By MARIA RAKOCZY

MADISON – Madison Animal Rescue Foundation (MARF) is looking for more caring people to open their homes and hearts to foster stray and displaced cats and dogs.

MARF works with Madison City Animal Control to rescue strays and rehome surrendered cats and dogs. After Animal Control recovers an animal, they hold the animal in their facilities for a seven day period. If the animal is not claimed after a week, it is turned over to the care of MARF.

The organization was founded in 2008 to combat the city’s euthanasia rate, which at the time, was a high 98%. The organization has been committed to saving animals throughout the city of Madison from inhumane conditions for fourteen years. They continue to work to get homeless animals adopted into good, new homes. MARF provides basic medical care before adoption and entrusts the day-to-day sheltering and care of the animals to participants in their foster program.

“MARF provides everything for our fosters, food, monthly Heartworm/Flea and Tick prevention and any medical attention needed while in foster care. All animals are fully vetted prior to going to a foster home. Puppies and kittens of course get multiple sets of shots and aren’t neutered until 12-15 weeks depending on size, so they will only get first set of boosters prior to going into a home,” explained Miki Bennett, MARF’s director.

MARF relies heavily on the generosity of donors to cover medical bills and on volunteers to support their foster program. The organization does not have a shelter building and thus, depends on the generosity of the community.

“Foster parents are also vital to the process of forming these animals into adoptable pets,” Bennett said. “Foster homes offer the rescued cats and dogs opportunities for training, adjusting to new environments, and socialization with people and other animals.”

Unfortunately, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, MARF has suffered a drastic decrease in foster parent volunteers causing them to incur thousands of dollars in boarding costs for animals without a foster home. Now, MARF is calling on the people of Madison to lend a hand to the stray and homeless animals of the city.

“We advertise all of the animals on FB and our website to help get them adopted. We have experienced people willing to help with any questions or issues the foster may have. The foster picks the animal they want to foster. They can apply at www.madisonarf.org,” Bennet said.

MARF is currently looking for foster homes for seven adult dogs, three puppies, and two adult cats. The adult dogs and cats, along with others currently in foster homes, are also available for adoption. Pictures, further information, and updates on each can be found on MARF’s website as well their Facebook page.

For those interested in meeting MARF’s animals in person, MARF hosts Adoption Days on Saturdays from 11a.m. to 1p.m. at the Madison Petco store located in The Shoppes of Madison center on Highway 72.

For more information, go to www.madisonarf.org or look them up on Facebook.