Share the Love: Foster a Pet, Change a Life

Love shows up in many forms. Sometimes it’s flowers and chocolates. Sometimes it’s a warm meal or a handwritten note. And sometimes, it looks like opening your home to a dog or cat who simply needs a safe place to land. This February, you can share the love in a life-changing way by fostering a pet through Metro East Humane Society (MEHS).

Every year, hundreds of dogs and cats enter our care from local animal control partners and our community. Some are too young for adoption. Some are recovering from medical procedures. Others are simply overwhelmed by the shelter environment. Fostering gives these pets something they may have never experienced before: the comfort of a home.

And the best part? Fostering doesn’t just change their life, it changes yours, too.

In 2025 alone, 1,193 pets found comfort in foster homes through MEHS,  475 dogs and 718 cats who needed a safe place to land. Our foster families gave an astounding 818,690 hours of care last year. That’s hundreds of thousands of hours of walks, cuddles, playtime, healing, and patience that directly helped pets find their people.

Why Fostering Matters

When you open your home to a foster pet, you are doing more than providing a temporary place to stay. You are:

• Giving a stressed shelter pet time to decompress

• Helping young puppies and kittens grow in a safe, nurturing space

• Supporting pets recovering from illness or surgery

• Learning about their true personality in a home setting

• Freeing up space at the shelter so we can save even more lives

Fostering can also be a wonderful trial run for pet ownership. If you’ve been considering adding a dog or cat to your family but aren’t quite sure if the timing is right, fostering allows you to experience the daily routine, responsibility, and joy of having a pet with the full support of MEHS behind you.

And here’s another special perk: foster families get first dibs on adoption. If you fall in love (and many do), you have the first opportunity to officially make that pet part of your family. We call it a “foster win,” and we love celebrating them.

MEHS Makes Fostering Easy

Worried about supplies or medical costs? We’ve got you covered.

MEHS provides fosters with the following:

• Food and supplies

• Veterinary care and medications

• Ongoing support from our foster team

• Guidance on introductions to other pets

• Marketing and adoption support

• Access to our MEHS Fosters Facebook Group, where you can connect with other foster families, share updates, and access helpful tips and resources 

You provide the love, patience and safe space. Our foster team works closely with each family to match you with a pet that fits your lifestyle,  whether you’re looking for a laid-back companion, playful puppies, cuddly kittens, or a short-term medical foster.

Not Ready for Long-Term Fostering? Try a Slumber Pawty

If you’re new to fostering or unsure about committing to several weeks, consider a Slumber Pawty. This short-term foster opportunity allows you to take a dog home for just one night or a weekend. These mini getaways help reduce stress, give dogs a much-needed break from the shelter, and provide valuable insight into how they behave in a home setting. Sometimes, one night of comfort can make a world of difference.

Fostering Saves Lives

Shelters across the country continue to experience capacity challenges. Fostering is one of the most direct ways community members can help prevent overcrowding and ensure pets receive the individual care they deserve. Some animals,  especially young litters or pets recovering from medical procedures, simply do better in a home environment. Foster families allow us to say “yes” to more animals who need help. Your spare bedroom. Your quiet guest room. Your cozy couch. It can be the turning point in an animal’s story.

The Reward is Real

Ask any foster family, and they’ll tell you the same thing: you think you’re helping the animal, but they end up giving just as much to you. You get the first tail wags. You get couch cuddles. You get to watch confidence bloom. You get to be part of their second chance. And when adoption day comes, there’s something incredibly special about knowing you helped write that happy ending.

Ready to Foster a Pet? Apply Today

If you’re ready to share the love this February, we’d love to welcome you to our foster pack. Apply today:

• Dog Foster Application

• Cat Foster Application

Have questions before applying? Reach out to Avery at foster@mehs.org or learn more at: www.mehs.org/foster. This month, share the love. Foster a pet. Change a life.