Fostering Archives - Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation

Furevermore auction chair sees success in “failure”

Posted on Oct 1Nov 4 by JenniferW JuliaL

Mindy Fitzgerald knows what it means to be a “foster fail.” She got her second dog, Theodore (“Theo”), a mastiff mix, after bringing him home from Seattle Animal Shelter as a foster puppy. And on top of that, she went from being a foster parent to fully adopting the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) as her volunteer home.

Mindy was first connected with the shelter when she adopted her family’s first dog, Charlie, a lab mix.

“When Covid came, I felt like I should do more … and I knew the shelter was looking for fosters,” Mindy said. “So I signed up to be a foster. Then I’d also get emails about how they were looking for volunteers for the first in-person auction after Covid. I thought, I do communications, that sounds fun!”

Mindy quickly went from being a volunteer on the auction committee to being recruited as a SASF board member and co-chair of the Furevermore Auction & Gala, a role she’s taken on this year. That position has her working heavily in the strategy, planning,and procurement space, making connections and ensuring the auction is a success.

Over the past two years, she’s gotten more involved with the inner workings of the shelter and found an even stronger attachment to the work.

“I wanted to be involved with what was going on at the shelter so I signed up to be a dog walker. I love being able to be a part of the shelter as well as the board. It gives you a very special connection and perspective into both worlds. It’s been a great experience. I love dog walking – especially in the pea patch. It’s a couple of hours to just focus on the dogs, who are always happy to see you. It gives me energy.”

Working with the foundation board and committees feeds her spirit a little differently than her direct work with shelter animals.

“With my position on the board, I know that I’m making a direct impact on the wellbeing of the animals in the shelter,” she said. “Our fundraising from (Furevermore) is currently funding a behaviorist position and the new foster coordination position, which has been so crucial to getting dogs out of the kennels, into loving and caring foster homes, and eventually to their forever homes.”

Proceeds raised from this year’s Fund a Need at Furevermore are going to something equally important: a new initiative called “The Best Chance” program, which will support outreach to underserved communities through the sharing of care, information and resources with the goal of creating more open, trusting relationships – and keeping animals safe with their families. According to the Access to Veterinary Care Coalition, access to preventative care and education are the leading determinants of pet health, wellness and safety—both in the home and in our communities.

“Furevermore has been able to fund vital programs that are life changing for the animals and honestly for the staff at the shelter. The funding we’re able to provide is essential to the shelter’s day to day operations. The Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation is a critical piece of enhancing programs and filling the gaps at the shelter that the city can’t fund.”

And like so many, the shelter and its animals are what keep Mindy going through the long days and emotional ups and downs.

“For me, the most important thing is knowing the foundation and shelter staff are working towards a common goal – the overall welfare of the animals. When things get challenging and it seems like your’e spinning your wheels … then you think about the animals. We are all trying to give them a voice.”

Learn more about the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation and buy tickets to this year’s Furevermore at https://seattleanimalshelterfoundation.org.

New coordinator “foster is the future”

Posted on Aug 25Sep 22 by JenniferW JuliaL

For Sagan Lain, starting a career in animal welfare felt like “turning on a light switch in my being.” “After graduating college I was wanting to work in a helping field, but not exactly sure what that would look like with an English lit degree,” they said. “I found a job posting for a high-volume spay-and-neuter clinic. I was an animal lover but hadn’t considered working with animals as a profession. I instantly fell in love, getting to support animals and people in need.”

After pursuing their passion for more than a decade, Sagan has found a home as the Foster Program Coordinator at Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS). 

“There’s something incredibly beautiful for me about getting to serve animals that are between homes and in that need, and getting to support community in that work. And I love volunteers! I truly feel so blessed to have worked with volunteers in all my roles in animal welfare in the last decade. It fills my heart, getting to support people who dedicate their time, their labor, their care, their skills to pets.”

The Foster Program Coordinator role is new to SAS, made possible by the funding of the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation’s fundraiser Furevermore. The goal of the position is to provide much-needed support to foster parents, and to have someone be the consistent communicator between them and the shelter, according to SAS Animal Care Manager Tracy Bahrakis. 

“We should do better by them, but in the current structure we just don’t have capacity for it,” Tracy said last year.  

Now, thanks to so much generosity, they do.

Sagan is currently focusing on building processes and updating resources around those communications needs, ensuring there is more consistency and collaboration. Beyond that, Sagan and other shelter leaders are currently reviewing a consultant’s recommendations for the program, noting “we are on the precipice of making some changes that are incredible.”

And Sagan knows something about transformational changes.  

“I was very happy and comfortable with the work I was doing (before moving here), but also was never going to have fewer responsibilities in my life and was ready to spread my wings and come to the most beautiful place I’d ever been to. I also knew that this region had a robust and well-founded animal welfare community, so I was excited to get my feet wet in a different region.”

