Family provides refuge to kids, animals

September 30, 2005

DAWN DE BUSK/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - After Andy Romano married his high school sweetheart, Vickie, in Arkansas, the newlyweds headed to the East Coast and picked up a honeymoon pooch named Keely.

The 13-year-old dog, which now hobbles into the living room to greet guests, has seen the size of the household grow from two lovebirds to a Valley family that fosters children as well as four-legged friends for Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue.

The Romanos became part of the state foster-parenting program about two years ago, while they were living in Chugiak, Andy said. His wife had been home-schooling their children, Alexandria, 10, Donivan, 5, and William, 3.

"Since we had a family life that was stable, I wanted to share that with other kids," Vickie said Wednesdays.

Last fall, the family bought property and a home off Palmer-Fishhook Road, and unexpectedly opened a door to another kind of fostering: animal rescue work.

"We told the kids when we moved into our new home we would get them a bird. So, we went to the Pet Zoo where the dog adoption clinic used to be held, and got a dog we named Birdie," Andy said.

As 2005 kicked off, Andy and his family set up their home to take care of dogs waiting to be adopted.

"I was just doing foster care for a while. Then, I got more and more involved," the Wisconsin native said.

The Romanos didn't hold any family discussions when they started fostering dogs. "It just kind of happened. The kids enjoy the adoption clinics, too," Vickie said.

Every Sunday, the children help with the difficult decision of selecting one or two dogs to save from possible euthanization at the animal shelter, he said.

Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue supplies the kennels. Currently, the Romanos have four foster dogs and two household ones. Those three dogs hang out in the outdoor kennels: Butter, a yellow Labrador-husky mix; Chase, an Australian shepherd-border collie mix, and Shorty, a black cattle dog mix.

An insulated shed provides shelter for the trio. Andy plans to put a heater in there for the winter.

A fourth dog, a Siberian husky male, rescued from Mat-Su Animal Care and Regulation earlier this week, has claimed a spot inside their home for the time being.

The family recently purchased a malnourished goat. Two pygmy goats, a clutch of chickens and several ducks round out the family.

"The kids help clean kennels, feed and water the dogs," Andy said, adding that the children also play with the dogs. Andy said the adoptions of their foster canines have been successful, with only one or two that didn't mesh with the new family. Valley-wide, Alaska Dog and Puppy Rescue has found homes for about 600 dogs this year, he said.

From their home with the friendly farm setting, autumn foliage and a view of a snow-sprinkled Pioneer Peak, it's hard to believe that in May 2004 Andy was serving in the desert in Baghdad.

When he heard his brother, whom he hadn't seen for three years, was deployed overseas, Andy volunteered to go with his Air Force unit.

"That wasn't the best idea," his 10-year-old daughter, Alex, said.

"See that picture of William crying?" she said, pointing to a photo on the refrigerator. "That was when dad left for Baghdad."

Andy shrugged it off, saying he wanted to serve with his brother.

"Plus, that's why I joined the military," he said.