First Grade Class Fosters Over 110 Puppies With ‘Life-Changing’ Results
“Many of them couldn’t believe it was real — that they’d get to help ‘save puppies’ as part of school.”
Published on Nov 6, 2025 at 5:19 PM
In 2022, first grade teacher Brooke Hughes had an idea. What if she and her class fostered some puppies together in the classroom? It started as a pipe dream. Now, it’s a groundbreaking program that’s making a huge difference.
“What began as a ‘crazy idea’ has grown into something truly life-changing for everyone involved,” Hughes told The Dodo.
Hughes started fostering during the pandemic on her own, and she used to show her class the puppies via Zoom as they conducted remote classes.
“Even through a screen, the connection between my class and the puppies was something special,” Hughes said. “As a first grade teacher, I wanted to create a space where students could learn empathy, responsibility and self-regulation in a hands-on way and continue to help save these precious lives.”
Hughes reached out to local rescues and quickly dubbed her program Foster Tales Puppy Therapy. Puppies started joining Miss Hughes’ class to learn and grow before being adopted by their forever families, and the program was immediately a hit.
“My class had to earn our first puppies through demonstrating attention, focus, teamwork and kindness,” Hughes said. “They had to show me they ‘could handle it.’ I’ll never forget the cute squeals when I introduced them. Many of them couldn’t believe it was real — that they’d get to help ‘save puppies’ as part of school.”
Some of the kids didn’t have any experience with dogs and started out a little scared. Before long, though, both the kids and the puppies were more confident and independent, demonstrating just how much the program helps everyone involved.
So far in Miss Hughes class, they’ve fostered 110 puppies, all of whom have gone on to find their forever homes. The program has helped the kids learn empathy, patience, teamwork and emotional regulation skills. Students who might be shy or struggling blossom once the adorable puppies are in their arms. Miss Hughes has only incredible things to say about the program, and the kids in her class can’t imagine school without it.
@fostertalesptWho are you voting for?#fosteringsaveslives#foster#classroompuppies#fostertales#puppytherapy♬ original sound – Foster Tales Puppy Therapy
“For the puppies, it’s equally powerful — they become well-socialized, confident, and ready for adoption after being surrounded by so much gentle love and attention all day long,” Hughes said. “Also, being able to tell future adopters that they have been socialized with children has been helpful to get them adopted quickly, and the cute pictures of them cuddling in students’ laps reading doesn’t hurt either.”
One of the class’s most recent foster puppies, Dusty, was actually adopted by a student’s family. A bond that started in the classroom now gets to last forever, and it’s not the first time something like that has happened.
@fostertalesptResults are in! We can’t wait to meet our next classroom foster puppies!#fosterpuppies#classroompuppies#fostertales#puppytherapy#puppies@therileyrescue♬ original sound – Foster Tales Puppy Therapy
“Several of our past puppies have been adopted by families connected to our school community, including students, teachers and staff,” Hughes said. “It’s so special to see those connections last far beyond the classroom!”
@fostertalesptAren’t they a distraction? Yep! The best kind!#classroompuppies#puppytherapy#teach#puppies#read♬ Don’t Worry Be Happy (Originally Performed by Bobby Mcferrin) [Karaoke Instrumental Version] – Hit The Button Karaoke
This weekend, the class will welcome their next trio of foster puppies, Monty, Rudy and Pippa. The puppies were pulled from an overpopulated shelter in Alabama and are being fostered through Riley Rescue. The class has also worked with other rescues such as Sylvia’s Promise.
Miss Hughes hopes that Foster Tales Puppy Therapy will continue for years to come, and both she and her students can’t wait to meet all of the future puppies and help them thrive.