They certainly have done that. Sagan is fully immersed in their role and is excited to be part of the progress that’s supporting this community and all its animals.

“The future of sheltering is so dependent upon foster programming. In the history of sheltering, we thought that keeping animals in shelter between homes was the most humane thing. But we really have found that the stress that an environment like this inherently entails is not conducive to helping pets heal and grow.

Foster is the future. It makes total sense that the Foundation would identify that, and want to support the animals of SAS by increasing their foster programming.”

If you’re interested in supporting the work and special projects of Seattle Animal Shelter, consider donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation and attending the next Furevermore Auction & Gala.

Putting the focus on fostering

Posted on Oct 21Nov 22 by Tom

Foster parents have cared for 562 animals in partnership with the Seattle Animal Shelter in 2022. That’s a lot of people, appointments, supplies and meetings. All managed and cared for by 20 volunteer leads who liaise with veterinary questions, care and support for foster families and potential adopters.

Thanks to the focused donations of this year’s Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation Furevermore, the shelter leads are going to get some help.

This year’s fundraising gala will be providing for a new position of Foster Coordinator for the Seattle Animal Shelter.

“We’re excited that the foster parents will have the support they so desperately need,” said SAS Animal Care Manager Tracy Bahrakis. “And to have someone who will be the consistent communicator. Anxiety and guilt doesn’t feel good, and our foster parents give so freely of themselves, their homes, their love – we should do better by them, but in current structure we just don’t have capacity for it.”

The new coordinator won’t take over for the leads, but rather will provide better communication between the foster program and the animal care manager, shelter behaviorist, veterinary team and field services team, which handles cases. The position basically will provide one point of communication between the foster program’s many stakeholders and shelter staff units.

The foster program at SAS is around 20 years old, and it’s a fairly recent development that adoptable animals have been able to move into foster homes. The shelter also can put animals taken during law enforcement cases into foster homes, which is “absolutely amazing for the animals,” Bahrakis said.

“As much as we work so hard to make the shelter environment a comfortable place for animals to live, we struggle with a few things, such as choice and control over what happens, providing social interaction, and reducing stress,” said Dr. Sheila Segurson, DVM, a behavioral consultant for the shelter. “Homes are generally a lot less stressful and more happy. Less scary noises, less weird smells, less stressed animals, more comfort, more play, and more love.”

During COVID shutdowns, the shelter needed to limit staffing so the vast majority of animals needed to move to foster. And the Seattle community stepped up.

“There were over 250 small animals, and our foster parents just showed up in force. There were so many parents who helped take care of this … to take pressure off the shelter,” Bahrakis said.

Bringing in the Foster Coordinator supports this move toward creating a more robust program.

“(We’re working to) shore up what we have and continue to build,” Bahrakis said. “While we do our very best, a shelter is no place for an animal to stay long term. (We want to create) a more sustainable foster program, the best we can do for animals in our community.”

And beyond that, the scope of the Foster Coordinator role could expand even into community engagement, giving new audiences a voice in animal welfare and inspiring new people to volunteer.

“There’s room for us to reach out to more underserved communities, to folks who may not know that we are their shelter, that we have these opportunities in-home and in shelter to volunteer.”

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To support the Seattle Animal Shelter’s new foster coordinator position and the many animals in need, the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation hosted the 2022 Furevermore Auction and Gala. Thanks to all of our supporters, donors, and volunteers for the outstanding evening.

Volunteer Spotlight: Jack Herndon

Posted on Feb 16Mar 25 by Leah Traxel

We caught up with celebrated Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) volunteer, Jack Herndon, and asked him about his time supporting the shelter.

Read below to learn about Jack’s volunteer journey.

How do you support the Seattle Animal Shelter?

Misty, Jack's "foster fail" — Misty, Jack’s foster fail cat

My first involvement with the shelter was in the cat foster program. My wife and I attended training, covered a few vacation needs, and took on a full-time foster for a 12-year-old cat named Misty. We knew her from one of our vacation covers. She was with us for a while, settling her digestive and temperament issues. When it came time to write her bio for the website, we realized she was the perfect cat for us. So, in the end, we adopted her. Unfortunately, she is not friendly to other cats, so that ended our involvement as a foster.

I still wanted to be involved with the shelter, so I signed up for the 9-Lives cat care program. I completed training and had just become an active member of the 9-Lives group when the shelter closed to most volunteers in response to the pandemic. I recognized there would still be a place for shelter helpers because they worked solo. I performed some of that work in my spare time during my 9-Lives shift, so I switched volunteer positions.

I am very happy working now as a shelter helper — doing laundry, cleaning animal care dishes and toys, and stocking bedding and handling supplies like dog walking vests, collars and leashes. And to answer a question you might have: No, it doesn’t dampen the way I feel about doing the same kind of cleaning work at home.

What made you want to volunteer for SAS?

