The Comforts of Home

“Can I crash at your place?”

Dogs, like people, have preferences. Some don’t mind the shelter environment, while others find it a little overwhelming. Some dogs like to be around other animals, while others prefer to be the only animal in the house. Here at HSSC, we use progressive methods to identify and accommodate each animal’s individual preferences. Luckily, we have an amazing team of foster volunteers who help us care for the animals who don’t thrive in the shelter environment, providing all the comforts of home — until they can be adopted into a forever home. Ashley Armstrong, HSSC Foster Program Manager, explains, “When placing dogs in foster we are really looking for homes that will allow the dogs to relax and decompress. Often times dogs are stressed in the shelter and just need a quiet place to be, where a person will give them space. There’s a misconception that dogs need a foster home dedicated to hours of training. All most dogs need is a safe, quiet spot and a foster parent who can share their observations with us. We always need foster homes that don’t have other pets — dogs that do not like other dogs don’t do well in our shelter because they have to encounter other dogs multiple times a day.”

Foster parents are directly involved in saving animals’ lives . Being a foster parent allows HSSC to save many more lives than we could accommodate in the shelter alone and gives a great feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment. Are you interested in becoming a foster parent? Please contact Katie McHugh at kmchugh@ humanesocietysoco .org or (707) 542-0882 x201