Jon Gosselin and Wife Stephanie Welcome Their New Puppy
Former reality TV personality Jon Gosselin and his spouse, Stephanie, are thrilled to announce the addition of a new furry member to their family after the passing of their cherished dog, Toby.
“We had been looking at rescue [dogs], and Adriane Schwartz found a puppy at Big Love Animal Rescue [through her friend Laura Labelle, the founder of Labelle Foundation], in California,” Stephanie revealed to Us Weekly as she introduces the adorable white puppy named Theo. “They don’t usually send dogs across the country, but she offered to bring him as a wedding gift.”
The engaged couple, who got engaged in November 2024 after Jon’s 2009 separation from Kate Gosselin, had envisioned their 16-year-old dog Toby (“The woo was my little fur brother,” Stephanie recalls) walking her down the aisle. Tragically, Toby passed away in September 2025 — just months before the couple’s November 2025 wedding.
“Losing him created a significant void, not just in our home but within our entire family,” Jon disclosed to Us. “We are all dog lovers, and Toby spent so much time with all of us, leaving us with a profound sense of loss.”
The Jon and Kate Plus 8 alum mentions, “After the wedding, it felt like the perfect moment to welcome a little bundle of joy back into our lives by adopting a new dog and adding another member to our family.”
Lisa Arturo, founder of Big Love Animal Rescue, shared that Theo — or Theodore — along with his sister Eloise and their mother Maddie, were “abandoned and left at a shelter by someone who no longer wanted them.”
“When we learned about their plight, we felt compelled to act and save them,” Arturo explained. “We rescue dogs of every kind, but we especially prioritize pregnant mothers and newborns. It’s crucial to get anxious pregnant dogs out of crowded shelters and into loving foster homes where they can safely have their litters. When Theodore was ready for his forever family, we felt that Stephanie and Jon would be the perfect fit.”
Jon excitedly shares that Theo — whom he describes as “fun-loving” and “adorable” — has “boosted not only our energy and happiness but also that of our friends and family.”
“He’s filled our lives with so much love and joy,” he continues. “And my wife is absolutely over the moon about him. It’s wonderful to see her so happy!”
“Our patience and understanding are definitely being tested, but it’s been remarkable to witness everyone adapting, shifting their focus, and collaborating to raise this little guy as a family,” Stephanie adds. “It’s truly become a team effort, which I cherish, and that has been really special to watch — particularly for me.”
Since both Jon and Stephanie have openly decided against expanding their family with biological children, they told Us that they’re thrilled to be the proud parents of another fur baby. (Jon has eight children with Kate, while Stephanie has a daughter from a previous relationship.)
“With Jon and I combined, bringing nine children into the world is more than enough,” Stephanie remarks. “He is basically ‘our baby,’ just with four legs instead of two. He has completely captured our hearts and is an incredibly special part of our family.”
Regarding the possibility of adding more furry friends, the couple has committed to always choosing rescue animals over purchasing them.
“It’s incredibly meaningful knowing we were able to rescue him from 3,000 miles away [and] through Big Love Animal Rescue,” Jon expresses. “We are immensely grateful to our close friends and manager Adriane and Nick for flying him home to us; it means a lot.”
“I will always prioritize rescue over purchasing from a breeder, and Big Love Animal Rescue has been instrumental in facilitating the pickup and necessary paperwork,” Stephanie adds. “He’s such a loving dog, and I know his foster family was wonderful.”
She continues, “Every animal deserves a loving home, but rescuing feels so much more significant. Jon and I have always been the type to say, ‘Let’s just do it,’ regardless of what we’re getting into, and we always follow through and do it well together.”