I’ve grown up with dogs and had cats in my life for almost all of my adult life. When our last cat passed away, we still wanted them in our lives — but in consideration of our age and retirement plans, we didn’t want to go straight into getting another kitten or adolescent cat. We decided to get involved with the Seattle Animal Shelter because of the good reputation and the proximity to our home.

What is your favorite thing about volunteering?

I like interactions with the staff and other volunteers. The atmosphere is very positive and supporting, both for the people and the animals. I like the work I do as a shelter helper because, for the most part, I see what needs to be done and do it. Of course, if that falls outside of the normal job requirements I check with the staff and, as needed, the supervisor first.

Why do you believe volunteering is important?

I was brought up being involved in community, both in my neighborhood and my city. As a grownup, I continue doing what I can to help the community. I like to apply my experience and knowledge where I can be helpful. Using my cat experience, I became involved with the shelter. With the experience I have from caring for my parents, I work with the Greenwood Senior Center Village program to help seniors stay in their homes. Previously, I applied my love of cooking at a meal program, and computer skills at the front desk of a food bank.

How has volunteering impacted your life?

When I retired, for a while I wondered what I would be doing during my days. I wanted to something engaging and uplifting that also gave me a chance to interact with other people. Giving my time to community needs fills that for me. A bonus is the appreciation you get from those you help.

What advice would you give to people who want to help shelter pets?

Sometimes your first try at volunteering might not work out the way you hoped it would. That is what happened with me. If that is the case, and you really like being around animals, try a different volunteer service at the shelter and see if that is a better fit.

Do you have a volunteer story you’re particularly proud of?

I was working as shelter helper during the arrival of three different intake events from animal hording. The first event was a mix of small and large animals; the second was a very large number of cats; and the third was a couple dozen chihuahuas. In all the cases, I was amazed at how quickly the staff shifted priorities, coordinated to shuffle workloads and assignments, and generally supported each other to get through the deluge… All of that while keeping a focus on giving the animals the best quality of care. I was more than willing to put in extra shelter helper time in support of these hard-working folks.

What message do you have for supporters of SAS and the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF)?

The shelter has been in operation for quite some time. As a result, things wear out and need replacement. Some of those things are machines or equipment that can’t easily be replaced when they break because they are not in the year’s budget. That is one of the key functions of SASF. In my case, I recognized several deficiencies and replacements. I am coordinating with the SASF and shelter staff to fund replacing old equipment so they won’t be caught with failures that effect their ability to do their work. I am also working to add some items that make it easier to accomplish some aspects of shelter work.

What else would you like to share?

My work at SAS has been one of the most positive volunteer experiences I have ever had. I’ve worked in the shelter helper position for some time. I am currently out of the shelter recovering from an elective surgery. As soon as I am sufficiently mobile, I’ll be back folding towels and washing dishes. I really miss my time there.

—–

Thank you for all of your support, Jack!

If you’re interested in supporting shelter pets, check out Seattle Animal Shelter volunteer positions or Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation volunteer roles.

From Seattle to Arizona: Big Mama & Squirt’s big journey

Posted on Jun 24 by Carol Eicher

In January 2020, Rose Tobin, a Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) critter volunteer, adopted two red-eared slider turtles before COVID-19 hit. They had come to SAS about a month or so before, and Rose got to know them during her weekly shifts. Knowing how hard it is to adopt out aquatic turtles, Rose decided to take them in.

Unfortunately, turtles that come into shelters in general are often sick and have shell rot because they haven’t been kept in appropriate conditions. Those who buy turtles from pet stores don’t know how large they eventually end up getting and how much maintenance it takes to keep them healthy. Care for turtles can often become costly, too. Aquatic turtles need powerful filters in their tanks and very regular water changes. They also need a basking area where they can bask completely out of the water. Their care requires heat lamps, water heaters, and UV lights.

Squirt basking

Understanding all of this, Rose knew that when she was adopting them, she was buying time in the hopes that she could find them a good forever home at a place that could provide them with the proper care and environment, as well as they type of life they deserve.

Red-eared sliders are native to the southern U.S. and cannot simply be released in the appropriate regions or place. After speaking with a turtle conservationist, Rose understood that Squirt and Big Mama could potentially spread disease to other wild turtles and would likely not survive because they had been raised in captivity. Rose began looking for potential sanctuaries where they could live in a protected environment, but also have the freedom of living in a pond. Anna Pedroso, a volunteer lead for the critter foster volunteer team, was key in helping Rose find a forever home for Squirt and Big Mama. Anna did some research and found the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary. The organization is a no-kill sanctuary that rescues hundreds of reptile species, 90% of which are abandoned, abused, and neglected animals from the pet trade.

