South Suburban Humane Society Launches 'Pets Are Family' Program

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — The South Suburban Humane Society has announced the launch of the “Pets are Family” crisis fostering program, aimed to help pet owners in the south suburbs of Chicago who need temporary care for their pets.

According to a news release, safety net fostering programs, like this one, is for pet owners experiencing crisis. It is a way to directly support the current needs of the south suburban community, the release states.

The purpose of the Pets are Family program is to provide temporary care for pets and to reunite them with their families following a crisis or financial hardship, including when they are facing eviction, domestic violence, rehabilitation, hospitalization, or loss of housing. With the ongoing eviction crisis and financial impacts of COVID-19, programs like Pets are Family are needed more than ever across the country, according to the release.

"This program meets a need that our shelter has not been able to meet previously,” said Foster and Safety Net Coordinator Amanda Litviak, who coordinates the Pets Are Family program.

“Previously, owners would come to the shelter as their last resort, feeling like the only thing that they could do is to give up their beloved pet. Now, thanks to the Pets are Family program, South Suburban Humane Society can match up pets with foster families in the south suburbs and give owners the time that they need to address their hardship and keep their families together.”

According to the release, there are currently five pet families enrolled in the program. South suburban pet families who are in need of this program can apply for assistance directly with SSHS. All applications are reviewed in light of their needs and the program’s capacity to provide care for the pet through available foster homes. Accepted applicants receive 30-days of crisis care through safety net fosters and more time if they qualify, the release states.

Pets are Family case managers check-in weekly with owners to see how they are doing, coordinate updates between the foster and the owner, and connect owners to other community resources if needed, the release states. There are no costs associated with this program for the pet owner, and the Pets are Family program is supported through donations to SSHS. The humane society also provides any medical support to the pet if needed during its stay with a foster family. Pet families in need of these services can apply for the program through the South Suburban Humane Society website, or by calling the program coordinator at (708)996-0039.

The SSHS said that the program is made possible through its foster network, and available foster homes. They are actively seeking foster families to participate in this program. Foster families receive weekly check-ins with the SSHS team, and SSHS provides all supplies to care for the fostered pets — fostering commitments range from 30-90 days.

Kerri Bradley, Homewood, is a volunteer foster for the program.

“The Pets are Family program is a critical resource for families in our community, and my family is very proud to be part of it,” Bradley said. “Pets are part of the family, and keeping families together is so important. Managing a crisis or financial difficulties is hard enough without having to worry about losing a member of your family.”

Bradley’s family fostered a dog named Bre, the first pet to successfully enter and exit the new program. Bre’s family suffered a fire at their home and were not able to immediately take her with them to emergency housing. Rather than give up their beloved pet, Bre’s family was able to utilize the Pets Are Family program while they arranged housing, and on May 17, Bre was reunited with her family, according to the release.

South Suburban Humane Society is one of 18 animal shelters selected to participate in the Arizona State University/Virginia Tech Maddie’s Nationwide Fostering Study. As part of the study, shelters receive extensive training on how to successfully implement and manage safety net fostering programs, along with support for shelter staff that are directly assisting pet-owning families that are experiencing hardship.

With the research team, South Suburban Humane Society will collect data about their Pets are Family program, which will allow for a better understanding of the needs of our pet-owning community and contribute to innovative, evidence-based practices in animal sheltering that are keeping people and their pets together, according to the release.

“Through this program we hope to continue to illustrate that a home is not defined by a roof and four walls,” says Emily Klehm, CEO of the South Suburban Humane Society. “Home is where your family is – both human and animal family members alike. We hope to continue to support the human-animal bond, remove barriers to pet ownership and companionship, and offer proactive solutions to pet owners that need our help the most.”

Anyone interested in fostering in this program can sign up by contacting foster@southsuburbanhumane.org.

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