Why Fostering Makes a Difference: Lessons from a High School Foster Parent

One of the first things we tell people interested in animal rescue is, “We need foster parents!” We remind them that we can’t rescue pets from our local shelters without an open foster home ready to take on the responsibility of caring for a pet—sometimes for many months.

We are incredibly grateful to all of our volunteer foster parents for their compassion and willingness to help. This month, we’re excited to profile one of our repeat foster parents, Ameya, a high school sophomore. She and her mother have fostered for us in the past, and we wanted to learn more about Ameya’s experience. She is currently fostering two kittens, Katara and Sokka.

Ameya and her mom, Preetha with foster kittens

1 - How did you first learn about fostering a pet?

“I wanted a pet, but we used to travel often as a family and knew we could not keep a pet. We googled and found out about being a temporary home for shelter pets. We started with rabbits, fostered a dog with SVPP and then have been fostering kittens and cats for the past 1 year.”

2 - What is your favorite aspect of fostering a pet?

“I observed and learned so much about these animals, like behavior and health issues. It is a challenge to figure out what makes each animal tick. Some are food oriented and others playtime oriented. Each animal has his/her distinct likes, dislikes, and personality. We also gained a lot of satisfaction when these fur babies found their forever homes. The most beautiful aspect of sharing our homes with these homeless pets is to watch them decompress and blossom into happy pets.”

3 - Why do you think other families should consider fostering a pet in need?

“During the pandemic lockdown, many of us felt so suffocated being locked up in our homes. Imagine these animals being left in small spaces with very limited positive human interactions. I remember volunteering at the San Jose Animal Shelter to walk the dogs one Saturday. Volunteers had a list of dogs that got a 10-20min playtime. The sad faces and whining as we locked the dog back in his/her cell till today haunts me. There were just not enough volunteers to walk all the dogs that are surrendered. The SVPP foster dog I had cared for would look forward to her daily hour-long walks. It definitely also made me healthier. I would do my school reading with her at night. She would listen and sometimes fall asleep on my lap. Now the foster cats are my study buddies at night. It makes my day. I feel happier and less lonely in my study room when everyone else has gone to bed. By sharing my peaceful home with a homeless pet, I am doing my part instead of just complaining. Instead of buying from a breeder, fostering a pet from pet rescues and shelters relieves these over stressed organizations. 

I feel fostering helps people understand the needs of the pet they plan to commit to. People get pets on a whim or as gifts sometimes. Puppies and kittens are cute. Some forget it’s like getting a toddler for another decade. When you foster, you get an idea about the responsibilities involved with keeping a pet. This includes vacation time and veterinary bills. Fostering gives you time to see if owning a pet suits your lifestyle. You can always say you are not able to manage and stop after a successful adoption. Just imagine, if you do fall in love with your foster pet, being a foster failure would be a proud badge to wear.”

4 - What lessons have you learned about fostering? 

“Jane Goodall said “You cannot share your life with a dog … or a cat, and not know perfectly well that animals have personalities and minds and feelings.” I learned that animals have boundaries. I learned to respect these boundaries. Every day is a new start. Many times, the animals take their own time to trust us. There is no fixed formula. We have to try different ways yet know when to give them their space. That is quite a fine line. When they do trust us, they give love back in abundance. We become their pack. Till then, we need to be patient and forgiving (for the little scratches, hisses or maybe even bites). They do not have any other way to communicate their feelings.”

5 - Tell us about your current foster kittens.

“Sokka and Katara are named after the 2 main sibling characters in Avatar, the Last Airbender. Both of them love to play with the ball (or anything that rolls away with a push. Like pencils and woolen balls). Chasing a wand is one of their favorite pastimes. While left alone, they love to watch running water in the backyard or just observe the world past them through the window. They love to purr and sleep with us at night. A bonded pair.

Katara is very curious, smart and loves cuddles. She has a beautiful heart shape marking on her torso. She is quite active. She will happily sit on your lap while you watch a movie.

Sokka is very protective, quiet and aloof. He loves to sit alone and observe the people around him. Yet, when he wants, he will walk up to you just for pets and cuddles. All on his terms. When he is done, he will walk away to his corner. He gets jealous if his sister gets all the cuddles. He gives licks as you sleep.”

