Second Annual Foster Pet Challenge
Mesa County and Roice-Hurst Humane Society are excited to announce their partnership for the second consecutive year to launch the Foster Pet Challenge. This joint initiative aims to inspire the community to open their hearts and homes to temporarily foster pets, providing them care and comfort while they await adoptive homes. The campaign's ambitious goal is to find 100 new foster families in just 100 days, from June 20 through September 28, 2023.
Roice-Hurst Humane Society will host a kickoff Foster Fair event on Saturday, June 24, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Mesa County Old Courthouse, 544 Rood Ave., where the public can meet fosterable pets, learn about the challenge, and sign up in person.
Summertime is the busiest season for animal shelters, and our community’s shelters have full kennels and growing waiting lists of pets needing safe places to go. Foster care expands the capacity of our shelters and allows more pets to receive the care they need.
“The Foster Pet Challenge presents an incredible opportunity for animal lovers in Mesa County to make a meaningful difference in the lives of shelter pets,” said Doug Frye, Mesa County Animal Services Manager. “By becoming a foster family, individuals can offer these animals a safe and loving environment, easing the strain on local shelters and helping them find permanent homes.”
Fostering is all the fun of having a new pet at home without the long-term commitment or cost because Roice-Hurst provides supplies, vet care, and training. Plus, when you pick up your first foster pet, Roice-Hurst will provide a yard sign and button to help you tell the world about your foster pet!
“One of the most impactful things you can do right now to help the situation our local shelters are facing is to foster a dog or cat for a few days or weeks,” said Anna Stout, CEO of Roice-Hurst Humane Society and Mayor of the City of Grand Junction. “With growing waitlists and desperate pet owners, our biggest constraint is space. Each home that opens its doors to a shelter pet is also creating an available space in a shelter, so you are helping two pets at once. Not to mention the fact it is incredibly rewarding to serve a brief purpose in the journey of a foster pet.”
“Mesa County and Roice-Hurst are committed to relieving the burden on our local shelters by facilitating the recruitment of foster homes to move pets into loving homes while they await adoption,” said Janet Rowland, Mesa County Commissioner. “We extend a heartfelt invitation to all compassionate individuals to stand with us in our mission to recruit 100 new foster families within the next 100 days.”
If fostering a pet isn’t an option for your household, you can still help us reach our goal. Every $150 donated to Roice-Hurst Humane Society between June 20 and September 28, specifically mentioning the Mesa County Foster Pet Challenge, will offset the cost of caring for one foster pet and count toward our goal as one foster family.
We challenge you to open your heart and home to a foster pet during this time of need. To get started as a foster family and welcome a shelter pet into the safety and comfort of your home, learn more and sign up at RHhumanesociety.org/foster!
