The beginning of Corona season saw many people assessing habits, cleaning house, and determining what to do with extra time at home.
Within the week of March 16th-22nd, some shelters saw an increase in fostering/adopting applications of up to 240%. People home from traveling, home from work, and looking to better the life of an animal have stepped up in these past months to meet an ever-growing need for homes.
While these numbers may discourage some from fostering or adopting, there is no shortage of animals in need. Oftentimes local shelters like Denver Dumb Friends League will transport animals from lower-demand areas like New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana to meet the interest of those located locally. It can be hard to know where to start with extra precautions and high demand, but doing the research on the process is a great investment in taking the stress out of pet fostering/adopting.
Prior to determining the “how” of adopting a pet, some factors should be considered:
-Will I have time for the pet once work, travel, and activities pick up again?
How will the pet acclimate? What’s my plan for the pet while I travel/work?
-While I work from home, what accommodations do I have in place?
What will keep my puppy pal busy during my Zoom Training? How do I balance my job and obliging my new family member?
-Does the place I live have Breed Specific Legislation?
Pitbulls (and some other breeds) are specifically banned in cities like Denver, Aurora, Fort Lupton, Louisville, and Lone Tree. This can have a significant impact on the kind of dogs able to be fostered/adopted in these areas.
-Am I prepared financially for what will come up?
Whether it’s a rogue dress sock that accidentally became lunch or the regular expense of food and care, owning a pet comes with its share of expenses. For those not quite ready to commit financially, many foster programs will provide care items and cover medical expenses.
Determining what shelter to adopt/foster from can be as difficult as choosing what type of breed to own. What you may be comfortable with at this point in the year may not be the standard expected by a shelter being visited. For example, shelters like Dumb Friends League and Colorado Puppy Rescue are doing virtual adoption events and over-the-phone adoption consultations. Others like MaxFund are resuming in-person adoption by appointment only, with gloves and face masks required. Regardless of the method, these places are doing the best they can to find wonderful homes for pets while keeping humans safe.
A few ways to navigate:
-Put out those feelers!
Following shelters’ social media pages is a quick way to come across some cuties and get a brief summary of their characteristics. There is also a very large network of foster families in Colorado - it wouldn’t be surprising if someone you know is already fostering your potential addition to the family.
-Know before you go
Researching the precautions taken by a shelter before showing up on their front doorstep is essential to a smooth process. If expectations aren’t listed on their website or social media sites, a quick call can clear up any confusion.
-Fill out an application
Most shelters will only have you fill out an application when you have found a pet suitable and would like to proceed in the process. It’s important to have a few possibilities in mind, as a pet that piques your interest may already be “under contract” with a new family!
Sometimes in the process, we realize that now may not be the best time for a new family member. For as many shelters are located in Denver, there are even more volunteer positions within shelters and other non-profit organizations. It can be as little time as a few hours a month to make a difference in the lives of animals. These organizations can also benefit from both monetary and animal equipment donations.
Of all the time this change has brought, let us hope that this uptick in pet adoptions is an indicator of what is to come - a trend of consideration toward homeless pets and a responsibility to change things for the better. As much comfort and love as our pets have provided during this time of uncertainty, we can offer that much more to those who haven’t found their families yet.
Is there a shelter/organization/non-profit you LOVE that isn’t mentioned? Including them would be wonderful! Fostering a pet in need of a home?
As for me? I’ve spent this quarantine teaching my cat how to shake hands. Seems a little ironic.
Keep on reading to see some of the furry(and scale-y?) friends we’ve been spending our time at home with!
Mildred
Baby Mildred wearing her favorite “nautical horse blanket”.
Lars Frederiksen
Lars’ favorite treat are blood worms and when he’s not swimming around in circles he likes to take naps on top of the plants in his aquarium.
Oakley
Oakley loves going for walks, playing with her best friends Buzz and Vino, and chasing birds in the backyard.
-Rylie Perrault
Remus Sawyer Graybeard
Remus is a Texas born lad, he was shuffled around a few places before he finally landed in my lap at about ten months of age. He loves chewing bones (obviously), gallivanting about the mountains and rivers, and just generally being a real weird dude. He's my favorite.
Vino
Vino’s ideal day is going for a long walk in the morning, basking in the sun in the backyard, watching some Netflix on the couch and eating some steak scraps from dinner.
Baby Evie
I’ve always wanted a cat, and since I’m working from home so much now, I decided it would be an easy transition to make into having a pet. I got her for my birthday in April!
Ruby Red
She's 50lbs of piss and vinegar and is part fish, part dog. She's a better swimmer than I am. I randomly entered her in Dock Dogs competition last summer at Venture Out Fest in Winter Park. She got 3rd in amateur flight with a 14ft leap. She also will steal your undies and socks if you're not looking. 10/10 will lick your face.
Charlie Bell
This is Charlie Bell - my grand puppy. When he’s freshly groomed, we call him Sir Charles. When he’s being naughty he’s Charles. And when he’s just being my bud, I call him my Bubbas. He’s a pretty good dude.
