Meet Jessie Shaw, Co-Founder of FETCH! - Westport Moms
FETCH Needs Fosters! 
Fetch Rescue is a new non-profit (501c3) foster-based dog rescue group in Fairfield County. Whether you are looking for a full-time furry friend to join your family, or simply love dogs, you can help by fostering a Fetch pup while he/she waits for their forever family. Sign up to foster HERE, or check Fetch out on Instagram here.
We spoke to one of Fetch’s co-founders, Jessie Shaw, to learn more about her, and  how Fetch began!

How old are your kids and how long have you lived in Westport? My children are 9, 7, 5 and 17 months. We moved to Westport in early March 2020 – just 1 week before Covid shut everything down.

How did you end up where you are now in terms of your job, or whatever passion project it is you might be doing? I grew up with dogs and have always been completely obsessed with them. When I moved to Westport I started to work with Little Black Dog Rescue and Amy Scarella who taught me so much about rescue and the incredible need for help with dogs in Southern States. When Amy’s intake for dogs shifted, three of the other ladies I worked with and I decided it was the right time to start our own rescue and so Fetch – our foster-based dog rescue – was born. We are dedicated to helping to save shelter and stray dogs from the southern states and finding loving forever homes for them in the CT area.

What was your best memory from the last few COVID years, a strange time we know… I think that Covid was a really difficult time, but also such a wonderful time for our family. With my husband working from home full-time, we were able to spend so much time together going for hikes and just hanging out as a solid crew. It also gave me the extra time to get involved with Dog Rescue which led me to my passion with Fetch.

What is the best show you have recently (binge) watched? AND what is the last book you read? Love Ted Lasso!! And I am in the process of reading The Nightingale which I love.

What is your favorite podcast? Smartless! It’s hilarious and I love the fun interviews.

What is one product you could not live without? At Fetch we rely on amazing partnerships to help keep our supply costs lower. We always use Martingale collars for all of our dogs because they are the safest collar and slip proof. Our relationship with Best Life Leashes allows us to keep our dogs safe and super stylish. If you buy a collar using our code “Fetch”, they will donate one to our rescue!

If you could travel to one place this next year, where would it be and why? I am planning on taking a trip to rural Mississippi and Alabama – where most of our partners are located. It is time for me to see first hand the need for dogs in the area. I really think it is important for people to see and fully understand the depth of the problem in order to help try to solve it. I am hoping to go walk into shelters, speak with partners and of course come back with a lot of dogs who will need fosters and forever homes!

If you had 24 hours to do whatever you wanted to do, what would it be? It would be such a fun thing to get all of our rescues and dogs that we have adopted together for a reunion. Perhaps a big hike as a pack, followed by some free run beach time and then of course a fun bbq for all of the Fetch family – dogs included of course!

Are you a morning person, or a night owl? How does sleep fit into your life?  Definitely not a night owl! With 4 kids under 9 and going non-stop during the day – I am asleep early. I much prefer to wake up early and start the day feeling refreshed and organized!

What is the first thing you do when you walk in the door after a long day? The first thing I do when I walk in the door is of course greet my rescue dog! He is always waiting for me with a crazy waggly tail and lots of kisses. He gets priority of course over the kids!

QUICK THIS OR THAT:
At a movie: Candy or Popcorn? POPCORN
Cook or order in? COOK
Cake or Ice Cream? CAKE
Iced Coffee or Hot Coffee? ICED COFFEE
Beach or Mountains? MOUNTAINS
Puzzle or Board Game? PUZZLE
Wine or a Cocktail (if cocktail, which one?) COCKTAIL. A MARGARITA
Reading or writing? WRITING
Before bed: Social media or book/TV? BOOK
Watch or play sports? PLAY
Stay in or go out? STAY IN
Comedy or Drama? DRAMA

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