r/Hamilton • u/prozacandpuppies • 1h ago
Discussion If you've ever wanted to foster or rescue, right now Hamilton Animal Services is in desperate need.
Hi Hamilton! Summer is a really slow month in general for fostering/adoption, and the wildfires up north means rescues sent all hands on deck up to help. As a result, animals are sitting in our municipal shelter for too long because rescues aren't pulling them for foster or adoption opportunities. I picked up my foster dog, Lilah, yesterday to free up a kennel at HAS and to keep her from being at risk of euthanasia.
Municipal shelters cannot turn away stray animals. Other rescues and shelters can pick and choose who they accept, but HAS is required to accept and hold animals for a period of time. If they cannot find a foster, adopter, or another rescue to take the animal, and there's no space, they are forced to euthanize. A lot of people are not aware this happens in Canada, and while it doesn't occur at the scale it does in the US, it does happen.
I never knew that HAS allows for short-term fostering, and you can agree to as little time as you want. Even just a week can really help some of these animals, and can get them out of the stressful shelter. It is loud and crowded right now, and most of them are incredibly stressed or shut down in that environment. The process was really easy, and they provide all the dog's food, medication, and even gave me a crate for Lilah.
Right now they have a high volume of applications to foster these dogs, but loads more will be coming through. Mostly, they really need forever families for these sweet souls. If you've ever considering rescuing a dog, or have the space in your home to foster this summer, I know that HAS (and the dogs) would really appreciate it.
And if anyone is in the market for a Literal Angel, feel free to ask me questions about sweet Lilah!

