Who Let the Dogs (and Cats) Out?: Paws-itive Impact During this Ruff Time

Does dealing with the coronavirus quarantine have you feeling like you’re stuck in the doghouse? Dogs and cats can relate and know that this stressful time can be ruff. It hasn’t been meow-velous. Furry friends can help. 

Sloan Goodman, an eighth grader at Pin Oak Middle School, has always wanted a dog. For years, her parents said not yet – maybe when she was older and more responsible. But Sloan was on a mission and, a few years ago, started dog-sitting for some neighbors to gain experience with dogs. She loved working with dogs and, last fall, started volunteering with Pup Squad Animal Rescue with her mom, Helen.  

“We were immediately hooked,” Helen shared. “We love spending time with all the puppies and are thankful to find a volunteer opportunity where Sloan can interact with the dogs since most animal rescue organizations require volunteers to be at least 16 years old.” 

The dog-loving dynamic duo volunteered at several Pup Squad adoption events including an event at Urban Harvest where they were showing off a litter of puppies, one of their favorite experiences. Helen remembered, smiling, “Sloan and I each stood in a pen of seven or eight puppies. When people came over to meet the pups, it was like we were handing out happiness!”  
 
A few months ago, the Goodman family decided to start fostering puppies. They said they have found fostering to be a rewarding experience and enjoy helping the puppies prepare for their forever homes. It was also a good way for the family to get an idea of what it would be like to have a dog in their home full-time. 

Helen confessed, “One of the challenging parts of fostering is getting anything done, because all you want to do is play with the puppies and now I’m obsessed with a YouTube series that gives tips on training puppies [My New Puppy: The First 36 Hours hosted by dog trainer Zak George].”

Sloan recently told her mom how much she enjoys volunteering for Pup Squad. She said she thinks the adoption events have helped improve her people skills and fostering has made her more responsible. The Goodmans fostered two puppies in early 2020 and decided it was time – they were ready for a dog to become a permanent member of the family.

The Goodman family is proud to announce their new fur baby, Kirby! 

They used Petfinder, an online database of animals who need homes. The animals on Petfinder come from nearly 11,000 animal shelters and adoption organizations across America. Earlier this month, Kirby, a 10-week-old salt and pepper Shih Tzu border collie mix, became a new member of the Goodman family. 

Proud new puppy mom, Helen, shared, “Kirby’s been a great source of entertainment during quarantining. We are doing lots of playing with him including setting up boxes and other things to make a hide-and-seek obstacle course for him. It’s been a welcome distraction for all of us.”

If you’re interested in fostering or adopting during this time while we’re all staying home, here is information about local pet organizations to share – and receive - love from Houston pups and cats in need, especially during this challenging time. 

We’ve dug up in-fur-mation on meow-velous local pet adoption and foster organizations that will paws-itively have purr-fect options for you. Note: Please visit each organization’s website or contact the organization directly for any coronavirus-related updates. All locations are practicing safe social distancing procedures; most request that visitors fill out adoption/foster applications prior to visiting to help the process move more quickly.  

Duwie is all smiles when he gets to wear his spiffy bandana and hang out with the nice BARC volunteers. 

BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions
Adoption Center: 3300 Carr St., Houston, TX, 77026; Separate Curbside Foster Animal Pick-up: 2700 Evella St., Houston,TX 77026 
Open every day, 12-5 p.m.  
Contact: 713-837-0311
Lara Cottingham, BARC Spokesperson shared, “BARC has implemented a Curbside Foster program and would love for people to join our foster family. Adoptions are 50 percent off for all pets during March and in April, $20 dog and $10 cat adoptions. We hope you’ll consider opening your heart and home to a pet today!” View information about adopting here. If you’re interested in fostering, fill out the application here and wait to receive directions.  

Bortus, who was housed at Harris County Animal Shelter, is excited to go home with his new foster mom, Gretchen Bella.

