Amid a bitter cold snap in Detroit, local animal rescue organizations are calling for temporary foster homes for dogs. CBS News Detroit reports that shelters are urging residents to provide a warm home over the next two weeks, after a dog was found frozen to death in the city.
Temperatures in Detroit are forecast to drop to life-threatening lows not seen since January 2019. Rebel Dogs Detroit and Detroit Dog Rescue say they are receiving an overwhelming number of inquiries from concerned residents. “Rebel Dogs Detroit alone has been receiving upwards of 100 to 150 points of contact a day,” Juniper Fleming, the organization’s executive director, told CBS News Detroit.
With rescue groups and veterinary boarding facilities stretched to capacity, Detroit Dog Rescue is seeking foster families for medium- to large-sized pitbull-type dogs. According to ClickOnDetroit, the dogs are loving, mostly potty-trained, and have passed gentle temperament tests.
With the promise of providing all essentials, including food, medical care, and support, Detroit Dog Rescue assures potential fosters, "We don’t just dump a dog on you," emphasizing the no-hassle, temporary nature of the arrangement that can significantly increase a dog's chance at finding a permanent home; meanwhile, Rebel Dogs Detroit vows to back fosterers financially and provide resources including training if required, ensuring that the rescue will cover any expenses for those who step forward, as detailed on the FOX 2 Detroit website, foster applications can be filled out on the DDR's site for those ready to aid in this effort, with the shelter's assurance that it will help match applicants with the right dog.
Highlighting the seriousness of the animal welfare situation in Detroit, an investigation by Detroit Animal Care and Control is ongoing after the discovery of the deceased canine, Mari Henderson, a current foster for Rebel Dogs, adds a note of hope citing the rewarding nature of fostering and its transformative impact on these vulnerable animals, opening up the opportunity for them to learn the behaviors of becoming part of a loving home, thus making them more adoptable, as relayed to CBS News Detroit.
