4YOU: Partners for Pets in need of fosters

ST. JACOB, Ill. (First Alert 4) - For animal lovers looking to make a difference without a long-term commitment, pet fostering can be life-changing. Partners for Pets, a shelter in St. Jacob, Illinois, is urging the community to open their hearts and homes to animals in need.

Kate , a veterinary technician, emphasizes that ing the shelter doesn’t always involve money.

“You don’t need to just donate your money; you can donate your time,” said.

The time and space a foster home provides can be the key to keeping a dog or cat out of a shelter.

Erika Pratte, executive director of Partners for Pets, explains that fostering doesn’t require a lot of space.

“You don’t need to have your whole house open to this animal. You can have a bathroom. The smallest space is so important and so life-changing,” Pratte said.

Even a small area can offer a crucial temporary haven for a pet, providing it with the opportunity to thrive and adjust before finding its forever home.

Fostering also helps the shelter. By opening a spot in a foster home, more animals can be taken in and given the chance for a better life.

“You’re opening the space for a shelter pet here at our facility,” Pratte added, noting that fostering not only saves lives but also helps prepare the animals for adoption.

Danielle Federico-Matisec, a seasoned foster parent, has cared for dozens of dogs. She emphasizes the importance of fostering.

“The shelter is great in the sense that they’re getting them off the street, getting them vaccinated, and providing them with food, but it’s not the best place for them to be,” she said.

Federico-Matisec, who began fostering with her own dogs, has experienced the rewards of this type of care. She its that her first foster experience was a “failure” in the sense that she couldn’t let go of her foster dog, Joey, and ended up adopting him.

For those who may not be in a position to adopt, fostering provides a perfect opportunity to help. As Pratte suggests, if you’re unable to adopt, consider offering a temporary home to a furry friend. It could make all the difference for an animal in need, and it’s also a rewarding experience for the foster family.

Partners for Pets continues to encourage the community to get involved, whether by donating time, space, or resources, to help animals find their forever homes.

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