SCHS Calls for Heat Streak Fosters

by Elizabeth Pitts-Hibbard
Remy is just one of the dogs available to be a “Heat Streak Foster” from the Stephens County Humane Society. Remy is just one of the dogs available to be a “Heat Streak Foster” from the Stephens County Humane Society.

The Stephens County Humane Society issued a call for volunteers to be “Heat Streak” fosters for dogs at the shelter, citing record-high temperatures and a lack of air conditioning in the kennel area.

“This isn’t a heat wave, this is a heat streak,” said SCHS board member and interim shelter manager Kelly Place. “When we have temperatures that are consistently this hot, everything gets harder to do. The dogs are stressed, the staff is stressed, and if we can alleviate that to any extent, we will. We just need some help from the community.”

Place said that with no air conditioning in the kennel area, both staff and animals could use a break from the heat.

“When we have dogs out with fosters, the dogs have more space inside and out. The air can circulate better and they can get some relief. The animals that go with fosters, even just for a day or two, have the luxury of an air-conditioned home and they get to relax out of the heat,” Place said.

Currently nine dogs are out with foster families, but more are available. Place said that shelter staff will work with potential fosters to find a dog that’s a good fit.

“Some dogs need to be in a cat-free home; some need to be the only dog in the home,” Place said. “We’ll do our best to find the right dog for a foster’s particular situation, and we’ll continue the program until the temperatures get better.”

Place also emphasized that sending dogs to foster homes gives important information about the dogs and their temperament.

“We work with the dogs in the shelter environment, but we don’t have the opportunity to see how they are in a home environment,” Place said. “If we know, for example, how they ride in the car or whether they get into the garbage, how they interact with a family, that helps us match them with their perfect forever home.”

The shelter will provide all supplies for foster families including food, bedding, and a crate if needed.

Place added that this weekend is National Adoption Weekend, sponsored by Best Friends Animal Society. Beginning at noon on Friday, July 22 until the shelter closes at 2pm Sunday, the first ten adoptions will be at no charge, and any adoptions over that number will be half price. Dog adoptions will be $50 and cats are $35; both also have a $10 microchip fee. Shelter hours for the weekend event are Friday and Saturday from noon – 6pm and Sunday from noon until 2pm.

In addition to the Heat Streak foster program, the Humane Society recently announced that the Shelter Buddies reading program is canceled for this week due to the extreme temperatures.

For additional information about any of the SCHS programs, contact the shelter at 580-252-7387.