Modesto animal shelter seeks emergency foster families due to coronavirus shutdown
As the world continues to struggle with the coronavirus crisis, our furry friends need immediate help close to home.
The Stanislaus Animal Services Agency put out an emergency call for foster ambassadors to take the shelter’s cats and dogs. On Wednesday, because of the growing COVID-19 epidemic, the shelter closed to the public. That has made finding foster families more difficult, said agency executive director Annette Patton.
The shelter remains open for adoptions and lost pet recoveries, but by appointment only. All of the staff is also still working, since you can’t take care of animals remotely. But Patton said without public visits she expects the shelter to fill up fast.
They currently have 190 dogs and 47 cats in need of homes. They hope to find foster families for the some 200 to 300 animals they expect to have come through in the next four-to-six weeks.
While the shelter is still accepting lost dogs, Patton said people are being highly encouraged to keep any strays they find during the outbreak themselves instead of bringing them to the shelter.
“That is truly the life-saving impact we want to secure from people,” she said. “We really need people to be able to foster these animals temporarily during this time.”
To be eligible to foster any of the shelter’s current animals, people need to be at least 18 years old and able to provide a loving home. The application can be filled out over the phone or through an online form on the agency website, www.stanislausanimalservices.com.
To make things easier for people and allow for social distance, the shelter is offering drive-up foster pickups as well as home delivery anywhere in Stanislaus County for its available animals. She said currently the need is particularly high for people willing to foster large dogs.
All veterinary or medical needs for the foster animals will be provided through the shelter. But foster families will need to be able to provide food. The shelter gives all foster ambassadors a bag of dog or cat food to start. All the animals also have their rabies shots and are microchipped.
“Save a life, foster today and make a difference,” Patton said. “And you’ll have a quarantine buddy.”
To foster for the Stanislaus Animal Services Agency, visit www.stanislausanimalservices.com or call 209-567-4661.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 5:15 AM.
