RALEIGH COUNTY, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – The Humane Society of Raleigh County is currently at capacity and has not been able to accept new animals for quite some time. While this puts a lot of pressure on the shelter, it also means that abandoned and rescued animals are left with limited options.
Mel Davis, an employee with the humane society, says they are always encouraging adoption to get animals into their forever homes but realize that not everyone can commit to full adoption. Luckily, acting as a foster home is also a viable and helpful option.
Fostering for a few days, weeks or even months, helps the shelter locate the animal’s forever family, while also giving them the room to accept more animals.
According to Davis, the shelter works with the fosters to determine which animals would best suit them and their lifestyle. The shelter also provides food and any needed vetting.
“We are desperate for fosters,” she shared. “When we get to max capacity like this, it means we cannot take anything else from outside. There are extra strays running around, getting hit by cars or attacked by other animals. The ones that need to be here and need care, we cannot provide for because we don’t have room. The shelter isn’t a place for anything to stay long-term. Fosters are helping out the community, and they are helping save a life.”
In addition to assisting the shelter, Davis says fostering also helps the animals get adopted. As the foster family becomes familiar with the animal, they learn about its personality and demeanor- information they can share with potential adopters.
Taunya Sorrells, Executive Director and Co-founder of Soaring Hope Animal Rescue Partners (SHARP), has worked for years to place needy animals in foster care. SHARP takes unwanted dogs with medical cases and places them into as many loving foster homes as possible. The non-profit organization is located just outside of Beckley and works a lot with McDowell and Wyoming County.
“Fostering an animal gives the opportunity to pull that animal out of the situation that they are in. It gives the opportunity to put them into a home environment where they feel safe,” Sorrells explained. “Sometimes fostering is only needed overnight as a stepping stone to get the animal to the next part of its journey. Sometimes it’s weeks. It just depends on the needs of the animals and the ability of the foster.”
Erica Jones and her family have been a longtime foster family, offering Raleigh County animals a safe and warm place to stay.
Jones detailed her personal experience with fostering, explaining how important it is to the area’s animals.
“Fostering is the backbone of animals rescue,” she said. “We cannot help animals without foster homes.”
Jones continued, stating that without a facility that can house the number of animals in need, foster homes are vital to survival.
“If we had double the foster homes, we could help double the animals in need of forever homes and medical care.”
Raleigh County residents interested in fostering are encouraged to call the Humane Society of Raleigh County at 304-253-8921 or visit the shelter in person. Potential fosters are required to fill out a two-page application.
Fosters can also contact SHARP by phone at 304-619-2682 or by email at soaringhopeanimalrescue@gmail.com.
Residents in other southern West Virginia counties can contact their own local shelters to learn more about fostering.
