Featured Senior Pet: Oreo, a 13 year-old pit-bull mix, is smart, affectionate, and has a hearty appetite. She enjoys Hallmark movies while cuddling on the couch. Oreo has been at the shelter for over a year. She wants to spend the remainder of her years as your one and only! Photo Credit: Sarah Wood Photography
Wouldn’t it be great if every dog and cat had a “fur-ever home” for the holidays? Unfortunately, many of the pets at the Manatee County Animal Shelter (MCAS) won’t find a family in time. But — you can help! Do you have room in your heart (and your home) to foster a pet for a few days?
From November 22nd until January 10th, MCAS is participating in the “Foster Express Challenge,” which encourages families to foster a shelter pet for two to five days over the holidays. Getting out of the high-stress kennel environment and integrating with a family even for a few days can make a major difference in the quality of life for these animals. It can also have a positive impact on your family!
“When you open your home to a shelter pet during the holidays, it will open your heart and you will learn so much about your capacity for compassion and caring. It’s what the holidays are all about,” says Division Chief Sarah Brown of MCAS. She concludes, “it helps reduce the stress levels of these pets as they become family members for those few, important days.”
There’s no cost to participate, and MCAS will provide all food and necessary supplies. For more information, please call 941-742-5933 ext. 8314.