After Rose gave the Phoenix Sanctuary a call in January 2021 to confirm they would be able to accept Squirt and Big Mama, Anna put out a plea in SAS’s weekly critter volunteer newsletter to see if anyone travelling to Arizona could give the two turtles a lift. Luckily, they were able to find a friend of a fellow critter volunteer, Karen, who could bring Squirt and Big Mama on their road trip to Arizona. During the day, Karen kept the turtles in small animal carriers and at night had them roaming around in their own water-filled tubs. “Squirt was by far the most social and wanted to see out the window so he got the middle seat with the best view,” shares Karen.

Carriers

After two and a half days on the road (1,500 miles), Karen and the turtles arrived at the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary on April 22, 2021. When the turtles were released, they swam off immediately. “There are hundreds of red eared sliders in this pool. Costco donates their unsold lobster tail, shrimp and produce to the sanctuary. These turtles eat better than a lot of people! Most turtles live out their lives here. All in all, it gave my husband and I great joy to liberate these three turtles on Earth Day to a great new life.”

“I am just so happy about this outcome,” says Rose. “It took a lot of time and work to keep the turtles in adequate conditions (weekly water changes, etc.); I’m so glad it all paid off and that these turtles got a new lease on life. All animals deserve the opportunity to live an authentic life.”

“Although I cared for the turtles, this was a joint effort. Between Anna’s support, research and help, and Karen’s generous offer to transport them, it was a team effort and I couldn’t have done it without them. I am grateful.”

Although Squirt and Big Mama found their forever home elsewhere, Rose enjoyed her time (16 months) with them when they were in her care. Squirt (the male), who was the smaller of the pair, was always very active and quite curious. He would always swim over to the side of his tank when someone walked into the room and swim back and forth looking for food or attention. Big Mama, on the other hand, was shy and hid a lot in her hideaway area. Although they had different personalities, they both enjoyed basking and very much looked forward to meal times, with very good appetites. Rose gave them separate tanks and also had an eight-foot kiddie pool, where she would let them get some exercise on a daily basis.

Thanks to the hard work, dedication, and passion for animal well-being of Rose, Karen, and Anna, Squirt and Big Mama are living happy, authentic turtle lives at the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary.

To support Seattle Animal Shelter’s volunteers like Rose and Karen, consider donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation today.

Celebrating Volunteers Trish & Stephen: 17 Years Strong

Posted on Jun 5Feb 10 by Carol Eicher

Trish and Stephen are longtime volunteers of Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS). Their story with SAS began in 2004 when they adopted their dog, Titus, from the shelter. About a month later, they became official volunteers. As they were working to get Titus (a husky-lab mix) acclimated to their Lower Queen Anne condo, a dog named Timber went into the foster care of Trish and Stephen after a short stay at the shelter. Staff noticed that Timber was resource guarding his food and exhibiting very stressed behavior; they thought it would be best that he went to a foster home, instead of staying at the shelter, until he found his forever home. While Trish and Stephen were a little wary at first because they weren’t sure how Titus would react, they agreed. Thankfully, Titus calmed down immediately once Timber was in the home; Timber also enjoyed having a play buddy in Titus. Over the first couple of weeks, they fed Timber by hand every day, gradually moving to the bowl until Timber’s resource guarding disappeared. Seeing the strong connection Titus and Timber had with each other (Trish and Stephen lovingly called the two buddies “TNT”), they decided to adopt Timber, as well — making Timber’s journey to his forever home a short and sweet one.

About a year or two after Timber was officially theirs, Trish and Stephen brought in another foster, Noodle. The shelter’s kennels were going though renovation, and foster dog volunteers were asked to take care of some of the dogs while the kennels were getting fixed. Enter: Noodle, a 3 to –6-month-old greyhound mix. While Trish and Stephen were a little worried about bringing in a third male into their one-bedroom condo, Noodle joined the group. Thankfully, the experience went very well. Noodle settled in and was the quietest and best behaved out of all three. During their foster care, Trish and Stephen brought Noodle over to Stephen’s sister’s house. She fell in love with Noodle and adopted him a month later.

Trish and Stephen continued to walk dogs every week at the shelter and took in about ten additional foster dogs. During this time, they moved from their Lower Queen Anne condo to a house, which made fostering more manageable and easier. Diamond, another foster dog of Trish and Stephen, also found her forever home with them. Unfortunately, Titus was having health issues; they became worried about Timber, too, since the duo had become so close. After some time fostering Diamond, they could see the connection she had with TNT and decided to make her a permanent member of the household, as well.

Diamond and puppy Leo. TOP left to right: Timber, Diamond, Titus

After a few years, Titus and Timber passed away. While Diamond was enjoying all the love, dog food, and attention from Trish and Stephen, they thought it would be good for her to have a buddy. They decided to foster a puppy. After about three days, Diamond decided Leo (the foster puppy) was an acceptable addition to the household. Four-and-a-half years later, Leo weighs 75 pounds and is still a puppy at heart.

