We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on the Steskal foster family, whose selfless love, sacrifice, and dedication has been life-saving for the dogs they have taken in, and life-changing for the adopters whose families have been completed.
From “Foster Curious” to Foster Champions
In June 2022, Mike and Merrigay of North Bend submitted a foster application with Dog Gone Seattle. At the time, they had never owned a dog of their own. Soon-to-be empty nesters, they wrote:
“We love dogs and dog sit often but cannot make a commitment to add a dog to our family at this time. We would love to help give some dogs a place to live until they find their forever home.”
Just three weeks later—on the 4th of July—they welcomed their very first foster, Lily, a husky rescued from the euthanasia list at Riverside. Lily had been adopted during the COVID boom and returned two years later. With support and guidance from DGS, the Steskals gave Lily the stability she needed until she found her forever family. With that, their fostering journey officially began.
Happy Tails! The Steskal’s first foster Lily is adopted!
Since Lily, the Steskals have fostered ten dogs, not including many more who stayed for just short stints while covering for other fosters.
Queenie: The Foster Fail That Was Meant to Be
While they didn’t set out fostering with the intention to adopt, like many fosters before them they joined the “Foster Fail” club with their fourth charge, Queen, a brindle bully mix saved from Los Baños shelter.
Queen arrived in August 2022 with her buddy Tiny. Unlike some dogs who adjust quickly to “the good life,” Queen needed time to blossom. Mike recalled:
“When we first took Queenie in as a foster, she was sullen, sometimes aggressively defensive, and always walked behind us with her head and tail down. Now she’s forever part of our family—happy, sometimes even playful, walking next to us with her head up and a spring in her step. She seems to have a sixth sense to comfort and love anyone who is hurting.”
After many months, Queen was adopted—and the Steskals were thrilled for her! But less than two weeks later, she was returned because she did not adjust as quickly as her adopter had expected. The Steskals welcomed her back, but this time, it felt different. Mike recalled:
“After the lady who adopted her brought her back, I started to wonder if it was fate. Merrigay and I thought about it a lot. When someone else started showing interest we decided we couldn’t let her go. Foster fail…Queenie is now part of our family.”
Queenie officially became theirs in March 2023.
The Steskals foster failed with their fourth charge Queen (now Queenie)
One factor in their decision was knowing Queenie could be a star “AmbassaDog” for other fosters—helping new dogs blossom just as she had.
Lessons Learned Along the Way
It hasn’t always been rainbows and unicorns. Queenie has her preferences, and with guidance from DGS, the Steskals have learned the personality characteristics that fit best with their number one girl.
When they took in Ryder, a hunk of a dog from Tulare shelter, it wasn’t a match made in heaven. Still, the Steskals stuck it out for 15 months, learning a lot about dogs—and themselves—in the process.
Ryder, the Steskals longest foster, was with them for 15 months
That grit and willingness to do hard things has become their hallmark. Whether it’s giving a long-stay dog a home, or opening their doors when an urgent plea goes out, Mike and Merrigay always step up. Most recently, they welcomed two puppies—Elio and Marnie—from a litter of abandoned on a Yakima reservation. When the plea for seven fosters went out, asked, Mike replied:
“We have never had a puppy but are willing to try. We prefer one, but Merrigay is willing to take two if there are no other options.”
It’s always a good sign when all household members are on board—though in the Steskal home, not everyone agrees on who the favorite foster has been. Mike’s favorite? Buddy, an older bully mix surrendered when his owner became an empty nester, because “he was such an easy going and super lovable lug.”
Mike’s favorite foster Buddy, an owner surrender
A close second was Chooch:
“Of all the dogs we’ve fostered, Chooch is the sweetest. He just wants to be loved. It’s not that he craves attention—most young dogs want to be played with—it’s that he wants you to love on him. For a muscular little guy with a few scars from what I guess was a rough life before DGS, he has no malice. He has no desire to bark at other dogs, even when they are aggressive with him. He’s just a sweet guy with a loving soul.”
Merrigay quickly countered:
“Nope. Chooch was cute, but he was a turd. He chewed everything and demolished my chair covers. Loved him, but a turd.”
Her own favorite was Harry:
“He was so good at gauging how to play with other dogs, and he and Queenie were so good together. He was bigger and fast, yet he’d make sure she could keep up. He was such a gentleman and good-natured.”
Mike really loved Harry too. (Truthfully, they love them all!)
Harry, a favorite foster of the Steskals (including Queenie)
Why DGS?
Beyond favorites, Merrigay shared why she chooses to foster with DGS:
“DGS is the only place I have fostered with and I am so glad it has been. I had never owned a dog prior [and] after we put a fence up I thought, we should foster and somehow came across DGS. Jenny was great giving me a husky owner surrender as my first foster. Huskies are interesting but she was a great starter dog. I appreciate that all the fosters sent my way are within my abilities and are usually a good fit with my dog (foster fail). I felt like I had support as I learned the foster guidelines and the reasoning behind them. I have been guilty of sending late night texts with questions when issues arise. I always receive an answer or more clarifying questions from Jenny, Ashlyn, Kris and now Toni. I like meeting the potential adopters and giving my input, and knowing it is being taken into consideration. It really helps my heart to be comfortable with where my fosters end up. I have heard fosters who work with other rescues complain about how they are just left on their own. I do not feel that way. It is sometimes difficult distance-wise but I feel like the training and support are always available and I appreciate that. I always feel my skills could be better but as far as a network to help get you there as a foster, this is one of the best. I think you learn a lot from fosters that don’t go so smoothly and I was so glad as we struggled through that, that I had support and understanding along with willingness to act and change the situation, if needed.”
The Heart of Rescue
Mike and Merrigay Steskal are a shining example of the beauty in fostering. You don’t need to know everything—you just need to be willing to ask for help, take guidance, and learn along the way. In the process, you may even find a true soul dog, like they did with Queenie.
That journey saves the lives of countless other dogs and is essential to the rescue mission. Fosters truly save lives and are the cornerstone of our organization. While it’s not always easy, it is always rewarding—and it helps to do it in a community of like-minded individuals where you are supported and respected.
If you are foster-curious, please reach out; we’d love to share more and have you on our team. If you’re ready to jump in, apply online here.
