City of Lubbock Asks for Fosters for Overcrowded Puppy Litters

The City of Lubbock Animal Services (LAS) is still looking for temporary medical foster parents for six litters of puppies. Earlier this month, they made an urgent plea for help with nine litters.

Steven Greene, Director of Animal Services, states that there is still a high demand for medical foster parents due to the shelter's staffing and space challenges. Medical fosters are volunteers who care for mother dogs and their puppies until the puppies are fully grown, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered, which typically takes up to eight weeks.

The puppies' stay at the shelter uses up LAS's meager resources. Greene said that sometimes a cage meant for one animal has to hold a mother cat and her whole litter for almost two months. He said, "That is one kennel that can not be used for any other animal, and that has an effect on the whole shelter."

Additionally, puppies require more care than adult dogs, including extra food, close supervision, and protection against illness. The effort places a significant amount of stress on the LAS team and volunteers, who are already working hard.

To support the foster animals, LAS will continue to cover all their medical care and any emergency veterinary bills. Los Angeles Animal Services (LAS) will also vaccinate the puppies, regardless of whether they stay at the shelter or visit foster homes. Foster families only have to pay for food.

Greene said, "Fostering gives these puppies a better chance at early socialization and health, and it also frees up important space at the shelter." "Right now, it is one of the most important things people can do to help."

Individuals interested in fostering can contact LAS directly to learn more about the requirements and initiate the application process.

Many stray and abandoned animals come to the shelter in the summer, so they are hoping that people will give them temporary homes and help until the puppies are ready to be adopted.

If you can not foster, you can still help current foster families and make the shelter's job easier by donating puppy food and other materials.

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