Every Monday morning, volunteers from Tails of the Tundra call every shelter their society works with. Their mission is to find Siberian Huskies or Husky mixes in danger of being put down, and to place them in foster homes.
Out of every hundred huskies the group helps, about 65 are strays or shelter dogs. (The rest are surrendered to the society.) One reason for this is the breed's history as sled dogs for nomads. Their instinct is simply to get out and run, and they're all too good at it. A husky owner who left the door open
Archives for Fostering
Siberian Husky Rescue
by Jane Wangersky February 24th, 2011 | Animal Rescue Groups, Dogs, Fostering, Pet Adoption
Pet Adoption for People Who Can’t Have Pets
by Jane Wangersky January 25th, 2011 | Animal Rescue Groups, Cats, Dogs, Fostering, Pet Adoption
Maybe you'd like to adopt or foster an animal, and can afford to, but there's something holding you back -- you live in a no-pets building, or just don't have the time to give a pet the attention it needs. Of course, you can still show your love for animals by donating to welfare groups, or possibly volunteering a few hours, but it's not like having a pet of your own.
There's a way to make your donations to animal welfare groups more personal -- virtual adoption. No, this doesn't mean getting a virtual pet, it means providing for a
There's a way to make your donations to animal welfare groups more personal -- virtual adoption. No, this doesn't mean getting a virtual pet, it means providing for a
Fostering Pets Can Help You Keep Your Resolutions
by Jane Wangersky December 30th, 2010 | Fostering
If you're thinking of offering to foster homeless pets, the New Year is a good time to do it -- fostering can actually help you keep your New Year's resolutions.
If your resolution is to:
If your resolution is to:
- Lose weight and/or get more fit, having a pet around will definitely help you get exercise. Dogs not only have to be walked every day, both they and cats enjoy running around and playing with their people.
- Cut down on stress, animals help with that just by being there for you. Many people who own dogs have lower blood pressure and heart rates under stress. The
Reluctant Rescuees
by Jane Wangersky November 4th, 2010 | Animal Rescue Groups, Cats, Fostering, Pet Adoption
Though animal rescue is a necessary job, the animals involved don't always see it that way. Anyone who's ever tried to leash a stray dog or get a cat out of a tree can tell you that. Sometimes the animals are actually right, as in the case of a cat in our town that got "rescued" by a group that thought he'd run away from a nearby apartment house fire. His owner soon set them straight.
As a foster family for the humane society, we were the first stop for several rescued cats. Like any cat in a new place,
As a foster family for the humane society, we were the first stop for several rescued cats. Like any cat in a new place,
Pets with Owners in Rehab
by Jane Wangersky October 6th, 2010 | Cats, Dogs, Fostering
September was National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Recovery is an ongoing struggle for many addicts, a distant goal for others, and, unfortunately, not even considered as a possibility for many.
What does this have to do with pets? First, pets can actually help in recovery from addiction. We've seen before that they bring health benefits, both physical and mental. Their affection, and sometimes just the everyday details of caring for them, help change their people's outlook. Some drug and alcohol treatment centers keep dogs and cats “on staff” for this very reason.
However, a pet can't be a positive
What does this have to do with pets? First, pets can actually help in recovery from addiction. We've seen before that they bring health benefits, both physical and mental. Their affection, and sometimes just the everyday details of caring for them, help change their people's outlook. Some drug and alcohol treatment centers keep dogs and cats “on staff” for this very reason.
However, a pet can't be a positive