Today, Trish and Stephen continue to walk dogs at SAS, though their frequency has gone down a bit due to the pandemic. While they have stopped fostering dogs, Trish and Stephen decided to foster four guinea pigs from SAS, after the organization seized more than 200 animals in a suspected animal cruelty case. They’ve had fun with all their foster animals throughout the years and appreciated the many people they have met along the way. They’ve enjoyed the learning opportunities they’ve had and, of course, appreciated all of the animals they’ve encountered along the way. They are also grateful for the community support the shelter receives, which help make their volunteering possible.

2012 Furry 5k

Events like Furry 5K support the valuable work volunteers like Trish and Stephen do. “The Furry 5K has been a wonderful opportunity to bring dogs and their owners together in one place to benefit all of the furry beings passing through SAS. So many people consider their pets regular members of their families, and Furry 5K celebrates that. It’s also a reminder that there are pets-to-be at the shelter, awaiting their forever homes,” says Trish. “To our donors, please know that what you have given has not only saved lives but has allowed dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, reptiles, and others to flourish in foster care and new homes.”

Support and celebrate the work done by wonderful SAS volunteers like Trish and Stephen by registering for Furry 5K or donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.

Foster Fail for a Dog Named Badger

Posted on Apr 11 by Carol Eicher

The Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) foster team is a group of dedicated individuals who provide extra care and support to animals when the shelter is full or when an animal needs a little extra one-on-one time. While it’s often hard to say goodbye, SAS foster parents are happy to send the animals on to a loving, forever home; then, sometimes, the connection that is formed is so strong that foster parents end up being the forever home for the animal in their care, often known as a “foster fail.”

Below, SAS volunteer foster parent, Allison, shares her own foster fail story.

We have been fostering for SAS for a few years now. It was our way of having a dog without having a dog. We have had a number of pups that we have loved and sent on their way to their forever homes.

Our last fosters were Honey and Badger. They were sisters from the same litter, and they looked adorable in the picture on the foster request email. We’d never had two dogs at the same time, but they looked cute and manageable.

Pretty girl

I made an appointment to go meet the dogs and pick them up. Upon arrival, I was told that Honey was off at a medical appointment, but that I could take Badger and come back later for Honey. And then I overheard, “Oh, did anyone mention Badger is afraid of everything and everyone?”

The staff at SAS brought Badger out, and she would not come anywhere near me. I waited patiently because I didn’t want her to have to go back to the kennel. Then, unexpectedly, Honey came back from her appointment early. When they brought Honey out, she came right up to me and jumped right in the car. Once Honey was there, Badger came over and let me hold her leash, staying at the far end — but she wanted to be with Honey, so she got in the car, too.

Once we got back to the house, Honey was all over the place getting love from my (human) girls. It took Badger a little bit of time to warm up. She still stuck to Honey’s side, but she was doing OK with the girls. She was very afraid of my husband at first and would do some amazing acrobatics in our small house just to get away from him.

Watching the neighborhood

Honey and Badger came back with us in May 2020, so we had all summer with them. We have a fenced yard; because of the pandemic, the whole family was home working and learning, so we would often take the opportunity to sit with the dogs in the yard. They were very entertaining when playing and very into chasing squirrels on walks. Their squirrel fascination required two people on walks, so that each person could manage one dog rather than both of them overpowering one single person if they caught sight of a squirrel.

Sadly, Honey died in September, and we were pretty worried about how Badger would react. She was a little confused for a few days — but with the loving family around her, she did OK. We were still debating if we would keep her because we like to travel, and a dog didn’t really fit into our lifestyle. But we were very worried about sending her off to someone else without Honey around, so we made the decision to keep her.

Honey and Badger relaxing

Badger has warmed up to all the girls; when my husband is not around, she is totally relaxed and an absolute goofball. Over time, she has learned not to be terrified of my husband. Occasionally, she will take treats from him, but she is still very wary around him.

Badger becomes a permanent part of the family

We are not the greatest at training her, though she has picked up a few things that are super cute. She will give a “high 5,” which I just LOVE — my girls laugh at me because I love it so much. When she wants to get on the couch or the bed, she will “ask permission” by gently putting her head on the couch or bed — and she won’t come up unless she is told she can.

The city environment is not the greatest place for her, as she is still very anxious about noises, people, cars and bicycles. We like to joke that she won’t go for a walk unless she has her entourage with her. She needs at least three of us to get her out, but we don’t mind.

— Allison

If you’re interested in supporting Seattle Animal Shelter pets and programs, consider donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.

Foster Parent Spotlight – Karen S. & Bill H.

Posted on Dec 20Dec 22 by Carol Eicher

At Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS), there is a dedicated group of volunteers that foster and take care of animals that come through the shelter. Sometimes, these animals need a different environment than the one provided at SAS. Other times, an animal may need extra one-on-one training that can be provided by a foster parent in their own home.

