After a summer that saw an increase in the intake of rescue animals, the Lee County Humane Society is kicking off the school year with a new way for students and community members to serve as fosters through their Animal Ambassador program.
The Animal Ambassador Program will be the first of its kind at the LCHS and was made possible by a grant from the America Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. ASPCA is a national organization that provides support and leadership in the areas of caring for pet parents and pets, providing positive outcomes for at-risk animals and serving victims of animal cruelty.
Ausu Anaraki, fundraising manager for the LCHS, said she is hopeful the program will be successful in leading to more adoptions for the LCHS. According to research done by ASPCA, this ambassador program has been successful in targeting those who would not have otherwise adopted an animal from a shelter.
“A lot of people don’t think of going to a shelter to adopt. They’re thinking of going to a breeder or they’re not even thinking to adopt,” Anaraki said.
The program boasts benefits for foster participants as well as animals by making the fostering process easier. Corey Barr, one of the first to take part in the Animal Ambassador program, said this was one reason why she chose to be a part of the program.
“Sometimes adopting from a foster can be a complicated process with the foster and potential adopter going back and forth to the shelter, and this program eliminates that and makes the whole process much more simple,” Barr said.
Anaraki said the program differs from the existing foster program at the LCHS because it allows foster participants to be 100 percent involved in the process.
“I love getting to know my fosters and learning their personalities which helps so much in finding the families that will love them forever," said Jill Gilbert, another early participant in the program.
The Ambassador program is hoping to reach out to students in particular.
“We are hoping a lot of students will be able to get involved with this,” Anaraki said. “It’s a great way to have students have a pet in their home but not actually have to keep one.”
To become an Animal Ambassador, those interested can fill out a foster application on the LCHS website. Once placed on the foster list, participants will receive an adoptable cat or adoptable dog, which will stay with them until it gets adopted.
For more information, email lchs1140@leecounty humane.org and check the LCHS website for more information on an upcoming informational session to happen in late August.
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