our mission

In the winter of 2012, the lives of my husband and I changed when we become pet foster parents. Both while growing up and during my adult years, I had adopted pets privately or through shelters. Thus, I felt confident about what lay ahead when we filled out our application. Turns out, I was somewhat naïve. Fostering a hearing- and vision-impaired senior silky terrier with Cushings Disease was a rollercoaster ride. In part due to our experience with Gizmo, I became interested in researching the entire pet parent foster experience, with all of its joys and challenges. In this first article of a four-part series, I’ll talk about what fostering is, benefits of fostering, and share insights from local pet fosters.

Not originally being from Nebraska, I remember how panicked and unprepared I felt the first time I heard a tornado siren. Since that time, I’ve learned to check the weather radar, grab pets, and head to the basement. Yet I have to admit that I’m still relatively naïve about how to protect pets during natural disasters.

Information for this article has been compiled from various online resources, all listed at the end, but also supplemented by local vets. Thank you to everyone who responded to my messages! It’s that time of year again. The time when your dog might tremble, whine, or pace. The time when your cat might hide in a cupboard, under the bed, or inside your couch. The time when your guinea pig or other small critter might shake, bolt, or run for cover. It’s the season of lightning bolts electrifying the sky and thunder roaring through our neighborhood. Those with pets who …