Foster parents Karen S. and Bill H. are two of the shelter’s valued Critter Foster Parents that help the shelter’s smaller animals (think birds and rabbits) on their journey to a forever home. We had the chance to chat with Bill about his (and Karen’s) fostering experience.

Fosters Bill and Karen. Featured image above: foster rabbit Flori

How long have you been fostering?
About 20 years ago, Karen fostered SAS kittens for a couple of years. About 10 years ago, we talked with a shelter representative at the Seattle Dog Show and learned about critter fostering. We’ve been fostering critters ever since.

What made you want to foster?
We were interested in helping out the shelter; well, to be honest, we were interested in helping out the animals. We were especially interested in helping support the shelter’s work. We had a nervous cat, so fostering dogs and cats wasn’t going to work. We decided to try critters.

What is the best thing about fostering?
We love getting to meet and know the animals we foster. Each one has a unique personality and we like to get to know them. We are always amazed at the ability for interspecies understanding when two living beings want to connect.

Left: Lily. Right: Paloma. Both previous fosters.

Why do you believe fostering is important?
Through fostering, we have helped animals rebuild trust in humans; learn how to live with humans in a home; understand how to interact with a human; and recover their health in a less stressful environment. Of course, it also reduces the load on the shelter staff and frees space for new animals. We especially like to foster chinchillas – to give them a chance to get their sleep during the day so they can party all night.

How has fostering made a lasting impact on your life?
We found out we love rabbits. We had no idea how engaging they are and what personalities they have. We’ve had fosters that were immediately affectionate and some that need some more time to warm up to us. We had one foster, Hershey, that was the perfect house rabbit. He came when called, sat in our laps, and never nibbled on wires or furniture. Teddy, another foster, was very smart and eager for interaction. Unlike Hershey, he did have a penchant for chewing on electric cords. Our current foster, Harvey, craves human contact and snuggling next to us for ear massages and petting. It’s fun getting to interact with all these types of personalities.

Left: Jack. Right: Baxter (now Lucky).

Left: Trinket. Right: Teddy. All previous fosters.

Fostering has had a huge impact on us during the time of COVID. We needed the animals as much as they needed us. Nurturing an animal in need helps us feel needed, important, and connected. We think this is true as we age. Karen has retired and felt some of the effects of not feeling valuable to society any more. Fostering is a great way to stay connected to important work.

We had an amazing experience with two mice. One of them, Kate, was ill, and we had to medicate her a couple of times a day. Her friend would attack us as we tried to reach in for little Kate to give her meds. As soon as we put Kate back in the cage, her friend would check her all over and curl up next to her. It was a beautiful friendship; witnessing special connections like this has taught us that animals care for each other as much as we humans care for each other.

What advice would you give to first-time fosters?

Holly – a foster from 2015.

Choose an easy animal – not necessarily one that you are drawn to, but one that is easy to care for. Learn the foster system and how it works, how communication happens, etc. We would also say don’t be afraid to learn how to do something new – medicate a mouse, rinse an abscess, weigh a baby rabbit, etc. You will be amazed at the new skills you will develop and the confidence that comes with it. We would also say don’t be afraid to take on an animal that requires more from you – more time, more patience, more care. It’s a growing experience.

We have remained committed to fostering rather than adopting the ones we love because we feel it’s important to have strong foster homes for animals in need. Once we adopt, we won’t have capacity to care for fosters as much. We cry when they leave, and we are happy we have done our job and sent them off to their forever home.

Do you have a foster story you’re particularly proud of or excited about?
We fostered Flori, a Florida white rabbit, who had a lot of personality. She lost what trust she ever had in people and would lunge at caregivers at the shelter. She had become the “demon” rabbit. We took her in — and through hours of sitting with her and reading body language, we learned her hot buttons and her likes. Dried strawberries were her weakness and we made use of those for training her to come closer, to touch us, and to allow touch. Being very smart, she was easily bored. We discovered dog puzzles (now known in our house as rabbit puzzles) and stuck dried strawberries into the little slots. After a week or two, Flori was working that puzzle in less than 30 seconds.

We despaired of Flori ever finding a home, given her peculiarities, but love did come her way; she is now happily in the home of the SAS exotic animals foster coordinator and is a beloved companion to one of her cats.

Anything else you’d like to share about your experiencing fostering with SAS?
Thank you for this opportunity to share our story. We haven’t mentioned how much we appreciate the staff at SAS. In a good year, they have so much to deal with and always face tough decisions with animals. We know they see many things that can’t be unseen, yet continue to work for the betterment of the animals. We know that this year has been extremely difficult. It’s difficult, as volunteers, to know that because of COVID we can’t be there to help. We are hoping that by taking in several of the animals, we can be of some help.

