Log In


Reset Password
News Education Local News Nation & World New Mexico

Ruff times, purrfect families

Foster families provide temporary homes and lifesaving support for pups and kitties pre-adoption

When you walk into the La Plata County Humane Society, the sounds of animal activity can be heard: the faint sound of dogs barking, the clanging of cages opening and closing, and the shuffle of children’s feet as they meet a new family member.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ website, 7.6 million animals enter one of nearly 13,600 animal shelters per year in the United States alone. Of that total, only 2.7 million are adopted per year.

To help keep space open, the humane society sends young, old, rehabilitating and special-needs animals to foster families, such as Charley Gremmels’ Durango home.

“I love it,” said Gremmels, a volunteer foster caregiver of several years and foster mentor. “I’m so happy to help and be a part of the solution for finding a forever, loving home for critters.”

Gremmels is one of about 85 active foster families working with the humane society, said Becca Gilmore, volunteer and foster coordinator. Currently, nearly 58 animals are in foster care throughout the area.

The humane society is responsible for providing foster families with food, litter, toys, bowls, puppy pads, vaccines and a multitude of other things, said Chris Nelson, director of animal services for the humane society. Most supplies come from donations from community members. Foster families are responsible for providing “space, love and care until adoption.”

Because of fostering animals in people’s homes, the La Plata County Humane Society has not euthanized an animal in six years, Nelson said.

“Fostering saves lives,” he said, adding that a shelter is “like kindergarten” in terms of illness, and removing young, old or rehabilitating animals helps keep them healthy.

For Gremmels, it’s about helping the animals and getting a “kitten fix.”

“I realized I could help more animals (fostering) than I could ever keep or have,” she said. “If it has four legs and fur, I’ll have it.”

Gilmore said some of her best foster families are those with children whose parents see it as an opportunity for them to learn how to care for animals.

Foster families are “like grandparents” because they “spoil (the animals) rotten and then return them,” Nelson said.

The foster-care system is not a “try out” period to see if an animal will fit into a home, Gilmore said. All prospective foster families must submit an application for Gilmore to review before attending an orientation and having a home inspection to ensure the animals’ safety.

“We don’t expect people to know what we want immediately,” Gilmore said.

Often, families will end up leaving orientation with an animal in tow, or shortly after.

“The goal is (for them) to be healthy, social, loving animals and to get them into a forever home,” Gilmore said.

For Gremmels, her house is filled with her own animals, plus any she is fostering. At the moment, her hands are full with one weaning kitten, three puppies and a few special-needs kittens.

“I’d rather have too many than none at all,” Gremmels said. “Everyone should try it. It’s like potato chips. You can’t stop at one.”

eseverson@durangoherald.com. Elaine Severson is a student intern in her junior year at Fort Lewis College.

To volunteer

For more information about providing foster care for animals, call the La Plata County Humane Society at 259-2847 or visit www.lpchumanesociety.org.



Reader Comments