Martin County Quiet Heroes: Pet fostering with Humane Society
Reagan Johnson is taking special care of the cat she is fostering at her home. Johnson is a vet tech and the Feline Pathway Coordinator at the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast and has been fostering this kitty for about a week.
Cats, dogs and others spending many lonely hours at Humane Society—fostering urgently needed
As Reagan Johnson kneels down to pet her foster cat, she has soft music playing in the background. At first, the cat seems suspicious, but as Johnson gently pets her, she starts to relax, eventually turning over, letting Johnson rub her tummy. “She really doesn’t like the dogs, so I’ve made this spot in this bathroom for her,” Johnson says. “She’s a very loving cat.”
Have you ever wanted to foster an animal? This is an ideal time to take in a pet and make a difference. Now that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued the stay-at-home order, effective at midnight last night, many of us will be spending almost all our time at home. The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast (HSTC) is calling on people during this time of recommended social distancing to volunteer to be a foster pet parent.
“If you’ve considered providing foster care to one of our shelter pets, now is the perfect time,” said HSTC President and CEO Frank Valente. “A shelter pet provides unconditional love and would provide company, especially to those who are living alone and perhaps feeling isolated during this challenging time.”
Also, does your high school student need to earn community service hours? They can earn from two to eight hours per day, depending on the level of care needed. Earning volunteer hours during social distancing presents a challenge—this could be a win-win option for both the animal and the high school student. This could also be an opportunity for a younger child to foster simply to learn that we all do our part to contribute to our community.
As a precaution during this time of COVID-19, the shelter has reduced its hours of operation and closed its two Thrift Stores. Both normally have areas for adoptable cats. This has prompted the need for more people to provide foster care for all types of shelter animals. With the shorter operating hours right now, no people are in the building for 17 hours per day and the animals are getting much less human and social interaction.
Kyle Brown, left, and Ansley Holly, Palm City, are fostering Duke, a great dane catahoula hound mix. “He’s a great dog,” said Holly. “He follows me around the house.” She does caution that he would probably not be a good fit for a family with children, mostly because of his size and weight.
Palm city residents Ansley Holly and her boyfriend Kyle Brown are fostering Duke, a Great Dane Catahoula Hound mix. He’s been in the shelter since June and this is his first time fostering.
“He’s a giant oaf,” said Holly. “He knows all the commands and is a big love bug. We decided to foster because there are so many animals sitting in the shelter right now. They can’t have any adoption events, for one thing. It helps the animals a lot to get them out of the kennel environment. If you give an animal some love and show them the good stuff that’s out there, it really helps them.” Holly said Duke spent about the first day learning the rules of their house, which are important to develop in the beginning. It went well.
“I feel bad for the dogs,” Brown said. “A lot of them are really good dogs but just need a little time with a foster family to develop their obedience and social skills.”
Tradtion resident Linda Baughman has been volunteering at the shelter for about three years, working exclusively in the cat area. Since the shelter is limiting the number of people in the building right now and the number of hours, there’s a lot less action and less time to let the cats out into their play room. The cats truly are lonely, she said.
“Our cats need to be social and be around people. It’s so important for them and their future,” she said. The more social time they have, the more likely they are to get adopted down the road, she said.
Bocephus, a domesticated male Fancy rat, was found in the night drop on March 20, along with 5 pregnant females. “Rats are really fun!” said Johnson. “They’re smart, inquisitive and very social.” It’s important to remember, these are domesticated rats, not wild rats.
Certain qualifications must be met to provide a foster home for a pet and may be found on this webpage. The Human Society will provide food, litter/hay and medical care for the animal while you are fostering. And, of course, you can choose to adopt. This is a great way to check your compatibility before committing.
The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast is a no-kill animal welfare organization in Palm City. Since 1955, it has been the leading advocate for animal protection and well-being in the Martin County area. A 501(c)3 private, nonprofit organization, the HSTC is independent and locally operated and relies on donations to support its programs and services.
Call the font desk 772-223-8822 between 10-3 Monday through Saturday to set up an appointment to choose your foster pet today!
Follow the HSTC on Facebook or visit their website for more information.
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