What would you say to supporters/donors of Seattle Animal Shelter and the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation?
The supporters, donors and members of SASF play a valuable role in providing resources — economic, political, and legal — in our service to animals and their humans in Seattle. The long-term, ongoing commitment of SASF, other supporters and donors has been valuable in building the hard-working, committed shelter we currently have. The constancy of this support has continued to make the shelter stable and growing in its influence.

If you’re interested in supporting Seattle Animal Shelter and its programs, consider donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.

Foster Parent Spotlight – Meet Kari P.

Posted on Dec 20 by Carol Eicher

Critter Foster Parent Kari P. Featured image above: Rosie and Phyllis

Foster parent Kari P. is one the valued Critter Foster Parents that helps the shelter’s smaller animals (think hamsters or guinea pigs) on their journey to a forever home. We had the chance to chat with Kari recently about her SAS fostering experience.

How long have you been fostering?
I only started fostering formally in 2019. I moved from Kitsap County in fall 2016 and started volunteering with SAS in 2018.

What drew you to fostering or made you want to foster?
I adore critters; when my boys were growing up, we had almost every pet possible. It seemed like a logical volunteering step for me once our boys left the nest.

Peanut – a previous foster (and favorite) who loved to snuggle in pockets

What is your favorite thing about fostering?
I love knowing that I am preparing, socializing, and keeping a critter healthy for someone to love.

Why do you believe fostering is important?
I think it’s helpful for critters to live in a home, with people, with both the quiet and activity that comes in a family environment. I think we also get crucial information about the animals themselves when we live with them and observe them in a home environment.

How has fostering changed or made a lasting impact on your life?
Being an “empty nester” (our youngest children are at university), it’s brought some fun, some excitement, and some unexpected joy to our home. It also sometimes brings the “kids” back to the house so they can meet the critters… 🙂

What advice would you give to first-time fosters?
Try something new! Fostering is a great way to learn about new species of animals. Lean on the knowledge of the experienced fosters — don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Any fostering story you’re particularly proud of or excited about?
I’ve fostered different critters, but guinea pigs tend to be my favorites; this summer, I was able to host Beatrice and Daphne — who were part of a large mixed group. Daphne gave birth to four pups in my care and it was so much fun. All four babes, including the runt, thrived. The whole lot (6 piggies total) are now either adopted or getting ready to be available for adoption.

L: Acorn and Walnut R: Daphne and Beatrice. All previous fosters

To read more about what it was like for Kari to care for expecting guinea pig mothers, click here.

How has fostering changed for you in the time of COVID?
It has kept me busy. So thankful!

Anything else you’d like to share about your experiencing fostering with SAS?
I have hosted guinea pigs, hamsters, and a leopard gecko — and so far, I’ve not had a “foster fail.”

If you’re interested in supporting Seattle Animal Shelter and its programs, consider donating to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.

Tux’s Second Chance

Posted on Aug 13Aug 13 by Carol Eicher

When Tux was surrendered to the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) in February, it was not his first time. A four-and-a-half-year-old American Pitbull Terrier, Tux first met shelter staff in 2016 when he was picked up as a stray. His owner came to redeem him the next day, but he was picked up as a stray again a month later. Over the next four years, Tux was surrendered twice more by another owner due to severe “stranger danger” behaviors.

Unfortunately, with Tux’s history, the shelter determined he couldn’t be put up for adoption without specialized training. In the past, when a dog couldn’t be put up for adoption right away, it was at risk for being put down. But today, dogs like Tux are getting a second chance.

Tux was enrolled in the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) donor-funded Behavioral Training Program. Built on a foundation of positive reinforcement, love and patience, the program applies a unique range of behavior modification techniques that help dogs overcome their fears and start to trust humans again.
“Usually, when working with animals that have issues with strangers, the root of the issue is fear and/or anxiety,” explained SAS Behaviorist Kimberlee Spicer.

During his first assessment, Spicer observed that while Tux was fearful and anxious, he exhibited no obvious signs of territorial aggression. However, territorial aggression doesn’t usually manifest in a shelter environment, often due to stress or a lack of ownership over a shared space. So, Spicer knew Tux would also need to be assessed in a home environment right from the start.

Spicer recommended that SAS’s Vet Services team examine Tux to start him on anti-anxiety medication that would help him relax and aid in his training sessions. The behavior team then began working with Tux on crate and muzzle training. Crate training is essential to give every dog a sense of safety and security, but in Tux’s case, this was also a safety measure, both to ensure a home assessment could be conducted safely and to set up his future adopters for success. Muzzle training is also especially important because it allows the behavior team to safely observe a dog’s response to potentially problematic situations.

Tux quickly became a behavior team favorite.

“Ah, Tux!” said Penny Bolton, a member of SAS’s volunteer behavioral team. “His first time in the conference room, he was so cautious. Outside and in his kennel, he seemed pretty rambunctious, but when I opened the door to the room, he crawled across the threshold very slowly. He saw all the stuff and walked around looking at it with his tail tucked. I got down on the floor with him and showed him how to take apart a box with food in it because he was afraid to get into things. After we broke the ice, he very happily spent 20 minutes snuffling and eating and getting pets. He totally relaxed into the ‘real’ Tux.”

