Bideawee, a leading pet welfare organization for the past 114 years, has introduced a new foster program for puppies, kittens, cats, and dogs that are not yet ready for adoption.
The Todd B. Richter Foster Program is designed to be a cost-free experience for foster parents. Food, medical supplies, visits to the Bideawee animal hospital, and emergency care are covered through the program. Richter is a newly appointed Bideawee board member who understands the importance of fostering animals. He is currently the Vice Chairman of Global Banking at Barclays and focuses on the healthcare services field, including global animal health.
“By fostering pets, these volunteers provide the bridge the animals need to get to their forever home,” Richter said. “They are saving pets’ lives.”
Bideawee, which means “stay awhile” in Scottish, provides a variety of high touch services, including adoption centers, animal hospitals, pet therapy programs, and pet memorial parks. The organization strives to be Greater New York’s leader in rescuing, caring for, and placing homeless cats and dogs with their forever families. It currently has locations in Manhattan, Westhampton and Wantagh.
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Typically animals are fostered for four weeks. (Photo: Sasha Nialla) |
“We are very excited about this new program as there is a special need for animals who are not ready for adoption, animals that are sick, recovering from surgery, or being treated for a medical condition, and animals that have behavioral issues such as separation anxiety or shyness,” said Jennifer Goodwin, Vice President for Development at Bideawee.
Those interested can choose to foster just dogs, just cats, or both, and typically animals are fostered for four weeks, although each assignment depends on the needs of the individual animal. If leaving the pet alone to go to work is a concern, Bideawee notes that many of their foster volunteers have full-time jobs, and many foster pets are able to be left alone for up to eight hours at a time, and Bideawee does provide a crate or cattery for the animal.
Bideawee is located at 118 Old Country Road in Westhampton. For more information, call 1-844-568-3738 or visit www.bideawee.org.
