Isabel Klee's New Memoir Explores the Realities of Dog Rescue

Isabel Klee has built a following of over 1 million on TikTok by documenting her experiences fostering dogs. The 33-year-old started fostering at age 25, initially viewing it as an affordable way to have a dog while navigating life in New York.

She admits her motivations weren't entirely altruistic at first. The practical benefits drew her in, but what began as a budget-friendly solution evolved into something far more meaningful.

After fostering 35 dogs, Klee has channeled her experiences into a new memoir titled Dogs, Boys, And Other Things I've Cried About, published by HarperCollins.

A Temporary Foster with Special Needs

Just weeks before her book release, Klee took in Gracie, a long-haired gray Chihuahua mix. Gracie is a medical rescue dealing with diabetes and glaucoma that have left her completely blind.

Gracie had been with a foster family for four months without any adoption interest. When Klee's friend jokingly suggested she take Gracie to help find her a home, Klee didn't hesitate.

Small dogs typically get adopted quickly, even with health challenges. Klee suspects potential adopters feel intimidated by Gracie's diabetes. By bringing Gracie home and showing her followers both the dog's sweet personality and how to manage her insulin injections, Klee hopes to make the condition feel less daunting.

A Lifelong Connection to Dogs

Klee's bond with dogs started early. At age five, she wanted to become a dog. She ate meals on the floor and walked on all fours with such dedication that her preschool teacher called her mother to express concern. That obsession led to her family adopting their first Golden Retriever, Ruby.

Her first dog as an adult is Simon, a Jindo mix with a thick tan coat. He started as another foster, but one morning Klee woke up and realized she couldn't let him go. She had never felt that way about any of her previous fosters.

At the time, Klee didn't know Simon had complicated epilepsy. She acknowledges that if she had known upfront, she probably wouldn't have adopted him. But she's grateful she didn't know, because she would have missed out on her soulmate.

Simon inspired her to foster more challenging dogs. He taught her how to navigate the emotional ups and downs of rescue work and showed her the importance of having honest conversations with her online audience.

Not Every Story Has a Happy Ending

Last December, Klee fostered an elderly dog named Zero who had multiple medical issues, including dementia that only became apparent after he came home with her. When it became clear Zero wouldn't improve, the rescue organization made the difficult decision to euthanize him.

Klee felt devastated. She felt like she had failed Zero and her audience who believed in her abilities. But she came to understand that sometimes you can't help every dog, and sometimes it's simply their time.

She decided to adopt Zero before he was euthanized. Being there in his final moments and seeing him finally at peace brought her a sense of closure, even though she had barely known him.

After Zero, Klee took a break from fostering. When she felt ready to return, Simon was right there beside her.

She dedicated her book to him with these words: "For my Simon: Thank you for everything. I promise I will be repaying you every day of your life for being the one constant in mine."

Simon proved to be an excellent foster brother to Gracie. As of now, Gracie is still waiting to find her forever home.