FRUIT HEIGHTS—There are more than 300 dogs and cats right now at Animal Care of Davis County (ACDC) who could use a good home. With the help of the foster program about half of those animals are with a family instead until they find a permanent home freeing up space in the overcrowded shelter.

“We have 127 animals in the building and up to 370 in our care,” said Deputy Director Sydney Larrabee. “We take in about 4,500 animals a year and the numbers keep going up. Without the foster program we truly wouldn’t be able to sustain those numbers.”

It’s such a core part of the program to save lives, she said. “Summer is our peak time. More dogs find a way out of their yard, etc. and it’s a big time for kittens. As it warms we see more stray kittens. It’s a busy time of the year.”

The foster program is very versatile, said Larrabee. “You can foster a kitten anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months until they grow up to be independent.”

Fostering adult cats or dogs is very flexible, she said. “You can take them for a quick overnight stay to give them a break from their kennels. We also have Weekend Wags but it’s not just on the weekend. In our Sniff About program you can pick an animal up and bring them back at the end of the day.”

There are also long term opportunities, Larrabee said. “That is for people who are kind enough to invite them into their home to stay until they can get a home.”

If something happens the animal can come back to the shelter, she said. “There’s no risk. They’ll always have a safe place to come back to.”

ACDC also has a need for traditional volunteers, said Larrabee. “We have all positions. Volunteers can walk dogs, socialize with cats and provide enrichment for the animals. Some come often and others come when they can.”

The county is in the process of building a new facility on the current property. “We are so excited for the new facility,” Larrabee said. “I’m very confident the design will meet the needs to improve the quality of life for the animals in our care but also the staff.”

To apply for the foster program or to be a volunteer visit https://www.daviscountyutah.gov/animalcare/.