County Animal Shelter Seeks Kitten Foster Homes

It’s almost summertime but for those in the animal adoption community, May through September is also referred to as “kitten season” and foster volunteers are needed to help with the influx of arrivals to area animal services and adoption centers.

Last year between May and September, the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center (MCASAC) received over 400 kittens – many of them in need of specialized or 24-hour care. The spring season, also referred to as “kitten season,” is the time of year when cats give birth, flooding animal shelters and rescue groups across the nation with homeless litters, according to the MCASAC.

In anticipation of this year’s arrivals, MCASAC is recruiting potential foster homes. Foster volunteers house these young kittens and provide essential care until they are ready to be adopted while MCASAC provides all the supplies a foster family may need, including food, litter, bedding, toys, and medical care.

There are several benefits to fostering, according to MCASAC.

• It’s a short-term commitment. If you’re not yet ready to commit to
  full-time pet ownership, fostering can provide the opportunity to experience
  different kinds of pets on a temporary basis.
• It’s a learning opportunity. Fostering provides an opportunity for young
  people in the family to gain hands-on experience with the responsibilities
  involved in caring for animals.
• It’s gratifying. Getting a homeless pet ready for adoption by giving your
  love, time, and friendship is an incredibly rewarding feeling.
• It’s life-saving. Opening your heart and home is an essential part of
  saving a life. Fostering a pet is one of the most direct ways you can help an
  animal.

“Fosters are important to us because they give animals the time and care they need so that they can be adopted into
a loving home,” explains Lea Ann Gross, Foster Care and Rescue Coordinator. “Fosters provide the opportunity to
expand our shelter walls and provide lifesaving options for animals in need.”

An information session will be hosted on June 7 at 12:30 p.m. at the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center at 7315 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood. Attendees will learn more about the application process, what to expect when fostering, how to prepare, and more.

Additional information can befound on the center’s website: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/volunteer/Foster.html

About Krista Brick

Krista Brick is a multi-media journalist with Montgomery Community Media.

View all posts by Krista Brick