'As someone who always said "I don't do puppies", I never expected him to stay': Pawrents who never planned on a puppy happily foster fail the little dog who won their hearts

Author image for Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Dec 6, 2025 3:00 PM EST

Four years ago, Tiny Tim showed up as an abandoned 11-week-old foster pup, and despite all the "I don't do puppies" claims, he never left. At home he was bold and silly, but the outside world terrified him. It took weeks just to make it down the street and half a year before he could meet another dog that wasn't Penny, his patient foster sister.

Slowly, Timmy found his footing. He still gets nervous around new people, but he has turned into a little walking machine who loves greeting other dogs, especially the long, lanky ones. Watching him grow from a scared puppy into a confident, quirky companion has been its own kind of gift. He became a real source of comfort too, helping his family through heartbreak and tough moments in ways only a devoted dog can.

So happy Gotcha Day to Tiny Tim. He may be mischievous, dramatic, and full of personality, but he's loved beyond measure and exactly where he's meant to be.

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    4 years ago today, Tiny Tim came home with me and my husband as a foster puppy. As someone who always said "I don't do puppies", I never expected him to stay! He was abandoned at 11 weeks old so I decided to foster him with the 10 year old Border Terrier girl to whom I had already committed.
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    Whilst Timmy was confident in the house, he was terrified of the outside world. It took a month to get him to the bottom of our cul- de-sac and six months to confidently meet another dog that was not Penny, his foster sister.
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    Whilst Timmy still has fear (mainly around unknown people), he has become an unstoppable walking machine who loves. meeting (most!) other dogs. He especially loves the long boys and girls!!
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    To say this little terror has saved my life over the last four years is no lie. He is one of my two inflatable armbands in my life, the other being my husband. Without them, I would have drowned with all the heartache we've ensured.
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    "Happy Gotcha Day" to my dear 'Tiny 'Timmy the ' aka 'Rat Boy' aka you so much I We love
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    DoraMalaje That's a good boy
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  • Tiny Tim really is the bestest boy ever. He’s sweet, goofy, loyal, and full of personality, and it’s so clear he ended up exactly where he was meant to be.

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    openspacepractice Of course you failed. He's perfect!
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    coffeedoodle What a distinguished gentlemen!
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    DragLonely1681 Congratulations!
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    StoshBalls_3636 What a sweet pup! You are lucky to have him, just as he is lucky to have you, your husband and his foster sister.
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  • You guys are so lucky to have each other. It’s obvious he landed in the perfect home, and he gives just as much love back as he gets. Stories like this make it even sweeter to see.

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    icollectskippers He is adorable
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    mollypie92 I would have also - what a cutie!!
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  • Who wouldn’t foster fail this cutie? One look at that face and it’s game over. He’s the kind of pup you meet once and immediately know he’s never leaving your house again.

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    ReferenceFull8807 What a handsome boy, and great story. Wishing you both many years together!!!
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    Hour-Personality-... He is absolutely adorable!
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wholesome dogs pets heartwarming foster cute adopted doggo pawrents
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