Holiday volunteers needed at Iredell Humane Society

Employees and volunteers at the Humane Society of Iredell County are hoping all the animals find foster homes for the holidays.

With a band of volunteers spread across the county who help to care for and foster adoptable cats and dogs, more volunteers are needed during the holidays.

While Humane Society of Iredell County does not house animals at the Robinson Road location in Mooresville, the offices will be closed for Christmas, making it more difficult for the animals to be helped during that time.

Humane Society director Lori Root said the biggest need right now is for people who can care for an animal for a short time, during the week of Christmas break, Dec. 17 through Jan. 2.

More volunteers are needed because several volunteers have planned holiday vacations making them unable to care for their foster pets.

In addition, there are more pets this time of year that need saving, Root said. Many animal owners who have been thinking of giving of their pets up for financial reasons are quick to do so at the holidays, she said.

During the holidays, animal owners realize they are going to have to spend money to board their animals, so they give them up instead, not wanting to pay to board them for vacation.

“It’s a sad thing and it happens every day of the year,” Root said. “We’re trying to rescue as many as we can every day.”

Root goes to Iredell County animal control in Statesville every week to save animals who are about to be euthanized. She said the animals end up there due to irresponsible pet owners not through the fault of the animal.

Root said all food, leashes, bedding, litter and crates will be provided. All that is needed is a welcoming home to care for the animals.

“All these animal need is love and a roof,” Root said.

She said it is fine if there are other animals in the home, but they must be up to date on their veterinary care to bring foster animals in. The Humane Society will work to match personalities if there are other animals in the home.

Foster applications are available on the Humane Society of Iredell County website. Root said those applications can be emailed for faster processing.

Root said fostering during the holidays is a good way for people to see if they would like to foster in a more long term capacity.

Ann Harris of Mooresville starting volunteering in 2010 and since then she has fostered more than 75 dogs. Currently she has six dogs of her own and five foster dogs.

Several of her dogs are what she calls “foster fails.” A “foster fail” is when a person takes in a dog to foster but decides to adopt it instead.

Harris recommends fostering because there are so many animals at animal control waiting for forever homes.

“If someone has a love for animals, fostering makes sense,” Harris said.

The Humane Society of Iredell County is in desperate need of volunteers, not just during the holidays, but year round, Root said. The more foster families they have, the more animals can be saved, she said.

“Volunteers are the heart and soul of what we do,” Root said. “And until we take controlling the pet population seriously by spaying and neutering, there will be a continued need to help save them.”