We found another different type of story about a furry friend who was with Jillian family and returned after one month. This story is by Jillian Van Hefty and is about their experience with Layla, the foster dog.
“Could you bring Layla to meet her new mom tomorrow?” The boys had never cried so hard or for so long. Jillian changed her heart and decided to keep the foster dog forever, saying, ‘She will always be right here.’
“One moment, she was present, and the next, she was gone.” The only physical evidence left behind was nose marks on the patio window like bacon grease and a few surface scratches on the cherished hardwood floors, which Jillian was not exactly thrilled to discover.
For years, Jillian’s two sons lamented the absence of a genuine pet—commonly known as ‘one with fur.’ While they cherished Wiggles, Finn, and Bubbles, betta fish were not the most affectionate companions. Moreover, the brief excitement of sprinkling rust-colored specks of food into the bowl and watching them sink to the bottom had long lost its attraction.
As their boys’ limbs lengthened, their voices deepened, and their emotions expanded, so did their capacity for love.
Jillian and her husband reluctantly agreed to take on the role of foster parents for a dog. They emphasized their commitment to fostering, with no room for any foster failure sentimentality, regardless of the pet’s charm. They explained that this was not an experiment to assess their suitability for pet ownership; adoption was a commitment they were unwilling to make.
The family hoped it would be an overall positive family experience, similar to a camping trip with the occasional mosquito bite, but ideally, without meeting fire ants.
Jillian mentioned that Layla, an elderly Corgi, had exhibited such impeccable manners and discipline that she suspected she might be the reincarnation of Emily Post. Jillian reported that when they commanded Layla to stay, she obeyed. When they called her to come, she followed. Jillian also noted that even when her husband grilled bacon-wrapped filet mignons, she showed as much interest as her vegan friend Lisa would.
Also, Jillian reported that Layla refrained from barking, jumping on furniture or people, wandering into the neighbor’s yard, or chasing the baby bunnies that hopped around their neighborhood. Jillian had observed that she wagged her tail when the boys dressed her with a Clint Eastwood poncho, an Ozzy Osbourne baseball cap, and a Green Bay Packers jersey. Jillian also pointed out that her urine didn’t cause any harm to their grass; on the contrary, it seemed to have a magical effect, causing it to flourish like Chia-Pets wherever she relieved herself.
Courtesy of Jillian VanHefty
Unaware that she had been introduced into their home primarily for the children’s benefit, Layla became obsessed with Jillian. Layla sensed the exact moment her mind transitioned from heaven to semi-consciousness each morning, and her tail thumped on the carpet like a heartbeat before Jillian was prepared to open her eyes. When Jillian shifted from one section of the couch to another, Layla adjusted her position on the floor. Even when she showered, Layla found her way into the bathroom, staring at her through the glass door. During moments on the toilet, Layla’s face pointed squarely in Jillian’s direction. She was always there, which Jillian admittedly found somewhat irritating.
However, when Covid-19 struck forcefully and swiftly, Layla remained right there. When their youngest son struggled with remote learning and repeatedly sobbed, ‘I am not the same boy; I am not the same boy,’ when their oldest son slammed his room door in frustration due to missing his friends, parkour, and band practice; when her husband tensed up upon learning of his job vacation; and when Jillian lay in a heap on the floor, shrieking like an injured animal from the raw pain of an indefinite separation from her mother in her memory care facility, in those unbearable lows, Layla placed her paw upon her bodies like a minister’s palm on a parishioner’s shoulder during prayer and patiently waited for their storms to pass.
In the seventh week, they received the call. ‘Can you bring Layla to meet her new mom tomorrow?’ New mom? Tomorrow? The mother did not like the sound of either of those things. Yet, they were not adopting a dog! As she reiterated.
However, they were undoubtedly not adopting a dog! As she repeated.
Jillian meticulously composed more detailed notes than she did for their first babysitter. Layla does not handle heat well and requires a nightlight when sleeping. She has a fondness for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, ice cubes, car rides, and the Crime Junkie podcast. She encouraged the new owner to reach out with any questions, day or night.
Their farewell took place at a suburban Chuck and Don’s Pet Supplies. Never before had the boys cried so intensely and for such a prolonged period.
In the subsequent weeks, their sons continually and obsessively evoked Layla. ‘Remember this? Remember that? Remember when?’ Every night, she held a central role in their prayers and dreams. Their affection for their first canine love endured.
Several weeks later, when Jillian wiped Layla’s nose smudges from the windows and tried to buff out her nail scratches from the hardwood floors, she also found herself romanticizing about the one that got away.
She texted Layla’s new mom, inquiring, ‘How’s our girl doing?’ The language verbally declared her territory as if Layla still belonged to their family.
Despite Layla receiving abundant love and care in her new home, the new mom had a mysterious sense that another destiny awaited her. As it turned out, she was 100% correct.
Exactly one month after bidding her farewell, Layla returned home with them for good.
Yes, She will always be right there.
The bond between humans and canine is unbelievable.
Courtesy of Jillian VanHefty