6 - What Challenges have you faced as a foster?

"The hardest part is to say goodbye to your loving foster as they move onto their next chapter. The best way to get over it for me is get a cup of bubble tea and request for a new foster pet. "

Interested in fostering a pet in need?

Please refer to our website and complete a feline or dog foster application to get the process started!

Penny’s Friends: Champions of SVPP’s Lifesaving Mission

During July, our wonderful partners at Penny’s Friends are holding their annual donation drive. Discover the passion behind Penny’s Friends and their incredible support for SVPP.

Tell us about Penny's Friends Project and its mission.
“Penny’s Friends is an annual donation drive held throughout the month of July, dedicated to collecting supplies for a local cat and dog rescue. This initiative honors the memory of our beloved dog, Penny Lane, who passed away on December 9, 2022. Our goal is to celebrate Penny’s legacy by supporting shelter pets and the organizations that work tirelessly to save their lives.”

How does Penny's Friends Project support Silicon Valley Pet Project (SVPP)?
“We've partnered with SVPP to compile a list of essential supplies needed for their rescue and foster efforts. These items are made available on an Amazon wishlist, which we promote throughout the month of July. We invite everyone to contribute by donating items from this list, helping us support shelter pets and the dedicated organizations that care for them.”

What motivated Penny's Friends Project to partner with SVPP?
“Since 2019, I've been volunteering with SVPP in various roles. When we launched Penny’s Friends, it was a natural decision to collaborate with them.”

How do these programs directly impact the animals and foster parents within the SVPP community?
“By gathering needed items directly from SVPP, we ensure that our donations precisely match their current needs.”

How can the community get involved with Penny's Friends Project and support its efforts to help SVPP?
“Help us spread the word and consider donating if you can! Stay updated on our initiatives by following us on Instagram and Facebook.”

What are the future goals and plans for Penny's Friends Project in its ongoing support of SVPP?
“As we enter the second year of Penny’s Friends, our priority is building a strong and dedicated community for our donation drive. Looking ahead, we aspire to sponsor vaccination events in the future.”

What has been the most rewarding aspect of being involved with Penny's Friends Project for you personally?
“Witnessing Penny’s legacy endure and positively impact the lives of shelter pets is truly rewarding.”

What message would you like to share with readers who are considering getting involved with Penny's Friends Project or SVPP?
“We aim to support rescue organizations by providing items tailored to their specific needs. This ensures that everything donated by the public is necessary and will be put to good use.”

How can people donate or contribute to Penny's Friends Project to further support SVPP's mission?
“To contribute to Penny's Friends and support SVPP's mission, you can donate items needed by SVPP throughout the month of July. Visit our Amazon Wishlist page at http://tinyurl.com/pennysfriends. You can also find the link on our Instagram and Facebook accounts. Thank you for your support!”

Behind the Scenes with Manly Candles: A Father-Son Team Crafting Candles and Supporting Animal Welfare

In honor of Father’s Day, we had the pleasure of chatting with the father-son duo behind Manly Candles (father, Lance and son, Ridge), a local favorite known for their unique, handcrafted candles. In this interview, we delve into their creative process, their commitment to animal rescue, and their heart-warming support for Silicon Valley Pet Project (SVPP). Thank you Manly Candles for all you do to support SVPP's mission! 

What inspired the creation of Manly Candles?  How did your journey begin?  

“It originally started when Ridge was little and I used to take him into the soap stores to kill time while his mom was shopping.  We would walk around and smell all the soaps, candles, and bath bombs. About a year and a half ago, we were having a funny conversation on the way to school one morning and got on the topic of manly scented things. We started laughing about over-the-top manly scents like sawdust and gasoline.  I forgot all about it, but Ridge keeps a notebook of funny things and interesting ideas and about 6 months later he came home with the logo that he had designed in class, so we decided to make a few candles and see what happened.”

What is special about Manly Candles? 

“It’s special for us because it gives us something fun to do together and also allows us to give back to the animals we love by supporting the SVPP with whatever profits we make.”

