SEO: Marvin home opens for foster dogs Doggie Daycare Student gives sheltered dogs place to call home By: Caroline Niski When Laura Marvin was a sophomore in college, tragedy struck home. Monty, her childhood dog, died at 14. The Marvin residence did not experience any vacancies after that. In high school, Marvin’s friend informed her about a dog foster program. Itching to welcome more dogs into her life, Marvin gave it a shot. The summer before her senior year, Laura and her sister Catherine opened their home in New Jersey to train and care for displaced dogs. The local shelter Traveling Paws, wasn’t equipped with cages or a full staff. Foster families care for the dogs until the shelter finds them a permanent home. Today, 7 million homeless, abandoned and stray dogs are in shelters. Because these dogs come from troubling backgrounds, the families must enforce strict discipline strategies. Marvin initially had to gain the dogs’ trust to properly train them. “It took a lot of patience to work with these dogs and help them learn to behave,” Marvin said. “After the dogs got to know us, they became more comfortable and began to trust us.” (more) Laura (left) and Catherine (right) with their new dog, Monty. Photo by Candice Marvin.