In an effort to care for more animals this year, the SPCA Serving Erie County will offer an hour-long virtual Foster Care Program informational session designed to educate community members about what’s involved in temporarily caring for animals in their homes prior to adoption. The virtual session is slated for Thursday, Feb. 3, from 7 to 8 p.m.
The SPCA incurs all costs involved in fostering animals, from veterinary expenses to nutritional and supply needs. Foster parents, their family members or friends interested in adopting the animals being fostered are also able to adopt before animals are available to the general public.
“There is no other way of looking at our Foster Care Program … it’s no exaggeration to say that this program saves animals’ lives, plain and simple,” says SPCA Vice President of Veterinary Services Melanie Rushforth. “Especially in the spring and summer months, but even at this time of year, more people want to surrender animals than we have room to admit. Many animals come to us injured, in need of healing, pregnant, or petrified to be in a shelter environment. Receiving care in a home environment is all that’s necessary to help these animals, but we need a team of dedicated individuals willing to make that commitment.”
Rushforth says there are sometimes questions or myths about animal foster programs that prevent people from volunteering to help these animals. “This information session is designed to simply educate and help dispel those myths and remove some of the false ideas people may have about such programs,” Rushforth adds. “While the end goal is to inspire participation as a foster parent, there’s no commitment involved in attending the virtual information session. We’re just encouraging folks to join us and learn more about what’s involved in helping these animals.”
To learn more about the SPCA’s Foster Care Program or to register, email Rushforth at
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. For additional information, please visit YourSPCA.org/FosterCare.