Tell us about the “Manly” men.  

“I was a technical recruiter for 25 years and now work primarily as an artist specializing in oxidized copper.  I use that copper to make special one-of-a-kind pieces, from wall art and clocks, to guitars and ukuleles.  I have a few guitars in restaurants and bars around the world as well as museum exhibits.  Ridge just finished 8th grade and will be heading to Archbishop Mitty for high school. He enjoys video games, learning to play the trumpet, and making candles of course.”

What is the most rewarding aspect of running Manly Candles? 

“Getting to spend more quality time with each other and making something that we know has an impact on our community.”

How did your partnership with Silicon Valley Pet Project (SVPP) come about, and what inspired you to support the mission of SVPP?  

“We knew that we wanted to support animal rescue, so we did some research on the local organizations and felt like SVPP was the right fit, and by supporting SVPP we could support the larger bay area.  We really liked that SVPP rescues special needs and elderly animals.

Have there been any memorable moments or experiences from your collaboration with SVPP that you'd like to share?  

“We have had two events with SVPP - a puppy play date where we brought in a few candles to show and sell. We were able to meet a lot of good people like Kevin with Coffee Companions and several of the SVPP volunteers.  We also recently did our first candle making class with 10 people at Pup Plaza and it was a ton of fun.”

What impact do you hope to make through your support of SVPP, both for the organization and for the animals they serve?  

“We just hope to help in whatever way we can.  Obviously we would love to sell a ton of candles so we can continue to provide some financial support.”

Are there any future plans or initiatives in the works for Manly Candles? 

“Since we primarily sell our candles in our Etsy shop online, we hope to spend a little time this summer looking for a couple of local shops to carry our natural soy whisky glass candles and beeswax melts.”

We'd love to hear about your own pets! 

“We currently have one dog, a four year old Labrodoodle named Lucky who is super cute and goofy.”

Finding April: A Tale of Overlooked Love and Loyalty

High school memories often stir up a mix of emotions, especially for those of us who didn't quite fit in with the "cool kids" or conform to the latest trends. It's a feeling of being overlooked, not quite meeting the standards set by others.

In the world of animal welfare, this sentiment echoes loudly in the faces of rescue dogs like April. She represents the countless pups who have been passed over time and again. While others clamor for the trendiest breeds like Doodles or Goldens, dogs like April quietly await their chance at a forever home.

SVPP's journey with April began over two years ago when we rescued her from the Santa Clara County shelter. Despite her warm disposition towards people, April faced a slew of health issues, including skin and ear problems stemming from allergies. It took months of dedicated care to finally manage her condition effectively.

Today, April is a picture of health and happiness, her allergies under control thanks to a carefully tailored regimen of food and medication. Yet, despite her transformation, adoption interest remains elusive. April embodies the essence of a perfect companion – easy-going, affectionate, and utterly drama-free. She revels in simple pleasures: leisurely walks, playtime with toys, and, of course, mealtime.

April isn't the flashy cheerleader type; she's the quiet, unassuming soul who would have found a home long ago if she were a different breed. Instead, she patiently awaits someone who sees beyond appearances – someone who values loyalty, companionship, and the unique bond she offers.

This April, our sole focus is finding her the loving family she deserves. She's just one example of countless shelter dogs overlooked for more "glamorous" counterparts. We believe there's a perfect match out there, someone who understands the immeasurable joy of welcoming a grateful, easy-going companion like April into their lives.

So, if you're reading this and feel that tug at your heartstrings, please consider opening your home to April. She's been waiting patiently, and we know her forever family is out there, ready to embrace her with open arms. #AdoptApril

Celebrating the 2 Year Anniversary of Dog Dog Day Out Program!

The national statistics for young large breed dogs languishing in our animal shelters is overwhelming. Locally, in Santa Clara County, hundreds of beautiful, healthy large breed dogs are waiting to be noticed and adopted. Unfortunately, there is a definite shortage of adopters, especially those who are able to provide for large breed dogs who are energetic and need training, enrichment and exercise to thrive. With the ever expanding list of breed restrictions at rentals, even fewer families are able welcome a large dog into their home. 

