Fund-A-Need
Partnering with the Community: Foster Care Volunteers are Life Savers!
Each year, the Seattle Humane Society identifies a Fund-A-Need project that makes a life-saving difference for the animals in our care. This year, we are asking for your support of our Foster Care Program. If you are unable to attent Tuxes & Tails and would like to make a life-saving difference, you can donate online.
Last year the Seattle Humane Society responded to the needs of thousands of animals who were on death row at public shelters or whose families could no longer provide the care they needed and deserve. We also responded to the calls for help from our neighboring communities and cared for neglected and abused dogs from puppy mills and cats from a hoarding situation. The Seattle Humane Society was able to literally expand the walls of our shelter without building new kennels by a partnership with amazing foster care volunteers.
Diamond, a 1-year-old black and white kitty, was surrendered to the Seattle Humane Society when her family moved. Diamond was fearful of other cats and people and would swat when approached. After her veterinary exam, vaccinations and a microchip, Diamond was temporarily placed with one of our volunteer foster parents. Her foster family was trained to use a clicker and positive reinforcement to reward Diamond for good behavior. Now Diamond gets along with the whole family – including two cats and two children – and is a gem of a kitty!
We learned that our wonderful community will help us help needy animals. We also learned that if we have the resources to provide the foster care volunteers with medicine, supplies, medical care, equipment to loan like baby scales to weigh the puppies and kittens, and training we can save even more loving animals who are waiting and hoping we will be there for them.
We can’t continue to expand this live-saving work without your support. Last year, 3,001 shelter animals received critical home care from Seattle Humane Society foster care volunteers, and even more pets will need our help this year.
Foster Care Benefits our Most Fragile Animals…
Some of the animals who benefit from our Foster Program are underage puppies and kittens who require bottle feeding around the clock. Some are moms with litters, and others are senior pets who need a break from the shelter while we search for the homes they deserve. Still others are shelter guests who need medical procedures or surgery and will recover best in a home environment.
Abby, a 3-year-old hound mix, was out of time and pregnant when she was transferred to the Seattle Humane Society from another shelter. Many shelters do not have foster care programs and pregnant dogs and cats are euthanized. Safe at the Seattle Humane Society, Abby went to stay in a volunteer foster home where she could give birth to her pups safely and get the care she and her pups deserve. Abby’s experienced foster mom helped Abby deliver six healthy pups. When they were old enough, the pups and their mom were vaccinated, microchipped and spayed or neutered and we found them loving homes of their own!
The community is ready to help. Foster care volunteers are available and ready to help the animals who need such one-on-one, loving care. You can help us say “yes” to the foster care volunteers and to the orphaned and vulnerable animals by providing them with the supplies and equipment they need.
Please raise your paddle high on April 24, or donate online today, knowing that your donation provides:
$500 Care and supplies for 7 older cats or dogs who need home care
$1,000 Home care for 13 dogs or cats recovering from surgery
$2,500 Medical care and supplies for 33 underage kittens or puppies
$5,000 Care and supplies for 67 older cats or dogs who need home care
$10,000 Home care for 133 dogs or cats recovering from surgery
$15,000 Care and supplies for 200 older cats or dogs who need home care
$25,000 Medical care and supplies for 333 underage kittens or puppies
Please pledge generously to the 2010 Fund-A-Need. The animals are counting on you!
Average cost for medical care, supplies and equipment for one shelter guest in foster care is $75. The cost to build, operate and staff a facility for 3,000+ additional animals would be much greater. This is a win-win partnership with amazing foster volunteers.