The Animal Rescue League of Berks County opened applications for families who may be interested in becoming a short-term foster for the holidays so that shelter pets can enjoy the warmth and happiness of the season in the comfort of a home rather than at the shelter.
“A shelter can be a very stressful environment for an animal, especially during this season,” said Sierra Ortiz, ARL’s Client Services Supervisor. “This program is a great opportunity for families that would like to help a pet but don’t have the time for a long-term commitment to do so, and it’s a lovely way to do something small yet so important for a shelter animal.”
A selection of available adoptable pets will be available for families to take home on December 23rd or 24th and return on January 2, 2024. After applying at https://berksarl.org/home-for-the-holidays/ or contact the ARL at 610-373-8830 ext. 300, families will be qualified by the Pet Placement team and matched with a pet. The team will contact accepted families during the week of December 18th, and a Pet Placement Specialist will ensure the foster pet is a good match for their family and other pets in their home.
All foster pets will go home with a “suitcase” packed with supplies, food, and further instructions on how to ensure a successful and joyful foster experience. If the family decides that the pet they were matched with isn’t a good fit for their home, they can return their foster pet while also receiving support from the ARL foster team.
The application to the program will be available from December 11th – 17th.
