Local program works to pair shelter pets with temporary fosters for the holidays

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - Foster homes are critical to the success of many animal shelters and rescue groups. That includes the Toledo Humane Society. And if you’re not ready for a long-term commitment, there’s a special program that will help you get your feet wet.

The goal is to get 100 animals out of the shelter and into foster homes for the holidays. All you need is a little time and a heart for helping.

Like many shelters and rescues, space is at a premium at the Toledo Humane Society. As soon as one animal is adopted, two more seem to come in the door. That’s why foster homes are such an important part of the organization.

“We send over 1,500 animals a year to foster homes. When we are helping 3,000-4,000 a year, so that is a big percentage of them spending time in foster homes. On any given day, we have 80-150 animals in foster care, which is about the same amount of animals here at the shelter,” Hailey Mitchell, the foster manager, said.

The Home for the Holidays temporary foster program is aimed at getting dozens of animals out of the shelter for a couple of weeks. And the Humane Society needs more help to reach its goal.

“It’s like a trial run. You get the animals for two weeks and we supply everything you need. If it’s a good fit at the end of the foster period, you are more than welcome to adopt,” Mitchell said.

The staff works to match you with an animal that fits your home and lifestyle. It’s a welcome break from shelter life for the animals.

“They get to decompress. When they are here at the shelter, we don’t get to see their true personalities; they’re stressed. They are in the kennel a lot. We do the best we can, but nothing compares to a home,” Mitchell said.

The temporary foster program is also good for the staff.

“I can’t even begin to describe the feeling when the kennels are empty and the shelter is quiet. We only get that once a year, so for us it’s a huge morale boost,” Mitchell said.

But even with the program, the work never stops at the shelter. The building is staffed 365 days a year, so people will still be on duty every day throughout the holidays.

“We do have animals that can’t be paired with a foster. That includes cruelty case holds and those that need extensive medical care. We need to keep them here for the holidays and the foster program frees them up a bit to provide one-on-one care to the animals that stay at the shelter,” Mitchell said. “It also gives us a chance to do some deep cleaning, reorganize our supplies and other important work to get ready for the new year at the shelter.”

When it comes to the animals that do leave, Mitchell said about 25% of them don’t return to the shelter. Instead, they’re adopted by their foster.

For the animals that do come back, it’s an experience that helps lead them to a forever home.

“When they come back, we have so much more information about how they are in a home and that helps us make that good family match,” Mitchell said.

Opening your home and your heart for a couple of weeks can change a lot of lives.

You can sign up for the Home for the Holidays temporary foster program until Thursday, Dec 18, at 5 p.m. The animals are all picked up at the shelter by their fosters on Dec. 23. Returns are staggered from Jan. 5-8 and again from Jan. 12-15.

If you’d like to learn more, click here.

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