10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS HUMANE SOCIETY MAY 29, 2026 Photos from Bountiful Bowls and Friends for Life events, provided by Huron Valley Humane Society. Become a foster at the Humane Society! Last summer while selling Groundcover newspapers outside the downtown Ypsilanti Library, I ran into a lady walking a dog. She informed me it was a foster dog from the Huron Valley Humane Society. I had never heard of such a thing and we had a conversation on how to foster. Wendy Welch, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Huron Valley Humane Society, explained to me in detail about becoming a foster parent at the Humane Society. Jones: Could you tell more about the foster program? Welch: Yes, nearly half of the animals at the Humane Society go through the foster program. It is a life-saving program and I don’t use that term lightly; literally a life-saving program. Jones: How long has the Humane Society been doing the foster program? Welch: As long as I can remember. It has grown over the years. We look for people to open their homes and their hearts to vulnerable animals because we have a building here, but only so much space. With the help of the community by becoming foster parents it makes space for other animals. This program has been life-changing and life-saving for them. Jones: Do fostering and adoption work together in some way? Welch: Yes, in that the whole idea is to have animals live a life outside of the shelter and to get a forever home. Jones: I heard that the Humane Society provides all the necessities for the Foster Program? Welch: Yes, we support in every way. We pay for the food, supplies, medication, supportive care and whatever the foster parent might need, other than a loving home. Jones: Is there anything else you would like our readers to know? Welch: Yes. It’s easy to become a foster parent; we have an online training people can do to let us know how they are interested in fostering because we have foster parents from all ages MIKE JONES Groundcover vendor No. 113 regular volunteer as a way to gain some experience handling and caring for animals. For everyone’s health and safety, HSHV Foster Parents need to commit to only fostering with HSHV and cannot foster for another organization. A home check may be part of the application process for new fosters. Who needs foster care? Animals who are nursing their and different backgrounds. Fostering can last from a few days to several months depending on the needs of the animals and your availability. Extra training is provided for unique circumstances, and medical assistance and questions are handled quickly. To become a foster, first you watch a 20-minute virtual foster orientation and the VIC How-To Presentation video. Second, you complete the New Foster Application. HSHV will review your Foster Application within 1-7 business days. Once your application is finalized, you will begin to receive Foster Request emails. If any further information is needed, the team will reach out to you. Whether you are retired, single, part of a family, a couple, in grad school or whatever your circumstances, as long as you can make a commitment to temporarily care for animals and have a suitable household, you can apply to become a foster parent. You must be at least 18 years old, and all of your own animals must be sterilized and up-to-date on vaccinations. Vaccinations required include: rabies and distemper (cats and dogs). Recommended vaccinations include Bordetella, Lepto, Influenza (dogs), FeLuek (cats). When you complete the foster application, you will upload your vet records with proof of vaccines and sterilization. They also require that you have experience with the type of animals you want to foster. If you’ve never had a pet, please consider becoming a babies. Animals with injuries, illness or other medical conditions. Animals with special training needs such as those with separation anxiety or who need basic manners training, those who are reactive to other animals. Orphans who need round the clock care and bottle feeding, socialization and those that are not yet old enough for adoption. Animals who need a break from shelter life (those who are not doing well in the shelter environment or have been waiting for adoption for a long time). Safe Harbor: animals who need temporary housing due to an emergency situation (unexpected hospital stay, house fire, etc.). Humane Society programs HSHV offers many core animal services that help animals avoid shelter stays. Adoption & Rehoming facilitates the adoption of dogs, cats and small mammals. They also offer private rehoming through the Home To Home platform to keep pets out of the shelter during transitions. Full-service veterinary clinics are - open to the public, offering affordable wellness exams, vaccinations, dental care and complex surgeries (e.g., mass removals, amputations). These clinics conduct low-cost spay/neuter surgeries for pet owners and community cat caretakers. Lost & Found assists the community in reuniting with lost pets or reporting found strays in Washtenaw County. Emergency Rescue & Cruelty Investigation operates a 24-hour service for sick or injured animals and investigates reports of animal abuse or neglect. Bountiful Bowls Pet Food Pantry provides free pet food and essential supplies (leashes, collars, litter) to families facing financial hardship. Friends for Life is tailored support for seniors, including "senior-to-senior" adoptions, veterinary assistance, and help with in-home pet care like dog walking. There are educational programs for youth including Camp PAWS, educational day and week-long camps for children to learn about animal care and empathy. Junior Volunteers offers a structured program for youth ages 12–17 to gain hands-on experience in animal welfare. Tiny Lions Lounge is a separate "cat cafe" style space for felines that hosts events like "Yoga with Cats" and "Trivia with Cats." For more information on fostering, please contact foster@hshv.org. Thanks to the Humane Society of Huron Valley for all that you do for our friends and pets! Get $5 off on any item by mentioning Groundcover News when visiting Depot Town Cats & Dogs located at 46 E Cross St, Ypsilanti. It is an independent pet supply shop — specializing in pet food, accessories and toys (see page 16)! The Humane Society of Huron Valley (HSHV) is located at 3100 Cherry Hill Rd, Ann Arbor. They are open for adoptions seven days a week, with hours generally from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. They also operate the "Tiny Lions" cat cafe at 5245 Jackson Road in Ann Arbor. Important Detour Notice: Washtenaw County Road Commission will be replacing the Cherry Hill bridge and therefore blocking off Cherry Hill Road (from Plymouth Rd.) completely, starting May thru August. See www. hshv.org/ for Detour Map.
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