Pet Fostering Program Launched

ROUND ROCK, TX -- Here’s one sure way of achieving—quite literally—the warm and fuzzy feelings of holiday goodwill and cheer: Fostering a shelter animal to give it a reprieve from its pre-adoption confines.

Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter officials have launched “Home for the Holidays,” a short-term foster drive program designed to give animals a break from the stresses of shelter life as they wait to be adopted. The program kicked off in mid-November and will continue until Jan. 4.

Misty Valenta, the shelter’s community programs coordinator, said this is the third year for the program. Last year, roughly 50 families participated in fostering animals and about half ended up providing permanent homes.
“It’s a great way for people who have thought about adopting an animal have a limited commitment,” she said. “After living with an animal, they get a better sense of what works for their family.”

Valenta noted that in addition to dogs and cats, the shelter also has a number of rabbits and guinea pigs available for short-term adoption. There is no fee for foster families wishing to participate, and all they need to do is provide food. Foster families also can secure donated food from the shelter if needed.

One of the first animals to be adopted in the program was an older feline named Annie. Valenta said an update from the foster family confirmed the cat was doing well in its new surroundings.

“One of our first fosters was one of our senior cats,” she said. “Senior cats don’t do well in shelters but thrive in homes.”

To get in on this fur-midable opportunity, foster families can fill out an application and search for potential holiday fosters via the shelter’s website at pets.wilco.org.

The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is the only shelter solely devoted to lost and abandoned animals throughout a wide region encompassing Round Rock, Cedar Park, Hutto and Leander. Valenta said the shelter typically houses some 300 animals year-round.