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County shelter highlights foster program, says it reduces euthanasia and covers vet care
Summary
County shelter staff and volunteer foster caregivers described how the foster program lowers euthanasia rates, what supplies and veterinary care the shelter provides, and how residents can apply online and meet with staff to begin fostering.
Shelter staff described the county animal shelter—s foster program as a way to reduce euthanasia and place animals in temporary homes while they await adoption. "Our foster program is really great," the shelter representative said, noting the county shelter is open-admission and must accept stray or owner-surrender animals.
The program supplies fosters with starter items and support, the shelter said. "You'll get a crate, poop bags, you know, newspaper pee pads, toys," a longtime foster volunteer said, and the shelter representative added, "We give you food. Any kind of vet care that your foster may need, we cover that as well." Staff also said replacement harnesses or leads are available if items are damaged.
Volunteers described fostering as emotionally rewarding and accessible. "It's so much fun fostering dogs," one volunteer said, describing how dogs often arrive sleepy then begin to "open up." Another volunteer who said they had fostered for about eight years called it "incredibly rewarding" and noted the satisfaction of seeing fosters adopted into families for "15, 20 years." A volunteer described the application process as simple: an online form, a short apartment video and a brief interview with a staff member named Tiffany, who the volunteer said made applicants feel "ready and prepared and, like, supported in the process." The shelter representative said applications route to staff calendars for a meeting, and "once we complete the foster application, everybody is on the same page of what to expect, and they're able to start fostering pretty much immediately."
The shelter framed the foster program as a concrete way for residents to help reduce shelter crowding and provide temporary homes until adoption. No formal policy changes or votes were reported during this presentation; staff and volunteers focused on recruitment, training and logistical support for prospective fosters.
The shelter said residents interested in fostering can find the foster application on the shelter website and schedule a meeting with staff to complete onboarding.