In no time at all, Tux became friendly, affectionate and cuddly. He was also highly food-motivated, which made training easy and fun for him. Tux also received daily enrichment, which is an essential element of the program and looks different for every animal.

The science of behavior training and enrichment

“We look at the 5 senses: sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch and what that specific animal is most enriched by,” explained Spicer. “For example, some dogs might find the sound of classical music most relaxing, whereas another dog may find the taste and smell of a frozen Kong more enriching. There are also some days that the dogs do not feel up to doing training, and that is okay. Training is a choice, and they have the right to opt-out. On those days, we may heavily rely on enrichment instead of structured training, such as agility, Nosework or dog-to-dog play.”

When dogs are bored, they can develop abnormal behaviors, including excessive licking or chewing of their feet or tails (which can sometimes even result in self-injury), barking, digging or escaping from their enclosures, circling or pacing, and eating feces, according to research from the University of Bristol Anthrozoology Institute’s Department of Clinical Veterinary Science.

But giving a dog a “job” to do, a food puzzle, for example, helps keep them stimulated by requiring them to work to access their treats. Tux especially loved using his nose and had fun with snuffle mats and Noseworks (an activity that stimulates a dog’s ability to detect scent).

“At the end of the training session, we would usually leave him with a bully stick or Kong, as having that option of enrichment when left alone is crucial to the mental health of our animals,” said Spicer.

Behavioral modification training is about building trust. It is a highly repetitive and ongoing process that takes time, sometimes months. But Tux was a fast learner. Over four-and-a-half weeks, he began to excel, at which point, Spicer and the SAS Dog Foster Program began searching for a foster home for Tux.

The foster care assessment

Trying a dog in foster is an essential element of the program because it helps behaviorists assess progress and see how the dog does in a true home environment. SAS works to pair dogs with foster parents who are patient, eager to learn and willing and able to continue training with the help of the behavior team.

Katherine Humphrey has been volunteering as a dog adoption assistant for SAS for nearly 6 years. Tux was her first foster dog, and she was concerned at first that she might not have the necessary experience to care for a dog with potential behavioral issues. But SAS made sure she had everything she needed.

Humphrey continued to work with Tux on his crate and muzzle training, which she said he took like a champ. But he was still very anxious when new people neared Humphrey’s home.

Not long after she began fostering Tux, Gov. Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order went into effect.

“Having him during the beginning of the quarantine was really important for me,” said Humphrey. “It was an uncertain time, and having him there was so comforting. It also got me outside walking and seeing the world even when there was very little person-to-person contact.”

Thanks to Humphrey, Spicer was able to conduct extensive virtual assessments on Tux during foster, and soon decided Tux was ready to be put up for adoption. In the end, he was only available for one week before they found a perfect match.

The forever home

Riley and Daylen G. knew from the start they had the patience to adopt a dog that might need extra love and attention. Determined to rescue an animal rather than buy one from a breeder, they began calling local shelters looking for pitbull rescues, dogs they knew were much less likely to find a home because of the negative stereotype so often associated with them. When they saw Tux’s pictures online and read his story, something clicked.

“When we finally were able to meet him, we knew that he was an anxious boy, so we let him come to us, and he came right up and gave us kisses on the face and was ready to go for his walk,” said Riley. “He just wanted to play and do whatever he needed to in order to get a treat…He was a great little boy who seemed ready to curl up on our couch and get loved on! We knew he was perfect for us.”

Riley and Daylen adopted Tux in June, and he became an official graduate of the SAS Behavior Training Program.

“When we brought him home, he fell asleep standing up in the car,” said Riley. “He then ‘asked permission’ with his eyes before getting on the couch. It was so sweet. It was like he didn’t know if he was allowed to do certain things. Once we got him on the beds and couches and showed him the yard, he was right at home.”

Not long after bringing Tux home, they realized something incredible. When Tux was home alone, he was quiet and calm when strangers neared the house. Only when Riley and Daylen were home did he grow uncomfortable when strangers neared the house.

“I think he feels the need to protect us,” said Riley. “He is not territorial of himself or the house—it is his people.”

Thanks to Spicer, Riley and Dalen have a system to address this behavior. Tux is happy to greet houseguests on the porch instead so he can make sure they’re safe to be around his people.

“All it takes is a sniff and lick, and then he turns right back around to escort them inside,” said Riley.
Not only can he meet new people and dogs, but he can also now safely interact with children and even likes having his nails done.

Since it was launched in 2016, the SASF donor-funded Behavioral Training Program has saved more than 1,330 dogs with behavioral problems. Consider donating today to give dogs like Tux a second chance at happiness.