TYLER, Texas — The SPCA of East Texas is desperately searching for people who’ll foster animals in need.
With the increase in stray pets across East Texas, the need for fostering is at an all-time high, the SPCA said.
Bonnie Barker, of Whitehouse, has fostered dogs since 2016. She said she has grown and learned a lot during that time.
"I’ve got more confidence because sometimes when you bring some home, you’re not sure if you’ll be able to help them because they’re not in the best shape and you’re kind of scared of them at first sometimes," Barker said. "And you just learn how to let them come to you and not rush them in making their decisions."
SPCA East Texas Director of Operations Kat Cortelyou said Baker and other foster families are fulfilling an essential need for pets because, at the end of the day, the pets don’t have many options.
"You know if we didn’t have these foster families available, these dogs would be sitting in cages in the shelter setting. So, fosters are very important to us. Being a foster-based rescue, we attempt to put as many animals as we can in foster homes to make sure that they’re learning their manners," Cortelyou said.
The SPCA helps with the expenses that could add up while fostering,
"Everything else is just kind of a cakewalk. We provide them with all the food, we do all the veterinary stuff, we give them all the supplies they need, and we’re there to just kind of support them and answer any questions they have until we can get that dog adopted," Cortelyou said.
If you’re interested in fostering and giving these animals a second chance at a fulfilling life, visit the SPCA East Texas website here.
"If we don’t get them used to being in our home, the ones that come from like hoarding situations (who've) never had a human touch and never lived in a home will live their whole life in a crate," Barker said.