Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League in West Palm Beach is asking volunteers to foster cats and dogs to reduce stress on animals kept in kennels and indoor-outdoor condos, WPB TV reporter Cheryl Khan reported.

The request comes as the shelter manages a seasonal surge in litters: Khan reported the organization currently has more than 200 kittens in its care. Shelter leaders and volunteers say temporary foster homes help animals acclimate to living with people and other pets and free limited kennel space for incoming animals.

Dogs at the shelter have regular outdoor time but still spend substantial hours in kennels because of space limits, the report said. To ease that strain, the shelter promotes a "Couch Surfers" program that places dogs in volunteer homes for as little as a weekend or for up to three months so the animals can relax in a home environment.

Cats that are medically cleared live in indoor-outdoor condos at the facility, but staff and volunteers told Khan those spaces can be boring for long-term residents and that fosters provide additional socialization and stimulation.

Khan noted that kitten fosters are especially important at this time of year given the number of young animals needing hands-on care. For more information about fostering cats and dogs or to sign up, the report directed viewers to peggyadams.org.

This account is based on a WPB TV report by Cheryl Khan.