For those of you who feel that there is nothing you can do to help all the animals in need this holiday season think about helping just one. If you are home for the holidays and are planning on having quiet time with your family consider fostering a sweet baby for the holidays. When most volenteers, foster homes, and shelters are closed you can offer one homeless pet a temporary home for the Holidays. Consider opening your heart and your homes to a lonely pet this holiday.
For the second year, Petfinder is inviting you to participate in its “Foster A Lonely Pet For The Holidays” program where they partner with more than 1,600 shelters and rescue groups, including many in your local area. Interested individuals can find participating shelters and rescue groups by visiting this website. Staff and volunteers at each organization will be available to answer questions about the fostering process and help select a pet who will be a good match for the foster family’s lifestyle.
“The benefits of fostering go beyond just giving an adoptable pet a warm place to stay for a few weeks,” Betsy Banks Saul, the co-founder of Petfinder.com, said in a statement. “It is an opportunity for families to determine if they are ready to permanently open their home to a pet while simultaneously giving shelter volunteers and staff a well-deserved break over the holidays.”
Inspired by Greg Kincaid’s book and movie, “A Dog Named Christmas,” Petfinder.com launched the program last year. The movie and book tell the story of a developmentally challenged, kind-hearted young man who sets out to convince his family — and their whole rural community — to participate in a local animal shelter's inaugural “Adopt a Dog for Christmas Program.”