Best of Friends Humane Society seeks volunteers, foster homes for kittens
Aug. 19, 2010
SAULT STE. MARIE — Best of Friends Humane Society is seeking assistance from volunteers to help out at the shelter. If pet care is not something that appeals to you, perhaps you know someone who is an animal lover and might be willing to lend a hand.
One upcoming need is for foster homes where BOF can place weaned kittens so they will get a lot of handling and socialization in order to be good pets. Fostering nearly always involves at least 2 kittens at one time. Best of Friends will provide the food and will see to their medical care.
Currently they have litters of 3 and 4 that will be ready to go to foster homes in a few weeks. In the fall, the newest litters of 2 and 3 will be ready for fostering. They do mix kittens from different litters, and will split up larger litters if necessary. However, unless absolutely necessary, the organization doesn't like to send only one kitten for fostering.
The kittens need to be socialized for only about 2 weeks. Your job would be to handle them as much as possible and otherwise just to enjoy watching them play. Kittens, unlike puppies, can be left alone for a considerably long time, with just their food, water and litter box, so if you work, fostering still is a possibility.
A second, admittedly less enjoyable need, is for two or three people to clean the shelter where the cats are housed. It's not glamorous, but one perk is that after kittens are returned from foster homes, it is still important that they continue to be handled until they are adopted. Shelter volunteers enjoy the job most when there are kittens to play with.
Volunteers are asked to commit to a specific day of the week, but have the flexibility to come at whatever time works best for you, and it can change from week to week.
Two of the current volunteers trade with another and work every other week, so that is a possibility. Others sign up with a friend or relative, so that they are able to work together, and therefore spend less time each week. Volunteers may switch days in a particular week when it is mutually agreeable. Also, one of the volunteers spends part of the winter away, and someone else fills in, so that is a possibility if you are not here all year.
Right now, the shelter has openings for volunteers to clean and feed cats on Mondays and Saturdays. Also, for about a month starting on Aug. 27, they need someone on Fridays.
If you would like to consider doing either fostering kittens or cleaning at the shelter, please contact Jessica Stanaway at 906-248-3316, and she will arrange for you to visit the shelter. You may see the adoptable pets at www.best-of-friends.petfinder.com .
