Organization helps pay for operations

Voice of the Animals, by Delisa Renideo

In my last article, I talked about resources available to help with the cost of spaying and neutering your animal companions, which is the single most important action each of us needs to take to reduce the numbers of dogs and cats killed at the borough animal shelter each year. Since writing that article, I discovered that STOP (Stop the Overpopulation of Pets) partners with all veterinarians, not just the SPCA, to help pet owners with the costs of spaying and neutering. Call STOP at 746-7729 to request an application for a coupon to receive 50 percent off these procedures.

If your animals are already spayed and neutered, how can you help our community solve the homeless pets problem? One way is by volunteering your time at the borough shelter to walk and play with dogs, pet and cuddle cats, or brush and groom dogs and cats to make them more irresistible to their potential adopters. The shelter is very understaffed and unable to give the animals this sort of attention, so they need volunteers for these essential jobs. Volunteers are also needed for many other tasks, so if you have computer skills, landscaping talents, or are good at finding doggy and kitty toys and supplies at thrift stores or garage sales, you can help our community and our animal friends.

Another huge way to help is by providing foster care for cats and dogs awaiting adoption. Foster homes are an essential element in our community's efforts to find permanent, loving homes for animals. Space at the borough shelter is limited, so many animals taken there are transferred to foster homes until they are adopted. It is when the shelter is full and there are no more foster homes available that perfectly healthy, adoptable dogs and cats end up being killed.

Fostering animals can bring great joy to you and your family. You may love puppies and kittens but know it is irresponsible to allow your own dog or cat to contribute to the overpopulation of pets. So you might consider taking in a litter of kittens or puppies with their mom, until they are all adopted. If you want your children to witness "the miracle of birth," you can foster a pregnant dog or cat.

Perhaps you love animals but are not in a position to make a long-term commitment. Adopting a dog or cat should only be done if you are prepared to care for that animal for its entire life, possibly 15 years! But you can enjoy the company of dogs or cats on a short-term basis by providing foster care. This could be perfect if you plan to move in the near future and don't feel you could take an animal with you. Maybe you are a college student home for the summer and have three months to enjoy caring for animals. Or maybe you are a snowbird, only spending part of the year in Alaska and don't feel you can take an animal with you to your winter destination. Each of these situations, and many more, could be great reasons to consider becoming a foster home for animals. You get to choose when to take an animal, how many animals to take, and when you want to take a break from caring for animals.

If fostering animals sounds like something you would enjoy, visit www.AdoptaFriend.net. Several rescue organizations are included on this site, with links to other organizations. You will find phone numbers to talk with someone about becoming a foster home in their organization. Most of these organizations provide the food and supplies needed. All you need to supply is the love!

Delisa Renideo is the found of Rays of Hope, a local animal rescue group. She can be reached at 373-1526. Past issues of this column can be found at www.RaysOFHope.info.