June is National Foster a Pet Month and while the type of fostering Harley’s Hope does is different than rescues or shelters, we appreciate our fosters just as much! I’d like to spotlight our most recent emergency foster pet, Coco, who is being fostered by HHF volunteer, Tonia.

We were contacted by staff at a local retirement community regarding a new resident, Patricia, and her companion animal, Coco. The facility does allow pets, but the residents must be able to care for the pets on their own. Since Patricia was new and needed time to adjust to her surroundings and to build up her strength, HHF was asked to provide foster care for Coco for at least a couple of weeks. 

Initially, we had to suggest boarding as we, sadly, are lacking emergency foster homes. But that same day we received an application from Tonia to be a foster parent! Tonia was contacted immediately and a foster home inspection was scheduled for the following day. Coco was able to be transferred to Tonia’s home a short while later, where she is being cared for and sharing space with two Yorkshire Terrier housemates.

As of this writing, Coco is still in foster care, but we are hoping to reunite her with Patricia very soon. This type of separation is difficult on both person and pet, but we hope that knowing Coco is safe will help Patricia focus on her own healing.

Emergency foster care services are critically important, but hard to find. We are grateful to have back-up boarding options through Catology and Lucky Dog Resort, but do prefer to keep animals in a home setting whenever possible. If you have room in your home and your heart to assist with cases like this one, please sign up at https://www.harleys-hopefoundation.org/volunteer/ and complete both the volunteer and foster home applications.