They could be among the most thankful visitors you invite into your home this Thanksgiving.
Once again, The Animal Foundation is looking for foster families to take in shelter pets during the holidays.
“It’s so easy,” says Michelle So, sitting with her foster dog, Wendy. “She’s amazing. She is so sweet. She’s potty trained.”
So and Clinton Cheong have been down this path before.
The couple has fostered as many as six dogs over the years.
8-year old Wendy, a 60-pound mixed breed just the latest to leave footprints on their hearts.
“If we had the money she'd want to get a compound with a bunch of dogs to rescue,” laughs Cheong.
“Especially the older dogs that really need help,” adds So.
This month the Animal Foundation is running the promotion, Foster for the Holidays.
It costs absolutely nothing.
In fact, the Foundation provides all the food and toys the pet needs.
Alec Petronsky is Foster Coordinator.
“Basically the goal is to not have any animals here over the holidays, both Thanksgiving and Christmas,” he says.
And Petronsky says the shelter can be a stressful place for dogs. Placing them in a loving home, even temporarily, helps bring out their true personality.
“We use the information we get from the fostering situation, pictures and stories, and we use that to help the animals get adopted,” says Petronsky.
And it's not just dogs available to foster. Adult cats are too. However, cats take a bit more commitment. Maybe a few weeks in the home so they have time to relax.
The application and pictures of the pets ready to be fostered can be found on the website www.animalfoundation.com.
If you do become a foster fail, and decide to keep the pet, the adoption fee is waived.
“It happens a lot,” laughs Petronsky. “Which is fine we love the outcome.”
As for Wendy, she’d been in the shelter since August.
“Last week I went with her on a slow jog and she liked that,” says Cheong.
For now, she’s happy and safe.
But she's still searching for a forever family of her own.