News You Can Use
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National Foster Care Month
by Cheyenne Pratt, Technician, Calico Creek Veterinary Clinic
As most of us are enjoying the much-needed spring weather, animal shelters are gearing up for their busiest time of the year. Spring kicks off kitten season, which will continue steadily into fall. Animal shelter staff do their best to provide stray animals with everything they need but sometimes space and resources are limited, leaving them overcrowded and overwhelmed. Rescues and shelters become filled to capacity and eventually have to stop taking in animals. People willing to open up their home to animals in need are a big help. Pet fosters temporarily take in animals until they are placed with their permanent family, which frees up space in the shelter for another animal. Depending on the animal’ s needs, they may remain in the foster home for a few days or several months. Usually, the shelter will cover costs of supplies, vet care, grooming, etc., but it’ s the caregiver’ s responsibility to provide their foster pet with safety, shelter, food, socialization, and training.
Typically, the animals that need foster homes are orphaned kittens, mothers with litters, sick / injured animals, seniors, and those with special needs. Shelter life isn’ t ideal for any animal but there are some that handle it worse than others. There are cats and dogs that display destructive behavior, become depressed and shut down, or stress to the point of injuring themselves, all of which will make it difficult to get adopted. Animals that struggle in a shelter usually do better in a foster home because it’ s a less stressful environment where they can relax and allow their true personality to show. Animals in foster care have the opportunity to become more socialized with people and other animals, which makes them more adoptable.
If you don’ t have pets but are considering adopting, you could try fostering first. This is a good way to find out if being a pet parent is for you, before making a long term commitment. Fostering can help you realize exactly what you’ re looking for in a pet. You may even turn into a“ foster fail” and decide to keep the animal you’ re fostering.
Fostering is a rewarding experience, knowing you helped give an animal a second chance at life. If you’ re interested in fostering, contact local shelters and rescue organizations to see if they have a foster program you can get involved with. If you’ re not able to adopt or foster, there are other ways you can help animal rescues during their very hectic, busy season. Also, as always, spread the word about the importance of spaying and neutering!
Pawsitively Pets-- May
Around The Hydrant:
News You Can Use
Recalls:
Elite Treats of Boca Raton, Florida: Recalling a single lot of Elite Treats Chicken Chips for Dogs( 6-ounce bags), due to potential contamination with Salmonella. Info: 561-901-5310.( 2 / 24 / 26)
Gold Star Distribution of Minnesota: Issued a voluntary recall of various brands of pet foods, due to potential contamination, including Salmonella. For complete list- dogadvisor. com. Info: 612-617- 9800.( 12 / 26 / 25)
Consumer Supply Distributing, LLC of Iowa: Recalling Country Vet & Heartland Harvest Dog Biscuits for possible Salmonella contamination. Info: 712-202-5609.( 12 / 24 / 25)
Fromm Family Foods of Wisconsin: Recalling one lot of its Bonnihill Farms BeefiBowls Beef Recipe frozen dog food, due to potential plastic contamination. Info: 1-800-325-6331.( 12 / 3 / 25)
Raw Bistro Pet Fare of Cannon Falls, Minnesota: Recalling select lots of its Grass-Fed Beef Entrée frozen dog food, because of possible contamination with Salmonella. Info: 507-291-3153.( 10 / 10 / 25)
Foodynamics of Wisconsin- Recalling Raw Dog Barkery, BellePepper Cats, and Kanu Pets brands- Chicken Hearts and Chicken Heart Slices freezedried treats, because of potential Salmonella contamination. Info: 262-421-5339.( 10 / 9 / 25)
Source: dogfoodadvisor. com, amva. org
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