MUSCATINE, Iowa–As an animal rescue organization, It Takes a Village Animal Rescue and Resources relies on the help of volunteer foster families to provide all of their animals with love and care until they find their forever homes. To allow It Takes a Village to continue serving all of the animals they take in locally and from overcrowded shelters elsewhere, they welcomes anyone interested in fostering to learn how they can get involved.
Foster families provide basic care and a whole lot of love to the rescued dog or cat they bring into their home. This involves feeding and watering them, exercising and playing with them, giving them medications or any special care requested by a vet, and giving them caring attention. Foster families also take photos of the animals in their care and share notes about the animals’ personalities so that It Takes a Village can put together a bio for each pet to post online. To make fostering easier, It Takes a Village provides all of the supplies families will need and covers the animals’ medical expenses.
It Takes a Village encourages anyone who loves animals and wants to help rescued ones to consider fostering. Foster families can request to work with cats, dogs, or both and may further tailor their focus to different kinds of dogs, such as large or small breeds. For people without a lot of time, they may also serve as respite fosters, taking an animal for a short period while the primary foster goes out of town. Fosters may also take breaks when needed, making the process as easy and enjoyable as possible for them.
If you would like to foster, you may contact It Takes a Village Animal Rescue and Resources through their Facebook page and request a fostering application. It Takes a Village Founder Meagan Koehler thanks everyone who does so. “It’s hard to put into words how rewarding fostering is,” she said. “I can’t emphasize enough the fact that fostering, in many cases, is literally saving a life.”
