Laura Stebbins
Many animal shelters across the Bay State are overflowing with animals needing a home, but many people can't adopt so now they have another option... animal foster care. 7's Dylan Dreyer has more in "Protecting your Pet."
Every day dozens of dogs and cats end up in animal shelters, but space can be tight so when shelters run out of room they turn to foster care.
Laurie McCannon, Northeast Animal Shelter
"Just about every animal shelter or rescue group around needs foster care."
Pet foster care is for people who love animals but can't commit to a permanent pet.
Laurie McCannon, Northeast Animal Shelter
"They work full-time or they travel a few months out of the year, and this is a good temporary way to have a pet."
Foster parents can take in dogs, cats, kittens or puppies from shelters, for as little as two weeks to as long as four months.
Laurie McCannon, Northeast Animal Shelter
"There are certain animals that come in sometimes that are not quite ready for adoption, they need socializing, or medical work, vaccines, spay and neuter, those kinds of things."
Tarin Sullivan has been a foster pet parent for seven months.
Tarin Sullivan, fosters pets
"I have seven week old kittens, five of them, who are a week away from coming up for adoption, and I have a mother who just had four newborns yesterday."
Laurie McCannon, Northeast Animal Shelter
"These are animals that we otherwise wouldn't be able to take if we didn't have foster care for them."
Tarin says it can be hard to give up her foster pets, but that it's worth it when they're adopted.
Tarin Sullivan, fosters pets
"The families are so thrilled with them, and they send me pictures as they grow up, and it's just amazing, it's so fulfilling."
If you're interested in fostering a pet contact your local animal shelter. For information on the animals seen in this segment contact the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, Mass.
(Copyright 2008 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
