From Foster Fails to Forever Pigs: One Family's Journey Through Animal Rescue
In this episode of Save A Pooch, we're joined by Linda Velwest, author of City Rescue Pets: Second Chances for Love and Hope and founder of CityRescuePets.com. Linda shares her family's years-long journey fostering cats and dogs in Jersey City—from classroom pets to "foster fails" to the day she decided to adopt not one, but two rescue pigs. We'll explore the realities of animal rescue work, the lessons learned through trial and error, the heartbreaks that don't always end happily, and why she believes even small acts of kindness can transform lives on both ends of the leash. Whether you're considering fostering, adopting a rescue pet, or just love animals, this is a conversation about compassion, responsibility, and second chances..
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BIO:
Linda Velwest is a lifelong advocate for animal rescue, a devoted fosterer, and author of City Rescue Pets: Second Chances for Love and Hope. Over several years, Linda and her family fostered numerous cats and dogs in their Jersey City home, with several becoming "foster fails" who stayed forever. Linda's journey began with adopting classroom pets and evolved to include fostering animals with complex needs and, ultimately, adopting two rescue pigs. Through her book and website CityRescuePets.com, Linda shares practical advice, honest stories, and resources for anyone interested in rescue, fostering, or adoption. Her approach is grounded in empathy, real-world experience, and the belief that even imperfect efforts to help animals matter.