Animal services sets Foster Fest

May 2, 2024 By CJ HADDAD 4 min read

Lee County Domestic Animal Services will hold a first-ever event in hopes to better serve animals in its care, while calling for members in the community to be a harbor until they find their forever home.

Foster Fest takes place May 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 5600 Banner Drive, where attendees will be able to interact with area rescues to see what fostering opportunities are available.

Officials say this is a great way to help LCDAS and its rescue partners, as every foster means an opportunity to assist a homeless pet in need.

“One thing we are frequently asked is ‘How can I help?’ by people who are not in the position to adopt or volunteer,” said Karen Frick of Lee County Domestic Animal Services. “Fostering is a great way for them to be involved without the permanent commitment of adoption. We have invited some of our rescues because they are in need as well. The foster-based rescues can only help our shelter if they have the fosters to help them. Any way we can help our rescue partners is a win-win for the community.”

The Gulf Coast Humane Society, Cape Coral Animal Shelter, Big Hearts for Big Dogs Rescue, R.A.I.N. Rescue, SWFL German Shepherd Rescue, and the Humane Society of Naples will be in attendance and visitors will be able to sign up to foster for Animal Services or other listed organizations.

“CCAS is grateful to Lee County DAS for hosting this great event to highlight benefits of fostering,” said CCAS Executive Director Liz McCauley. “Fostering is one of the most important and rewarding volunteer opportunities we offer. Fostering saves more lives than just one-it frees up space so we can take in more animals and save more lives. We pay for everything-you just provide the love! We hear all the time, ‘I can’t foster because I’d never give them up!’ But once your first foster finds a forever, loving home and you see how happy you’ve made that family, it gets easier the next time.”

Frick added that fostering — especially during kitten season — is vital to Animal Services.

“It enables us to keep underage kittens in a home and lessen the risk of illness until they are ready to be adopted,” she said. “We also have medical fosters for injured and sick cats/dogs, so they can heal in a home rather than the shelter.”

Euthanasia rates seem to be on the rise as well, which could be incentive for members of the community to foster a pet. From January to March of this year, 524 animals have been euthanized at LCDAS (not including animals that were requested to be). Compared to January through March of 2023, 267 animals were euthanized at LCDAS.

Frick said fostering “is an opportunity to give back, to help our homeless pets, and see the reward when your foster finds a forever home.”

It’s also important for owners to spay and neuter their pets to help keep the number of strays and unwanted pets to a minimum.

LCDAS says spaying and neutering is important because:

• Spay and neuter is important for your pet’s health and longevity. The average lifespan of spayed and neutered cats and dogs is demonstrably longer than the lifespan of those not.

• Curb unwanted behaviors. Intact dogs are more prone to urine-marking than neutered dogs.

• It decreases the number of homeless pets in area shelters and rescues.

For more information on becoming part of the LCDAS foster family, email fostering@leegov.com or visit LeeLostPets.com. Find Lee County Domestic Animal Services’ social media sites on Facebook or Instagram @leeanimalservices.

To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com