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Paws with a Cause is looking for more people to foster puppies this February.
Photo provided by Paws with a Cause
ROYAL OAK — Paws with a Cause is searching for new volunteer foster puppy raisers during February with its “Do You have Extra Love to Give?” initiative.
The Paws with a Cause mission is to enhance the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities through custom-trained assistance dogs. This begins with volunteer foster homes raising the puppy and providing basic care and obedience training for the first year of the puppy’s life and the new program was created in the hopes of attracting new foster puppy raisers.
Puppies are typically placed in a single home for 14-15 months, but with the new co-raising and start/finish options, people can host a puppy for a shorter amount of time or during a specific time of year that works for them.
Volunteer recruitment begins this February as flexible commitment options are introduced and the opportunity to volunteer becomes available for a wider variety of lifestyles and schedules. Located at 3208 Crooks Road, in Royal Oak, registration information can be found at www.pawswithacause.org/raise-a-foster-puppy.
“We know the commitment to foster a Paws with a Cause puppy can be complicated with traveling, work, school, or whatever else people have going on in their life,” Julie Thorington, the national foster puppy coordinator at Paws with a Cause, said in a press release. “We hope that giving the option to foster for six months instead of a year or alternating weeks with a co-raiser can help. We want this opportunity to be available to those who have been interested in the past but aren’t able to foster year-round.”
To spread the news about these flexible volunteer options, Paws with a Cause is highlighting the puppies that need foster homes in digital Valentine’s Day cards, posting Valentine’s Day cards on social media pages and its website featuring photos of puppies available to foster.
“We decided to raise a foster puppy because my kids love dogs and we wanted to do something to help others. Foster Puppy Raiser Sara Pfeiffer said in a Paws with a Cause press release. “We got a beautiful golden retriever puppy named Zoom. It was a great learning experience for all of us. The Paws with a Cause puppy trainer and vet staff were there for any questions and concerns we had along the way. We felt very supported and celebrated as volunteers.”
