Celebrating Foster Parents

by Amber N. Yoo, HSSV Volunteer

Have you ever met a foster parent – of a companion animal? At HSSV, foster parents are a vital part of its life-saving efforts. These special volunteers literally expand the shelter walls, providing temporary homes and individual care for more than 800 animals every year.

The types of pets who need foster care include:
• Kittens and puppies who are too young to be placed for adoption
• Animals recovering from a cold, who need daily medication and a quiet place to rest
• Pets who have received life-saving surgery and need time to recuperate before being placed in a home
• Dogs or cats who simply need a break from the shelter environment

By inviting dedicated volunteers to share in the care of these types of pets, HSSV is able to promise the community that it will save the life of every adoptable and treatable companion animal that comes through its doors.

To show how grateful HSSV is to its foster parents, the organization hosted a picnic earlier this month at Las Palmas Park in Sunnyvale. More than 100 foster parents and 45 dogs showed up. Foster parents mingled with one another, sharing photo albums and foster stories. Four-legged pooches wagged their tails enthusiastically and doled out smooches. Highlights of the event included watching the dogs compete for “Best Trick” and play “Musical Sit.” I’m sure the pups also enjoyed the massages being offered by Patsy Webb, of Patsy's Pet Massage. See more event photos on our Facebook page.

But, the most grateful of all are the hundreds of dogs and cats whose lives have been transformed by this special community of foster volunteers.

Next week, meet foster dad Wayne Thompson and his current “charge,” Dino the Bionic Wonderdog.