Harris County Animal Shelter
612 Canino Rd., Houston, 77076
Contact: 281-999-3191
Adoption hours: Monday-Friday, 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
 
The Harris County Animal Shelter (HCAS) will remain open to the public during the official “stay home, work safe” order issued by Harris County and the City of Houston to control community spread of COVID-19. Eddie Miranda, Harris County Public Health Senior Public Information Officer, shared, “The shelter has plenty of amazing dogs and cats available for adoption and fostering every day. In an effort to protect the community and staff, the shelter and wellness clinic have been implementing social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 outbreak. At this time, our shelter is requiring customers to make an appointment in advance before coming to our location. Walk-ins will not be accepted. They can visit our website or call us for appointment procedures and other information."

Black lab mix, Bow Wow, was adopted at Houston Pets Alive!'s "SAVE-a-thon Virtual Adoption Event," via Facebook Live. Potential adopters watched the dogs virtually and then schedule a meet-and-greet to help maintain social distancing standards. The next SAVE-a-thon is March 28-29, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Houston Pets Alive!
2800 Antoine Drive, Suite 2854, Houston, TX 77092
Contact: 832-786-9310
Open by appointment only; apply online and HPA! will set up a time for you to meet the pup.
 
This weekend, Houston Pets Alive! (HPA!) will be hosting a SAVE-a-thon, a virtual adoption event so potential adopters can safely practice social distancing while still having the opportunity to bring home a forever friend. The Facebook Live videos will showcase the available dogs and cats throughout the day. Potential adopters can also check out the pups beforehand online (and apply to meet them) here. A representative from HPA! explained, “By adopting out as many dogs as possible, it opens foster homes that enables us to save more dogs scheduled for euthanasia. With the coronavirus upon us, our city shelters are becoming overwhelmed, and the more foster homes we have, the more lives we can save." To foster for HPA!, apply online here. The special adoption fee of $75 (half off) applies to all participating dogs (excluding puppies). Follow HPA! on Facebook or come out this Saturday and meet your new forever quarantine partner - just make sure you apply online first.

A cat hanging out in the Kitty Lounge at the Houston SPCA checks out the new “Wash Your Paws” Hands cleaning station.

Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
7007 Old Katy Rd., Houston, 77024
Contact: 713-869-7722
Adoptions and fosters on hold for now

As of March 26, the Houston SPCA temporarily closed their adoption center after finding new homes or foster homes for nearly 300 animals, and will now focus on supporting the expected influx of animals who will be coming in through animal cruelty investigations and their 24-hour rescue animal ambulance. Julie Kuenstle, VP of Communications & Marketing, shared, “In the coming weeks we will need more fosters to support the animals arriving through our emergency services. We provide all the food, supplies and medical treatments for the foster and veterinary evaluations will be managed curbside or virtually. Register through the Good Samaritan foster program." Currently, available services include: 24-hour rescue ambulance for injured strays: 713-880-HELP (4357); Wildlife Center: Injured wildlife can be dropped off 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; click here for procedures. People can still drop off injured wildlife 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; For animal cruelty investigations, call: 713-869-7722

Sloan Goodman at a Pup Squad adoption event with Opal, a puppy she was helping to foster.

Pup Squad Animal Rescue
Contact: [email protected]
Foster Based Location (Dogs housed in foster homes) 

Pup Squad Animal Rescue saves orphaned puppies and nursing litters with the goal of matching them with adoptive homes and foster families. Stephy Hill, Vice President of Fosters and Adoptions, shared, “To help with social distancing, Pup Squad is using Skype and Facetime to interview prospective clients. We ask that people interested in adopting or fostering visit our website, see if there is a dog they like and submit an application. If anyone has questions they can email me directly.” Find a link to the adoption application here and the foster application here.

Perhaps having a four-legged friend to play with you is just what the doctor (and the veterinarian) ordered. Plus, it’s okay to hug a pet! No six-feet barrier required.

Editor’s Note: Know of other pet-related causes open at this time? Comment below. Read more about Buzz families who foster dogs here. Meet Buzz-area pets in our Neighborhood Tails column.