In 2018, Silicon Valley Pet Project opened Pup Plaza, a temporary space we called Silicon Valley’s first dog community center. Along with other programs, we initiated a Dog Day Out program partnering with the San Jose Animal Care Center to welcome small adoptable dogs to hang out with dog-loving volunteers for the day. Until COVID restrictions ended this program, many small dogs enjoyed a weekly break from shelter life. 

As COVID progressed, the demographics of the adoptable dogs at San Jose Animal Care Center changed - fewer small dogs, many more young large breed dogs crowding the kennels. In response to this change and at the request of the shelter, Silicon Valley Pet Project redeveloped our Dog Day Out Program to suit the needs of the shelter’s large dog population and built a team of dedicated skilled volunteers to take these kennel-stressed dogs on outings to hiking trails, shopping malls, Starbucks, neighborhood walks - each outing lasting several hours. Our dedicated volunteers take photos and complete a DDO Report Card after each outing, which are used to promote these dogs to the public.

Beautiful Olive enjoys the great outdoors!

Researchers at Virginia Tech and Arizona State University, recently studied the effects of outings of just a few hours and fostering stays of one to two nights on dogs’ length of stay in the shelter and their adoption outcomes. The results? Brief outings and temporary fostering stays increased dogs’ likelihood of adoption by five and more than 14 times, respectively! 

Silicon Valley Pet Project’s program allows these shelter dogs a break from shelter life in the real world and for our volunteers to be able to witness the type of dog they are - something that is almost impossible to do in a stressful shelter environment. Given that many of these dogs have unknown history, it is critical to provide the public with some details about these dogs outside of the kennel so their true nature can be seen and appreciated! 

SVPP Volunteer with Olive on hiking adventure!

In February 2024, SVPP’s Shelter Dog Day Out Program for large breeds is celebrating 2 years and 700 outings! We are sincerely grateful for the dedicated, skilled volunteers who help us show these fabulous dogs to the public, and who work hard to shine light on these overlooked shelter pups. If you are looking to adopt a large breed dog, please consider the more than 200 dogs at the San Jose Animal Care Center waiting to be adopted.

Silicon Valley Pet Project has been a rescue partner to San Jose Animal Care Center for nearly 10 years. In addition to the Shelter Dog Day Out Program, our flagship Foster Program takes in the most vulnerable dogs - many who are senior and have advanced medical issues, and some who have significant behavioral needs that only a dedicated foster home with training support can help heal. We are always in need of committed foster homes for large dogs as we receive urgent pleas every day to rescue more. 

For more information about Silicon Valley Pet Project’s programs, please refer to our website here.

The Hands and Heart Making Rescue a Reality: SVPP's Andrea Lee

The heart of Silicon Valley Pet Project is its ability to rescue pets from the shelter, get them into foster homes and provide the medical, dental, behavioral care and support they need to heal and blossom.  It takes a lot of hands, but Andrea Lee has two of the biggest hands – and one of the biggest hearts – in the mix.  As SVPP foster care manager,  she coordinates everything from rescue to adoption with the help of other SVPP volunteers.   We share Andrea’s story here.  I call it “An SVPP Profile in Courage” because of the passion, commitment and often emotional hard work needed in making rescue a success. 

 

Andrea (right), Ruby (center) and Andrea's daughter, Haven (left).

How did you get involved in rescue and when did you get involved with SVPP?

It started with a deep love for dogs.  My first rescue dog was Ivy, a retired racing Greyhound. We adopted her 13 years ago. Sadly, she passed 4 years later of cancer. I found SVPP because a few months after Ivy passed, my daughters pushed me to find another dog, and we met Ruby, a beautiful, one-eyed American Bully mix . Ruby taught me the depth of love that dogs can bring into a family. She battled heartworm and three different types of cancer and so many fears in her brief life, but she gave me so much: a love for Bully breeds, a better understanding of animal rescue and the importance of giving stable, loving homes to dogs who need us. After Ruby passed, I adopted a sweet, broken 4-year-old American Bully from Jake's Wish who did not know how to be a dog. In order to help her learn to be a dog, I started fostering through SVPP and in February of 2020, agreed to start as a Foster Coordinator. The next month, the pandemic hit and things got really busy really fast. I never looked back!

