Dakota, a massive St. Bernard with a heart even bigger than her paws, has a special way of meeting kittens. The moment she senses their presence, her entire body starts to tremble with excitement. She lowers herself slowly, almost melting into the floor, waiting for the tiny creatures to approach her.
She doesn’t lunge or bark. She waits. You can hear the quiet thrill in her breath, like she’s thinking, “Oh my gosh, they’re getting close to me!”
Her family knows the routine by heart. “Are these your babies?” they ask her playfully. “Wanna go see the babies?” That’s the cue. Without missing a beat, Dakota perks up, turns around, and heads straight for the upstairs bedroom. “Let’s go check,” someone says, and she trots along like a proud nanny about to check in on her little ones.
But this bond didn’t start with fostering. Once, Dakota was kitten-sized herself. She’s always had a strange magnetism toward cats. At first, it was just the two house cats. Then came a third—one they meant to rehome. Dakota had other plans. The moment he arrived, she took one look at him, wrestled with him, played with him, and made it very clear: This one’s staying. He never left.
Over time, her family began working with a local rescue group, fostering litters of kittens who had nowhere else to go. Every time a new batch arrived, Dakota already knew. She’d pace, sniff, and give that look—“Where are they? I know they’re here.”
They’d wait a day or two, letting the kittens adjust. But soon enough, Dakota would be in the room, flattening herself like a soft, furry jungle gym. The kittens would swarm her, climbing over her face, batting at her ears. She didn’t mind one bit.
It’s always the same. First, they’re timid. Then, they realize: Dakota is not just safe—she’s home. They climb, nap, and play with her as if she were one of them.
And for a dog who weighs ten times what they do, Dakota plays her role perfectly.
Every kitten that passes through her home leaves braver, softer, and more ready to love, simply because of the time they spent with her. It’s a small part of the rescue journey, but one that makes a huge difference—helping kittens adjust to life in homes with other animals.
For Dakota’s family, it’s one of the most rewarding parts of fostering. And for Dakota, it’s just another day with her babies.
