We ♥️ Our Fosters

I recently heard the “E” word for the first time in years, in a way that literally jolted me.  In a bay area newscast, a reporter interviewed employees of a local south bay shelter.  The news angle?  That the shelter was so overcrowded that it would have to start euthanizing homeless pets if the overcrowding wasn’t resolved.  Simply too many homeless pets for the amount of space available.

With a year in foster care, sweet April
would love to find her forever family.

I had two quick reactions.  One was a combination of dismay and heartbreak.  Many pets are being surrendered as employees return to the post-Covid office.  How could bay area residents take in pets during the pandemic without planning for after it?  

The other reaction was of gratitude. 

Because of our foster families, we are able to make a dent in this overcrowding and save lives.  We can rescue a pet from the shelter and get it into a safe home.  We can provide the pet with the love, support, medical and/or behavioral care it needs in order to heal, thrive and find its happily ever after.   We’ve always focused on rescuing the most vulnerable pets — seniors and those with medical or behavioral needs that the shelters can’t meet — but now it’s more important than ever.

Right now, we have 25 pets with foster families. The majority of dogs in our care are special needs, requiring six months to a year in foster care.  We have some special needs cats that need tremendous support.  These pets all require specialized care that the shelter can’t provide.

Our goals for 2023 include expanding our foster base and ramping funding efforts so that we can continue to rescue and rehome homeless pets…without the threat of the “E” word hanging over us, threatening to harm the very lives we work to save every day.

So, as we celebrate Valentines day this month, who gets the heart?  Our fosters do.  We ♥️ our fosters!

Want to learning about fostering a cat or dog?  We would ♥️ that!  Click here.

Karen Zamel is a long-time SVPP volunteer and a member of the communications team.