 

How would you describe your role as foster manager?

I am a scheduler, volunteer trainer, part-time vet tech, match-maker, community education specialist, and most importantly, a cheerleader — both for the animals and for the amazing fosters who give them loving homes.

 

Star: a testament to the power of rescue.

Can you share one of your most important rescue stories with us?

Each rescue is so special, it is very difficult to choose! But one that I think about often is a young American Bully mix we pulled from Tri-City Shelter in July of 2020. She was so scared and very sick. She had foxtails in her mammary glands and bite marks on and around her head. Everything was new and scary to Star. She was fostered by an incredibly gentle and patient young couple and very slowly began to gain a little confidence. When she was ready for adoption, a single dad and his daughter applied for her. His wife had recently passed, and he and his daughter were in the midst of moving to get a fresh start. The daughter needed a companion to help her through her trauma, and Star needed a family who would give her time, space and unconditional love to overcome her trauma. It was the most beautiful match and a testament to the power of rescue.

 

What’s the most important thing that we need to know about the state of rescue right now?

The needs are greater than ever. There is not one single reason for the desperate state of animal rescue right now — there are a myriad of reasons, and they have stacked up to create an unsustainable situation. Rescues like SVPP need more fosters, adopters and donors.  Shelters need more funds and more staffing and more solutions to help keep animals in their homes. Communities need more access to low-cost spay-neuter, more landlords who don't restrict pet ownership, and more regulations on animal breeders with significant penalties for those who dump "imperfect" puppies, mommas and stud dogs. Animals need humans with more capacity for patience and commitment.

 

I know this role brings lots of challenges, but what brings you joy?

Matching a dog or cat in need with a family who will give them a loving, forever home and will not give up on them.

Fostering Sometimes Means Expecting the Unexpected

Pepper is now ready for her forever family.

“There’s a puppy on my living room floor!”  That’s not a phrase we hear very often, even being steeped in rescue.  But that’s the message that Silicon Valley Pet Project (SVPP) Foster Manager Andrea Lee received from foster mom Laura Bower late on Friday night in September. That evening — and unexpectedly — her new foster Chihuahua, Pepper, gave birth to four puppies at her home.

Every foster journey is different.  And, they all matter.  With twists and turns, ups and downs, surprises and challenges, the end result is saving a life – and in this case, five.

Just a few weeks prior, Laura had volunteered to foster Pepper, in part, because Laura’s own dog, Jilly, was so calm with her.  At about 9 months old and just a puppy herself, Pepper started showing signs of a first possible heat cycle just a few weeks after settling in at Laura’s home.  Little did Laura or SVPP know that a litter was on the way.  

Pepper debuted her puppies at a recent adoption event.

Laura had been a little concerned about Pepper and made an appointment at her vet for a visit the very next day.  

“I was only sure Pepper was pregnant the night she gave birth!  I was suspicious that she was, and had made an appointment for an examination with my vet – which I completely forgot about with four newborns in the house.”

Laura, Andrea and SVPP came together to make sure Pepper and the newly named “spice” pups were healthy and well.  After three weeks,  another foster took the new family and now, Pepper is back with Laura, exhibiting all of the energy and spunk of a puppy herself.  The spice pups are awaiting their own spay and neuter appointments to avoid any more surprises!

Foster mom Laura with Jilly and Pepper

While Laura is new to fostering and Pepper is only her second experience, one lesson she has learned (times five!) is that you have to be patient and flexible. Foster manager Andrea Lee emphasizes this.

"Although we try to get as much information as possible about pets we rescue, you really never know what you’re going to get.  In some ways, you have to expect the unexpected. But in the end, it’s all worth it!  It’s another life saved.”

Now that mommy duty is behind her, Pepper is ready for her forever family!  You can find out more information about her here.  

With shelters in crisis and over capacity, fostering and adopting are more essential than ever in saving lives.  If you are interested in your own foster journey or want to find out about adopting a dog or cat, puppy or kitten, please go to www.svpetproject.org.

Karen Zamel is a long time SVPP volunteer and foster and part of the communications team.