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By Jen Jones
If you have a soft spot in your heart for puppies and kittens , the Coshocton County Animal Shelter needs you . The shelter is looking for foster families to help with puppies and kittens .
Hayley Sturtz , manager of the shelter , said , “ Foster commitment for most puppies and kittens is up to two weeks or until veterinary appointment for spays / neuters is complete and / or an adoptive family presents . Pregnant or mother cats can be two to three months while she raises her litter . You can tell us what your comfort level is — your timeline , et cetera . We never ask fosters to hold animals longer than they committed to doing so . We are always prompt in responses here at the animal shelter and prepared to receive any foster back should
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something change .”
All animals going to foster families are provided food , flea medications , litter and basic vetting needs . The foster family just provides a loving environment for the animal , socialization , photos for marketing , updates on how the animal is doing and sometimes a ride to the vet or to the shelter for adoption or vaccines .
Sturtz said , “ Fostering helps secure temporary placement for at-risk age groups : typically , puppies 6 months and under , kittens with mom , and kittens needing more socialization under 8 weeks . Puppies and kittens in a busy shelter serving so many new animals daily require more protection from common diseases , like upper respiratory , et cetera . Our fosters help get them out of the adult populations who carry
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Submitted
Pictured is one of the kittens Megan and Ryan Stingel are fostering right now .
things the littles can ’ t easily navigate , and by staying at volunteers ’ homes until vaccine series are complete , they are helping ensure a healthy adoption , which is always the goal .”
If interested in becoming a foster family for the animal shelter , the form is on the shelter ’ s website and is short .
“ These forms are to
help us best match animals and circumstance , not to be difficult or a barrier to placements . We do ask for vet references , and fosters need to provide household pet info . We would never want a mommy and babies in a high-traffic dog foster home , for example . We want the animals in the home to be fixed because many of our fosters aren ’ t when they need your help .
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The right fit and security of our animals are what we seek , and reducing stressful situations is the goal ,” Sturtz said .
Megan and Ryan Stingel have fostered about 100 kittens for the shelter in the last six years .
“ My husband and I were in Roscoe Village , and we heard a meow from behind one of the shops . We ended up borrowing a live trap from my dad and spent the night catching three kittens . We never managed mom , and we tried for days ,” Megan Stingel said .
She said she worked with Sturtz , so she called her and the Stingels took the kittens to the shelter .
“ We ended up taking them home as our first fosters . Their names were Harry , Ron and Hermione ,” Stingel said . “ Fostering is one of the greatest joys of my life . I ’ ve been Mama to so many
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little nuggets that had no safe home . The world is huge and has such gigantic problems , and sometimes , it feels like nothing we do matters , and that is a terrible feeling . But my time and love makes a whole world of difference to those babies . I have a photo of each .
“ Just do it . Don ’ t think . Do . It ’ s worth it . You will be amazing at it . If not us , then who ? I have six animals of my own , so it can be done , even if you have animals — no problem .”
If you would like to help but can ’ t foster an animal , the shelter has a wish list on Amazon for the needs of the animals going to foster homes . These items also can be dropped off at the shelter . Items needed include Purina puppy chow , Purina cat chow , Purina kitten chow , pellet litter and regular litter , and toys and blankets .
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