With Crowded Pet Shelters, Foster Care Eases Strain
Shelters across America are having to make difficult decisions.
They are running out of room for animals, and in some cases, are having to euthanize due to lack of space.
Pet foster agencies are trying to ease the burden.
Meet Foster Pet, “Chunk” Norris
With a name like “Chunk” Norris, you’d think that this foster pet would love the camera.
Well he doesn’t, but he does love his foster mom Renee Bolduc.
“He’s just a fun loving dog that likes people,” said Bolduc. “Well, his people and he just likes to play.”
Chunk is just one of many animals Renee’s rescued since she started fostering in 2018.
“Chunk” Norris, foster pet.
“It’s just kind of hits a point where you realize it’s been a lot,” Bolduc said. “The stories that are behind them, that kind of make your heart reach out to them, and you want to help.”
Not only is Renee a foster mom, she also helps animals at Pets Under Police Security — a Maple Grove animal shelter — get into the foster system at Pet Haven in St. Paul.
Pet Haven Helping to Place Animals into Homes
“We have taken many pups out of PUPS this year,” said Kerry D’Amato, Executive Director at Pet Haven. “It’s one of the larger municipal shelters we pull from.”
Pet Haven Executive Director Kerry D’Amato.
D’Amato says while shelters provide a caring place for pets to be in the short term, for longer stays, it’s better for pets to be in foster homes.
“At Pet Haven we believe in couches, not kennels,” she said. “We know that pets are healthier mentally and physically when they are out of a shelter and in a home.”
Pet Haven sets foster families up for success by providing a mentor, as well as free food and medical care.
“Fostering is a good way to get your toes wet into animal ownership, or having pets into your home,” D’Amato said. “It’s a great way to try it on.”
D’Amato hopes more families step up to provide pets with short-term loving homes, just like what Chunk Norris has found.
“The home environment is where they are really meant to be,” Bolduc said. “It’s very hard to say no to some of those cute faces.”
Visit Pet Haven’s website to learn more about how to become a foster.
