Joy Wegner and Mera Laureys
The animal shelter in our county, Pinal County Animal Care and Control (PCACC), has created a double win-win, and you could be one of the winners!
PCACC, like many shelters, has been experiencing a tremendous intake of dogs and cats in the last months. To add to this stressful situation, PCACC is in the midst of a much-needed renovation, which is reducing the number of kennels they have to work with. This creates not only a crowded kennel situation but also a noisy environment that can be frightening and stressful to dogs and cats. These animals need a break!
You can help by fostering a dog or cat in your home! Here’s the win-win:
The dog or cat wins by living in a more peaceful, less stressful environment. In your home, they can receive much-needed personal attention, and let their true personalities show.
The shelter wins because it creates space for another animal that is brought in needing care and attention.
The future adopter of this animal wins because you can provide more detailed information about the dog or cat’s behavior, temperament, needs, and special personality traits. PCACC Shelter staff and volunteers don’t see them in a daily household situation.
You win, because you have helped a shelter animal become more adoptable, and in the process have given them the love and attention that these animals deserve. If you happen to be looking to add a pet to your family, this is a great opportunity to get to know an animal and see if they are a good fit for your family. If this is not the right time to adopt the pet, you can feel great about having helped a dog or cat see what life in a home is like.
It’s a double win-win!
Here are a few points to keep in mind: animals need time to adjust, and the first few days in your home may not be perfect. Crate training is helpful for housebreaking if that’s needed. Some dogs and cats are already housebroken, some are not. Some are energetic young dogs, some are more mature dogs. Some cats are cuddlers, some are more aloof. If your schedule only permits a limited period that you can foster, the shelter staff can work with your plan.
If you think fostering might be for you, visit 24petconnect.com, use ZIP code 85194, and you’ll be able to see listings of animals. You can also email [email protected], and tell them what type of dog or cat you have in mind and what your home situation is. The shelter staff know more details about the animals and can suggest a good fit for you. The shelter currently has a program running that may be able to help with expenses while you are fostering.
As we say with Friends of Pinal County Animal Shelter and Rescues, “Because…they are counting on us!”