From Fighting Ring to Cuddle Monster: Eli and the Importance of Fostering

From Fighting Ring to Cuddle Monster: Eli and the Importance of Fostering

Estero residents in neighborhoods like Pelican Landing often hear about the importance of adopting pets from local shelters, but a vital step in the rescue-to-adoption process, fostering, frequently goes overlooked. For dogs like Eli, a foster home can be the key to finding a forever family.

Eli, a two-year-old dog, was among more than 150 canines seized in a federal dog fighting case and brought to the Brevard SPCA. While physically unharmed, his traumatic past left him with severe emotional damage, making him too terrified to leave his crate. For months, staff and volunteers at the Brevard SPCA, one of 6,000 shelters and rescue groups affiliated with the Best Friends Animal Society, worked patiently with Eli. Despite making progress, he would retreat whenever meeting potential adopters.

This changed with the arrival of Makenna Carew. Makenna, an experienced foster carer for cats and kittens, decided to foster a dog for the first time at the end of 2025. She specifically sought out the shelter's longest resident. “Before I went into the SPCA, I had looked for their longest resident. They always kind of spotlight them at the top of the page, and I saw Eli on there,” Makenna stated. Despite Eli being listed as “questionable with cats,” Makenna, confident in her experience and her own pets' relaxed natures, believed she could help Eli.

“Dogs are so different once you take them out of that environment, and I wanted to give him a chance,” she explained. After a successful meet and greet with her own dogs, Koa and Nova, Eli’s transformation began almost immediately. Within days, he was cuddling in bed, playing with Koa and Nova, and even playing “big spoon” to Makenna’s impressively proportioned feline, Loki.

Makenna shared a photo of Eli and Loki on the SPCA of Brevard’s Facebook page, which quickly went viral. The image garnered thousands of likes and hundreds of comments, catching the attention of Michael. After learning Eli’s story, Michael arranged to meet him, and just three days later, Eli, who had spent months cowering in the shelter, was adopted.

Saying goodbye was difficult for Makenna, who admitted to “ugly tears,” but the continued contact from Eli’s new family makes it worthwhile. “They keep in contact with me, and the other day they sent me a picture, and they celebrated his first birthday with them, which was his third birthday, and it’s a little picture of him at a little party hat,” Makenna shared. “This is my biggest accomplishment of the year.”

Eli’s new owner, Michael, confirmed his remarkable progress. “A calm, routine home has allowed him to decompress and finally feel safe,” Michael said. Eli now shares his home with another rescue dog, Kelce, and has learned what it means to be a dog. “Now he’s out with the family, chewing a bone, playing with his sister, or relaxing by his dad’s feet. He goes to the park every evening, loves his walks, and is wonderful with other dogs and kids.”

Foster carers like Makenna are crucial. Shelters with foster programs are approximately 30% more successful in rehoming pets, as fostering helps reveal an animal’s true personality and prevents behavioral issues from long shelter stays. If you are interested in helping a rescue dog or cat, contact your local animal shelter or rescue organization in Lee County, or the Best Friends Animal Society.