DURHAM — The Humane Society of Durham Region is looking for more foster homes. It will be implementing updates to its current foster care program — and it needs the community’s help.
“I’m really trying to get out into the community and really connect with people and tell them about our foster program,” says shelter services supervisor, Katelyn Cox.
The update includes Cox overseeing the program and connecting with the community to secure more fosters for the humane society’s animals.
"It's hard when you're a nonprofit because you have to wear many hats," she says. "Now, with more staff, I really have more time to focus in on the foster program."
In the past, anyone interested in fostering would have to connect with the humane society on their own.
“Before, when people asked us we would let them know there is an application,” says Cox. “Now, we’re going out there and actively seeking them out.”
The humane society relies on fostering to create space for more wayward pets. Fostering also helps animals adjust and prepares them to be placed in a permanent home.
If the humane society can’t find a foster for an animal, they will remain at the shelter “no matter what,” according to Cox. Alternatively, the humane society will reach out to other shelters for potential foster opportunities. She also says staff will volunteer as fosters.
“We use the foster parents as an extension of the shelter,” says Cox. “We only have so much space in our shelter, foster homes help to make space.”
The humane society provides fosters with everything their pets need from medical care, food, toys, litter boxes and more. Training is also available on how to handle a variety of animals from cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters, to name a few.
“Even if you don’t know anything about animals we’re here to support you,” says Cox. “You just need to have your heart and home open.”
Cox hopes to get out into the community and have more potential fosters come in for an interview — a process she assures “isn’t difficult."
“It’s more of a conversation to make sure a foster parent finds the right fit,” she says.
Cox says she began fostering pets when she started working at the shelter. One in particular, a kitten she named Zorto, captured her heart and became a permanent extension of Cox’s family. He even became the ambassador for the foster program and attends events with Cox regularly.
“I fostered him, his brother and his sister,” says Cox. "They were a little bit feral, so my husband and I sat with them, played with them, and got them to their playful kitten selves.”
Cox says the shelter needs fosters more than ever as “kitten season” is approaching in the spring and summer months. Last year, the shelter took in over 1,000 new animals with 350 of them being kittens.
“It’s totally worth it because you can save a life that way,” she says.
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