A new program at the Anderson Humane animal shelter lets people take a potential pet for a “test drive” before formally adopting them.
Foster to Adopt is a win-win for all involved, said Dean Daubert, CEO of the South Elgin-based nonprofit. The pet gets to live with a family rather than in a cage at the shelter, the shelter has more space to take in another animal and the foster family has time to make sure the cat or dog is a good fit for them.
The deal sweetener for those who are part of the program is they get first pick of the animals that come into the shelter, Daubert said.
More Top Picks Best Kids Desks With Storage
“Many large organizations have foster-to-adopt programs,” he said. “It’s a great way for folks that want to try a dog or a cat in their home first. (They) aren’t sure whether it’s going to be a good fit (so they) get to try it out and fall in love with an animal.
“We’ve taken it a step further and have said, why don’t we let folks know which animals are coming into the shelter and hopefully divert them from ever having to spend a night in the shelter.”
The program started June 1, and so far they’ve had one animal placed in a home through the initiative. The goal is to get the word out to people who might be interested in adoption. They can take “advantage of fostering and seeing if the animal is right for them before they adopt,” he said.
Anderson posts photos of available animals on its website, and every animal gets a vet exam before being sent to a foster home, Daubert said.
If someone ends up adopting a foster animal, Anderson covers the the cost of the initial set of required vaccines and spaying/neutering. Adoption fees range from $75 to $400, Daubert said.
While the program is new, it’s not unheard of for a foster family to adopt a pet to whom they initially thought they were giving a temporary home.
“They hadn’t planned to adopt at first but they … fell in love with their (animal) during the foster period,” Daubert said.
Bartlett couple Kim and Jim Saxton did just that, Kim Saxton said. They initially agreed to take in Jenny — now called Yennifer — between November 2023 to January 2024 so the dog didn’t have to stay in the shelter over the holidays, she said.
“Our sons visited from Phoenix and Portland and met her at Christmas. Everyone loved her,” Saxton said. “(The dog) charmed everyone she met so we decided to adopt her in late January 2024.”
What her family did can be seen as a prototype for the program Anderson has started, Saxton said. When someone lets a pet into their home, the animal has time to decompress and show its personality and the family gets to see if it fits into their day-to-day life, she said.
“It’s so much better for the animal to be out of the noise of the shelter,” Saxton said. “People looking for a way to help should consider fostering. It helps the animal and clears a space at the shelter for another animal to get saved.”
Kelly Rakunas, of St. Charles, has been Anderson Humane’s volunteer engagement coordinator for two years. Her family, which includes husband Eric and sons Charlie, Bryce and Mack, had fostered older dogs for several years before taking in a puppy last October, she said. One month later, they wound up adopting Wiggles.
“She turned out to be the missing piece to our family,” Rakunas said.
Rakunas agreed with Saxton assessment — Foster to Adopt program is a great way to find out if pet ownership is for you and if one particular animal fits in with your family.
“It allows a pet to be away from a shelter and allows people to see if a pet is the right fit for them. It’s a win-win situation,” Rakunas said.
For more information on the Foster to Adopt program, go to ahconnects.org/foster-to-adopt or call 847-697-2880.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.