash, collar, food, treats and veterinary services. Foster moms like Karen contribute time, gas money and love.

For more information about AARF, visit www.myaarf.org.

Jennifer Bardsley is an Edmonds mom of two. Find her on Twitter @jennbardsley and at www.heraldnet.com/ibrakeformoms and teachingmybabytoread.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

A stroll on Rome's ancient Appian Way is a kind of time travel. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves on the Appian Way, Rome’s ancient superhighway

Twenty-nine highways fanned out from Rome, but this one was the first and remains the most legendary.

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Inside Elle Marie Hair Studio in Smokey Point. (Provided by Acacia Delzer)
The best hair salon in Snohomish County

You voted, we tallied. Here are the results.

The 2024 Kia EV9 electric SUV has room for up to six or seven passengers, depending on seat configuration. (Photo provided by Kia)
Kia’s all-new EV9 electric SUV occupies rarified air

Roomy three-row electric SUVs priced below 60 grand are scarce.

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD (Photo provided by Toyota)
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD

The compact SUV electric vehicle offers customers the ultimate flexibility for getting around town in zero emission EV mode or road-tripping in hybrid mode with a range of 440 miles and 42 mile per gallon fuel economy.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.