On April 30, 2021, I lost my dog, Sei. I was devastated because he meant so much in the short time he was in my life. The love I had for him created a purpose that I now call Sei’s Way. His love became the foundation of everything I do today.
I met Sei by chance while dropping off my daughter. That day wasn’t even planned, but life has a way of changing in a single moment. We found him on the street, emaciated and alone. My daughter fed him peanut butter sandwiches, and I decided to take him with me instead of leaving him behind. At first, I didn’t intend to keep him. I thought I would help him find his owner or take him to the local animal shelter. Sei had other plans.
After about a month of caring for him, I officially adopted Sei in early 2014, and our journey together began.
I later learned that he had been in and out of the animal shelter system and that I was his fourth adopter. That realization changed everything. I knew I wanted to be his forever home and give him the stability and love he deserved.
During some of the most difficult times in my mental health journey, Sei seemed to understand exactly what I needed. He would rest on me or nudge me as if to remind me to breathe and stay grounded. Over time, my heart opened in ways I never expected. A few years later, I began wondering how many other dogs never truly got a chance after leaving the shelter.
In 2017, I walked into a local animal shelter to ask about fostering. That conversation quickly turned into filling out an application, and before I knew it, I walked out with my first foster dog. I didn’t fully understand the process at the time, but that experience changed my life.
Every dog I’ve fostered since has taught me something new. Over time, I began to see the parallels between their journey and my own military experiences after deployment. Like these dogs, many of us carry unseen struggles and need patience, trust, and compassion to heal.
Fostering dogs gave me purpose. It helped me rediscover meaning and direction after my time in the Marines.
Many of the dogs I care for have experienced trauma, fear, or rejection. My goal is to help them decompress, rebuild trust, and develop the behavioral stability they need for a successful adoption.
Thank you for being here and for honoring Sei’s legacy with me. This website is my tribute to him and the promise I made to help as many dogs as possible. Through this space, I share the journey of fostering, the lessons I’ve learned, and real-world guidance for anyone who wants to support rescue work. My hope is that these stories, resources, and ideas encourage more people to open their hearts and homes to dogs in need.