94 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • OCTOBER 2018
FIGHT HOMELESSNESS:
FOSTERING FURRY FRIENDS
BY ALLISON MATOS
For those who love animals but
cannot commit long term to an animal
that needs a forever home, fostering
is a mutually beneficial alternative.
Homeless animals are sometimes
sick, injured, or have been abandoned
at a very young age when they arrive
at shelters and rescue organizations.
These animals require special care
such as bottle feeding, veterinary
care, and often times just a quiet place
to lay their heads so that they can heal,
grow, get stronger and socialize.
Fostering provides animals with the
care that gives them a great chance of
being permanently placed in a home
of their own.
“Our foster care program increases
our ability to save as many lives as
possible,” says David Ceely, executive
director of Little Shelter in Huntington.
“We simply wouldn’t be able to
help as many as animals as we do if
it wasn’t for our wonderful foster
homes.”
Shelters are often at maximum
capacity, so fostering frees up valuable
space. Often times, cats and dogs
become stressed in shelter environments,
which can affect their eating
habits, overall health, and adoptability.
Fostering allows an animal to feel
safe and secure, away from a hectic
shelter environment.
In most cases, families and individuals
agreeing to foster are provided
with training, medications, bottles,
veterinary care, bedding, toys, and
anything else that an animal may
need while being fostered. All a foster
parent needs to provide is love, care,
fun, and interaction, to prepare the
animals for loving homes. Fosters
may often help bring animals to
checkups, to events and/or to meet
potential adopters.
Many fosters describe the experience
as beyond rewarding. Giving an
animal a fighting chance towards finding
a forever home is a truly wonderful
experience for everyone involved.
“It’s understandable that a foster
family might fall in love with the dog
or cat and be reluctant to let them
go, but when you see how happy
the animal is in their new home and
you know you played such a critical
role in that story, the reward far
outweighs the sacrifice,” Ceely says.
It’s easy to get started. Simply contact
a local rescue or shelter for more
information.
PRESS PETS
Fostering a cat or dog helps prepare them for their forever home.
(Photo by Alla Shcherbak/Shutterstock)
DONATE
YOUR
CAR FOR
HOMELESS
PETS!
Animal League America’s Vehicle Donation Program makes donating
a vehicle fast and easy, offering you a great way to support our no-kill
mission! For complete details about donating a vehicle or additional
information regarding Tax Benefits, Donations Tips and Frequently
Asked Questions, visit animalautos.org or call 1-800-752-6462.
DON'T FORGET!
North Shore Animal League America has many Puppies, Kittens, Dogs and
Cats to choose from. Mixed-breeds, purebreds, and small breeds too!
25 Davis Avenue • Port Washington, NY • 516.883.7575 • animalleague.org
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